it pretty much confirms what we've known or speculated. melo and amare are poor defensive players with too much of an ego. i've been saying it's up to the coach to handle this mess and bench those guys and go back to the winning ways of team basketball during the streak but now it's too late. i guess the locker room is split between lin (coach's system) or the overpaid washed up stars, melo and amare who wants nothing but isolation plays back to their 8-15 record.
I can still remember Melo smiling and promising to Stephen A Smith and the whole world that he can't wait to join and play Lin-basketball.
" Management, the coaching staff and the players know Anthony is hurting the offense and in turn, the defensive morale, according to the sources. While D'Antoni's offense calls for Anthony to plant himself on the wing at the 3-point line, he often creeps in to his favorite spot in the floor -- the area between the elbow, the arc and the post. That kills the Knicks' ability to run the high pick-and-roll and ruins the spacing that is so critical to D'Antoni's offense.
"That's at the very core of our problem," one person close to the situation said. "That messes up the fluidity of the offense...
"
I also remember Amare speaking of "the fluidity on offense"...
" He has told people close to him that he is being asked to do things he's never done, saying that throughout his career he has always had plenty of post-up opportunities and that he is uncomfortable standing on the wing spacing the floor. "
Never done before? Survival the fittest, Melo, better learn that in NY... or ask your teammates, see how many kinds of scenarios have they gone through?
This is so sad. I hope this post is just New York media hype otherwise I guess we can call this season done for the Knicks. If the inmates are indeed running the asylum (ie Amare, Carmelo and gang) and Dantoni is fired, I think this may be the end for Jeremy as a Knick. If a new coach comes in with a new system, this new system may not highlight Jeremy's skills and he will eventually be moved out. The new coach would likely be more accommodating to the "superstars". This might not be a bad thing since he clearly needs to be in a true team environment and not the circus he is associated with now. I really hope I'm wrong on all accounts and the team can turn around, but it's just not looking good.
Wait and see on this. It's obvious the chemistry isn't there and Coach isn't / can't do much to fix it. Because we've been focused on JLin so much, we are seeing the uglier side of business in the NBA.
It's not like JLin hasn't seen this before. With the Warriors, JLin had to defer to the more highly touted Curry and Ellis, who are good offensive players but not great defensive players. At least Melo and Stat are forwards to JLin can get out there and play unlike with the Warriors.
The Warriors finally admitted defeat today by trading Ellis to the Bucks (which means JLin and Ellis will duke it out two times in the final few weeks). Maybe the Knicks will do the same.
Mike will probably be fired right after putting out that starting line up, and according to the audiences calling into ESPN NY radio shows, half of the NYC basketball fans will go crazy as well.
But hey, if Mike pulls this trigger and gets a win against Portland?
This is another test for Lin and one worth learning. NBA and life contains complexities, disparate motivations, office politics, etc. You can't just keep your head down and expect everyone else to be as ernest and selfless. While I believe Jeremy will always be sincere in his approach to the game, teammates, and coaches, he also needs to understand that even with the best motivations from everyone, there are disagreements and conflicts.
Despite all this team imploding nonsense, Lin is STILL playing great.
I knew Lin was great, but even I didn't know he was THAT great. To be playing as well as he has despite having guys actively working against him and the coach is amazing.
While this is indeed Lin's problem, there is nothing he can do to cure it. All Lin can do is buy into Dantoni's system.and play his game.
Lin's struggles in the half-court offense since opposing defenses (at least the good defenses) have adjusted to him are part of the problem, too.
ESPN's Jared Zwerling could have been talking to some of the fans who post here: http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/knicks/post/_/id/14208/jeremy-lin-melo-and-i-are-fine
The negative scrutiny Anthony has been getting is not completely fair. While he still slows down the Knicks' ball movement at times with his isolation play, one thing that's being overlooked is how Lin goes through stretches struggling against some of the best defenses in the league.
Defensive traps, especially, and increased pressure in the paint have led to Lin making more rushed passes and even some while leaving his feet too soon that become prey for transition opportunities.
...
Acting sooner rather than reacting too late to what's thrown at him will be an ongoing adjustment for Lin, and it won't happen this week or next, or even this season.
Michael A Smith thinks Jeremy shoots too much and D'tonie will be gone within a week. Smith also thinks anyone has the license to shoot the ball if he's wide open. A lot of politicking.
The problem is this team has no leverage over Carmelo Anthony, they have no championship ring coach like Phil Jackson who can talk some sense to him. Jeremy Lin does not get respect as a leader, because he's not a superstar like Kobe, Wade, or D. Williams. Kobe was able to get Shaq traded, because he's that influential.
