Kevin Garnett is having an amazing Playoffs for the Celtics. Heart just as big as when he was in the early days of his career.
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Posted in NBA
Tagged basketball, celtics, kevin garnett, nba, NBA Playoffs, Timberwolves, Wolves
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Knicks woes, Melo ISOs and how to get easy baskets
So, another game in this Knicks-Heat series and it seems to be over. It’s not a surprise the Knicks are losing this series. In the last two seasons, the Knicks had too many personnel changes. Carmelo Anthony came. Chauncey Billups went. Tyson Chandler was brought in. Jeremy Lin came out of nowhere. And back there for the time being. J.R. Smith is a Knicks. Iman Shumpert became an amazing perimeter defender. And got hurt. Amar’e Stoudemire took himself out of the Playoffs. For the second year in a row.
But, in the end, the Heat are just more talented. They have been playing with each other for two season now. And have 2 of the top 5 players in the NBA.
As for this series, I saw something that worried me, as a basketball fan. Now, I like coach Mike Woodson. He did a great job with defensively and he found a system that could work with the players he has. But, I haven’t seen him adapt to Miami’s defensive schemes against Melo.
The Heat are doing something very simple, yet very smart. They are fronting Melo so he doesn’t get the ball in his comfort spots, the elbow. Still, the Knicks are trying to force feed him the ball there. When they don’t get him the ball, Melo will move to the perimeter and receive it there. Not good. That’s exactly what Miami wants.
There a simple and a simpler way to counter this. The simpler way, is to have Melo start on the weak side, set a screen for him (screencap below), allowing him to establish a position deep in the post. The Knicks did this once or twice. Not enough.
Another way would be:
Start the ball on Melo’s corner. With (Amar’e in this screencaps) low on the weak side.
Swing the ball from the corner to the top of the key or opposite side (not Melo’s corner). Have the other post players go to the top of the key to get a pass from the wing players.
When Amar’e gets the ball (the blue dot is where he should be), Melo rolls to the basket. And easy opportunity for a backdoor pass.
That would force the Heat to adjust. From that, a couple of things may happen. Amar’e – or another player that was filling in for Stoudemire fighting a fire extinguisher – would have a open shot. That is a nice way to make Melo/Amar’e work together.
If the ball gets to Melo on a backdoor pass, the defender in the corner would have to help. Novak, who’s having a hard time finding an open shot, since he can’t run nor create his shots, would find room to shoot.
Of course, coming up with those plays is Woodson’s job. You can’t blame the players for not doing it.
Now, why not talk about the future?
I find it weird that Stoudemire is getting a free pass when he took himself out of the Playoffs for the second year in a row. I understand he lost his brother, must be hurting still. Even so, he must remember that this is his job.
Meanwhile, Melo is out there, diving for loose balls, grabbing rebounds, trying to find open teammates, even though they are missing every shot. And the fans are getting on him for not beating a better team? With 3 stars? I don’t get that.
In ways, Melo reminds me of Shaq. People saying he can’t do it. Can’t lead a team to a title. Can’t focus. Can’t. Can’t. Can’t. People used to say the same about Shaq. And Shaq used to play his heart out, but, as always, when his teams fell short, it was all Shaq’s fault.
All Melo needs is a coach that knows how to get him to work hard. Woodson seem to be doing that. If I had a say, I would go after Phil Jackson, failing that, keep Woodson. Let him work with the team for a while.
I would also not resign Landry Fields. How can an Ivy League guy have such a low basketball IQ? He can’t make the right decision. Can’t hit a shot to save his life. No use on bringing him back. Let him go, or resign him for the minimum.
I would also try to trade Stoudemire. Too many mistakes, not enough heart, defense or rebounds. Alas, poor Yorick, his salary is too big. Don’t expect any teams to take him.
So far, Melo, Tyson Chandler and Iman Shumpert are the key to New York’s future. Keep them, surround them with hard working roleplayers, a younger Point Guard (love you Baron, but you’re just not working, sorry) and watch the wins pile up.
