Knicks · From here on in need to get into a set starting line up--also two bigs are clogging our driving lanes (page 1)

If you want to start out of the gate right--we need to develop a chemistry on that first unit and kind of get a semblance of the whole team.

Whatever anyone wants to say--watch the tape of our first three games and you will notice something right away--we have very limited driving lanes--and for that reason the spacing is poor and we cant get to the FL.

Our best team is with Melo at 4 its simply is. This is one thing Mike Woodson had right for this team. We can mix and match during the game--go big at times but for 25-28 minutes Melo needs to be the 4 man. That allows JR Smith and Shumpert to start.

Our cluster fck in the middle just needs to be addressed. To me--Id start the season with Cole A at C and Bragnani at PF OFF the bench as my back up 4-5 with THI as sixth man. Then if we need to be situational--whether thats foul trouble injury ejection match ups whatever--we have capable players off the bench but for the most part we need to set it. I feel bad for Amare but he can help us in spots of trouble.

Our back up PG is really honestly not that good. Each player has flaw. I hope the brass think about looking around to possibly up grade the back up PG position and if Calderon goes down ouch. Maybe next year we can re-look at Freddette.

C-Dalembart
PF-Anthony
F-Shumpert
G Smith
G Calderon
6th man THJ
C Cole A Amare or Smith
F Bargnani
G Prigioni or Larkin

Our best line up is with Melo Smith and Shump in it with THJ as 6th man. There is not enough skill starting Acy and Daelmbart upfront. I noticed absolute confusion and lane clogging with Acy + Dalembart in there and again with Stoudemire and Smith in there. It cut driving lanes and this is why we cant get to the FT line--the two bigs are clogging driving lanes. We can go big 2nd unit with Bargs as he can play in and out

i agree that the middle has been clogged. but i assumed it was because they werent starting the triangle HIGH enough. never the less, im sure teams will pack the paint when they realize (shump, acy and dalambert) cant shoot. one could argue that melo should start at the 4 but the reality is, thats not going to happen. especially when we have $34 million of PF on the roster.

in my opinion, the problem isnt the packed lane. the problem is breaking AWAY from the triangle. i dont know why timmy is trying to out do JR with the bad shot selection. those bad shots, lead to imbalance and fast break points for the other team. they need to be patient and fully BUY INTO the triangle. i dont think the whole team has yet.

- youve GOT to play dalembert. he has good defensive intincts (see 11:15 mark in the 3rd qtr. yet another example of how good defense isnt always displayed by stats in the box score. acy foolishly left his man to double shumpert's man - leaving his man wide open down low. vasquez (i think) saw the open man but had to flinch at it because he saw dalmebert momentarily rotate over (for acy to recoer). i think he was called for a travel.

- the whole TEAM improves on defense once shumpert plays. not only can he shut down an allstar guard like derozan but he energizes the team. they often trapped and double teamed in the half court. if shumpert was in he wouldve locked down sweet lou

- my vote for more playing time is Jason smith. not only does he take pride in defense but he can hit the mid range jumper. (i hope i never see bargnani again). cole plays defense, but the problem is he has stone mittens for hands so im afraid of him handling the ball in the triangle

- jose isnt as bad at defense as i thought. hes not HORRIBLE just bad. prigoni is old and washed up (the immortal Will CHerry blew right past him). Larkin is too small and exposed on post up. I just dont trust any PG out there besides jose. Id rather have shumpert and the SG play PG by committee

- overall, im not worried about the offense. theyre learning a new system and as long as they have melo that shouldnt be a problem. every now and then the shooters (JR and timmy) will get hot. This roster is FLAWED and i cant wait to shred these players with bloated contracts. however for the team to have a chance, they need DEFENSE

PG Calderon
SG Shumpert
SF Melo
PF Amare
C Dalambert

------
Bench
6th JR SF/SG
7th Smith C/PF
8th Timmy SG
9th Acy PF
10th Cole
--------
Garbage time
PG Larkin
PG Prigoni
SF Early
SF Outlaw
C Bargnani

While you want to play good D, this is not a defensive first league anymore. The Spurs AVG 105.4 points per game last year and their differential was 7+. You put Acy and Dalemart out there together and the Knicks offense is much easier to defend. We will shoot less free throws and we will score less points.

through 3 games we are avg 87.1 points per game. Now we have the personnel to score more and we will score more. But unless our guys are hot--I dont see us consistently avg 100 points +. I think our most explosive line up is with Anthony at 4--that also allows us to play our best 2 defenders in Dalembart and Shumpert as well. JR is also a good defender. If you do give up anything on D you get it back in spades on O.

i agree but this team has so many non defenders that i have to favor DEFENSE (if this were the bulls, id favor the offense). But offense is important and thats why you cant start 3 non scorers in Acy, Shumpert and Dalambert. Id rather start Amare, even if its for a couple mins.

