Knicks · My Thoughts of how to Salvage (page 1)

Name another winning team that has 1 or 2 primary ballhandlers/ISO-type players on it, and then compare them to Melo and Rose to see the difference. I come up with Lebron, Westbrook, CP3, Lillard, Harden, Giannis, etc... the difference seems to be they are all either significantly better players or at least much better facilitators. Rose has been great as a scoring guard penetrating, Melo pretty good with the mid-range post up jumper... they seem to take turns with only Lee, Noah and (sometimes) KP cutting and playing a passing offense. Lee is not the problem - he hits the J, moves/cuts and tries on defense.

The 2 stars defense has been pretty bad as well. Bottom line - the two don't fit well together. Yes, Melo has scoring help - but the Knicks seem to lack that contagious passing, defensive helping/screening that other successful teams utilize. The second unit plays more team ball but doesn't have enough scoring punch.

KP's problem is he is not clearly any position (yet) and we keep trying to find parts to fit around Melo and himself. I think Hornacek's system is decent, and after so many horrible coaching experiences we gotta keep him. I don't think changing the coach or system will help at this point.

My Plan - bring up C.Randle and play Holiday or Kuz at the 3 (move Melo to 4). Start O'Quinn and play KP and Willy as the first bigs. This would allow KP a chance to heal, fix the front court problem for now, and bring in more 3 pt shooting and ball movement with Kuz. Realize his defense needs a lot of work, but Lance seems hurt and either Melo or KP has to adjust positions (until KP gets stronger or figures out if he's a 3, 4 or 5).

5 - Rose, Lee, Kuz, Melo, O'Quinn
Backup - KP, Willy, Randle, Holiday, Plumlee
Almost Never Play - Jennings, Sasha, Baker, M'Dour, L.Thomas (until healthy)

Work with Rose to increase his passing and ball movement - he's too talented to sit and can pass - our team's record is pretty good when he passes...

If there's a trade for a Tony Allen-type (eg Lance Thomas, M'Dour) available - do it. If not, stand pat and ride out the season.

If at the end of the season Rose still isn't passing more or injuries keep occurring - let him walk or trade him for a Dragic type of guard. Feel out deals for Noah (and Melo if he's receptive).

Considering our terrible history of changing coaches and rosters so often - what do you guys think?

This season is not important. It's transition year. So why we need to save it?
Team need to concentrate on the future.
But it cannot be done with playoffs still being a plausible scenario.
So we will see more of the same until it will be clear that we are not making it.
Then we will see Melo out for the most part and lineups can be adjusted to evaluate players we need to make decisions on.
And develop players we have hopes about.
Noah, KP, Holiday, Lee, Rose
AQ, Hernangomez, Kuz, Baker, jennings
Some minutes for Lance, Plum. NDur
No pressure, learn the system, do right things on the court, play defense, gel.
This should be the plan.

Im not done with this year.

Im in the minority, I wanted the triangle implemented and cared more about the last third of the season than the first third.
Rose trial was very damaging to "getting it".
I want that culture installed. I think Rose would leave if he don't like the triangle. Triangle don't pay the bills.
Jordan as skeptical of the triangle and Kobe fought it. Its not easy and its the long road.
Not everyone believes in it either.
I want the cultural revolution
Hornacek wants wins. I can't say I blame anyone for shying away from it. Its unproven without hindsight.
Jordan was skeptical. Kobe was more about "beating Jordan" so he embraced it.
This is about KP, not Melo.

Nalod wrote:Im not done with this year.

Im in the minority, I wanted the triangle implemented and cared more about the last third of the season than the first third.
Rose trial was very damaging to "getting it".
I want that culture installed. I think Rose would leave if he don't like the triangle. Triangle don't pay the bills.
Jordan as skeptical of the triangle and Kobe fought it. Its not easy and its the long road.
Not everyone believes in it either.
I want the cultural revolution
Hornacek wants wins. I can't say I blame anyone for shying away from it. Its unproven without hindsight.
Jordan was skeptical. Kobe was more about "beating Jordan" so he embraced it.
This is about KP, not Melo.

I agree about everything you said. The only change I want right now is to move KP to 5 and Melo to 4. I would go with Kuz or Holiday at the 3 depending on need for the game.

A lot of people complain about Melos offense but I think this year it has been Rose who is the bottleneck. He is not a PG. Dude is very selfish offensively or just doesn't have the vision. Last night in one possesion, he penetrated then dribbled back out to bottom of the key...he saw a wide open CLee but instead of passing it...he did a 180 and shot it fading away which resulted in a missed shot.