Jesus he did it again

[Knicks411]

Amare might need a guy to set him up but he is also a black hole on offense. He is the epitome of a ball stopper. Melo is averaging over 4 apg this year (career high i believe). melo might be a great iso player but he is also a willing passer. Amare is not.

Ok, definitely agree with that. Ideally, you're getting Amare the ball moving to the bucket so he can take a dribble or two and dunk. Definitely not much of a passer. He should not be getting the ball much in iso situations.

The reason Melo was such a black hole was because he tried to get other involved but...THEY SUCKED.

That may be part of it, but he also just shoots a lot, period. I think his assist rate was up a lot this year, but that was more because of the point forward thing, which on a team wide level failed (Though yes, as you mention, the rest of the guys were doing pretty terribly).

...im beginning to be worried about Amare.

Yeah, i'd like to see a little more spring in his step. He was beginning to show signs before the tragedy with his brother. Hopefully he picks it back up. He was blocked like 4 times last night I think?

 

[MikeSU02]

You Knicks fans...what is your take about Melo returning and sharing with Lin? I guess it's been a subject discussed on the national level quite a bit lately.

Melo needs to make it work or the fans will turn on him and he knows his.

He was put in a crappy position having to play point forward.

However, Melo was/is out of shape. I'm less concerned with him playing with Lin and more concerned with him getting in shape.

 

[arrow2arinzesknee]

Melo had to take 30 shots a game earlier this year because for the love of god no one else on the team was even close to contributing . Toney Douglas was absolutely worthless and even STAT wasn't hitting the ope 12-17 footers he was burying last year. It was tough for Melo the only way they could win was if he was putting up 30+ a night, so he as the leader tried to make that happen.

I think it may take a few losses to figure out but I honestly think that if they sign J.R Smith, and Baron Davis ever plays and can contribute off the bench then the Knicks go from a team lacking depth to one of the deepest in the entire league.

IMO Lin is going to make Carmelo an assassin, they can spread the floor and Lin can get Anthony the ball in single coverage near the block where he impossible to stop or kick it to Melo for an open 15 footer, if Melo is covered through and oop to Chandler, get Amare running like a freight train toward the basket on a pick an roll, give it to shumpert on a drive or just take it the hole and keep on putting up 27 a night if you have to.

If it doesn't work as well play Amare at the five with the second unit and allow him to dominate other Centers away from the basket like he did last year.

seriously

pg: Lin/Davis
sg: Smith/Shumpert/Douglas
sf: Melo/Fields/Walker
pf: Amare/Jeffries/Novak
c: Chandler/Jeffries

is a very balanced team with defensive stoppers at guard and forward (Shumpert/Fields/Chandler/Jeffries)
good penetrators and dishers
(Lin/Shumpert/Melo) Davis?
Good Pick and Roll screenmen
(Chandler/Amare)
a dominant closer in ISO, one of the best scorers in the game
(Melo)
and if adding Smith a few lights out shooters from deep
(Smith/Novak)

If Jeffries becomes a player who can focus on dominating defensively only his versatility becomes a weapon and he is no longer a joke on the floor
Lin seems to bring out the best in JJ, lets hope it continues

but I like the above lineup and would not want to see them in the playoffs if I am Miami or Chicago.

 

[caw]

Melo is a fantastic shooter. With Lin being able to penetrate and dish to either Chandler, Melo or Amare or score Melo should be fine. Lin's points will probably go down but his assists should go up and his turnovers should go down as well.

The Knicks really have good balance once Melo gets back.

 

[arrow2arinzesknee]

I just want to see Melo get healthy, since game 2 he has been ailing, If he needs to sit another ten games to get 100% he needs to do it, especially while Lin is holding it down with him out