Last night's game was frustrating but it doesn't change anything. They didn't lose because of Melo, and i believe Melo and Lin are a great fit for each other. I don't care that their styles are different. Melo is a good open court player and a great finisher. Lin and Melo should be a great PnR combo. They offense should start with Lin and end with Melo. Lin creates and Melo needs to fill the gaps. Melo is a proven star and a winner, he just hasn't had the right breaks with this team. I believe him and Lin will be just fine and prove to be one of the best tandems in the league in due time. Knicks needs to determine what is needed to build properly around these two players. Chandler looks good with them, and clearly shooters will excel. Stoudemire is really up in the air at this point, but let's hope he can figure it out fast. I don't think when it is all said and done Melo will be the issue. But with Melo and Lin so young, i think those are the two this team needs to commit to building around and there is no reason they can't win multiple championships with them leading the way.
Shift du Jour
Lin - what is this, his seventh NBA start? 7 rebounds is a nice touch.
Fields - long live the BBC. His rebounding has improved as well.
Carmelo - He is adaptable and draws double teams. the manufactured "concern" is based on personal bias against him. His defensive effort can be inspired when he makes up his mind.
Jeffries - enough defense to forgive the blown layups. Kurt Thomas anyone?
Tyson Chandler - The Captain is holding it down in the middle.
Who Got Next?
Shumpert - play that funky defense... get this man to a shot doctor.
JR Smith - jet lag is a b#tch. Welcome home, homey.
Stoudemire - microfracture surgery ain't no joke.
Steve Novak - 20 minutes, minimum... or do not use him at all
Baron Davis - number 85? Really? C'mon Son!
The team is fine the way it is and FYI, this is Lin's 10th start. There's no need to panic.
For whatever reason, Knicks tend to play sloppy against lower seed teams. Hornets/Nets loss was unacceptable because it gives Knicks no room to lose against better teams. They need to scrape up any wins as possible.
The Knicks aren't really in a "building" phase right now. They have all the main ingredients and building blocks.
They just need for what they have, to really step up and perform consistently.
1. Amare needs to clearly elevate his game. He won't have to score as much as his MVP-like season last year, but he could certainly up his rebounding #'s and improve his defense. Needs to improve FG%.
2. 'Melo needs to keep doing his thing, stay healthy, and to always keep the TEAM ahead of himself. Especially in a last-minute game-winner situation where he is double-teamed. Not a crime to pass the rock here.
3. B-Diddy needs to remain a viable PG backup option so that J-Lin can stay under 40 min per game.
We have a defensive-minded 7-foot Center (Tyson), a top 5 SF player (Melo), sharpshooters (JR Smith and Novak), a defensive athletic rook (Shump), a defensive specialist (JJ), a penetrating/dishing/scoring PG (Lin), and a glue guy (Landry). HOPEFULLY, we can get our POWERful forward back (Amare), a backup PF who stretches the D (Jorts), and a backup PG that is a threat to go off any night (B-Diddy).
Seriously... if THIS team doesn't get past the 1st round this year 
... shoot 
I also will agree with the no more panicking. No trades. The Knicks have to be a sort of a sports "family". And family is forever (well in this case, it shouldn't be about trades and change so easily) -- it's not "forever" with our team, but we need to be of the mentality that this is our team and we need to do better and play harder to win the championship. You heard it here first -- we are going past the first round AT LEAST (I am confident will take out Chicago if we meet them -- that kind of retributive justice does exist in this world. I am not as certain after that, but I think we may make the finals. So relax, enjoy (and they are sure making it fun frequently at this time), and cheer your heart out for the Knickerbockers.
Someone has to go, it's either Melo or MDA. And if MDA goes, Lin will be a decent point guard but nothing like Linsanity.
You can't have Lin and Melo. Melo stomps all over Lin's toes.
MDA/Lin or Melo. YOU CHOOSE, DOLAN!
MarburyAnd1Crossover wrote:Someone has to go, it's either Melo or MDA. And if MDA goes, Lin will be a decent point guard but nothing like Linsanity. You can't have Lin and Melo. Melo stomps all over Lin's toes.
MDA/Lin or Melo. YOU CHOOSE, DOLAN!
