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Hahn: J.R. Smith “On the Radar”

by Tommy Dee on January 22nd, 2012 at 11:19 am


Something exclusively reported here the other day and one that the fans are overwhelmingly in favor of. 

  • NotoriousBIG

    Now excuse me Tommy, I would love JR Smith because he is most definitely exciting and a dynamic scorer and can be that 2 that we so desperately need, but if we are already having problems with Melo and Amare who both want to dominate the ball how are you gonna squeeze a few shot attempts for JR Smith without causing more chaos than we already have. If Mike can’t deal with in game adjustments on the fly I am sure he can’t deal with 3 ball hoggers and succeed.

  • chris b

    Yea, lets bring in another bandage to appease the fans. We need a pg or 2, we need spot up shooters, he is a free spirit that will not help this team. This is pure coverup for the FO not doing do diligence over the off season. Novak???? Bibby???? now lets wait till march all you sucker out there and we will get the fountain of wins for you. Just keep filling the arena and wait and the savior will come. Look thses guys have no idea how to build a team, I love Mello, however, as a coach, my most important player is my pg, the its center, scorer, the role players. In that order. We give away our pgs to get the scorer and the center, and look at what we have NADA. Coach no D is very replacable, stats, the way he is playing now, is replacable, and not really needed to be a top team, Mello is the scorere we need. Shump is a role player, Joorts is a role player, the rest are really fringe players and we are hoping that a disabled pg will be a Phoenix for us(the bird not the city)Now we are also going to go along with the shill men(yes AL AL Tracey Clyde and Breen you guys work for Dolan so you do what you are told) that this crap will somehow lift us to greatness. Guys, the story is old and wornout

  • 1harris1

    Yeah maybe so, but beggars can’t be choosers.

    Right now, we’re desperate.

  • knickknack69

    Great, another guy that doesn’t play defense. Just because JR would be a new face doesn’t mean he would be a good fit. Attitude as well. Just bring in Santonio Holmes too.
    Everyone complains so much about defense and then everytime someone is available that doesn’t pay defense. Everybody wants him. I think everyone on this site is clueless on how to build a winner.

    My original dream was to have Lebron, Howard & Tony Parker with Thibadous(don’t care about spelling) as coach. Instead we have Amare(no defense and bad knees). Melo (no defense & always hurting) & No point guard & Dantoni ( no defense). and everybody is shocked why they are losing. Take down this site it’s useless.

    Ways to fix the team. Start with Fire Dantoni.

    On a side note, can we get a new organist or whatever. I’ve been hearing the same noise at the Garden for 20 years. Talk about complacency at the Garden. Knicks better hope Howard never comes to the Nets. Cause DWill and Howard sound better than anything the knicks have right now. Not a Nets fan but they can only go up at this point.

  • Ds2488

    agreed completely. JR Smith can help us with bench scoring, but he is not the answer and he’s more like a temporary band-aid.

    As you said we clearly need a pg and spot up shooters. JR smith does not really fill either of those, he’s more of just another isolation scorer which I’m not really sure this team needs another one at this point.

  • Ds2488

    As was just said below, I don’t think this is the right move either. The ball is already having more than enough trouble moving, JR will not help with that at all lol.

  • DylanNYK

    Gotta laugh at all these people jumping ship 16 games into the season. We all knew it was going to be a huge adjustment for Melo and Amar’e, and that we were going to struggle playing without a PG until Davis is healthy.

    Most of you guys probably conveniently forgot, but we had a 6 game losing streak at the beginning of last season. As much as you guys want to pretend, we weren’t some unstoppable team with Gallo, Chandler, Mozgov, Felton, etc. Wanna know something else? During that losing streak, we gave up over 100 points in EVERY SINGLE GAME.

  • knickknack69

    Yeah and now we are scoring under a 100 points in every game. It’s always a problem with this team. They don’t know how to take care of both sides of the ball without it affecting the other.

  • DylanNYK

    Its a combination of bad coaching, learning to play together, not having a PG, Melo being injured, and key rotation players like Fields, Douglas, and Amar’e struggling to find their outside shot. Its way too early to give up on this team though. We saw in the first half how effective we can be (even with Amar’e and Melo struggling) when our guards and our bench plays well.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_IRBXKEIXVMOUMM7CTZYDYIOCBQ speedster

    I agree and will admit I was panicking earlier this week. Maybe its because I just want to believe. Or maybe its because I was at the game last night. But I don’t want to hate on this team anymore. I want to believe in them. I don’t want to hate on Dantoni or Melo or Amare or TD/Fields. One superstar is banged up, the other is working his way back into shape after healing from an injury in the offseason. We have young players playing lots of minutes out of position. And we have no PG. Baron Davis (and adding JR Smith…yes please) will help a lot. Melo will heal up, Amare’s shot will start to fall. TD and Fields will gain their confidence back (I think they did last night). Melo will trust and respect Baron Davis enough to let him lead the offense and everything will start to click for us. Our defense is pretty good. If Chandler doesn’t foul out at the end of the first overtime we win that game last night.

  • NotoriousBIG

    Dylan it’s not jumping ship it’s seeing what’s in front of our eyes. This team is severely flawed. You have a lame duck coach who’s coaching philosophy is to out score the opponent, Amare who plays worse defense than any player I have ever seen in the NBA and Melo who believes that he can shoot whenever he feels he is hot (even if he is cold as ice) because well he is Melo. I was never impressed with the Gallo, Chandler, Mosgov, etc… team but I wish I had a whole revamped team with real players with heart and desire who can play within a team concept I mean didn’t Jordan, Magic, Bird even Kobe learned thats the way to go.