Posted in NBA
Tagged amar'e stoudemire, amare, basketball, carmelo anthony, dwyane wade, heat, iman shumpert, knicks, Landry Fields, lebron james, melo, Miami Heat, nba, New York Knicks, Sports, stat, Steve Novak, Tyson Chandler
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The Playoffs are here! The playoffs are here!
The season that was not meant to be come and went. After a lockout that almost stole the 2011-12 NBA Season, we reach the end of it. Sixteen teams are going to the Playoffs. Cliched as it is: it’s “win or go home” time.
Without further ado, the preview for the first round:
EAST:
1 – Chicago Bulls vs. 8 – Philadelphia 76ers:
Chicago won 2 out of 3 games in the regular season. But, they have a still-coming-back-from-injury Derrick Rose. That may complicate thing a little for the Bulls.
Still, Chicago has a better roster, coach. Phila tanked the last game so they wouldn’t have to play the Miami Heat.
Chicago in four.
2 – Miami Heat vs. 7 – New York Knicks:
Miami won all 3 games against the Knicks. But, a lot have changed since the first two games and New York gave Miami problems in the last meeting.
This series might rise memories from the 90s series between these team. Physical, hard fought games. Still, Miami in six.
3 – Indiana Pacers vs. 6 – Orlando Magic:
Orlando won 3 out of 4 games. But, that Orlando Magic is no more. That was before Dwight Howard asked for Stan Van Grumpy’s head. And before his back gave up on him.
Indiana in four.
4 – Boston Celtics vs. 5 – Atlanta Hawks:
Boston is 2-1 versus the Hawks. Atlanta might be playing without Al Horford. Giving Boston he advantage in the paint with Kevin Garnett, Brandon Bass. Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce and a hurting Ray Allen will be handling the perimeter. Boston in five.
WEST:
1 – San Antonio Spurs vs. 8 – Utah Jazz:
Old school versus new. Tim Duncan Robot, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili versus the big guys in Utah, Paul Millsap, Al Jefferson and Derrick Favors.
San Antonio has enough big men – brazilian Tiago Splitter and Boris Diaw – to handle the three headed monster from the Jazz. Spurs in six.
2 – Oklahoma City Thunder vs. 6 – Dallas Mavericks:
Thunder is 3-1 against the defending champs. The Kev & Russ Show feat. James Harden will steamroll the Mavs. Still, experience should be good enough for a couple of wins. OKC in six.
3 – Los Angeles Lakers vs. 7 – Denver Nuggets:
The Lakers lost only one out of four games against the Nuggets. They will probably play without Metta World Peace for most, if not all, of this series after he viciously and cowardly elbowed Harden in the back of the head.
Still, Kobe Bryant, Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol should be enough. Lakers in six.
4 – Memphis Grizzlies vs. 5 – Los Angeles Clippers:
Clippers won 2 out of 3 games in the regular season. Behind the talent of Chris Paul, the best Point Guard in the World, and raw but dangerous Blake Griffin they will try to get past a more talented team.
Rudy Gay, Tony Allen, Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol & co. must be enough to move on to the next round. Grizzlies in seven.
We are Trayvon Martin
A young man, 17 years old, leaves his father’s house in the halftime of the 2012 NBA All Star Game to get some Skittles and soda. Easy, right? “Be right back, pops”, is what he probably said. But, this time, he never comes back.
Trayvon was shot by a vigilante. He called 46 times to 911 in the last month. And he went after Trayvon only because the young man was wearing a hoodie, was black hence suspicious to George Zimmermann.
Zimmerman is still free. So far, it seems Zimmerman hunted young Martin down and shot him.
Several NBA players set up pictures, supporting and asking for justice for Trayvon Martin. Even late, Dropstep would like to join and ask for JUSTICE FOR TRAYVON AND HIS FAMILY.
Carmelo Anthony says "I am Trayvon Martin"
Dwyane Wade's shoes
LeBron James
Steve Nash
Amar'e Stoudemire practices with a hoodie
Posted in Misc, NBA
Tagged amar'e stoudemire, basketball, carmelo anthony, dwyane wade, heat, knicks, lebron james, nba, Spots, Steve Nash, Suns, Trayvon Martin, WE ARE TRAYVON MARTIN
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DING DONG, the witch is dead!
