Chins up, Knicks

[Fireball Jr.]

That was a really strong team they lost to tonight. No shame.

 

[PauliePeppas]

Cant stand landry fields, shrinks in every big moment

 

[Fireball Jr.]

Cant stand landry fields, shrinks in every big moment

plenty of blame to go around. nawlins did its best to lose, knicks wouldn't let 'em.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

4-24 from outside.

10 missed FT's.

They looked better when I didn't have MSG.

 

[PauliePeppas]

Its not judt tonight, hes a mental midget, ever since the playoffs last year i lost all confidence in him...front office obviously isnt too fond of him either

 

[longislandcuse]

Hopefully tonight slapped some sense into the "Waahhh, all we need is Landry and Shump" crowd. JR Smith was made for a game like today.

 

[LennX6]

Its not judt tonight, hes a mental midget, ever since the playoffs last year i lost all confidence in him...front office obviously isnt too fond of him either

I time his degradation to the 'Melo trade, and not because of 'Melo. The trade of Galinari and then the cutting loose of Billups needed him to play a more significant role that was too big for him. Hopefully JR Smith will take a majority of those minutes. I believe Fields will be more effective in limited minutes and in specific defensive modes.

 

[PoppyHart]

You'd be hard pressed to find a better 6-23 team.

 

[Fireball Jr.]

You'd be hard pressed to find a better 6-23 team.

best 6-23 team in the league.

 

[longislandcuse]

Fields should be Melo's backup. Lin/Shumpert/Melo/Amare/Chandler with an eventual bench of Baron/JR/Fields/Novak/JJ. Depending on how JR buys in, he may start at SG with Shump coming off the bench. I like Landry Fields alot...as a bench player.

 

[HakAttack]

Hopefully tonight slapped some sense into the "Waahhh, all we need is Landry and Shump" crowd. JR Smith was made for a game like today.

This is why getting JR Smith is such a good move. People will complain he's not a "good teammate," but the Knicks 3Pt% SUCKS. He'll give a big lift there.

I'd start Lin/Shump/Melo/Amare/Chandler, with Fields/Smith/Jeffries etc coming off the bench. Smith gives the second unit some much needed scoring punch, and Shump can slide over to the point to spell Lin when he's on the bench.

 

[baggerbob]

J R could get 4 pts falling out of bed and half of lin's turnovers in the first half were guys not going for the ball. One thing you don't have to worry about with Melo and J R if you pass the ball in their direction they will get it.

 

[Zelda Zonk]

This was a blessing. Better than Melo should come back to a team that ISN'T undefeated with Lin. Melo with his 'inability to adjust or be a team player' was going to be the scapegoat if he spoiled the perfect run. Now he can rejoin the team without the pressure to maintain the streak.

I'm glad they 'found' Lin. I saw his first few minutes with the Knicks, when he came into a game and did some nice things for only a few minutes. I thought then and there that Melo would benefit from his skills and playmaking. Prior to that, Melo had been responsible for too much.

 

[orangefan13]

Anyone that doesn't think Melo is awesome doesn't know CR@P about basketball. Thats not a opinion its a fact.
That being said Who cares what anyone says? Seriously its a joke.

Hes the closest built and skill both fit for a NBA PF/SF/SG combo in the NBA.
Theres a reason there is nobody out there like Melo.

Seriously anyone knocking on Melo can shove it (from a 100% non su biased standpoint).

 

[Knicks411]

Fields should be Melo's backup. Lin/Shumpert/Melo/Amare/Chandler with an eventual bench of Baron/JR/Fields/Novak/JJ. Depending on how JR buys in, he may start at SG with Shump coming off the bench. I like Landry Fields alot...as a bench player.

I think when (if?) Baron comes back, I agree with that, though I am knot sure Fields can really guard 3's.

We need some shooting to spread the floor. Even the starting lineup you mention, there's no real shooting in it, which is going to hurt the spacing. For now, I think we need Shump to play the 1 with the bench unit, though he isn't much of a PG either.

 

[longislandcuse]

I think when (if?) Baron comes back, I agree with that, though I am knot sure Fields can really guard 3's.

We need some shooting to spread the floor. Even the starting lineup you mention, there's no real shooting in it, which is going to hurt the spacing. For now, I think we need Shump to play the 1 with the bench unit, though he isn't much of a PG either.

I really think JR eventually starts if he doesnt act up. He stretches the floor for Lin to get in the lane and feed our frontcourt guys. The bench unit is plenty strong enough if Baron comes back with Baron, Iman, Fields, Novak and JJ.

 

[Knicks411]

I really think JR eventually starts if he doesnt act up. He stretches the floor for Lin to get in the lane and feed our frontcourt guys. The bench unit is plenty strong enough if Baron comes back with Baron, Iman, Fields, Novak and JJ.

Granted they normally won';t be playing those 5 guys together at once, but how many of those guys you mentioned can create shots? Also, Shump is their best perimeter defender, and a lot of the starters aren't great on defense.

 

[longislandcuse]

Granted they normally won';t be playing those 5 guys together at once, but how many of those guys you mentioned can create shots? Also, Shump is their best perimeter defender, and a lot of the starters aren't great on defense.

Tyson can anchor the defense. Melo when he needs to is capable of playing defense. Lin is weak, JR is extremely athletic so he may have to guard the D-Rose's of the world. Obviously Amare is the problem as he couldnt guard my grandma. That unit isnt great defensively but is ridiculous on offense. The bench unit would be run by Baron, who I think could create shots for Novak, Fields and Iman. If the starting offensive unit is having trouble locking people down we can always bring in Iman/JJ.

 

[Knicks411]

Tyson can anchor the defense. Melo when he needs to is capable of playing defense. Lin is weak, JR is extremely athletic so he may have to guard the D-Rose's of the world. Obviously Amare is the problem as he couldnt guard my grandma. That unit isnt great defensively but is ridiculous on offense. The bench unit would be run by Baron, who I think could create shots for Novak, Fields and Iman. If the starting offensive unit is having trouble locking people down we can alwayst bring in Iman/JJ.

I think you are being too kind to Melo, I don't think he's really in any different of a class than Amare. They both are pretty weak defensively.

Obviously every matchup is different, etc, but if we are playing a close game down the stretch against Chicago, then I think I need Shumpert checking Rose. (The offensive lineup that gives me a hardon is Lin, Smith, Novak, Melo, and Amare. 2 lights out shooters ot stretch the floor, no Chandler, so Amare gets lots of space down low, etc.)

Looks like they'll be getting Melo and JR for tomorrow. Hopefully they can pull this one out today.

 

[longislandcuse]

I think you are being too kind to Melo, I don't think he's really in any different of a class than Amare. They both are pretty weak defensively.

Obviously every matchup is different, etc, but if we are playing a close game down the stretch against Chicago, then I think I need Shumpert checking Rose. (The offensive lineup that gives me a hardon is Lin, Smith, Novak, Melo, and Amare. 2 lights out shooters ot stretch the floor, no Chandler, so Amare gets lots of space down low, etc.)

Looks like they'll be getting Melo and JR for tomorrow. Hopefully they can pull this one out today.

See, I think people are too critical of Melo's defense. He gets lumped in with Amare which makes him seem worse than he is. Does Melo take possessions off, yes. However, I have seen him check Lebron and Pierce and do a pretty good job. On talk radio this past week alot of people were coming to his defense, ironically on defense. They all pointed to the fact that game on the line, 4th quarter Melo will D you up and has the skills to do so. Amare on the other hand has no lateral quickness and is stiff as a board on defense.