  • 1harris1

    Absolutely true, but some of of these home losses are inexcusable. Losing to Toronto, Charlotte, Phoenix and Milwaukee at home? The team’s personnel situation isn’t so bad that they shouldn’t be winning these games.

    D’Antoni has lost his team. That’s a recipe for continued disaster.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_IRBXKEIXVMOUMM7CTZYDYIOCBQ speedster

    WHAT? You’re crazy. JR Smith is a great scorer and he doesn’t try to iso one on one at all (maybe every once in awhile). HIs job is to hit open 3s, which he does with great success. Him and Baron Davis will turn our guard play from a weakness to a strength. We need JR Smith in the worst of ways. Yes, he has a little attitude, but I’ll take a guy like that on my team. I think he’ll do well here under Dantoni. We’re really not that far off from being a good team. REMEMBER 1999!

  • knickknack69

    One last thought, I hear over and over again how defense is just effort. Totally wrong. You have to know how to play defense. When to foul and not foul. How to block and steal without getting called for a foul. I see Amare and Melo put the effort on defense. However when they do they pick 3 fouls within two minutes. Then they are afraid to foul so they stop defending. They don’t stop defending because they don’t want to play defense. They stop because they don’t want to pick up a foul. If you watch the games early. You will see Amare is not aggresive because he doesn’t want to pick up a foul. He doesn’t want to be out of the game so early. That’s what it’s all about. Knowing how to play defense. Melo and Amare don’t. You can’t fix this unless someone teaches them defense. It’s not just the effort. Case closed. Atleast someone finally said it.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_2CI5WBLVDTSFF342OZ6THI6HDE ChrisChildsTwoPiece

    Can someone tell me the difference between Gilbert Arenas and J.R Smith?

  • andEwing

    I’m as down on the team as anyone else, but think about this. When in the past 10 years have you been able to say, about this team, exactly what needs to be fixed?

    And when was it actually fixable?

    If 60% of the game is defense, and our Defense is improving, then that is good news.

    Our problem is offense, and because its largly Amare, its a huge problem because he’s a liability on offense. Seriously, if we had K.Mart in instead of Amare last night, we win by 8. That’s sad.

    So I look at the team and assume with the right reorganization, rotations, and coaching, there is no reason at least 50% of our players who just fell apart won’t get back at least to last years numbers.

    It sounds like a huge hurdle, but really, how far away from reality is Amare getting to 48% (he’s 41% right now). To get just 1 of fields, douglas, bibby or shumpert hitting a good percentage from 3?

    That all sounds feasible even with D’Antoni.

    And if Baron can be just even what he was at his worst the last 5 years, we are looking at a 7 assist, 40% shooter – playing about 25-30 min.

    We are losing games. Losing ones we shouldn’t be losing. But its not a lack of talent (maybe bench depth) or some unfixable weakness. Its getting the guys we have to play at even a good-for-them level.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_IRBXKEIXVMOUMM7CTZYDYIOCBQ speedster

    Baron Davis, that’s how. The same way Billups made it work. He’s a veteran PG with mad skillz that superstars like Melo respect. Melo trusted Billups cause he’s played in so many big games, has a ring. BD does not have a ring, but players in this league know that his skillz and knowledge is beyond question. Baron Davis will lead us.

  • DylanNYK

    Exactly! This season has been very frustrating. But their is so much room for improvement. Douglas and Fields gaining confidence makes us much better. Amar’e finding his shot helps us a lot. Melo’s wrist healing, BD getting healthy, JR Smith coming, etc. It sucks right now, but we are playing terrible basketball and losing close games. It might take us awhile to start playing like an elite team. But when we do, I have no doubt we are going to compete with just about any team in the league. Our defense is already looking better than I expected, and our offense will come around.

  • Gramman

    How scary was that Baron soundbite ? ” I didint think I’d ever play again ”

    I’m really starting to question these off season moves…

    If that is true and Baron becomes a non-factor , add,

    Bibby
    Lin

    Mike D needed a PG , has needed one for the last 4 years . His system doesn’t work with out one.

    Brutal. Miss Gallo for sure

    Amare will be on the block come deadline . No doubt

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_2CI5WBLVDTSFF342OZ6THI6HDE ChrisChildsTwoPiece

    Last I checked Al Thornton is still available was a former lottery pick and could be a nice scorer coming off the bench at the three or four spot. J.R Smith is a taller Nate Robinson in my opinion and we all know how that situation turned out.

  • knickknack69

    The fact that everyone has 3 to 4 solutions tells you right there that this team is not close. That’s a bad sign when you have to talk about 3 or 4 things to get better. Remember these weren’t losses to top teams on the road. These were mediocre to bad teams at home. I’ve been watching this team for over 20 plus years. You only lose like this when your bad. Not when you haven’t just figured it out.

  • DreamNYC

    Everyone complaining about fans jumping ship after 16 games. Are you guys serious. Are you watching the games, do you live in a bubble. There are major problems with this roster. Should the fans that are complaining be happy with what we are watching?

