Knicks · Melo needs to realize he has a good team this year (page 1)

This is not to say I want KP shooting those shots, but we have some good shooters on this team and we have KP playing well. We need to find a way to get our offense going without relying on Melo so much. There just isn't a way this team can be a good playoff team if they are relying on Melo to carry the team. He is not that kind of player, certainly not now while his prime is almost over. An all-star for sure, but not a guy you want taking these many shots and getting so many ISO plays.

StarksEwing1 wrote:Melo really should realize that he fits better as the second guy now that we have KP rising fast. He shouldn't take offense to that because it will make his job easier and the team better

I'm not complaining about Rose being aggressive because I understand that eventually he'll start to make more mid-range or close shots. He's already doing them in the clutch and his drives are converting at a higher rate than season's start. He needs to stay aggressive.

Melo has to find the player he was last year when they were at 22-22. He was playing such a great game, passing the ball and shooting. Right now everytime Melo gets the ball all he does is try to iso or look to pull up. If he were Kevin Durant ok. He's not at that level anymore. He's got to realize he is heading towards the end of his prime and has emerging young star in KP and a 2 point guards in Jennings and Rose who can create very well on offense.

I don't have the numbers on me, but it strikes me as if Melo is getting as many isolation and high usage plays as last year. This just can't be. Last year our point guards were Calderon and Grant (Both who are now 3rd string point guards). KP was a 13-14 points a night rookie. This year he has Derrick Rose, Jennings and KP playing like an all-star. We can not let this continue. Hornachek needs to have a long look at two things if he really wants to make his mark as coach. 1) Whether starting Noah is at all advantageous. 2) If Melo continues to isolate or the team defers to him too much, to sit Melo down whenever that happens. .500 ball is not what this team's ceiling is. We have enough talent to be a much better team than our record indicates. Not Cleveland good, but 45-47 wins and in the top 5 good. Won't happen unless Melo reverts back to the Melo of last year where he was passing the ball and looking to set up open shooters. He's missing so many open shooters or cutters so many times he is isolating. It's extremely frustrating to watch.

nyknickzingis wrote:

StarksEwing1 wrote:Melo really should realize that he fits better as the second guy now that we have KP rising fast. He shouldn't take offense to that because it will make his job easier and the team better

There shouldn't be a "first" or "second" guy between (Or third for that matter) between KP Melo and Rose. All 3 are elite at certain things. It's all about what is best for the team in that given moment and longterm,

I'm not complaining about Rose being aggressive because I understand that eventually he'll start to make more mid-range or close shots. He's already doing them in the clutch and his drives are converting at a higher rate than season's start. He needs to stay aggressive.

Melo has to find the player he was last year when they were at 22-22. He was playing such a great game, passing the ball and shooting. Right now everytime Melo gets the ball all he does is try to iso or look to pull up. If he were Kevin Durant ok. He's not at that level anymore. He's got to realize he is heading towards the end of his prime and has emerging young star in KP and a 2 point guards in Jennings and Rose who can create very well on offense.

I don't have the numbers on me, but it strikes me as if Melo is getting as many isolation and high usage plays as last year. This just can't be. Last year our point guards were Calderon and Grant (Both who are now 3rd string point guards). KP was a 13-14 points a night rookie. This year he has Derrick Rose, Jennings and KP playing like an all-star. We can not let this continue. Hornachek needs to have a long look at two things if he really wants to make his mark as coach. 1) Whether starting Noah is at all advantageous. 2) If Melo continues to isolate or the team defers to him too much, to sit Melo down whenever that happens. .500 ball is not what this team's ceiling is. We have enough talent to be a much better team than our record indicates. Not Cleveland good, but 45-47 wins and in the top 5 good. Won't happen unless Melo reverts back to the Melo of last year where he was passing the ball and looking to set up open shooters. He's missing so many open shooters or cutters so many times he is isolating. It's extremely frustrating to watch.

nyknickzingis wrote:I got you.
Don't get me wrong, I know Melo's value to KP and this team. However as you said his value as a scoring threat is undermined if he does not pass to open players. He has to play like he did last season, that was fantastic. Too one dimensional this year.

absolutely wrong...i was watching the charlotte broadcast and they kept saying how melo is not looking for his shot in the last 4 mins and is passing a lot...beautifully. he doesn't have to play like last season because he was playing point forward for many mins...now he has 2 capable PGs to bring up the ball.

StarksEwing1 wrote:

nyknickzingis wrote:

StarksEwing1 wrote:Melo really should realize that he fits better as the second guy now that we have KP rising fast. He shouldn't take offense to that because it will make his job easier and the team better

There shouldn't be a "first" or "second" guy between (Or third for that matter) between KP Melo and Rose. All 3 are elite at certain things. It's all about what is best for the team in that given moment and longterm,

I'm not complaining about Rose being aggressive because I understand that eventually he'll start to make more mid-range or close shots. He's already doing them in the clutch and his drives are converting at a higher rate than season's start. He needs to stay aggressive.

