I dont understand why everyone is questioning this some much.. actually i do understand it. Yes, they stuggled last year playing together. I agree. This year is completely different. We have Kidd, Felton, and Prigs. These are all seasoned point guards that can all run a team effectively. They will find a way to intergrate both of them on the offensive side at least. The only question at this point is if Melo will be as effective guarding the 3, and if Stat will learn to play defense. but i am not concerned on the offensive side.
I think for the Knicks to be really good and go deep into the playoffs, they need a healthy Amare and Melo playing together...If Melo plays 35/38 mins a game and Amare comes back to reduced mins of say 25/28 mins a game, they are going to overlap...It's a given they will have to share court time...So what does it matter if it's the beginning of the game or not...More than likely Amare will be finishing games with Melo...So the issue now becomes, should they share the first 7 mins of a game...Why is this a big to do??...No matter when it occurs, playing time together, they have to find a way to gel...But I'm of the thinking there is no issue and the issue is not about Amare and Melo...It's Amare not having a PG to get him the ball where he needs it...
nixluva wrote:The Media and some fans love to talk these things up and almost will the bad to happen. It was talked about so much when Melo was out almost setting up the story before it happens. There was no guarantee that Melo was gonna struggle when he came back. My guess is that if Melo was stroking it when he came back the team would've continued to win and nothing else would've been said. He was slumping before he went down and Melo was still slumping when he came back. That happens sometimes and it doesn't prove anything. Later as was pointed out, the team won with both STAT and Melo played. The one playoff win was with both players!!! We have PG's now and Woody has a solid plan on how he wants this team to play. He'll figure it out.
This is so true. It just seems like the media grasping at anything to create some sort of drama. Sometimes it almost sounds like theyre anticipating something bad rather than just bringing up the possibility. Im hoping Amare comes back and the team doesnt miss a beat because I want to know what they will say next.
holfresh wrote:I think for the Knicks to be really good and go deep into the playoffs, they need a healthy Amare and Melo playing together...If Melo plays 35/38 mins a game and Amare comes back to reduced mins of say 25/28 mins a game, they are going to overlap...It's a given they will have to share court time...So what does it matter if it's the beginning of the game or not...More than likely Amare will be finishing games with Melo...So the issue now becomes, should they share the first 7 mins of a game...Why is this a big to do??...No matter when it occurs, playing time together, they have to find a way to gel...But I'm of the thinking there is no issue and the issue is not about Amare and Melo...It's Amare not having a PG to get him the ball where he needs it...
The key is Rasheed Wallace playing a stretch 4/5 role for Melo and Amare. 2nd key is Melo needs to knock down outside shots and Amare needs to knock down his 15-18 footer. 3rd key is Amare needs to work that post game and pass out of the post.
mrKnickShot wrote:First, let's see Amare come back (healthy). When/if he does, for a sustained period, then and only then is this a discussion.He needs to come back healthy (big if!), and, he needs to earn his minutes - we don't owe him anything!
If he is playing well he plays.
+1. He needs to come back healthy and outplay Camby and Kurt in practices if he's gonna get playing time ahead of them.
This is why Kidd's acquisition works for us. He help figure out how to make them coexist, or maybe frankly tell them that they can't. But of all the players, he's got the credibility and stature to do it.
Bonn1997 wrote:mrKnickShot wrote:First, let's see Amare come back (healthy). When/if he does, for a sustained period, then and only then is this a discussion.He needs to come back healthy (big if!), and, he needs to earn his minutes - we don't owe him anything!
If he is playing well he plays.
+1. He needs to come back healthy and outplay Camby and Kurt in practices if he's gonna get playing time ahead of them.
You really think Amare needs to outplay three 40yr olds for playing time?
gunsnewing wrote:Bonn1997 wrote:mrKnickShot wrote:First, let's see Amare come back (healthy). When/if he does, for a sustained period, then and only then is this a discussion.He needs to come back healthy (big if!), and, he needs to earn his minutes - we don't owe him anything!
If he is playing well he plays.
+1. He needs to come back healthy and outplay Camby and Kurt in practices if he's gonna get playing time ahead of them.
You really think Amare needs to outplay three 40yr olds for playing time?
Amare will play its inevitable. Best way to go is to feature him offensively, get Amare going force defenses to have to game plan around stopping him. This will allow Melo to continue to focus on defense, rebounding and doing the little things like he has been doing and preserve energy to take over late in games.
For us to win it all we need Amare. I have faith that Woody will find a way to make it work.
gunsnewing wrote:IrishKnickFan wrote:the reason why people want him off the bench is because their record with melo at the 4 and without amare is very good. Now maybe it will finally work but for 2 years amare/melo havent fit well together
Melo at the 4 is fools gold come playoff time. Knicks don't have their first playoff win in a dozen years without Amare dominating game 4 against Miami with half a hand
this... also Melo can post 3's and Amare draw 4s out if his jumper is falling. Its the right combo. Fears of Amare's defense are unfounded, he made a lot of plays that first year. He can defend, and if thats what the coach wants thats what Amare will bring.
If he don't play D, he will be sitting his arse down. He may start for a few minutes, but his action will be as primary scorer in second unit (JR and Novak as other scorers). Woody won't disrupt a first unit that's clicking so well.
Bonn1997 wrote:mrKnickShot wrote:First, let's see Amare come back (healthy). When/if he does, for a sustained period, then and only then is this a discussion.He needs to come back healthy (big if!), and, he needs to earn his minutes - we don't owe him anything!