  • DylanNYK

    Right now, the team is really struggling. But I just don’t see anything that isn’t fixable. If Melo is hitting the shots he usually does, we win that game easily. Amar’e is a poor defender, but Boozer is even worse imo, and Chicago still has the best defense in the NBA. With the right coach and good defenders like Chandler and Shumpert on the floor, we can cover up for Amar’e. I’m all for getting rid of the coach. But I see know reason to blow up the team.

  • WAGSY

    Melo shooting 30% night after night…15% from 3 night after night

    the guy isnt even a good Scorer?

    Melo “im gonna see if Im doing too much’?? TOO MUCH MISSING
    Melo ” maybe i need to get the ball to AMARE”

    Oh yeah that just dawning genius?

    Starbury 2

    the guy looks just like Starbury coming down standing around then heaving shots

  • datnewyorker

    We desperately need scoring off the bench. I would like to see if JR and Iman can do that assuming that Davis will be back healthy. Our bench is at the bottom of the league in scoring. Even Nate Robinson could of given this team a 6 man that can produce but the 4 points a night from the 3-4 players off the bench won’t help.

  • DylanNYK

    I’m not a D’Antoni fan at all. I would like to see him gone right away. Still, even I have to admit that he is in a tough position. He has a very specific “system” and a group of players that don’t fit it. Melo is injured and can’t shoot, and Amar’e is healthy and can’t shoot.

  • DylanNYK

    Keep on ignoring the obvious fact. The wrist on his shooting hand is injured. Crazy idea, but maybe thats something that could possibly effect his shot?

  • WAGSY

    Donnie RUNOUT of NY by Dolans

    just for TRYING to keep the Melo trade in Sane business practices

    FANS hating on Donnie wh gave them there first .500 season in years and years.

    Donnie laughing his ass off?

    probably not…he’s most likely heartbroken to see his work destroyed
    by DolanIsiah drug addict mentality..gamble all in on 1 role (eddy Curry, Starbury, larry Brown the lis tgoes on and on)

    Donnie laughing in your face Knick fans

    I have a little tiny violin to play for you

  • WAGSY

    then stop shooting and PASS the ball???

    what is that logic?

  • DylanNYK

    Nobody else can make shots right now. I saw Fields, Shumpert, and Douglas pass up a ton of open looks. Nobody else is playing with any type of aggression on the offensive end.

  • WAGSY

    Wil Chandler does shoots 30% and would you be making excuses

    Gallo does it and its the Hammer for sure

  • Jake Lefevre

    JR Smith isnt really a guy that dominates the ball… Every once in awhile he has some bone head possessions where he tries doing it all. But for the most part JR is a catch and shoot 3 pointer that is capable of lighting it up.. Most importantly I think its a guy Melo would trust to hit an open shot.. On those final shots in regulation and the first overtime if that was JR Smith instead of Shumpert or Douglas.. 1. I dont think the Nugget defender would have just left JR and tripled Melo… 2. I think Melo would have been more likely to make that pass to JR for a game winner. Not saying Melo definitely would have passed it but he would be more likely to pass it ha… If your listing off the weaknesses on the Knicks team outside shooting and bench scoring are close to the top of the list. JR provides both.

  • Fields Fanatic

    JR Smith made $6.7 million last year and we can only offer $2.5 million. Let’s get real here. Why would he turn down more lucrative offers?

  • WAGSY

    I understand your point

    but anyone who plays ball will tell you that a ballHog
    hoisting misses after you are running p and down and playing D

    destroys your game.

    See Shump get upset a coupla nights ago and go off.

    and how come the team scoring fluently when Melo on the bench

    YOU are ignoring the obvious most obvious..Melo MO for his whole career….he’s a streak shooter and always hurting his team…allla all the ball hogs weve seen come throught the NBA.

    At least Iverson stepped up and carried a team.

  • jayfromthefix

    I think the most interesting and important thing in that video is the names of the point guards that are possibly available. I would trade TD and Fields to get Sessions or Ridniour or Harris i know he is struggling in Utah but he can ball. I would Try for Sessions and Luke first tho. I wold try and get theses guys even after BD comes back and split the mins evenly cause i don’t think BD will be able to log heavy mins. After that trade i would try and bring in JR if we can then Evans will be signed in that case.

  • DylanNYK

    Melo is the best offensive player in the league. Gallo and Chandler are great role players. Melo doesn’t need to prove that he can score. Its like saying Mariano Rivera can’t pitch after he blows a save. Everybody has bad games, especially when they are injured.

  • DylanNYK

    Right now Melo and Amar’e play is hurting the team. Thats undeniable. But they have still shown throughout their careers that they can be extremely effective players. There is no reason to constantly bash Melo because he is struggling to help the team while he is injured. Especially when the entire team is struggling, not just him.

  • datnewyorker

    For all the fans killing Melo. I must remind you that this is not the Melo we paid all that money too. I have no doubt that he will be himself again sometime this year. He is banged up and should not be playing. If you would just stop and think Melo is not the coach. It is D’Antoni’s job to make sure that the ball movement is there. That is what a time out is for. Stat did not shoot the ball in the 2OT. That is not MELO’s fault. Play calling is controlled by the coach. If D’Antoni was not going to use Stat in the 4th or during the 2OT’s than he should of put Jeffries in the game because Stat is useless on Defense. I still would of made the trade for Melo. I only regret giving Stat a 100m contract. Melo I still believe will earn his. This is rock bottom so we could only get better.