Lin back to the warriors next year! No more ellis :p
But losing does that to a team, especially one with so many ego's. I would do this instead, run BD with the first team and limit his minutes with them and let Lin run the second team, because they play more like a team rather than the play you get from the likes of Stat and Melo together.
I would rather see a Lin, Shumbert/Fields, Novak, Jeffries, Chandler together rather than the
Lin,Fields,Melo,Stat,Chandler but Melo's iso's just kill the entire team mentality.
Davis can be controversial for us as Lin fans because he's in competition with Lin for minutes and the 1st team PG role. But Baron Davis fits D'Antoni's system - he has the necessary skills. Davis is a better ball-handler than Lin (true PG handle vs Lin's combo guard handle) and can maneuver in the half court better than Lin. I believe Davis when he says he chose to join the Knicks in order to run D'Antoni's PG-focused system. More importantly, while he's had his bad moments like Lin, I haven't seen Davis not run D'Antoni's system as the PG.
In theory, blending Anthony's game into D'Antoni's system is the correct way to go, but it has to go both ways and they have to work together. Anthony has to adjust his game and D'Antoni has to call plays that fit Anthony. If Anthony is breaking plays, that's bad.
Anthony strikes me as a multi-skilled player who can defend, rebound, and adjust on offense if he wants to, but chooses not to bend due to ego. Stoudamire doesn't strike me as an egotistical player refusing to adjust his game. As opposed to Anthony, Stoudamire strikes me as a limited player who would adjust if he could, but there are things he simply doesn't have the ability to do. A big deal: Stoudamire's no longer the same explosive athlete.
I still don't know that Lin can run an offense as a traditional PG. (Just heard that D'Antoni quit.) If the Knicks abandon the D'Antoni system entirely in favor of an offense built around Anthony, it will be interesting to find out Lin's role.
If Anthony gets his way on offense, we'll get to find out whether Lin can succeed as a conventional (better adjective than the 'traditional' that I used earlier) PG, which he never has been.
Just a big a question is, what happens to Stoudamire? Stoudamire's NBA success has all been when featured in the D'Antoni system.
If Anthony gets his way, he will have the ball all the time, and Lin will just be a spot up shooter. His numbers will not be big because he won't be attacking the rim like he usually does.
Remember, the rest of the NBA has seen what Jeremy Lin can do .... they won't forget. So if the Knicks situation gets worse, many NBA teams will want Lin on their team.
If Lin is reduced to a feed the post, spot up shooter kind of PG, that's a concern. Not the feed the post part - Lin makes solid entry passes. Waiting at the 3 point line for a spot up J is not Lin's strength. His game is mostly middle-in.
On the other hand, Woodson may try the Davis-Lin backcourt more than D'Antoni did and use Lin in his more natural scoring guard role.
Lin won't be buried on the bench because there's no other viable back-up PG, but flipping roles and Davis becoming the 1st team PG is distinctly possible.
There's a widespread belief that Lin's success as a PG was due to his fit with D'Antoni's system. If the Knicks are no longer running D'Antoni's system, then ...
I think Lin can succeed in a run and gun system like the Warriors. He showed good stuff last year, which is why we are believers in him. It will allow him to play reckless again, high points, assists and turnovers, can't wait to see how he does tonight.
Steven A. Smith is a tool! He was just on espn radio saying, "Jeremy Lin is an average point guard, he is not a star. He needs to work on his left hand dribble." What a d-ckhead! I can't stand the guy! So this is all Lin's fault now? Son of a ......
I feel this is not a good situation for jlin. Just his overall personality no longer fits this team full of egos. When melo can sit by himself during a timeout agaInst Chicago and the next day the coach is gone, it is just not an ideal situation for anyone who wants to play team ball. What's next? If jlin doesn't pass the ball to melo then jlin gets traded? Maybe that would be good.
For all you that wanted D'Antoni gone, well, be prepared for the consequences.
Woodson was the architect of the Iso-Joe (Johnson) offense in Atlanta. Expect a ton of Isos for that selfish douche-bag, I mean, Melo.
The problem was never D'Antoni's offense, it works with the right personnel and players who buy in. Unfortunately, 1 dude got selfish and jealous (of Jeremy) and blew this whole thing up. He'll put of a ton of points inefficiently, but NYK is not better because he stinks on the defensive end, and always will.
