ChuckBuck wrote:

“From what I’ve seen, he’s a special young man,’’ Popovich said before Porzingis scored 28 points, making 11 of 21 shots, with 11 rebounds. “They were very astute in figuring out what he might be down the road. His agility, sense of the game, his skills are quite significant. I think he’s going to be a great player.’’

Afterward, Popovich added: “He’s a hell of a young talent. He’s got intelligence, skills and competes.’’

Don't know how many time I can say it, but this 20 year old phenom just flip the script on this whole franchise.

Without him performing up to snuff, we have the "same old Melo". Without him playing both offense and defense and hustling and scrapping, we don't see Jose and the rest of the squad playing with grit and determination. His blocks lead to fast breaks which leads to transition buckets which in turn lead to easy offense which in turn leads to fun and less grind it out tiring and cringe worthy ISO basketball.

A kid from Latvia changed the whole team dynamic and made it's old 31 year old player change his whole game. Love it!!!!

this is weird, for an OP whose topic is Pop and KP you mostly talked about Melo.

mreinman wrote:kp did not change melo

Yeah it's kinda insane to think that right?

mreinman wrote:kp did not change melo

The Base of culture and continuity is in a vacuum creating this turn around. One must have inconsistency when your changing. Its part of the process. How long will it take? I don't know, but Im enjoying the journey.

nyknickzingis wrote:I think Melo was PISSED when they drafted KP. He was thinking "Project". He wanted someone more for now. Then when he actually saw what KP was capable of in workouts, a bright light went up in his head. He realized Phil knew what he was doing. Remember, Melo's friends have been traded recently. JR Smith, Shump and Hardaway all guys Melo loved. All sent packing by Phil. In a way Melo was thinking, maybe I'm not in the plans. As much as he denied saying that stuff after the draft that was reported, I think something was definitely said that his people leaked to the media.

Anyway point is. Kristaps showed Melo that Phil truly was invested in both the longterm and present. It got him to buy in more. I mean you look at it from Melo's perspective at the start of the season. Lopez, Afflalo, Calderon, DWill, rookie Porzingis. What the heck am I playing with? Nothing better than before. Another 60 loss season coming. But then when he actually played with them he saw what was possible, what the team was doing and he immediately knew he had a solid team with a great young player in the making. He bought in and jumped on the wagon.

Also remember Melo was organizing player workouts before training camp (his private workout facility + Puerto Rico) so he was assuming the leadership role before the team got together.

I think what we are seeing is less cause and effect, and more several things coming together. Melo got some perspective after his first extended time off the court. Melo was commited to being a leader before the roster was built. The roster turned out to be pretty good with some nice vets, good defenders and a rookie phenom who fits beautifully on the court next to Melo and Rolo. Phil Jackson promised a culture change and the only guy he's kept is Melo. Those culture changes are happening right in front of our eyes. Melo was ready. Dolan was ready. Phil put it together and he is the architect, but damn if he didnt get Melo to bring his game to a new level. Great story for Knick fans.

fishmike wrote:

martin wrote:

mreinman wrote:kp did not change melo

Yeah it's kinda insane to think that right?

do you guys read what Chuck writes? KP is the alpha remember?

But Melo made KP the alpha. Melo spent millions of dollars secretly in Latvia to ensure KP could do those wrap around put-back dunks. Melo spent countless hours letting KP block his shots while wearing Olympic Gold so KP could become the defensive force he is. Melo provided KP's family with all those extra vitamins so KP would be 7'3". Melo instructed Greg Monroe to sign with the Bucks. Melo paid extra to Rolo's agent so he would sign here. Melo kept this all quiet and acted disturbed at the KP pick so he could maintain his Me70 persona.

dk7th wrote:

fishmike wrote:

nyknickzingis wrote:I think Melo was PISSED when they drafted KP. He was thinking "Project". He wanted someone more for now. Then when he actually saw what KP was capable of in workouts, a bright light went up in his head. He realized Phil knew what he was doing. Remember, Melo's friends have been traded recently. JR Smith, Shump and Hardaway all guys Melo loved. All sent packing by Phil. In a way Melo was thinking, maybe I'm not in the plans. As much as he denied saying that stuff after the draft that was reported, I think something was definitely said that his people leaked to the media.

Anyway point is. Kristaps showed Melo that Phil truly was invested in both the longterm and present. It got him to buy in more. I mean you look at it from Melo's perspective at the start of the season. Lopez, Afflalo, Calderon, DWill, rookie Porzingis. What the heck am I playing with? Nothing better than before. Another 60 loss season coming. But then when he actually played with them he saw what was possible, what the team was doing and he immediately knew he had a solid team with a great young player in the making. He bought in and jumped on the wagon.

respectfully disagree... for one thing we learned that Melo pretty knew the Knicks were drafting KP. He attended KP's workout with Mills and asked him if he thought there was a chance the Knicks take him. Mills said "if he is there expect we DO take him."
That exchange has been verified.

Also remember Melo was organizing player workouts before training camp (his private workout facility + Puerto Rico) so he was assuming the leadership role before the team got together.

I think what we are seeing is less cause and effect, and more several things coming together. Melo got some perspective after his first extended time off the court. Melo was commited to being a leader before the roster was built. The roster turned out to be pretty good with some nice vets, good defenders and a rookie phenom who fits beautifully on the court next to Melo and Rolo. Phil Jackson promised a culture change and the only guy he's kept is Melo. Those culture changes are happening right in front of our eyes. Melo was ready. Dolan was ready. Phil put it together and he is the architect, but damn if he didnt get Melo to bring his game to a new level. Great story for Knick fans.

provide a link then.

Carmelo Anthony was at the Knicks' practice facility, rehabbing from knee surgery, when a skinny teenager from Latvia arrived for a pre-draft workout. Anthony watched Kristaps Porzingis shoot, and turned to Steve Mills, the Knicks' general manager, with a question, Mills recalled in a chat with ESPN.com last week:

"Do you think we may draft this kid?"

The question could have implied a lot of things -- including the frustration a 31-year-old with aching knees might feel about the franchise, his franchise, banking his NBA twilight on an unknown not far removed from a regrettable cornrows phase. Mills decided total honestly was the best way to push through any tension. "Carmelo," Mills said, "if he's there, we probably will draft him."

Must be a strange feeling for some... so much time and energy invested into hating a player and making up one stupid thing after another only to not only be proven dead wrong, but see that player elevate the entire team.

You can alway switch gears as some and now declare you always knew he could but just hated him because you always knew he could and didnt earlier... because he was everything you said he was at the time. Good twist. Cute.

I think you were one of the guys hoping he just walked? Addition by subtraction? I have that right? Yawn.... welcome back. Enjoy the basketball.

jrodmc wrote:oh, this is going to be good.

Rookie has said we should amnesty Melo. The analytic crowd was dead set on Melo's contract never being worth it and we should have let him walk for that money. Then you have my favorite... Guns... who during EVERY draft discussion ended his thoughts with "I have very serious doubts about ANY prospect being able to develop with Melo on this roster."

yea... good stuff. Glad that squad are enjoying Knick basketball againt and finding new and creative ways to have been right all along.