  • DylanNYK

    Teams don’t generally have money to spend in the middle of the season. Otherwise he would be way out of our price range. Its doubtful he will get any lucrative offers until after the season is over. The teams that have cap space would probably prefer to wait and see who else is available in the offseason.

  • andEwing

    If we had a pg who could control the floor and create shots, we are better shooting from our guys away from having no problems (save bench depth, but welcome to the NBA).

    We are playing better D than in a decade, and our two best scorers have gone 41% and 33% from the floor the last 4 nights. That has to improve – everything in their careers says it will.

    Also Landry has shot 56% and about 4 reb, 5 assists, and 2 steals per game as well.

    All teams have 3-4 needs, until the playoffs when surprising guys fill those needs. Its not the small needs you need to worry about, its the big ones. We have 2.

    1) We need a coach who can optimize the system to the talent
    2) We need a creator/distributor

    Those two things happen, our shooting % goes up even a little for melo and amare (who take 60% of the shots) and we start winning a lot more.

  • andEwing

    If Amare was hitting 50% of his shots, he’d probably also be getting more looks. If we had one guy who could hit a 3, he’d be taking more shots.

    Say 5-6 less bad shots by Melo per night.

    but thats not happening. I’ve said it before – when a guy who is hitting shots is open and Iverson/Kobe is jacking up contested shots it pisses me off. But I haven’t seen Melo do this (save a couple last year when the open guy was billups who does the same thing).

    Melo’s words make it clear- he doesn’t want to take 30 shots a game and if anyone wants the ball from him, get open, or make it known.

    And how many balls do we need to sail through the hands or over the head of chandler/landry/amare?

    Guys who play better with the ball in their hands ALWAYS look like ball hog A-holes when a team is playing crappy.

  • andEwing

    And Melo has been known to just hit a funk, then get injured for 4-5 games, and then be great.

  • andEwing

    Yeah, I understand the Melo business, But Donnie is also the fantastic can’t be beat GM who sold the world for Lebron and got Amare.

    All things considered, he did a good job, but lets not kid ourselves here – HE hired Dantoni. HE traded away players, picks, and cap-space that would have led us to being able to keep at least one more Gallo/Chandler/Felton type player.

    But we had to have the room to sign two stars (so that we signed one).

    It was a calculated risk, and took 3 years to do, and it basically failed. THATS on Donnie.

    The Melo trade is also a calculated risk – trade the farm for a top talent, then rebuild around them.

    Now you tell me, in summer 2010 if I told you our team would be pre-melo trade knicks, after 3 years of killing ourselves, you’d have been happy?

    Now if I told you, look, no role players, BUT we have Chandler, Melo and Amare, and have to rebuild around them to start 2011, you’d have told me that this was worse??

    Role players all look good in situations like Denver where there are no stars.

  • andEwing

    To play for a sub .500 knicks team and play bitch to melo again?

  • DylanNYK

    Don’t see how we could afford Harris. Doesn’t he make over 9 mil? Also, not crazy about trading Douglas and Fields right now. Not against trading them, but if we do it shouldn’t be when their value is at an all time low. I like Ridnour and Sessions though.

  • Ds2488

    The coaching is awful, but how can you say Melo doesn’t deserve blame for this?

    Including the playoff series to Boston last year, the Knicks are now SEVEN games under .500 since acquiring Melo, over a somewhat large sample size of close to 50 games together. And they had a full offseason to work together this offseason. And they’re SEVEN games under .500. I’m sorry but I just can’t emphasize this enough. Seven games under .500 and people want to say our old team sucked. What the hell would they say about this current team?

    Imo, Melo needs to be getting killed by the fans right now. We traded for a superstar who would take us to the next level, not a scorer who would actually make us worse than we were, while the team that traded Melo is playing much better than they were all of last season with Melo. There has to be some blame for Melo here, it’s not just a coaching thing at this point..

  • snadler

    JR Smith is ok, anyone would help, but when will he be available? March, by that time the season will most likely be over. We can’t afford to wait. We need help yesterday, not march. Bogans, anyone? Defends well, hits 3′s at about 40%

  • Fields Fanatic

    Hahn is just spouting pablum here. I believe that the NBA trade deadline has been extended to March 15th which coincides with the CBA season end. So any team can do a sign and trade with Denver for JR Smith. Teams with trade execptions can just send a future second round pick and offer JR much more.

    The Lakerrs, Dallas, and Orlando all have nice sized exceptions to offer.

  • bockersORbriefs

    Hey datny, yr earlier comment about N8 being able to help goes to the heart of theproblem with this coach. We all know that N8 has knucklehead tendencies but her was a PERFECT fit for what the Knicks needed off the bench for scoring, playmaking and speeding up the offense (which would have helped Stat & eliminated so much ISO from Melo). But, because this coach has a grudge against him (Steph Marbury syndrom all over again), they passed on N8 when he was available & is playing great in Oak-town for Mark Jackson ! Instead we sign a Harvard grad who is now pursuing his doctorate in Erie, Pa. !!! Horrible move Knicks … all because D’ant can’t or won’t try to handle players who can sometimes be a pain …

  • BrooklynBuddha

    Whatever, man. Personally I’m tired of the ”Guess who’s coming to Dinner” feces. Who cares who we add when the talent that’s already here isn’t even used to its optimal level. Until the cancer at head coach is dealt with, y’all can keep hoping for a prettier band-aid, not me, not anymore.