Oh man...bad move to oust Dantoni. Jeremy lin will be moved to back up guard by Woodson in favor of veteran davis. I think Anthony will get booed to kingdome come tonight - it will be serious and relentless booing everytime he touches the ball. It will be ugly. Jeremy will probably play back up guard and he will be disillusioned and not play well , maybe 15 minutes and it will be obvious woodson in over his head.
This is not good. Unbelievable actually. A month ago we were all going crazy with the rest of the world and now this. If I were the Knicks, I would've tried to move Carmelo ASAP. You already had something going with Lin-sanity and now you're going to ruin that? Good job Dolan.
Jeremy should start looking for new digs again. I like the sound of Dallas and the Lakers, both need PGs. The Heat is also good. But what I'd really like to see is Spurs or Blazers. The Blazers need a PG bad, Felton isn't cutting it and Crawford isn't a true PG. Lin with LaMarcus and Batum... alley-oop and Pick N Roll all day long.
I'm a New Yorker so I liked having Lin here and showing his skill set in my hometown but I would rather him be somewhere else where they don't crap on every little mistake made.
The Dallas Mavericks are built around Dirk Nowitzki. He's an iso-post up player, who also lacks defensive intensity. But the difference between him and Melo is ... Dirk knows how to pass the ball when he gets doubled. Melo does not know how to share the ball. You can't build a team around his game.
Lin can excel in any kind of offense because of his elite athleticism, super skills, and growing familiarity with the NBA game.
The only thing that would limit Lin would be lack of minutes. Even if the Knicks shut Lin down for the season, he'd go back to outplaying guys so badly in practice that they have nothing left for games.
it pretty much confirms what we've known or speculated. melo and amare are poor defensive players with too much of an ego. i've been saying it's up to the coach to handle this mess and bench those guys and go back to the winning ways of team basketball during the streak but now it's too late. i guess the locker room is split between lin (coach's system) or the overpaid washed up stars, melo and amare who wants nothing but isolation plays back to their 8-15 record.
ReplyDeleteI can still remember Melo smiling and promising to Stephen A Smith and the whole world that he can't wait to join and play Lin-basketball.
ReplyDelete"
Management, the coaching staff and the players know Anthony is hurting the offense and in turn, the defensive morale, according to the sources. While D'Antoni's offense calls for Anthony to plant himself on the wing at the 3-point line, he often creeps in to his favorite spot in the floor -- the area between the elbow, the arc and the post. That kills the Knicks' ability to run the high pick-and-roll and ruins the spacing that is so critical to D'Antoni's offense.
"That's at the very core of our problem," one person close to the situation said. "That messes up the fluidity of the offense...
"
I also remember Amare speaking of "the fluidity on offense"...
"
He has told people close to him that he is being asked to do things he's never done, saying that throughout his career he has always had plenty of post-up opportunities and that he is uncomfortable standing on the wing spacing the floor.
"
Never done before? Survival the fittest, Melo, better learn that in NY... or ask your teammates, see how many kinds of scenarios have they gone through?
This is so sad. I hope this post is just New York media hype otherwise I guess we can call this season done for the Knicks. If the inmates are indeed running the asylum (ie Amare, Carmelo and gang) and Dantoni is fired, I think this may be the end for Jeremy as a Knick. If a new coach comes in with a new system, this new system may not highlight Jeremy's skills and he will eventually be moved out. The new coach would likely be more accommodating to the "superstars". This might not be a bad thing since he clearly needs to be in a true team environment and not the circus he is associated with now. I really hope I'm wrong on all accounts and the team can turn around, but it's just not looking good.
ReplyDeleteWait and see on this. It's obvious the chemistry isn't there and Coach isn't / can't do much to fix it. Because we've been focused on JLin so much, we are seeing the uglier side of business in the NBA.
ReplyDeleteIt's not like JLin hasn't seen this before. With the Warriors, JLin had to defer to the more highly touted Curry and Ellis, who are good offensive players but not great defensive players. At least Melo and Stat are forwards to JLin can get out there and play unlike with the Warriors.
The Warriors finally admitted defeat today by trading Ellis to the Bucks (which means JLin and Ellis will duke it out two times in the final few weeks). Maybe the Knicks will do the same.
I'd like to see the Knicks test the idea of Anthony as a 6th man.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nba.com/2012/news/features/steve_aschburner/03/13/knicks-woes/index.html
Mike will probably be fired right after putting out that starting line up, and according to the audiences calling into ESPN NY radio shows, half of the NYC basketball fans will go crazy as well.
DeleteBut hey, if Mike pulls this trigger and gets a win against Portland?
Really hope this isn't just my fantasy.