With a simple statement, Mike D’Antoni quit the New York Knicks head coaching job. With him went the excessive switching on defense, the offensive system that works only when you have a point guard like Steve Nash steering the wheel and certainly didn’t work with Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire together.
Gone were the days of refusing to let Melo play at the high post, his favorite spot, let Stoudemire get away with not fighting for boards, his love affair with Jeremy Lin – good point guard, still flawed – and Stoudemire’s 3 pointers to try and win games.
Now and for the rest of the season, the Knicks are Mike Woodson’s team. He of the defensive knowledge, shaved eyebrows and accountability.
First change was how the Knicks stopped switching all the time on defense. Now, Iman Shumpert doesn’t end up guarding a center every other play. Stoudemire can pretend to guard a power forward and the D flows better.
Melo still can’t find his shot but he’s doing everything else. Moving the ball (wait, wasn’t he supposed to ISO everytime now with Woodson??? Right, New York Post?), grabbing rebounds, making the extra pass and *GASP* playing defense.
Stoudemire seemed rejuvenated in the last few games. He went after boards instead of waiting for them to come to him. No Jedi force here, dude. Go after them! And it is what he is doing.
And, remember this?
Well, Lin is playing very well. But, is Linsanity IS dead, I say: good riddance. Time for Lin to slow down and learn how to be a real point guard. He is not Steve Nash. Slow down, young man. Read the offense, distribute the ball. Less cuts to the basket that ends with you on the floor and more nifty passes, finding the open man.
But, more than any basketball analysis, more than any X and O thing. There was one thing that was missing during D’Antoni’s era. One thing that I saw in the few games Woodson coached.
Smiles.
Knicks bench used to be filled with sulking players. Mad at themselves, coach, system, whatever. Newspapers like the Post tried to sell the notion that Melo hated everyone. Melo hated the system. Melo hated Lin. Melo hated the world.
What you could see, if you payed attention, was that Melo was trying hard to fit in a system that didn’t belong to the team. This Knicks can’t play D’Antoni’s system. And it was D’Antoni’s failure in adapting to his roster – also asking the Knicks to trade Melo – that was his ultimate undoing.
But, what we saw was the complete opposite. Melo passing the ball. Lin doing his thing. And the smiles.
How sweet it is to see smiles on those faces again.
Even if Woodson is in NYC for a short period of time, he did his job. He brought joy back to the team.
So far, Woodson is making the right choices.
Amar’e is working hard. Melo is working hard. Mobb Deep – the bench – is on!
If only Melo finds his shot: watchout NBA!!!
Posted in NBA
Tagged amr'e stoudemire, basketball, carmelo anthony, Jeremy Lin, melo, mike d'antoni, Mike Woodson, Mobb Deep, nba, New York Knicks, Sports, stat, Wizard of Oz
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Noise: random thoughts as the trade deadline rears it’s ugly head
Some random thoughts on the NBA season so far:
New York press is doing to Carmelo Anthony the same thing they did to Stephon Marbury. Using him as a scapegoat for a broken system with a poor coach. Everybody is talking about Melo’s lack of effort. Against Chicago he had 8 rebounds, 2 steals. Amar’e Stoudemire, the power forward, had 3 rebounds. No word on his lack of effort. 3!!!!
Rajon Rondo is not the point guard the Lakers need. Rondo needs the ball in his hands to be effective. He’s at his best and he is cutting to the basket and dishing out to the perimeter. With that, Kobe Bryant would be reduced to a spot up shooter most of the time. Kobe is hitting 28% of his 3 pointers this season. Lakers need a PG that can spot up and doesn’t need the ball to create opportunities. Kinda like Derek Fisher used to be.
Ricky Rubio will miss the rest of the season and the Olympics with a torn ACL. Kid was having an amazing season so far. Timberwolves were fun to watch. Hope he has a speedy recovery and everything runs smoothly.