Melo has to find the player he was last year when they were at 22-22. He was playing such a great game, passing the ball and shooting. Right now everytime Melo gets the ball all he does is try to iso or look to pull up. If he were Kevin Durant ok. He's not at that level anymore. He's got to realize he is heading towards the end of his prime and has emerging young star in KP and a 2 point guards in Jennings and Rose who can create very well on offense.

I don't have the numbers on me, but it strikes me as if Melo is getting as many isolation and high usage plays as last year. This just can't be. Last year our point guards were Calderon and Grant (Both who are now 3rd string point guards). KP was a 13-14 points a night rookie. This year he has Derrick Rose, Jennings and KP playing like an all-star. We can not let this continue. Hornachek needs to have a long look at two things if he really wants to make his mark as coach. 1) Whether starting Noah is at all advantageous. 2) If Melo continues to isolate or the team defers to him too much, to sit Melo down whenever that happens. .500 ball is not what this team's ceiling is. We have enough talent to be a much better team than our record indicates. Not Cleveland good, but 45-47 wins and in the top 5 good. Won't happen unless Melo reverts back to the Melo of last year where he was passing the ball and looking to set up open shooters. He's missing so many open shooters or cutters so many times he is isolating. It's extremely frustrating to watch.

You misunderstood me a lot. I was basically saying what you said in your paragraph. Melo is so much better when he is drawng defenders to him and passing to teammates. Of course he needs to score but now that we have a beats like KpP he doesnt have to carry the loag

Here's the thing: That's not really what you said in your response. Could be that you meant one thing and said another, but your original was very clear: you said Melo should be second behind KP. That's pretty cut and dry without any caveats.

Melo can certainly carry a team but he does have to realize when he just doesn't have it and play more DadMelo and facilitate, something he is very good at. He didn't do that much today.

Cartman718 wrote:

nyknickzingis wrote:I got you.
Don't get me wrong, I know Melo's value to KP and this team. However as you said his value as a scoring threat is undermined if he does not pass to open players. He has to play like he did last season, that was fantastic. Too one dimensional this year.

absolutely wrong...i was watching the charlotte broadcast and they kept saying how melo is not looking for his shot in the last 4 mins and is passing a lot...beautifully. he doesn't have to play like last season because he was playing point forward for many mins...now he has 2 capable PGs to bring up the ball.

Melo was 7-25 with only 2 assits (mostly cause everyone was missing). Dude needs to understand when his legs aren't in it. And the shots he missed in the 4th were not good ones.

martin wrote:

Cartman718 wrote:

nyknickzingis wrote:I got you.
Don't get me wrong, I know Melo's value to KP and this team. However as you said his value as a scoring threat is undermined if he does not pass to open players. He has to play like he did last season, that was fantastic. Too one dimensional this year.

absolutely wrong...i was watching the charlotte broadcast and they kept saying how melo is not looking for his shot in the last 4 mins and is passing a lot...beautifully. he doesn't have to play like last season because he was playing point forward for many mins...now he has 2 capable PGs to bring up the ball.

Melo was 7-25 with only 2 assits (mostly cause everyone was missing). Dude needs to understand when his legs aren't in it. And the shots he missed in the 4th were not good ones.

so if he's passing and teammates are missing, then what do you expect him to do...not try to take over?

nyknickzingis wrote:And move the ball when he's off. He's playing as if he's Jordan or Kobe in their prime and I'm sorry he just isn't that kind of player. They have to run less Melo iso sets. When he is on, that's fine. However tonight he was off clearly physically he was tired and we kept letting him isolate and let Melo take so many shots.

This is not to say I want KP shooting those shots, but we have some good shooters on this team and we have KP playing well. We need to find a way to get our offense going without relying on Melo so much. There just isn't a way this team can be a good playoff team if they are relying on Melo to carry the team. He is not that kind of player, certainly not now while his prime is almost over. An all-star for sure, but not a guy you want taking these many shots and getting so many ISO plays.

How do you win with a guy shooting 7 of 25 the rest of the team needs to shoot 50%

Cartman718 wrote:

martin wrote:

Cartman718 wrote:

nyknickzingis wrote:I got you.
Don't get me wrong, I know Melo's value to KP and this team. However as you said his value as a scoring threat is undermined if he does not pass to open players. He has to play like he did last season, that was fantastic. Too one dimensional this year.

absolutely wrong...i was watching the charlotte broadcast and they kept saying how melo is not looking for his shot in the last 4 mins and is passing a lot...beautifully. he doesn't have to play like last season because he was playing point forward for many mins...now he has 2 capable PGs to bring up the ball.

