The team has looked like a different team with KOQ starting. For one thing, they're 4-0.
Noah started to act hurt that he wasn't playing enough and frankly, his uptick in minutes has coincided with the losing streak.
Look at the game log. From 11/14 to 12/11, they went 11-4. Noah missed four of those games and played less than 20min in 7 others. His average minutes played in the games he did play in that stretch was 19mpg.
Or at least playing Noah far fewer minutes. He's averaging 24min per game in the last 14 games - their record is 4-10 in those games.
I would try starting KOQ.
Also, at SG -
I think Holiday has done a better job than CLee so far this season. I think he brings better energy and hustle. Something has looked off with CLee... like he's starting to check out or something. I dunno. I'd give Holiday a shot.
This team needs a shake up badly.
DRose
Holiday
Melo
KP
KOQ
bench
Jennings
CLee
Kuz
Willy
Noah (sparingly)
No Lance. If Jennings sucks, he gets pulled for Ron.
Lance is out for awhile so you can plan around him. I think Baker should play alongside Jennings with the second unit. The ball movement is so much better when Baker is in. Holiday or Kuz is going to need to start in place of KP/Lance. I think Noah can stay in the starting 5. I think Willy is the 11th man right now playing when the situation calls for it. Also, move Rambis upstairs.
It won't really matter, although Holiday is playing way above what I thought he is not the answer defensively. He's light 2nd falls asleep on defense a lot.
KO'Q. May help some but I have not liked the way he has been giving up post position lately. Plus like all the other bigs he fouls too much.
CrushAlot wrote:Lance is out for awhile so you can plan around him. I think Baker should play alongside Jennings with the second unit. The ball movement is so much better when Baker is in. Holiday or Kuz is going to need to start in place of KP/Lance. I think Noah can stay in the starting 5. I think Willy is the 11th man right now playing when the situation calls for it. Also, move Rambis upstairs.
Completely agree to move Rambis upstairs.
I agree about Holiday, Kuz, and Baker.
Disagree about Noah -
Willy was -2 tonight in 20 minutes. Noah was -24 in 23 minutes. That's a small sample size but for the whole season:
Noah -95, ranked 393 in the league, -4 per 36min
Willy +2, ranked 170 in the league, +.2 per 36min
KOQ is -34, ranked 304 in the league, -2 per 36min
Courtney Lee is -75, 367th in the league, -2.5 per 36min
Justin Holiday is -42, 317th in the league, -2 per 36min
It's obviously an inexact stat - but it's a general measure of player's effectiveness when they're in the game. Noah has been terrible. CLee has been pretty bad and I'd bet he's trending downward.
Hornacek has to do something to wake this team up. I'd be less concerned about numbers and replacing people than with effort.
I'd seriously start the bench players, 1-5. Baker, Kuz, Holiday, Willy & KOQ. Then start to sub in my starters.
And the message would be I have to see effort on both sides of the ball.
The bench showed heart yesterday. The starters played like they had been out late visiting some of the adult entertainment venues in Toronto.
Courtney has been benched for Ron
And Kuz starting for Lance, obviously.
crzymdups wrote:
Courtney has been benched for Ron
This looks like a Rambis move, sort of like the afflalo benching..How does a seldom use bench player hop into the starting line up...wow, Phil's coaching staff will always get the bulk of the blame win or lose IMO..and they have been more inconsistent then the players
knicks1248 wrote:crzymdups wrote:
Courtney has been benched for Ron
This looks like a Rambis move, sort of like the afflalo benching..How does a seldom use bench player hop into the starting line up...wow, Phil's coaching staff will always get the bulk of the blame win or lose IMO..and they have been more inconsistent then the players
I agree with this -
Courtney being used as a scape goat for Noah, Rose, Melo.
5-0 without Noah now.
CLee plays great off the bench. 9pts 8rebs 7ast
Knicks average 110.3 points per game on offense when Noah is out. They give up 105ppg with him out. 5-1 record.
With Noah playing - they average 104ppg on offense and give up 109ppg. 14-24 record.
So they're +6 on offense and give up 5 points less on defense. That's an 11pt swing!
I love Noah and I'll cop to wanting to sign him. But he's been terrible and he just doesn't fit the way this team needs to play.
Also, how does the coaching staff only stick with the lineup change for TWO/THREE GAMES?? They need some consistency. Also, the staff must have access to these numbers.