Funny, LeBron passed the ball to an open teammate in the clutch, the right play to make, the world comes crashing on his head. Kobe passes the ball to an open teammate, gets congratulated by the same people chastising James. Go figure.
Chris Paul is the best point guard in the world.
As much as I love to watch the OKC boys, it pains me that they are not the Sonics anymore.
After Amar’e grabbed only 3 (dude, 3!!!!!!) rebounds we could see 89 years old Kevin Garnett diving for loose balls. But, you know, NYK’s problem is Melo. Sure, why not…
Kris Humphries is having a heck of a season. Kim Kardashian is going downhill. Fast.
New Orleans Hornets. Why are they still in the NBA?
Also, why are the Charlotte Bobcats?
Dwight Howard might end this season in Orlando, but he will be a Net next season. Spread love, it’s the Brooklyn way.
3 rebounds…
I have no idea why the Wizards are playing so poorly. Not saying they are a great team, but they do have a bit of talent.
I said it before, I’ll say it again: Mike Brown is half a coach. Maybe if we spliced him and D’Antoni we’d have a real coach in our hands.
Carlos Boozer for Pau Gasol? Would love to see this happen. If only to watch Kobe tear Boozer’s confidence apart.
New York’s agenda against Anthony is so clear it’s ridiculous. Meanwhile, 3 rebounds and not a word.
Stephen “Whoo!” Jackson is a Golden State Warrior again. No idea what to make of it. Surely he’s not happy about it.
Knicks should star Davis, put Lin on the bench. Lin worked better with the second unit. Davis has more experience, can deal with Amar’e and melo better. Also, takes the spotlight out of the kid and let him grow naturally.
My Name is Earl (No, really, it is)
In the middle of Linsanity, the New York Knicks signed Earl “JR” Smith III. Straight out of China, where he averaged 34.4 points per game, hitting 47.8% of his 3 pointers, JR arrived in New York with a weird hairdo, an electric energy and more crazy shots than the regular Knicks fan will be able to put up with.
JR can bring a lot of good things to this Knicks team. New York’s bench improved tenfold immediately. Knicks have a true 3 point threat out there. Spreading the floor and opening up spaces for Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire to work on the inside.
He can heat up in a second, bringing scoring off the bench with no adjustment time needed. He showed that against the Dallas Mavericks, the defending champs, as he, even without a second of practice with his new team, jumped off the bench and started scoring.
His energy off the bench was felt as soon as he was in the it. Unlike the cool heads of Melo and Amar’e, Smith wears his heart on his sleeve. He was jumping, screaming, getting the crowd in the game. This type of player is immensely important.
If Smith is on one of his good days, catching fire from the perimeter 1, teams will tighten the defense giving him room to show off his athleticism, giving him a chance to slash to the basket with reckless abandon.
JR can create his own shot with ease, something only Melo, and now Lin, could do before. His step back crossover move (video below) will give him virtually any open shot he wants.
Smith also brings a certain amount of Playoffs experience to the Knicks. With guys like Landry Fields, Jeremy Lin and Iman “The Fearless” Shumpert in it’s core, any experienced player helps.
And he can be another weapon during clutch time, getting attention off of Melo and Lin.
Everything is not roses, obviously. There is the problem of where will Smith fit in exactly. Fields and Shumpert will lose minutes. Fields has been very inconsistent this season and he may leave the Knicks as a free agent. Taking his minutes away, may insure that he leaves.
The same energy that drives Smith, can drive him a little crazy. He will, and this is where Knicks fans will blow a gasket, take ill advised shots. He will shoot you out of games as soon as he will shoot you back into it.
His crazy shot selection can be dialed down a bit. Specially with leaders like Tyson
Now, about that hair...
Chandler and Amar’e around him. Still, some of that disregard for everything around him is what makes him a dangerous player. Mike D’Antoni will have to find a way to make this effective.
Considering the situation the Knicks where in a few weeks ago, I would say this is a great situation to be in. With a new point guard, a stronger bench, and Melo and STAT back, the Knicks really can make some noise this season.