Melo was 7-25 with only 2 assits (mostly cause everyone was missing). Dude needs to understand when his legs aren't in it. And the shots he missed in the 4th were not good ones.

so if he's passing and teammates are missing, then what do you expect him to do...not try to take over?

Cartman718 wrote:

martin wrote:

Cartman718 wrote:

nyknickzingis wrote:I got you.
Don't get me wrong, I know Melo's value to KP and this team. However as you said his value as a scoring threat is undermined if he does not pass to open players. He has to play like he did last season, that was fantastic. Too one dimensional this year.

absolutely wrong...i was watching the charlotte broadcast and they kept saying how melo is not looking for his shot in the last 4 mins and is passing a lot...beautifully. he doesn't have to play like last season because he was playing point forward for many mins...now he has 2 capable PGs to bring up the ball.

Melo was 7-25 with only 2 assits (mostly cause everyone was missing). Dude needs to understand when his legs aren't in it. And the shots he missed in the 4th were not good ones.

so if he's passing and teammates are missing, then what do you expect him to do...not try to take over?

that wasn't exactly the case though, was it?

Vmart wrote:Rose wasn't great either 6-20. Combined with Melo these two were a staggering 13-45.

Rose had 8 assists and 8 boards with just 1 TO his shooting I can live with. Melo is a waste of space if he isnt shooting well

Vmart wrote:Rose wasn't great either 6-20. Combined with Melo these two were a staggering 13-45.

It was brutal. And yet the game was close down the stretch. They denied KP the ball and let Melo beat them.
The night before in MSG, it was a thing of beauty.

Jmpasq wrote:

Cartman718 wrote:

martin wrote:

Cartman718 wrote:

nyknickzingis wrote:I got you.
Don't get me wrong, I know Melo's value to KP and this team. However as you said his value as a scoring threat is undermined if he does not pass to open players. He has to play like he did last season, that was fantastic. Too one dimensional this year.

absolutely wrong...i was watching the charlotte broadcast and they kept saying how melo is not looking for his shot in the last 4 mins and is passing a lot...beautifully. he doesn't have to play like last season because he was playing point forward for many mins...now he has 2 capable PGs to bring up the ball.

Melo was 7-25 with only 2 assits (mostly cause everyone was missing). Dude needs to understand when his legs aren't in it. And the shots he missed in the 4th were not good ones.

so if he's passing and teammates are missing, then what do you expect him to do...not try to take over?

So his teammates have to make every shot but he can shoot 28% on 25 shots. I dont get why this guy has to force shot after shot when its quite clear he cant buy one. Knicks should of won this game.

because he can get hot in a hurry. unlike the others.

martin wrote:

Cartman718 wrote:

martin wrote:

Cartman718 wrote:

nyknickzingis wrote:I got you.
Don't get me wrong, I know Melo's value to KP and this team. However as you said his value as a scoring threat is undermined if he does not pass to open players. He has to play like he did last season, that was fantastic. Too one dimensional this year.

absolutely wrong...i was watching the charlotte broadcast and they kept saying how melo is not looking for his shot in the last 4 mins and is passing a lot...beautifully. he doesn't have to play like last season because he was playing point forward for many mins...now he has 2 capable PGs to bring up the ball.

Melo was 7-25 with only 2 assits (mostly cause everyone was missing). Dude needs to understand when his legs aren't in it. And the shots he missed in the 4th were not good ones.

so if he's passing and teammates are missing, then what do you expect him to do...not try to take over?

that wasn't exactly the case though, was it?

he tried...unsuccessfully. but there's going to be some resistance to deferring when until this year, you have surrounded him with non-NBA players.

As a whole this team passes well. If they can improve on that just a little it will push them higher. The level of competition has been pretty stiff and recently this team has been playing at a much higher level. I'm not overly concerned 😳

nixluva wrote:This was a situation that was partly due to the back to back. There were so many missed shots from POINT BLANK RANGE! Melo has actually made many great passes and I fully expect he realizes he should've passed it more but he did have a TON of open looks as did others.

As a whole this team passes well. If they can improve on that just a little it will push them higher. The level of competition has been pretty stiff and recently this team has been playing at a much higher level. I'm not overly concerned 😳

If Melo can't survive a back to back with 2 off days before that, he's in trouble. And this was a home and home, so really no excuse.

Dude has got to pick his spots and know when he's got it and when he doesn't.

And not for nothing, but he should have hit a WIDE OPEN KP during the end of regulation for the first Hornets game.

That was a missed opportunity. Here's the rub. When you watch feeds for other teams that pass a lot and have player movement they all say you have to pass to reward the movement. Players will move more if you pass more.

That's why I hate the iso crap so much. It has a cost on team spirit