Knicks · strategem to deal with nights like last night (page 1)

If you're going to have a team that plays defense like Miami, pressuring your point guard as they did, why not play Baron Davis at the SG and have two great orchestrators on the floor at the same time? Which one are you going to stop? The other can then pick it up. Perhaps you need to put in a Novak at the four to help with shooting duties.

Just my $.02.

Panos wrote:If you're going to have a team that plays defense like Miami, pressuring your point guard as they did, why not play Baron Davis at the SG and have two great orchestrators on the floor at the same time? Which one are you going to stop? The other can then pick it up. Perhaps you need to put in a Novak at the four to help with shooting duties.

Just my $.02.

Again I think JR fits better. He has a good outside shot and he can drive to the paint. Not the greatest orchestrator but definitely balances out our attack better.

Panos wrote:If you're going to have a team that plays defense like Miami, pressuring your point guard as they did, why not play Baron Davis at the SG and have two great orchestrators on the floor at the same time? Which one are you going to stop? The other can then pick it up. Perhaps you need to put in a Novak at the four to help with shooting duties.

Just my $.02.

1. Not sure Baron whose outside shot is not yet a threat can orchestrate without that weapon. Credit Heat defense.

2. Novack cannot guard Bosh or any threat to take the ball to the rim. If you going to add a shooter at the 4, then you do it with Melo.

I though we don't like when we are camped out just taking jumpers? Its ok if your hitting them.

MDA looked like he wanted to keep attacking the rim and hope to get them in foul trouble.

Heat recover so fast it was awesome.

We did not lose, we got beat.

Baron is obviously not all the way back. He had no explosion and could not beat his man off the dribble, but he was a definite upgrade over Bibby. I think his minutes right now is the right amount.

Was thinking about this too, and wouldn't doubt if we see it in the future. That being said, the way the Heat played last night, I don't think it would've matter. They cover so much so fast it was sickening! All I kept saying throughout the whole game was, jeeeeez usss these guys are *****ing GOOD....smh! But like I said in another thread, theres not another team in the league that can do what the Heat did last night. Knicks will figure out, I'm sure of it. This rivalry will go back and forth for a few years coming and I for one is excited!!! All this rivalry needs now is for MDA to jump on LeBrons ankle in a payoff game, and my life will be complete!!!

Panos wrote:If you're going to have a team that plays defense like Miami, pressuring your point guard as they did, why not play Baron Davis at the SG and have two great orchestrators on the floor at the same time? Which one are you going to stop? The other can then pick it up. Perhaps you need to put in a Novak at the four to help with shooting duties.

Just my $.02.

This pick and roll offense won't work in the playoffs...If hasn't yet...

As others have pointed out, Lin was bound to have nights like this, especially when he has a big X on his back now. Its refreshing to have a PG like Lin who isn't afraid to take it into the teeth of the defense but there such a thing as overkill.

I'd like to see Lin develop a jumper off the dribble or use it more often if he has one. With his speed it could be very effective. I'd also like to see Lin go to a pull up jumper in transition once in a while. He's becoming too predictable and haven't seen it that much either. It gives him more ways to score, and gives the defense more things to worry about.

As for Melo, I believe its important to help him get into a flow. He's not like Ray Allen where you can go stretches without giving him the ball and he still has his shooting touch. I've seen Chandler use some screens to free Melo up early in the shot clock but I haven't seen them really do it to help Melo get a good look.

One of the reasons Melo took it to rim as much as he did in the first half (and kept getting blocked) was the suffocating defense the Heat played on him. I'd like to see them throw one or more screens for Melo to help him get a good look if he can't find one himself. Anthony has a hair trigger and can get a shot off pretty fast so he doesn't need that much daylight. Melo can be deadly in ISO but its usually been trouble when that's how he tries to find his rhythm. Would rather have him find his stroke facing the rim then falling away.

Stat, I don't know what to say except I'm concerned about his health. Amar'e has these short bursts where he looks like the old Stat but they are short lived. Maybe he gets healthier, maybe he doesn't.

Davis still is getting his game back. Looking to call his own number too much.

The sooner Shumpert can become a reliable shooter the better. I don't believe Fields is the long term answer at SG, neither is Smith.