Now, if only they had a real coach on the sidelines…
- Yes, around the outside
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Posted in NBA
Tagged amar'e stoudemire, basketball, carmelo anthony, iman shumpert, Jeremy Lin, JR Smith, knicks, Linsanity, melo, My Name is Earl, nba, new york, Sports, stat, Tyson Chandler
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36th Chamber of Shao LIN
“I bomb atomically, Socrates’ philosophies/and hypothesis can’t define how I be droppin these mockeries...” Wu-Tang Clan, Triumph, Wu-Tang Forever.
And nobody can really explain the phenomenon that is Jeremy Lin. From being snubbed by schools, to Harvard, to being punked by NBA teams, almost going to Europe, having a chance to play for the New York Knicks, sitting down while Toney Douglas stank up the Point Guard spot and, finally, showing what he could do, reviving a team that was in desperate need of a “feel good story” and a decent Point Guard.
“Nowhere to run to, nowhere to hide/It’s them kids from the other side “Shao LIN” Worldwide” Wu-Tang Clan, Shaolin Worldwide, Iron Flag.
If you think he only took over America, open your yes. LINsanity is everywhere. From Brazil to Australia. Right now, it’s Lin’s world and we’re just sleeping on the couch.
And, as with great power comes great responsibility, with sudden success comes hate.
People are quick to judge Lin. Saying he’ll fail. Doesn’t matter that he’s shown an impressive IQ and court vision. Doesn’t matter he beat Shaq’s record for points scored in the first 5 games as a starter – Shaq had 130, Lin scored 136.
As sure as there are those who will say “He’s the next Steve Nash”, I’m looking at you Amar’e, there are those who say this will all end soon.
“I’m raw, I’m rugged and raw! I repeat, if I die/My seed’ll be ill like me” Wu-Tang Clan, 7th Chamber, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
The kid is still very raw. He commits more turnovers than a PG should. But, than again, he is better at ball handling than a certain PG from a small College who was declared the League’s MVP twice (Nash, folks).
Right now, Lin’s PER 1 is around a solid 25. That puts him as a weak MVP candidate. Now, stop, read that again. Are you back? Yes, if Lin keeps playing at this pace, he’s an MVP candidate.
But, for the sake of argument and reality, let’s say he won’t be able to keep this pace up. And, with Amar’e Stoudemire back and Carmelo Anthony about to return, Lin won’t have to. What happens to the best Cinderella story since, well, Cinderella?
“Even if one’s head were to be suddenly cut off, he should be able to do one more action with certainty. With martial valor, if one becomes like a revengeful ghost and shows great determination, though his head is cut off, he should not die” Ghost Dog.
With Stoudemire, and eventually Melo, back, Lin won’t have to score. And, we can already see he has the vision and IQ to run the team.
That is what he will rely on: Court vision, speed, passes, pick-and-rolls.
Lin knows he can’t stop his dribble when he’s in trouble. He never freaks out with double teams. He is great at pick-and-rolls. The kid knows basketball. Will he be a 20 points, 10 assists guy? Only time will tell. But can he keep running this Knicks offense? From what I’ve seen, yes.
A pick-and-roll between Lin and Amar’e will free up Melo. A pick-and-roll between Lin and Chandler will free up Melo and Amar’e.
“The way I make the crowd go wild, sit back relax won’t smile/Rae got it going on pal, call me the rap assassinator/Rhymes rugged and built like Schwarzenegger/And I’m gonna get mad deep like a threat, blow up your project/Then take all your assets” Wu-Tang Clan, Protect Ya Neck, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
Not only on the offensive end, Lin’s surge is helping the defensive side of thing too. Before, Iman Shumpert had to take a bigger offensive load than he was ready too. Now, Iman the Fearless can focus on his defense. As an example, Iman’s defense on Calderón changed the pace of the game and the Knicks won.
I can’t wait to see Lin, Melo, Amar’e, Chandler, Iman, Fields, Baron (yeah, he’s coming back people!) figuring out how to run this offense. And, next season, maybe they can have a real coach…
“Can I say this one? can I say this one?
