nixluva wrote:It just helps Phil and Jeff to see what they really have and what they can do in the offseason to make further improvement. Melo needs to go and find a playoff team and we should NOT resign Rose. Just draft well and go with the kids. LET'S START THIS REBUILD!!!!

yellowboy90 wrote:This is not about evaluating talent if so Sasha would have played less and Randle would have played more the same goes for O'Quinn and Plumlee/N'dour.

Randle's minutes were cut by Baker playing 37 minutes. Just cuz Plumlee didn't play and Ndour's minutes were low doesn't mean this wasn't an evaluation. Those guys will get minutes over the last games. Jeff was trying to keep the team competitive and clearly they were.

It's also about a positive experience for the kids. They were playing well and I think Jeff was trying to make good in game decisions. There's nothing negative about what happened aside from the fact that they dropped back a game in the Lottery.

nyknickzingis wrote:This is now 2 games we basically won without Melo and Rose. The Magic road game and now this one against Miami. I think this isn't a better team without Melo/Rose, but they are not much worse. Maybe 5-10 wins worse. We'd be in a better spot without both players, having a top 2 pick likely sealed, and we'd have developed Willy/KP more in roles they are in need to play in the future.

But that is not why you play ball, you play to win. On paper, having Noah/Melo/Rose alongside KP/Lee/Willy/Jennings, should have given us a chance at top 5 in the East and the playoffs. But for whatever reason, that I no longer even care for, with Melo/Rose we never played team ball or with same effort as the team showed tonight or in the Orlando.

I just wish we can get more talented players more skilled players who also like to play the same we saw the guys play tonight. The ball was not sticking. It was constantly moving. We are running the Triangle sets much better and I like the way the team is setting up their offense.

There's been plenty of talk that KP can not defend well or fill in for Melo or whatever, but these games show that he can. It's why I embrace rebuilding. We're not exactly winning with Melo/Rose. We're not exactly horrible without them. Get their salaries off the books and get younger players who play well in your system and who defend, who also have more room to grow as Rose/Melo are on their way down in their careers.

I know I've gone in hard on Melo and Rose but IMO it's painfully obvious how much better the ball and player movement and execution is without them. We still have to add Frontline Talent in order to win at a higher level but I'm just done with trying to make something work with Melo. At this point I'm ready to just move on or at least reduce his role as we move forward. IT'S TIME!!!

ekstarks94 wrote:Koop aid drinking at its finest

The only other drink on the menu seemingly is "Haterade". not much to choose from.

CrushAlot wrote:

nixluva wrote:It just helps Phil and Jeff to see what they really have and what they can do in the offseason to make further improvement. Melo needs to go and find a playoff team and we should NOT resign Rose. Just draft well and go with the kids. LET'S START THIS REBUILD!!!!

Agree but the Knicks need to be careful when evaluating fringe guys in meaningless games. See Toney Douglas.

The Heat are in dogfight to stay in the playoff. This is about as meaningful as it gets for them.

blkexec wrote:In this system, Melo and Rose value is better suited coming off the bench.....And thats the problem. They are paid as starters, but their game is perfect for a 6th man role, as offensive gunners coming off the bench.

This is not Melo or Rose fault....This is managment, GM's and coaches fault for adding these players and not putting them in the best position to succeed. Now we have Rose, Melo and Noah making superstar money and paid like starters....But they are clearly bench players, that come in to give an offensive (or for noah) a defensive spark.

When you make that much money and refuse to play defense, make passes and only care about you own stats you have to be held accountable. So let's wait with the is not Melo and Roses fault. It absolutely is 100% their fault. Enough of giving these losers a pass.