  • datnewyorker

    I agree. Melo deserves the blame as well as all the players but if you watch the other NBA teams you see some great plays that the coaches call that lead to easy baskets. Stat not getting any touches is not Melo’s fault that is when the a good coach would use Melo as a decoy and draw up something that would lead to Stat getting the easy basket.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAr1mP2J0X8

    I still believe

  • Hydr0

    After our recent play, I think the more appropriate question should be “are the knicks on JR Smith’s radar?” Unless things change in a big way, I would say no…there are better opportunities for him at this point. Hopefully, things will change by March.

  • jayfromthefix

    I didn’t look up the numbers i was just going by who Alan aid was or could be available

  • FRANKGIFFORDFAN

    Melo should sit and rest his wrist and ankle.Let the Melo haters see how good this team is.Let’s see the ball movement ,the pnr,the cuts, the pick and pop,the backdoor plays and lets see who can score on this team.Most of all let’s see how many treys the team gets off
    and how Pringles can adjust to not having Melo on the floor.

  • Ds2488

    Same. I think this team can be great, that’s why I’m so disappointed right now. I really expected big things this season. Hopefully they can turn it around, but right now the disturbing thing is the Knicks can’t even stick with bad teams, what’s gonna happen when they start playing good ones? Some of these losses have just been brutal, and even during our win streak we were gutting out tough games against teams like Washington.

    But yeah, I do think we’re gonna turn it around at some point.

  • lobcity

    Question..

    How many games last season did it take for us to get on the winning streak last season?

  • DylanNYK

    Dallas is saving cap space for D-Will, Orlando already has J-Rich, and I’m not sure that Denver would be eager to help the Lakers land him. Yes, there are teams that could theoretically offer him more. But I’m not sure that they will. Also, I think Smith would probably prefer to wait until the offseason, when lots of teams can bid on him. I have been saying for a long time that I think he could be had for around the room exception. Way before Hahn even mentioned him as an option. There are a few competitive teams that have their MLE and exceptions. The question is would they rather use it now, or save it for a player like Green, Crawford, Odom, Miller, Felton, Billups, Nelson etc.

  • DylanNYK

    Yeah I don’t think MSG really looked that far into it lol. Harris is out of our price range, and Tinsley can’t even be traed yet.

  • NotoriousBIG

    Ds2488 you are 100% right, we had our battles, but Melo wasn’t brought here to just be another offensive player. Melo was brought here to be an All Star player on the level or close to Kobe, Lebron, Wade. Great example the other night the Heat playing at home without Dwayne Wade was losing to the Lakers and Lebron was playing without any energy and the Heat was losing pretty badly so Lebron got booed by the Heat fans pretty loudly. Now word was that he had the flu but guess what a couple of possessions after that he went on a tear and destroyed the Lakers. He was on fire actually and that’s what I wanted from Melo. To take over and lead the team and he just seems to hurt this current group right now.

  • KVda1

    Fire Scamtoni!!! Trash teams don’t let Gallo score so that says a lot about this squad. Overtime with Denver is just as bad as losing to them. This team is disgraceful and if u don’t want fans to start actin like Cleveland fans then management needs to make some moves to accommodate the fans that support and spend. Get rid of this coach…..but of course Dolan will leave him there to see how many games we win when Baron gets here…..FIRE THIS FOOL!!!

  • DylanNYK

    The people who think we are better without Melo obviously slept through the OKC game.

  • Fields Fanatic

    I’m just saying that other teams can do a rental on JR as well as we can. Denver has his rights and will look to get something back for JR and K-Mart. They would be foolish not to try. The Lakers, Clippers, Mavs, Philly, Utah,and Magic all have trade exception at more than $2.5 million.

  • http://twitter.com/Heather_Rose_ Heather Robinson

    The primary issue with this team is most definitely the coaching. Melo had an open relationship with George Karl in Denver, so no matter how strained the relationship, they were still able to go to one another and communicate. Karl made his players accountable and he did a lot to develop Melo into a better player.

    In New York, it seems like Mike D’Antoni has taken more of a lighter approach. He gives the players the tools and tells them to figure it out. That’s why it seems like many players have been lost out there until this point. Melo early on, was being asked to put this team on his back and he did that well until the wrist injury. However, now that players are starting to build their confidence back up, he has failed to make an adjustment.

    If this had been Karl’s team, Karl would’ve advised Melo to either rest or sat down with him and readjusted their strategy, knowing that with the wrist injury Melo wouldn’t be able to carry this team so it would have to be his teammates that needed to step up.

    In this system, the players have to hold themselves accountable so really, what role does the coach play? Advisor?

    Yes, Melo is to blame for not making adjustments sooner but the majority of the blame has to be on the coach for simply not coaching.

  • KVda1

    A lot of fans are stupid!! They railroad Stat, railroad Melo!! It’s not the players fool, its how their talent can be utilized in the style they play…..and evidently this style isn’t for them. The coach has to create spacing, defense and offense. This Knick team has hella talent but nobody to show them how to use it

  • http://twitter.com/Heather_Rose_ Heather Robinson

    I expect last night’s game to be a major breakthrough. I think Melo will try harder to get Amare involved and will begin to fill that point-forward role better than many expect.

  • Knicks4Life

    This only helps if the Knicks are still in playoff contention come March.