Right now, right now, we still, we still
Feel like we ain’t get what we want yet
When we get, when we get, when we get a little props
And really really get the way we gotta go?
That’s when you know it’s on?
You know what I’m sayin
Cuz right about now, I ain’t braggin or nothin
But yo the Wu, the Wu got somethin that I know that everybody
Wanna hear?
Cuz I know I’ve been waitin to hear
You know what I’m sayin?
But straight up and down, till we get the goal
We gon keep goin” – Wu-Tang Clan – Can it Be All So Simple – Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
- Player Efficiency Rating ↩
Posted in NBA
Tagged amar'e stoudemire, Baron Davis, basketball, carmelo anthony, Jeremy Lin, knicks, Kung-Fu, Landry Fields, nba, new york, Pick and Roll, Sports, Tyson Chandler, Wu-Tang Clan
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NBA All-Star Game: stats based picks
Since the NBA started having online voting for the All-Star Game, I had have a problem with it. It is too easy to vote multiple times and inflate the ballots. That lead to Yao Ming, with the help of China, starting every year of his career. Even when he wasn’t the best Center out there. That also lead to things like Vince Carter being voted as a starter when injured, having not played in one game the whole season.
Now, it seems you can only vote once a day. Still, not hard to find or make new accounts and vote numerous times.
I understand the NBA wants to keep the international fan involved. How would I change it? Maybe the NBA should send ballots to members of the press and team coaches so they can vote. Fan voting would have ⅓ of the value of the journalist/coach’s vote. Or, be a tie breaker.
To me, the All Star Game should be a reward for the best players in the season. Not the players with the biggest fan base.
So, I decided to make stats based teams. What would the East and the West look like if we had performance based teams.
When I came up withe the idea, Kobe was having a bad season. Shooting 40% from the field, 30% in the clutch. Not passing. Turning the ball over. So, I used him as an example. “Right now”, I wrote on twitter, “Kobe doesn’t deserve a spot on the All Star Game. If we gonna base our pick in performance, not career or name recognition”.
That, of course, lead to a barrage of Kobe fans not getting what I wrote – and ignoring that I said “that’s one of the reasons I’ll wait until the last days of voting to do this” – and filling my reply box with “COUNT THE RINGZZ” type of answers.
I’m still trying to get them to understand I wasn’t diminishing Kobe’s career. I was just using him as an example. But, being the type of guy who loves to discuss basketball, I fell into the “let’s talk careers” and “Kobe vs LeBron” arguments. My mistake.
Back to the topic at hand.
I used simple stats for the most part. When things got to close to call by simple stats, I went to the advanced stats for help.
I also separated Small Forwards from Power Forwards and Shooting Guards from Point Guards. Why? Because I’m OCD like that. And, I want to make real teams. Didn’t want to have a team with two PF or two SG.
So, without further ado, your performance based East and West All-Stars.
Small Forward: Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder: This was an easy one. In the end, no other SF came close to what the Durantula is doing this season. Points, rebounds, steals, blocks. Just ask and KD will do it for you.
Power Forward: Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves: A little harder to choose. Blake Griffin, LaMarcus Aldridge are having an excellent year. But, Mr. Double-double is just playing better than his peers.
Center: Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies: a close one. Andrew Bynum has more points and rebounds per game. But, Marc’s been doing a great job without Zach Randolph. The younger Gasol has better shooting percentage across the board, including 3 pointers, and has a higher +/- than Bynum, closing the deal.
Shooting Guard: Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers: Kobe started poorly. But, he’s been improving since that disappointing start. With the help of Mike Brown’s superstar heavy offensive schemes, Bryant is carrying the load of the team’s scoring, even if it doesn’t help in the long run.
Point Guard: Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers: Paul is the floor general. Without him, Blake Griffin (who will probably be voted in by the fans) have trouble finding his shot. Paul can score, dish and hardly turns the ball over, even if he has it in his hands most of the time.
