Phil was in a tough spot. He wasnt going to let his first big move as GM be to let Melo walk for nothing. Not to mention who knows what direction he was under from ownership. Dolan may very simply have said “get this done” and called it a business decision, and we would have been 100% justified in doing so as an owner.
It’s possible we would have been better off to let him walk. Anyone who can say that was a feasible course of action for a new GM at MSG is simply not living in reality. So I actually think Phil “challenging him to be something” he isn’t is a positive. I have no interest in a long jumper-shooting tweener who doesn’t defend being the guy we build our team and personnel around. So he was challenged to be more, to lead, to share the ball.. we saw DadMelo and we were all enamored. It was not sustainable and has not worked.
What I LIKE about Phil is during this “try to make it work with Melo” phase he didn’t lock us into cap crippling contracts or trade multiple first rounders trying to get us into the playoffs when we all know that we have no shot anyway. The only debate there is Noah and I actually think once we lose the ISO guys and base our team around ball movers that Noah’s value shows itself. Even if it doesn’t it won’t kill us.
The Knicks gave up a lot to get Melo. I can see where Phil was thinking I have to get something for Melo later down the line when he gave the contract. I was for letting Melo walk. I wanted Melo here but quickly realized his flaws and the fact that he couldn't work with MDA just stuck out to me. The MDA offense give a green light to anyone that is open. Only a non team player would oppose his system.
After Isiah fiasco if was no fast way out.
The team was set back for decades.
Danny fixed some of it as much as it was possible and Phil is working his magic to do farther repairs.
But I do not think he will be around when team will finally get in clear.
We will need one more good GM to finish the recovery.
Malo issue is consequential. he will be long time gone when Knicks will be any good.
Phil just tweeted about this article.
Interesting.
Bleacher's Ding almost rings the bell, but I learned you don't change the spot on a leopard with Michael Graham in my CBA daze.
GoNyGoNyGo wrote:Phil just tweeted about this article.Interesting.
Bleacher's Ding almost rings the bell, but I learned you don't change the spot on a leopard with Michael Graham in my CBA daze.
This is as scripted as it gets...
arkrud wrote:GoNyGoNyGo wrote:Phil just tweeted about this article.Interesting.
Bleacher's Ding almost rings the bell, but I learned you don't change the spot on a leopard with Michael Graham in my CBA daze.
This is as scripted as it gets...
Yep. Ding regularly covers the Warriors... or... wait for it... the Lakers.
The story was fed to Ding.
I love how people question when a NY beat reporter who is around the team every day writes a story. But when someone from the West coast writes a story, it is treated as if it were gospel.
At least Phil has found better writers to plant his stories than Charley Rosen.
Consider that the two big stories (Ding and Rosen) that have placed the blame on Melo were written by writers who -
A) are not around the team everyday
and
B) Have connections to Phil Jackson
Not saying that there isn't truth to the story... but let's just be real about what this is. This is all part of Phil's campaign to force the guy he gave a no-trade clause out of town.
crzymdups wrote:arkrud wrote:GoNyGoNyGo wrote:Phil just tweeted about this article.Interesting.
Bleacher's Ding almost rings the bell, but I learned you don't change the spot on a leopard with Michael Graham in my CBA daze.
This is as scripted as it gets...
Yep. Ding regularly covers the Warriors... or... wait for it... the Lakers.
The story was fed to Ding.
I love how people question when a NY beat reporter who is around the team every day writes a story. But when someone from the West coast writes a story, it is treated as if it were gospel.
Translation to regular english:
The article reminds Phil that a person's character, especially if it is bad, will not change, even if they pretend that it will
and he was unable to think or react properly because of his conservative thinking in the age on new CBA.
Id bet 10 bucks that Dolan as a precondition for Phil's' hiring was that Melo stays and we build around him. At 11mm a year--its pretty easy to say sure. Now it's gone bad and he probably told Dolan this is what we have to do--and I bet more people inside the Knicks are in on that.
Dolan could start firing a bunch of people right now--but its on him as well.
there is one incredible and simple bottom line. Melo is paid like a star/franchise player, is having his worst NBA season, the team is losing and thats how sports goes. These breakups are rarely clean. This is part of the show
fishmike wrote:there is one incredible and simple bottom line. Melo is paid like a star/franchise player, is having his worst NBA season, the team is losing and thats how sports goes. These breakups are rarely clean. This is part of the show
The Knicks were 14-10 and trending up when Phil decided to blow it all up because Melo wasn't moving the ball enough. Phil threw his star under the bus and has thrown his coach under the bus several times this season. It's no surprise they're both struggling. Phil has a lot to answer for.
With his cowardly pointing people toward this Kevin Ding article (which Phil likely helped source), Phil has ensured that Melo will have to answer questions about this, not Phil. Even Isiah faced the music. Phil is a coward.
crzymdups wrote:fishmike wrote:there is one incredible and simple bottom line. Melo is paid like a star/franchise player, is having his worst NBA season, the team is losing and thats how sports goes. These breakups are rarely clean. This is part of the show
The Knicks were 14-10 and trending up when Phil decided to blow it all up because Melo wasn't moving the ball enough. Phil threw his star under the bus and has thrown his coach under the bus several times this season. It's no surprise they're both struggling. Phil has a lot to answer for.
With his cowardly pointing people toward this Kevin Ding article (which Phil likely helped source), Phil has ensured that Melo will have to answer questions about this, not Phil. Even Isiah faced the music. Phil is a coward.