This is another test for Lin and one worth learning. NBA and life contains complexities, disparate motivations, office politics, etc. You can't just keep your head down and expect everyone else to be as ernest and selfless. While I believe Jeremy will always be sincere in his approach to the game, teammates, and coaches, he also needs to understand that even with the best motivations from everyone, there are disagreements and conflicts.
ReplyDeleteDespite all this team imploding nonsense, Lin is STILL playing great.
ReplyDeleteI knew Lin was great, but even I didn't know he was THAT great. To be playing as well as he has despite having guys actively working against him and the coach is amazing.
While this is indeed Lin's problem, there is nothing he can do to cure it. All Lin can do is buy into Dantoni's system.and play his game.
Lin's struggles in the half-court offense since opposing defenses (at least the good defenses) have adjusted to him are part of the problem, too.
DeleteESPN's Jared Zwerling could have been talking to some of the fans who post here: http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/knicks/post/_/id/14208/jeremy-lin-melo-and-i-are-fine
The negative scrutiny Anthony has been getting is not completely fair. While he still slows down the Knicks' ball movement at times with his isolation play, one thing that's being overlooked is how Lin goes through stretches struggling against some of the best defenses in the league.
Defensive traps, especially, and increased pressure in the paint have led to Lin making more rushed passes and even some while leaving his feet too soon that become prey for transition opportunities.
...
Acting sooner rather than reacting too late to what's thrown at him will be an ongoing adjustment for Lin, and it won't happen this week or next, or even this season.
Placate the ego players, start Melo, Stat, JR, Davis. Let them play until things start to slide, then bring in the Linsanity team. Nothing to lose.
ReplyDeleteMichael A Smith thinks Jeremy shoots too much and D'tonie will be gone within a week. Smith also thinks anyone has the license to shoot the ball if he's wide open. A lot of politicking.
ReplyDeletehttp://espn.go.com/new-york/nba/story/_/id/7685755/new-york-knicks-carmelo-anthony-denies-desire-trade-rift-coach
The problem is this team has no leverage over Carmelo Anthony, they have no championship ring coach like Phil Jackson who can talk some sense to him. Jeremy Lin does not get respect as a leader, because he's not a superstar like Kobe, Wade, or D. Williams.
ReplyDeleteKobe was able to get Shaq traded, because he's that influential.
Lin back to the warriors next year! No more ellis :p
ReplyDeleteBut losing does that to a team, especially one with so many ego's. I would do this instead, run BD with the first team and limit his minutes with them and let Lin run the second team, because they play more like a team rather than the play you get from the likes of Stat and Melo together.
I would rather see a Lin, Shumbert/Fields, Novak, Jeffries, Chandler together rather than the
Lin,Fields,Melo,Stat,Chandler but Melo's iso's just kill the entire team mentality.
Reports are circulating that Coach D'antoni has resigned.
ReplyDeleteGood article. Thoughts:
ReplyDeleteDavis can be controversial for us as Lin fans because he's in competition with Lin for minutes and the 1st team PG role. But Baron Davis fits D'Antoni's system - he has the necessary skills. Davis is a better ball-handler than Lin (true PG handle vs Lin's combo guard handle) and can maneuver in the half court better than Lin. I believe Davis when he says he chose to join the Knicks in order to run D'Antoni's PG-focused system. More importantly, while he's had his bad moments like Lin, I haven't seen Davis not run D'Antoni's system as the PG.
In theory, blending Anthony's game into D'Antoni's system is the correct way to go, but it has to go both ways and they have to work together. Anthony has to adjust his game and D'Antoni has to call plays that fit Anthony. If Anthony is breaking plays, that's bad.
Anthony strikes me as a multi-skilled player who can defend, rebound, and adjust on offense if he wants to, but chooses not to bend due to ego. Stoudamire doesn't strike me as an egotistical player refusing to adjust his game. As opposed to Anthony, Stoudamire strikes me as a limited player who would adjust if he could, but there are things he simply doesn't have the ability to do. A big deal: Stoudamire's no longer the same explosive athlete.
I still don't know that Lin can run an offense as a traditional PG. (Just heard that D'Antoni quit.) If the Knicks abandon the D'Antoni system entirely in favor of an offense built around Anthony, it will be interesting to find out Lin's role.
de antoni resigned as head coach...crazy
ReplyDeleteHow will Lin be used under Woodson?
ReplyDeleteIf Anthony gets his way on offense, we'll get to find out whether Lin can succeed as a conventional (better adjective than the 'traditional' that I used earlier) PG, which he never has been.