Small Forward: LeBron James, Miami Heat: LeBron is having an MVP type of season. Only thing sitting in the way of complete dominance is his game ending woes. James still misses big shots. With the only player who could challenge James for this Spot, Carmelo Anthony, hurt, this was an easy choice.
Power Forward: Chris Bosh, Miami Heat: Bosh and Andrea Bargnani have very similar numbers. The only clear stat Bosh has an advantage is +/- (+5.8 versus -2.1). Injuries and a bad team robbed Bargnani of the starting spot.
Center: Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic: At first, I thought Howard would be the clear pick for the Center position. But, looking at the numbers, Roy Hibbert is having an amazing season. But, at the end, Howard’s rebounds and defense puts him over the edge.
Shooting Guard: Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat: this was the easiest one. No contest. Wade is dominating the position. East or West.
Point Guard: Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls: not as easy a choice as it looks. Brandon Jennings, Rajon Rondo and Derrick Williams are having great season. But, Rose put his team on his back and, even if he’s not a typical Point Guard (he’s a combo guard), he’s doing everything he can to help Da Bulls win.
So, there you have it. Now, we just wait for the fans voting and we can see how much a stats based All-Star Game differs from a fame based one.
Posted in NBA
Tagged All-Star Game, ASG, basketball, Blake Griffin, bulls, carmelo anthony, Chris Bosh, Chris Paul, Clippers, Derrick Rose, dwight howard, dwyane wade, heat, Kevin Durant, Kevin Love, knicks, kobe bryant, lakers, LaMarcus Aldridge, lebron james, magic, Marc Gasol, nba, Orlando, Rajon Rondo, Roy Hibbert, Sports, Thunder, Timberwolves
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If the system is not working, change it
The New York Knicks lost another game, sitting on a 6-8 record and the 8th place in the Eastern Conference. And, quite honestly, this is not how things were supposed to be. When the Knicks traded for Tyson Chandler, they finally had a defensive presence to counter their woes. THAT worked, they are 12th in defense efficiency.
The problem this season is with the offense. Funny, because New York’s “coach” is supposed to be one of the best offensive minded coaches in the NBA.
And here’s where Mike D’Antoni is at fault. His system, the 7s or less offense, doesn’t work with Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire. Melo likes to hold the ball, although he is passing it a lot faster this year, moving the ball when he would hold it.
For some reason, D’Antoni is too stubborn to change the system. He refuses to build a half court game for half court players.
Last year, the Knicks had only one play set for the half court game: Stoudemire would get the ball at either elbow and go for the basket or shoot. The rest of the team was fine with the running game.
But now, with two great players, he still insist on ISO plays when the Knicks can’t run the fast-break.
Last game, a lost to the Suns, Tyson Chandler and Melo must have done the pick and roll a dozen times. Melo and Stoudemire when through with it once. Why would a coach have a center without a mid-range shot in the pick and roll rather than his talented power forward, the one with the mid-range shot?
Of course most Knicks fans are crying about the Melo trade. Sure guy, it’s much better to have Gallinari, Mozgov and Felton than it is to have Melo. The most clutch player in the NBA in the last few years.
This is a classic case of “the grass is always greener…”. With last year’s team, Knicks would be able to play well in the regular season. Like the Denver Nuggets, they would never make it in the Playoffs.
What the Knicks need is a couple of pieces: a point guard and a bench, and a real coach. A coach with the knowledge to change things and adapt to a new situation. Not a coach too stupid to change his system, take some responsibility for the losses.
None of that they will find in D’Antoni. A coach that, after telling his PG and Center to switch on every pick and roll set by the Suns, putting Chandler on Steve Nash and Iman Shumpert on Gortat, said his team needed to play better.
Oh, and since we are talking about Iman The Fearless: TOLD YOU SO BOOING FANS!
Oh², I hear Jerry Sloan wants to come back to coaching. Also, Phil Jackson always said he wanted to coach the Knicks… Just saying, Dolan.
Posted in NBA
Tagged amar'e stoudemire, basketball, carmelo anthony, iman shumpert, Jerry Sloan, knicks, mike d'antoni, nba, Phil Jackson, Sports, Tyson Chandler
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