Anthony should probably play the 4 but hes not going to as long as we have $34 million worth of PF on the roster

callmened wrote:i agree but this team has so many non defenders that i have to favor DEFENSE (if this were the bulls, id favor the offense). But offense is important and thats why you cant start 3 non scorers in Acy, Shumpert and Dalambert. Id rather start Amare, even if its for a couple mins.

Anthony should probably play the 4 but hes not going to as long as we have $34 million worth of PF on the roster

Our 4 position as is seems to be a chemistry killer. I don't think we can afford to look at how much were paying the 4's but rather put the best 5 players for this team on the floor. Putting Melo at the 4 opens up spots for Shumpert and Smith to start with Hardaway at 6th man and would give the team a set pattern going into the season. I really see a lot of really porous O and its not about the triangle. Using Melo and two more wing players with Calderon and Dalembart will make the most sense.(imho)

you start Dalembert, Amare, Melo, JR and Calderon. Because they are your best players.
2nd unit is Larkin, THjr, Shump and Early and whoever wins the job as 2nd big be it Bargs, Smith, Cole, etc

Best scenario is to get something positive from Amare early, rather than late. We know he's gone so if he's ready to go lets ride that horse till it breaks.

Am i the only person that doesn't see Cole in the mix?

babyKnicks wrote:Am i the only person that doesn't see Cole in the mix?

No. You are not the only one

3rd string. Will see time when Amare & Bargnani are gone

listening to Phil "slip" that dalembart and calderone are starting and add melo to the mix at SF, it looks like the log jam is at the 2 and the 4.

I kind of like shump the most and fear that JR may be, while hitting his shots, shooting his way out of the starting lineup.

He appears to be angling for that "spark off the bench" role again.

THJR is the most impressive, however, i almost prefer him as a back up point guard than as the number 3 guy at the 2...

Amare, is getting good looks and looks much much better, BUT...he needs to hit his shots and to me looks like he's looking to shoot more than pass, however, he did have some good passes in last night's game.

Bargs...what to make of him, he's basically been shut down. so shocked and dismayed at that one.

Jason Smith was ultra impressive in his lone debut and i'm sure he's not sleeping with a newborn (i'm not), so impressed and looking forward to him being the top off season acquisition by Phil Jackson.

Can Jason play the 4? not sure, maybe he backs up Dalembart...maybe he starts...

Really depends on Amare at this point...

So my lineup:
Calderone
Shump
Melo
Jason Smith
Dalembart

--
-- Amare, THJR, JR smith and Bargs the ideal when healthy and playing well bench.
-- Acy, Larkin, early for speed and the future.

Big problems with the second unit. No adequate PG. Larkin is too small/out of control. Pablo is cagey, but too slow. Either JR must be pushed into that role, bringing THJr as the 2nd unit shooting guard or someone needs to be brought in. Starting lineup should be:

Calderone
Shump
Melo
Amar'e/Smith
Dalmbert

Provides a good mix of offense/defense. Allows us to firm up our second unit with the remaining/new parts.

Sangfroid wrote:Big problems with the second unit. No adequate PG. Larkin is too small/out of control. Pablo is cagey, but too slow. Either JR must be pushed into that role, bringing THJr as the 2nd unit shooting guard or someone needs to be brought in. Starting lineup should be:

Calderone
Shump
Melo
Amar'e/Smith
Dalmbert

Provides a good mix of offense/defense. Allows us to firm up our second unit with the remaining/new parts.

Fisher has said he likes the combo of THjr/Early/Larkin in the 2nd unit and that would be more uptempo and less triangle. It would seem its Larkin's job to lose, and he will have to play really poorly to lose that spot.

Lets face it... this roster has some balance but its not a very good roster top to bottom.

BRIGGS wrote:

callmened wrote:i agree but this team has so many non defenders that i have to favor DEFENSE (if this were the bulls, id favor the offense). But offense is important and thats why you cant start 3 non scorers in Acy, Shumpert and Dalambert. Id rather start Amare, even if its for a couple mins.

Anthony should probably play the 4 but hes not going to as long as we have $34 million worth of PF on the roster

Our 4 position as is seems to be a chemistry killer. I don't think we can afford to look at how much were paying the 4's but rather put the best 5 players for this team on the floor. Putting Melo at the 4 opens up spots for Shumpert and Smith to start with Hardaway at 6th man and would give the team a set pattern going into the season. I really see a lot of really porous O and its not about the triangle. Using Melo and two more wing players with Calderon and Dalembart will make the most sense.(imho)

I don't think we should make money a factor but I think it will be. It's not my money so I don't care.

Kind of off topic but. Dalembert Acy Smith isn't a bad rotation around an all-star Pf/C if we can land one in the off season.

folks ive been preaching this for weeks now. Smith is perfect for this offense. He hits the midrange jumper like Bargnani but also he rebounds and PLAYS DEFENSE!