You have to be kidding me. Your saying Phil's comment that Melo could be a Kobe/Jordan role but holds the ball too long is the reason for the season's collapse? I just cant get my head around you believing that.
Also, Phil is torching Melo's trade value... is this part of the plan? He's a terrible GM.
fishmike wrote:crzymdups wrote:fishmike wrote:there is one incredible and simple bottom line. Melo is paid like a star/franchise player, is having his worst NBA season, the team is losing and thats how sports goes. These breakups are rarely clean. This is part of the show
The Knicks were 14-10 and trending up when Phil decided to blow it all up because Melo wasn't moving the ball enough. Phil threw his star under the bus and has thrown his coach under the bus several times this season. It's no surprise they're both struggling. Phil has a lot to answer for.
With his cowardly pointing people toward this Kevin Ding article (which Phil likely helped source), Phil has ensured that Melo will have to answer questions about this, not Phil. Even Isiah faced the music. Phil is a coward.
You have to be kidding me. Your saying Phil's comment that Melo could be a Kobe/Jordan role but holds the ball too long is the reason for the season's collapse? I just cant get my head around you believing that.
Earth is flat and sitting on top of the turtle which is hold by 3 elephants standing on 3 whales.
This was the belief of most of the people for millennials.
So not be surprised.
fishmike wrote:crzymdups wrote:fishmike wrote:there is one incredible and simple bottom line. Melo is paid like a star/franchise player, is having his worst NBA season, the team is losing and thats how sports goes. These breakups are rarely clean. This is part of the show
The Knicks were 14-10 and trending up when Phil decided to blow it all up because Melo wasn't moving the ball enough. Phil threw his star under the bus and has thrown his coach under the bus several times this season. It's no surprise they're both struggling. Phil has a lot to answer for.
With his cowardly pointing people toward this Kevin Ding article (which Phil likely helped source), Phil has ensured that Melo will have to answer questions about this, not Phil. Even Isiah faced the music. Phil is a coward.
You have to be kidding me. Your saying Phil's comment that Melo could be a Kobe/Jordan role but holds the ball too long is the reason for the season's collapse? I just cant get my head around you believing that.
That wasn't the only comment. He doubled down with the Rosen column, which led to DRose going AWOL. Then the leaked trade rumors. Now the Ding column. And, no, I think throwing his coach under the bus multiple times, insisting on the Triangle, insisting Rambis run the defense, and giving Noah $72M are all major factors as well.
If you go around the league outside of Knicks fans, there aren't very many people who think Phil has done a good job here.
And, yes, I think the "ballhog tendency" comment was reckless, poorly timed, and petty because the Knicks were finally winning because they'd abandoned the Triangle. Did you hear the OKC president come out and say that about Westbrook when the Thunder were 14-9? Melo was playing quite well - his next game after meeting with Phil, he gets ejected in Phoenix. Phil threw him and the team off their game. It's reckless, terrible, stupid management. Phil has been here almost four full years now - you'd think he'd make an effort to know Melo, but he has not. I guess we're all looking forward to Phil's fourth complete tear down rebuild in four years?
crzymdups wrote:fishmike wrote:crzymdups wrote:fishmike wrote:there is one incredible and simple bottom line. Melo is paid like a star/franchise player, is having his worst NBA season, the team is losing and thats how sports goes. These breakups are rarely clean. This is part of the show
The Knicks were 14-10 and trending up when Phil decided to blow it all up because Melo wasn't moving the ball enough. Phil threw his star under the bus and has thrown his coach under the bus several times this season. It's no surprise they're both struggling. Phil has a lot to answer for.
With his cowardly pointing people toward this Kevin Ding article (which Phil likely helped source), Phil has ensured that Melo will have to answer questions about this, not Phil. Even Isiah faced the music. Phil is a coward.
You have to be kidding me. Your saying Phil's comment that Melo could be a Kobe/Jordan role but holds the ball too long is the reason for the season's collapse? I just cant get my head around you believing that.
That wasn't the only comment. He doubled down with the Rosen column, which led to DRose going AWOL. Then the leaked trade rumors. Now the Ding column. And, no, I think throwing his coach under the bus multiple times, insisting on the Triangle, insisting Rambis run the defense, and giving Noah $72M are all major factors as well.
If you go around the league outside of Knicks fans, there aren't very many people who think Phil has done a good job here.
And, yes, I think the "ballhog tendency" comment was reckless, poorly timed, and petty because the Knicks were finally winning because they'd abandoned the Triangle. Did you hear the OKC president come out and say that about Westbrook when the Thunder were 14-9? Melo was playing quite well - his next game after meeting with Phil, he gets ejected in Phoenix. Phil threw him and the team off their game. It's reckless, terrible, stupid management. Phil has been here almost four full years now - you'd think he'd make an effort to know Melo, but he has not. I guess we're all looking forward to Phil's fourth complete tear down rebuild in four years?
So you imply that Melo is easily distracted spoiled man-child who cannot hear any criticism and take it as motivation?
Come on man - Melo is better that that?
Also, if Phil is so wise and knew that a "leopard's spots would never change"... why the hell did he sign Melo with a No Trade Clause again? So the issue is that Phil wants Melo to be Kobe or Jordan, but he knew he never could be, but he signed him anyway, then publicly chided him multiple times to be something he knew he never would... and we're supposed to applaud his genius?
Also, Melo passes the ball a lot more than KP. All just part of the wonderful mysteries of the Triangle, I guess.
Bleacher's Ding almost rings the bell, but I learned you don't change the spot on a leopard with Michael Graham in my CBA daze.