  • http://twitter.com/Heather_Rose_ Heather Robinson

    As for the antitrade/protrade people, let’s be honest here, with the team the Knicks had before, they weren’t going to win a championship. They needed to make a move and they’ve made moves that will make them better down the line.

    This team will get better and the Amare/Melo/Chandler show can be great especially if they can bring in a decent PG to manage everything. Baron could be the answer now but they will need to bring in a younger talent soon.

  • FRANKGIFFORDFAN

    Attention Walsh Lovers — weeks before the TRADE — Eric Bowman report

    According to a report, Carmelo Anthony could have been a New York Knick on Monday. It claims that Knicks team president Donnie Walsh turned down a deal proposed by the Denver Nuggets.

    That deal would have sent Anthony and Chauncey Billups to the Knicks in exchange for Danilo Gallinari, Raymond Felton, the expiring contract of Eddy Curry and a first round draft pick. That’s a pretty large deal, but it’s going to take a lot to get Carmelo Anthony.

    Walsh should have made the deal and ended the Carmelo trade sweepstakes. He’s trying to wait until the last minute and hope nobody else offers anything. That way he can get Carmelo to sign with the Knicks once the season is over. Waiting could end up hurting Walsh, or it could be an excellent move. Only time will tell.

  • TIFOSO6

    How do we solve the problem of Melo hogging the ball. Here is one idea. A strong coach
    could say to him if you have a shot limit of 20. You can extend that shooting 48% or getting
    at least five assists. Otherwise you are out of the game at 20. Sounds crazy but we
    have to stop Melo from becoming the next Marbury.

  • KVda1

    Like kobe and shaq had massive talent but it didn’t work until Phil came

  • So4realNY

    Hey WAGGY, don’t you have a Nuggets game to watch?

  • chris b

    yea he is

  • chris b

    I remember 59, 69,79,89,99,09. 99 I believe JVG was the coach and we had Spree Houston ans I believe Camby, then Dolan gives Spre away caus he didn`t like him with his dreads, and he was non corp. Shoulda known then

  • TheHonorableHaS

    Coaching is definitely a big part of it, it’s not the only reason the team is struggling but it is a huge factor.

    As you stated Karl would often pull Carmelo back in when he went off the deep end or was trying to do too much. He also never had Carmelo shooting a lot of threes, which increased dramatically under _’antoni’s “coaching”, as happens pretty much with any player he uses at a high rate. The long, quick shots early in the shot clock outside of the flow of the offense are a result of Mike’s “green light” philosophy.

    I complained long and hard (pause) when Carmelo was launching those shots at the end of last season and questioned aloud, what happened to his post-up game? I’ve been somewhat happy with his defensive effort for the most part, but I had a problem with his shot selection from day 1.

    Unfortunately, it is a direct result of a lack of structure in Mike’s system – or the new bastardized version of it, since he hasn’t been able to implement ssoL here – any/every player is allowed to launch a bomb at any time, regardless of clock/game situation and nothing is done.

    Want more proof? Gallinari has been used completely different in Denver under Karl. No longer is he Krazy Glued to the three point line along with 3 (sometimes 4) of his other teammates at one time, now he is bringing the ball up, the offense runs through him from time to time and he is driving with more regularity. Even Harrington looks like a completely different player under George Karl’s leadership.

    I posted a rant in the previous thread directed at the front office and the players, who both also deserve blame, but _’antoni only continues to prove that he is poor at many different aspects that a coach should be strong at.

    The Knicks saved the Bulls from themselves by choosing not to match (and absurdly overpay) the offer we made for the services of Michael Andrew D’Antoni.

  • DylanNYK

    Definitely not saying we are the only option for Smith. But we are definitely an option. The Clippers already have too many guards, Philly needs frontcourt help, the Mavs are preserving cap space, and the Magic have a very similar player in J-Rich. Just because they can sign him, doesn’t mean they will.

    Also, JR Smith is an unrestricted free agent, meaning if he wants to sign with the Knicks (or any other team) it doesn’t matter if Denver wants to trade him. I don’t think his value is even all that high to be perfectly honest. He is a good scorer, but he takes a lot of bad shots, and isn’t good defensively, plus he has issues off the court. He is basically a taller Nate Robinson.

  • bobgoknicks

    thats BS..His entire career has been ball hogging,George Karl tried every year to harness Melo and couldnt.Nobody in the world was happier about the Melo trade than Karl

  • TheHonorableHaS

    George Karl used to limit the amount of threes he was allowed to take in relation to his rebounds (interestingly enough he became a greater rebounder for his position), so it can be done. Good coaches continuously challenge their players, and not to only extend their shooting range.

  • TheHonorableHaS

    Wow.

  • So4realNY

    Yeah Waggy WE Knick fan’s (not you) understand basketball WE (not you) know our owner is the pits and that it has been a long suffering period but WE (not you) true Knicks fans will always be Knicks fans who look for solutions to fix this teams problems, instead of whining like girly men in a million posts about the same thing over and over and over again! Keep lovin Gallo b/c you luv them Nuggets!

  • chris b

    You are right there have been many losing streaks this millennium, The thing that will always stick in my mind was Brown`s team won 8 in a row, and they were hustling their ass off, and Starburry goes in and tells him that he was asking them to do too much and they was`nt goin to do it(his words) Starman went to Zeke, who we find out later were doin the same girls and complains and Zeke backs Starguy and leaves his coach out to dry, and we haven`t really been good since

  • kousinkar

    Ouch.