They should be fine together. Melo was among the best fast break and finishing wing players in the league up until he was forced to run the entire offense himself. I would think he could revert to what made him so successful in Denver.
MarburyAnd1Crossover wrote:Someone has to go, it's either Melo or MDA. And if MDA goes, Lin will be a decent point guard but nothing like Linsanity. You can't have Lin and Melo. Melo stomps all over Lin's toes.
MDA/Lin or Melo. YOU CHOOSE, DOLAN!
Stop the madness. Carmelo is one of the few Knicks who can create off the dribble. He and Lin are cool. It is only the chicken liver hearts who buy into the past, and NY Post politics, who cannot let go of prejudging Carmelo before he has the opportunity to run with Lin
Sheesh. Enough of the revolving door. Let them play.
Take a nap.
misterearl wrote:MarburyAnd1Crossover wrote:Someone has to go, it's either Melo or MDA. And if MDA goes, Lin will be a decent point guard but nothing like Linsanity. You can't have Lin and Melo. Melo stomps all over Lin's toes.
MDA/Lin or Melo. YOU CHOOSE, DOLAN!
Stop the madness. Carmelo is one of the few Knicks who can create off the dribble. He and Lin are cool. It is only the chicken liver hearts who buy into the past, and NY Post politics, who cannot let go of prejudging Carmelo before he has the opportunity to run with Lin
Sheesh. Enough of the revolving door. Let them play.
Take a nap.
At the end of the day, i don't think Melo is the concern. I still think he is a top-10 NBA player and will fit well with Lin and Chandler. Knicks need shooters to compliment an offense built around Lin and Melo.
the nets just got hot and little lucky it happens. nobody makes that many threes its very rare so they justhad a good night. Unfortunetly it was melos first night back in weeks so he wasn't gonna be great. Amare has to start getting his jumpers to fall i mean if he hits those jumpers we would be tough to beat
We have to see how this team comes together after the All Star Break. There's no way to properly judge this team until we see it play together for a while and develop chemistry. There's no way you can tell what the final product will be after 2 games with no practice!!!
We also need to see how this team performs in the playoffs. Until you see that you really don't know what you have. The playoffs are the ultimate test of a team and will expose what you have.
nixluva wrote:We have to see how this team comes together after the All Star Break. There's no way to properly judge this team until we see it play together for a while and develop chemistry. There's no way you can tell what the final product will be after 2 games with no practice!!!We also need to see how this team performs in the playoffs. Until you see that you really don't know what you have. The playoffs are the ultimate test of a team and will expose what you have.
This is exactly right. We will have a little more time with this team, but if it doesn't come together, it will be Stoudemire that needs to be traded for a stretch 4. Hopefully that isn't the case and he can regain his touch and ability to fit with this team.
misterearl wrote:Stop the madness. Carmelo is one of the few Knicks who can create off the dribble. He and Lin are cool. It is only the chicken liver hearts who buy into the past, and NY Post politics, who cannot let go of prejudging Carmelo before he has the opportunity to run with LinSheesh. Enough of the revolving door. Let them play.
Take a nap.
+1
You see what MDA can do with this group for the rest of the season, then you make decisions.
The Knicks got lucky with Lin. Other teams aren't going to go out of their way to help via trade.
Amare is the only one on the team hurting us.
colombian0725 wrote:Amare is the only one on the team hurting us.
the two main problems i see is that he cant hit a mid-range jumper even though he is wide open and he is getting blocked every game tahst scary.
JCrusher wrote:colombian0725 wrote:Amare is the only one on the team hurting us.
the two main problems i see is that he cant hit a mid-range jumper even though he is wide open and he is getting blocked every game tahst scary.
How about the fact that he puts KY Jelly on his hands before each game to make sure nothing sticks?
Ouchcolombian0725 wrote:Amare is the only one on the team hurting us.
Microfracture surgery is a dog
Amar'e is hurting in more ways than one.
The Knicks would be wise to prepare to draft or secure a FA four this summer
misterearl wrote:Ouchcolombian0725 wrote:Amare is the only one on the team hurting us.
Microfracture surgery is a dog
Amar'e is hurting in more ways than one.
The Knicks would be wise to prepare to draft or secure a FA four this summer
He got blocked by opposing point guards two games in a row. This is depressing to watch.
