A: Carmelo Anthony, with 125. FYI, that’s more than current DPOY candidate Rudy Gobert and former DPOY Marc Gasol. So really, the question isn’t “Carmelo: great defender?” but “Carmelo: Greatest Defender?”

Q: The Knicks have a player in the top-10 for contesting two-point shots and another in the top-10 contesting three-point shots. Who are they?

A: Kristaps (6th) and Melo (9th).

source: http://www.postingandtoasting.com/2017/3/24/15044860/knicks-stats-quiz-how-well-do-you-know-the-2016-17-knicks

The issues this season have been more about:

1) Playing the big lineup too much. Melo is a 4. Melo is very similar to Paul Millsap. Does Atlanta play Millsap at the 3? No. No they do not. Melo is a 4. Playing him at the 3 destroys the defense.

2) Coach switching the offense and defensive schemes too much. I won't say the "T" word, but you already know deep down it's the "T" word.

Bonn1997 wrote:Equating total deflections with great defense is not even kindergarten level logic. That said, I would not have expected Melo to have been that high on this list and that warrants a little credit.
Regarding the 2nd Q and A, it is strange that Melo is contesting shots but his man is still hitting shots at a slightly above league average rate. Either it's random bad luck or Melo is contesting the shots ineffectively (or both).

Part of the problem with playing him out of position at the 3 is that he has to contest more threes. If he were playing at the four, his rebounding would be more valuable, and he wouldn't have to cover as much ground running out to the three point line.

You see this when Lance Thomas starts at the other forward spot next to Melo and KP is at center. That lineup is +12pts per 100 possessions since the all star break. Small sample size, but it fits with the common sense we've known for years - Melo is not a three!!!! He's actually an above average 4 at this point. And a below average 3.

But at the very least, these stats show he is trying on defense. He's just in the wrong position.

HofstraBBall wrote:

StarksEwing1 wrote:

crzymdups wrote:Can we stop this fiction that Melo is a terrible defender? He's certainly average... but plenty of teams win with average defenders in their lineup. Check out James Harden, Isaiah Thomas, etc.

The issues this season have been more about:

1) Playing the big lineup too much. Melo is a 4. Melo is very similar to Paul Millsap. Does Atlanta play Millsap at the 3? No. No they do not. Melo is a 4. Playing him at the 3 destroys the defense.

2) Coach switching the offense and defensive schemes too much. I won't say the "T" word, but you already know deep down it's the "T" word.

he isnt terrible BUT he certainly doesnt show enough effort on the defensive end. Im not a George Karl fan but he wasnt wrong about that

For one that defends KP and all his defensive deficiencies you would think you would also applaud a fellow Knick. And to bring up a counter point that is over 10 years old, when he was in early 20's, is bush and short sighted. Thanks for showing your colors.

crzymdups wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:Equating total deflections with great defense is not even kindergarten level logic. That said, I would not have expected Melo to have been that high on this list and that warrants a little credit.
Regarding the 2nd Q and A, it is strange that Melo is contesting shots but his man is still hitting shots at a slightly above league average rate. Either it's random bad luck or Melo is contesting the shots ineffectively (or both).

Part of the problem with playing him out of position at the 3 is that he has to contest more threes. If he were playing at the four, his rebounding would be more valuable, and he wouldn't have to cover as much ground running out to the three point line.

You see this when Lance Thomas starts at the other forward spot next to Melo and KP is at center. That lineup is +12pts per 100 possessions since the all star break. Small sample size, but it fits with the common sense we've known for years - Melo is not a three!!!! He's actually an above average 4 at this point. And a below average 3.

But at the very least, these stats show he is trying on defense. He's just in the wrong position.

Good points but I still don't agree w "trying". Eyeballs see too much loafing in Transition. No help on D unless you count reaching in.

I honestly can't remember melo taking a charge

Its time to cut bait, I believe even Melo is coming to the same conclusion. Not about liking or disliking Melo, its about moving on now that we have a legit player (not yet in his prime) to build the team around.

Melo's not as clutch as Paul Pierce. Except when it's shown statistically that he actually is. But then he actually sucks because PP won a chip with his superfriends.

Now Melo's a defensive piece of ****. Except when you can see statistically that he isn't. But then he actually sucks because George Karl says so and anyone with eyeballs can see he sucks.

Of course none of this continual exercise in bullsheehit middle school piss-ant haterade is anything but the highest level of NBA basketball IQ and honest Knicks fandom.

Somebody needs to bump all those "Melo don't got patches on his warmup jacket" and "melo's fat" and "melo's a team cancer" threads... they were chock full of more brilliant arguments showing the level headed approach that it's not really about like or disliking Melo.

Chandler wrote:

crzymdups wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:Equating total deflections with great defense is not even kindergarten level logic. That said, I would not have expected Melo to have been that high on this list and that warrants a little credit.
Regarding the 2nd Q and A, it is strange that Melo is contesting shots but his man is still hitting shots at a slightly above league average rate. Either it's random bad luck or Melo is contesting the shots ineffectively (or both).

Part of the problem with playing him out of position at the 3 is that he has to contest more threes. If he were playing at the four, his rebounding would be more valuable, and he wouldn't have to cover as much ground running out to the three point line.

You see this when Lance Thomas starts at the other forward spot next to Melo and KP is at center. That lineup is +12pts per 100 possessions since the all star break. Small sample size, but it fits with the common sense we've known for years - Melo is not a three!!!! He's actually an above average 4 at this point. And a below average 3.

But at the very least, these stats show he is trying on defense. He's just in the wrong position.

Good points but I still don't agree w "trying". Eyeballs see too much loafing in Transition. No help on D unless you count reaching in.

I honestly can't remember melo taking a charge

That's fair. As I said - average. He's also in his 14th year in the league. I think playing the 4 would actually be better for him in terms of having to work less on D, at least running up and down the floor and chasing perimeter guys. I think he should be playing more like Millsap at this point in his career.

Realistically - I just don't think you can build a contending team with the way Melo and KP mesh in the front court. Both guys probably are best served playing next to a defensive guy like Tyson Chandler or something. Playing Melo/KP at the 3/4 or the 4/5, you are going to have a mediocre defense.

1- Noah completely useless season due to injuries and the rest.
2- Rose played poor defense and selfish offense mindset most of season
3- Melo played iso heavy selfish offense most of seaso and set the wrong tone during the season
4- Jennings lost his shot completely we needed him to play better off the bench
5- Porzingis played stupid many games with silly fouls, letting his team down and hurting his rhythm.

Noah and Rose share the biggest blame. Then Melo. After lack of impact as a 6th man by BJ. KP's stupid habits on defense/fouling 5th. I can understand KP as he's 21 and in his 2nd year, very young player still learning D. I see Noah as someone that was never healthy. this year Rose and Melo, I feel they just came into this season with a very poor mindset. Their play was self inflicted and easily changed if they bought in and adapted to the situation.

Coaching and Phil deserve blame, and I will assign them, but for talent wise, Noah/Rose/Melo really let down.

We are not going to add the pieces that will get a Melo centric team deep into the postseason, or even round 2 for that matter. It just time to move on for the benefit of all the parties involved.