Also get the ball out of Landry's hands, he does not have the handle to create against an elite defense like Miami. He must be a finisher, he was terrible with the ball last night.

nychamp wrote:Also get the ball out of Landry's hands, he does not have the handle to create against an elite defense like Miami. He must be a finisher, he was terrible with the ball last night.

Yup. Fields is a decent off the ball player, cutting, being opportunistic close to the rim. But he's not someone who takes the ball from a trapped PG to start an attack. (He's not fast enough, can't pull up, and dribbles too high. Only JJ and Chandler dribbling scare me more.) So JR has to be the one to help Lin break the trap. Or Melo

loweyecue wrote:

Panos wrote:If you're going to have a team that plays defense like Miami, pressuring your point guard as they did, why not play Baron Davis at the SG and have two great orchestrators on the floor at the same time? Which one are you going to stop? The other can then pick it up. Perhaps you need to put in a Novak at the four to help with shooting duties.

Just my $.02.

Again I think JR fits better. He has a good outside shot and he can drive to the paint. Not the greatest orchestrator but definitely balances out our attack better.

totally agree. Our weak links on the starting lineup were exposed in Amare and Fields.
On the offensive end, they lack the skills vs a quick/fast team with great rotations on defense, lack the ability to hit the wide open shot, their inability to penetrate, and our in ability to post up. Miami is a great team and we are lacking the players with the chemistry as well. We would most likely get swept vs teams with superior talent like the Heat and Thunder in a playoff run, unless we make adjustments with this lineup. Even Norris Cole, Chalmers, Joel Anthony, Haslem and Battier, feed off the talent that Lebron and Wade provide.

On the defensive end, Fields and Amare lack the skill set and lack of speed and quickness to defend the Wade/Lebron. Lebron and Wade are in the same class as Durant and Westbrook, their physical talents and their skills set are just amazing. Iman could help defend Wade much better and will help one of our problems but we need another help defender like
Ariza, Camby, and Ak47 to compliment TC. Ariza is a player that could really help because of his versatility, having the ability to defend elite SGs, SFs, and even some time at PF, with TC anchoring the middle. But on the fast break, it is just tough, because those guys are just too talented. Ariza has the length, speed, and size to help.

Having another player like Ilyasova to spread the floor and play both forward spots would help as well. Jason Thompson and Speights, would help a lot as well, fitting at the PF much better. Hickson has the better chance with Kings rotation though, while he can play the rugged PF/C role. I hate to say it, especially with Amare's loss, and he has been trying his best to play within the system but he just doesn't fit well. I hope he works with a trainer this off season, with his foot work, and develops some post moves, if he is here to stay.

Ray Allen or Delfino

Ariza
Ilyasova

Ak47 or Camby

KG or Hickson
Jason Thompson or Speights

keep Novak, but i think Fields is not needed if we can acquire some talents to replace him.
JR Smith would be nice to keep long term, but at 2.5m, he could make as much as 5-8 per year easily. If we can keep him, Ray Allen or Delfino would not be needed, while acquiring a better shooter and defender with a combination of Ariza and Ilyasova. But we would have to trade Amare to somehow acquire them.

Keeping smith is still a possibility if no one offers him the mid level exception. His family still lives in the area Earl would probably appreciate his son staying close

Gymkata wrote:

Hehehehehe

Gymkata wrote:

this was my choice from last night:

No three pt threat in that's starting unit..

I think you have to expect that teams are going to scout the Knicks and try to minimize the impact Lin can have on a game. Obviously that was Miami's focus. Using Baron at the 2 might help once he shows that he can play at a higher level again. Its hard to say what the right strategy is but it is frustrating when there isn't a backup plan and Reggie Miller says, 'It seems like Mike D'Antoni is just waiting for his team to make a run." The Knicks may still need to find another ball handler.

which of the two gets posted up by Wade on the other end?

if Lin is having a hard time bringing the ball up the floor, let Melo or JR do it

I'd like to see them try Lin, Smith, Novak, Melo, and Chandler for some stretches. Melo may not be a PF but I'm sure he can play the position better than Amare can right now. That lineup would be dangerous offensively and I think it would still be good on defense.