If he is playing well he plays.
+1. He needs to come back healthy and outplay Camby and Kurt in practices if he's gonna get playing time ahead of them.
I agree. Amare needs to earn his way back to the starting lineup as far as im concerned and prove that he is healthy. The reason i like woodson is because it doesnt matter how many minutes you get it only matters how well you play with the minutes you are given
fishmike wrote:gunsnewing wrote:IrishKnickFan wrote:the reason why people want him off the bench is because their record with melo at the 4 and without amare is very good. Now maybe it will finally work but for 2 years amare/melo havent fit well together
Melo at the 4 is fools gold come playoff time. Knicks don't have their first playoff win in a dozen years without Amare dominating game 4 against Miami with half a hand
this... also Melo can post 3's and Amare draw 4s out if his jumper is falling. Its the right combo. Fears of Amare's defense are unfounded, he made a lot of plays that first year. He can defend, and if thats what the coach wants thats what Amare will bring.
Didn't Brooke Lopez, Kevin Love, and even Tyler Hansbrough all have near career nights against Amare that first year? I remember Brooke Lopez's specifically because when we played the Nets last year in preseason Brooke looked NOWHERE near as good with Tyson guarding him. A lot of the plays Amare made that first year were help plays(the blocks on Derrick Rose and Lebron come to mind).
newyorknewyork wrote:holfresh wrote:I think for the Knicks to be really good and go deep into the playoffs, they need a healthy Amare and Melo playing together...If Melo plays 35/38 mins a game and Amare comes back to reduced mins of say 25/28 mins a game, they are going to overlap...It's a given they will have to share court time...So what does it matter if it's the beginning of the game or not...More than likely Amare will be finishing games with Melo...So the issue now becomes, should they share the first 7 mins of a game...Why is this a big to do??...No matter when it occurs, playing time together, they have to find a way to gel...But I'm of the thinking there is no issue and the issue is not about Amare and Melo...It's Amare not having a PG to get him the ball where he needs it...
The key is Rasheed Wallace playing a stretch 4/5 role for Melo and Amare. 2nd key is Melo needs to knock down outside shots and Amare needs to knock down his 15-18 footer. 3rd key is Amare needs to work that post game and pass out of the post.
The possibilities are just intriguing...Work in Felton and Kidd then Prigs on the backside with the pick and roll...Thing is we will be deep enough where we don't have to wear anyone thin like we did in previous years..
TeamBall wrote:fishmike wrote:gunsnewing wrote:IrishKnickFan wrote:the reason why people want him off the bench is because their record with melo at the 4 and without amare is very good. Now maybe it will finally work but for 2 years amare/melo havent fit well together
Melo at the 4 is fools gold come playoff time. Knicks don't have their first playoff win in a dozen years without Amare dominating game 4 against Miami with half a hand
this... also Melo can post 3's and Amare draw 4s out if his jumper is falling. Its the right combo. Fears of Amare's defense are unfounded, he made a lot of plays that first year. He can defend, and if thats what the coach wants thats what Amare will bring.
Didn't Brooke Lopez, Kevin Love, and even Tyler Hansbrough all have near career nights against Amare that first year? I remember Brooke Lopez's specifically because when we played the Nets last year in preseason Brooke looked NOWHERE near as good with Tyson guarding him. A lot of the plays Amare made that first year were help plays(the blocks on Derrick Rose and Lebron come to mind).
That was under Mike Dantoni
does anybody think prigioni would have more success with amare. Prigs like the PnR and Amare thrives off that so maybe prigs and amare can have some great chemistry
Felton will have more success with Amare. Prigioni will be nailed to the bench once Shumpert returns
IrishKnickFan wrote:does anybody think prigioni would have more success with amare. Prigs like the PnR and Amare thrives off that so maybe prigs and amare can have some great chemistry
To me, Prigs has his owns issues...He needs to get up to NBA speed, literally...
Mray20 wrote:TeamBall wrote:fishmike wrote:gunsnewing wrote:IrishKnickFan wrote:the reason why people want him off the bench is because their record with melo at the 4 and without amare is very good. Now maybe it will finally work but for 2 years amare/melo havent fit well together
Melo at the 4 is fools gold come playoff time. Knicks don't have their first playoff win in a dozen years without Amare dominating game 4 against Miami with half a hand
this... also Melo can post 3's and Amare draw 4s out if his jumper is falling. Its the right combo. Fears of Amare's defense are unfounded, he made a lot of plays that first year. He can defend, and if thats what the coach wants thats what Amare will bring.
Didn't Brooke Lopez, Kevin Love, and even Tyler Hansbrough all have near career nights against Amare that first year? I remember Brooke Lopez's specifically because when we played the Nets last year in preseason Brooke looked NOWHERE near as good with Tyson guarding him. A lot of the plays Amare made that first year were help plays(the blocks on Derrick Rose and Lebron come to mind).
That was under Mike Dantoni
It was under Al Bianchi!
Imagine the bench MOB of JR Smith, Amare, Sheed, Prognoni, and Novak. Those 5 guys would beat the bobcats.
Benching someone for the first time who has been a starter for almost their entire career is a big deal and Woodson knows it. It may not mean a big difference in minutes but its a point of pride to be a starter and I think Woodson wants to make sure that Stat buys into the reasoning before making that decision. Would make the transition a lot easier if it comes to that. Won't know if its necessary until Stat has some games under his belt.