  • Sandro Guedes

    You are still delusional after all this time.

    The Knicks won’t win a Championship with both Stoudemire and Melo on the roster. They don’t match.

    You don’t have draft picks so you won’t bring any youngster talent soon.
    Baron’s prime days are long gone. He wasn’t good last season. Do you think the injury made him…better? lol.

    Melo or Stoudemire, one of them gotta go.

    Melo is the answer, as far as i’m concerned.

  • chris b

    spot on

  • DylanNYK

    Yeah, teams generally don’t win in the playoffs without super stars. As good as Denver was during the regular season last year, they lost to OKC in 5.

  • TheHonorableHaS

    Because he’s a headcase and not many coaches or teams will be offering a long-term commitment to him before finding out if his Communist Tour has matured him.

  • bobgoknicks

    “This team will get better” ….Why?Cuz you say so? Oh great! I feel so much better about that trade now.This team ,as is,will not win a chip either,but at least last years team was more fun to watch,plus we had alot of cap space to improve.Now we have Prima Donnas who dont know how to play team ball.I love people who say “Last years team would never have won a championship” As if this years team would.Zeke would be proud

  • So4realNY

    Good point, makes no sense to sign Smith just to get a body. He’s another streak shooter, so not sure about this….

  • chris b

    Read my posts I have been saying that since I have been on this site. You teach defense much as you teach offense. I am watching Boston, they have good ind. d skills+ great team skills, hedging picks, help and RECOVER, proper rotations boxing out. Very rarely are they out of position to their man and the ball. Not the same can be said for the Knicks, I see the ball move, and I don`t see 5 players adjusting their positions so they are ball you man in position to help

  • Fields Fanatic

    Yes, from an article on Bleacher Report by someone named Eric Bowman. He looks about 17 years old. I can see why you didn’t provide a link to that one.

    http://bleacherreport.com/articles/610987-carmelo-anthony-10-reasons-donnie-walsh-should-make-the-melo-deal-happen

  • chris b

    Sure Agent zero has some locker room problems like guns and stuff, and JR Smith has no idea how to run an offense. Gilbert likes to hold the ball, and JR is pure street

  • So4realNY

    I agree, Melo will have to adjust his game and at this point it sounds like he’s willing to so it’s a good start. I’m not giving up on this team, things will improve.

  • kousinkar

    “let’s be honest here, with the team the Knicks had before, they weren’t going to win a championship.”

    That is NOT the argument from the anti-trade people. The pre-trade team had the flexibility to either bring a star player (CP3, DWill) or at least maintain the solid PG play that suits one of the best P&R finishers in the game – Amar’e, while leaving room for truly complementary pieces. You should only give up the farm for a max player if you think that guy brings you closer to a championship; otherwise, keep the flexibility.

    The anti-trade people were asking a reasonable question – “Can we win a championship with two maxed-out one-dimensional players?” Throw in a one-dimensional coach and the fact that one star thrives in half-court isos and the other in a fast-paced offense, and the situation worsens.

    P.S. – I was ambivalent on the Melo deal, and managed to talk myself into it. I do still think this squad is salvageable (given more 2-man game between Amar’e and Melo as well as an active, creative front office), but that doesn’t negate the fact that the anti-trade people do make valid points.

  • http://twitter.com/Heather_Rose_ Heather Robinson

    I think Melo has the ability to hit the outside shot but his strength is definitely mid-range and attacking the basket. He’s great on the low block but he should probably only be used down there when he has shooters around him. With Chandler and Amare down low, it will be difficult for the Knicks to use Melo on the block and keep the spacing.

    The Knicks aren’t going to contend with D’Antoni as coach. He has never been great at making adjustments and will continue to struggle in that area. To contend and win championships, there has to be a great coach behind the scenes in addition to the talent on the court. The Knicks simply do not have that.

  • Sandro Guedes

    We all agree Melo and Stoudemire won’t be benched.
    We all agree D’Antoni can’t coach.

    Amare and Melo played 50 games together now. It’s almost an entire regular season.
    If they didn’t find a way to play together yet, when will it happen?

    Are they stupid players? Don’t they realize the coach can’t coach? Don’t they have enough experience on the courts to talk they own plays, and not follow D’Antoni’s command?

    D’Antoni says: “STAT, stretch the 4, Melo, take an iso”
    Melo says: “I won’t do that. I will play pick n roll with Amare”
    STAT says: “I agree. I’m into that”

    What will D’Antoni do? Bench them? LOL!

    The team doesn’t care. They don’t trust the coach, as he sucks big time.
    Solution? They would make their own plays, as big stars they think they are.

    Why don’t they do it?

    I guess that’s the answer that costs us more, and no one is yet ready to assume:
    Melo and Stoudemire aren’t getting along, neither on or off court.

    As soon Dolan, Grumwald, D’Antoni, the fans, and even Amare and Melo are ready to assume it, the Knicks will improve.

    The first step to take care of a problem is assuming that there is one.
    And everyone just keeps sayin’: “Everything will be okay, they need time”.

  • chris b

    Or when your best player listen to the coach and turn around with a look of disbelief, and your idea of a tough practice is a scrimmage to 11, when your 40+ coach is running with the team and looking good, you eithr aren`t working very hard, or you really stink. Nothing against you Ken, I loved you in HS, but your too old for the league

  • chris b

    The logic is he is hood and he aint givin it if you have no game

  • So4realNY

    So your saying that the Knicks will be bad as long as Melo is on this team. Enjoy the next few years b/c he is here to stay.