DeleteJust a big a question is, what happens to Stoudamire? Stoudamire's NBA success has all been when featured in the D'Antoni system.
If Anthony gets his way, he will have the ball all the time, and Lin will just be a spot up shooter. His numbers will not be big because he won't be attacking the rim like he usually does.
DeleteRemember, the rest of the NBA has seen what Jeremy Lin can do .... they won't forget. So if the Knicks situation gets worse, many NBA teams will want Lin on their team.
If Lin is reduced to a feed the post, spot up shooter kind of PG, that's a concern. Not the feed the post part - Lin makes solid entry passes. Waiting at the 3 point line for a spot up J is not Lin's strength. His game is mostly middle-in.
DeleteOn the other hand, Woodson may try the Davis-Lin backcourt more than D'Antoni did and use Lin in his more natural scoring guard role.
I'm bracing for the worst. Jlin may even be benched for Davis or even sent deep into the bench. Who knows? Maybe they're going hire Keith Smart.
ReplyDeleteI think there's a lot resentment over Lin's success and it's going start coming out.
Lin won't be buried on the bench because there's no other viable back-up PG, but flipping roles and Davis becoming the 1st team PG is distinctly possible.
DeleteThere's a widespread belief that Lin's success as a PG was due to his fit with D'Antoni's system. If the Knicks are no longer running D'Antoni's system, then ...
I think Lin can succeed in a run and gun system like the Warriors. He showed good stuff last year, which is why we are believers in him. It will allow him to play reckless again, high points, assists and turnovers, can't wait to see how he does tonight.
ReplyDeleteSteven A. Smith is a tool! He was just on espn radio saying, "Jeremy Lin is an average point guard, he is not a star. He needs to work on his left hand dribble." What a d-ckhead! I can't stand the guy! So this is all Lin's fault now? Son of a ......
ReplyDeleteI feel this is not a good situation for jlin. Just his overall personality no longer fits this team full of egos. When melo can sit by himself during a timeout agaInst Chicago and the next day the coach is gone, it is just not an ideal situation for anyone who wants to play team ball. What's next? If jlin doesn't pass the ball to melo then jlin gets traded? Maybe that would be good.
ReplyDeleteMelo can now add "coach-killer" to his resume.
ReplyDeleteFor all you that wanted D'Antoni gone, well, be prepared for the consequences.
Woodson was the architect of the Iso-Joe (Johnson) offense in Atlanta. Expect a ton of Isos for that selfish douche-bag, I mean, Melo.
The problem was never D'Antoni's offense, it works with the right personnel and players who buy in. Unfortunately, 1 dude got selfish and jealous (of Jeremy) and blew this whole thing up. He'll put of a ton of points inefficiently, but NYK is not better because he stinks on the defensive end, and always will.
Oh man...bad move to oust Dantoni. Jeremy lin will be moved to back up guard by Woodson in favor of veteran davis. I think Anthony will get booed to kingdome come tonight - it will be serious and relentless booing everytime he touches the ball. It will be ugly. Jeremy will probably play back up guard and he will be disillusioned and not play well , maybe 15 minutes and it will be obvious woodson in over his head.
ReplyDeleteThis is not good. Unbelievable actually. A month ago we were all going crazy with the rest of the world and now this. If I were the Knicks, I would've tried to move Carmelo ASAP. You already had something going with Lin-sanity and now you're going to ruin that? Good job Dolan.
ReplyDeleteJeremy should start looking for new digs again. I like the sound of Dallas and the Lakers, both need PGs. The Heat is also good. But what I'd really like to see is Spurs or Blazers. The Blazers need a PG bad, Felton isn't cutting it and Crawford isn't a true PG. Lin with LaMarcus and Batum... alley-oop and Pick N Roll all day long.
I'm a New Yorker so I liked having Lin here and showing his skill set in my hometown but I would rather him be somewhere else where they don't crap on every little mistake made.
ReplyDeleteThe Dallas Mavericks are built around Dirk Nowitzki. He's an iso-post up player, who also lacks defensive intensity. But the difference between him and Melo is ... Dirk knows how to pass the ball when he gets doubled. Melo does not know how to share the ball.
ReplyDeleteYou can't build a team around his game.
Lin can excel in any kind of offense because of his elite athleticism, super skills, and growing familiarity with the NBA game.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing that would limit Lin would be lack of minutes. Even if the Knicks shut Lin down for the season, he'd go back to outplaying guys so badly in practice that they have nothing left for games.
Great players like Lin CREATE their own destiny.
ditto!
ReplyDelete