  • FRANKGIFFORDFAN

    PEOPLE WHO FORGET THAT YOU SHOULD ALWAYS TRADE THREE OR FOUR QUARTERS FOR A DOLLAR IN BASKETBALL: F-minus

    If you disagree with the previous few paragraphs, you’re bucking five solid decades of NBA history. Since 1965, not one NBA team that traded a package of pieces for a superstar regretted it after the fact. Don’t believe me? Here’s the complete list:

    1965: Philly trades Connie Dierking, Paul Neumann, Lee Shaffer and cash to San Francisco for Wilt Chamberlain.

    1968: Lakers trade Jerry Chambers, Archie Clark and Darrell Imhoff to Philly for Wilt Chamberlain.

    1970: Milwaukee trades Flynn Robinson and Charlie Paulk to Cincinnati for Oscar Robertson.

    1975: Lakers trade Elmore Smith, Brian Winters, Dave Meyers and Junior Bridgeman to Milwaukee for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

    1983: Philly trades Caldwell Jones and Cleveland’s 1983 first-rounder (No. 3, Rodney McCray) to Houston for Moses Malone.

    1993: Phoenix trades Jeff Hornacek, Tim Perry and Andrew Lang to Philly for Charles Barkley.

    1994: Washington trades Tom Gugliotta, 1996 first-rounder (No. 11, Todd Fuller), 1998 first (No. 13, Keon Clark) and 2000 first (No. 7, Chris Mihm) to Golden State for Chris Webber.

    1996: Houston trades Robert Horry, Sam Cassell, Chucky Brown and Mark Bryant to Phoenix for Charles Barkley.

    1996: Phoenix trades Michael Finley, Sam Cassell, A.C. Green and a 1998 No. 2 (No. 53, Greg Buckner) to Dallas for Jason Kidd, Tony Dumas and Loren Meyer.

    1999: Phoenix trades Danny Manning, Pat Garrity, 2001 first-rounder (No. 18, Jason Collins) and 2002 first (No. 9, Amare Stoudemire) to Orlando for Penny Hardaway.

    2004: Houston trades Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobley and Kelvin Cato to Orlando for Tracy McGrady, Tyronn Lue, Reece Gaines and Juwan Howard.

    2005: New Jersey trades Alonzo Mourning, Eric Williams, Aaron Williams, Philly’s 2005 No. 1 pick (No. 16, Joey Graham) and a 2006 No. 1 (No. 20, Renaldo Balkman) to Toronto for Vince Carter.

    2005: Miami trades Lamar Odom, Brian Grant, Caron Butler, a 2006 No. 1 (No. 26, Jordan Farmar) and a 2006 No. 2 (No. 50, Renaldas Seibutis) to the Lakers for Shaquille O’Neal.

    2007: Boston trades Al Jefferson, Gerald Green, Theo Ratliff, Ryan Gomes, Sebastian Telfair, a 2009 No. 1 (No. 28, Wayne Ellington) and the rights to Minnesota’s 2009 No. 1 (No. 6, Jonny Flynn) to Minnesota for Kevin Garnett.

    2008: Lakers trade Kwame Brown, Jarvaris Crittendon, Aaron McKie, the rights to Marc Gasol, a 2008 No. 1 (No. 28, Donte Greene) and a 2010 No. 1 (No. 28, Greivis Vasquez) to Memphis for Pau Gasol.

  • http://twitter.com/Heather_Rose_ Heather Robinson

    I understand some of the anti-trade people’s arguments. However, The Suns won a ton of games with an MVP caliber PG and a younger/less injury prone Amare Stoudemire. Mike D’Antoni’s system can win you a lot of regular season games but it has not shown the ability to win a championship.

    The Knicks definitely screwed up in giving so much for Melo but it’s done and it was a step toward bettering the franchise.

    As you mentioned, this team is salvageable but the first step has to be getting a coach that will emphasize defense, simply the offense, and shows the ability to adjust on the fly.

  • chris b

    Every shooter has a night or nights that they shoot 30%. Go check MJs stats he was a huge volume scorer. In this league you have 24 -about 5 to get up a shot. That is why most coaches in this league run quick hitters, then if it breaks down you give it to your best player and pray. You want the clock, then you have to live with the strategy

  • chris b

    No hes at church with Tebow

  • So4realNY

    As fans we are bystanders as to what the front office does with this team. So to say I told you so or Melo lovers/Walsh lovers is pointless. All Knicks fans want one thing and that is to WIN. Venting is a nice way to get the frustration off your chest but constantly hating won’t fix any problems. Just makes you a bitter fan who eventually just hates his or her team…where’s the fun in that?

  • http://twitter.com/seansrule sean matthew

    Steven A smith is reporting that Orlando called NY for a Stat, Chandler trade for Howard.

  • FRANKGIFFORDFAN

    I copied the entire page.Sometimes the link does not show when I cut and paste.Thanks.

  • So4realNY

    True no one knows exactly what the future holds for this team and thanks to some bad moves by the front office it’s terrible right now. My question is do you continue to watch this team or do you quit b/c Melo nor Dolan is going anywhere. I know I’m not giving up on this team and I’ll vent from time to time. In the end though, I’ll continue to watch no matter how bad it gets b/c the Knicks are my team and I’ll root for them no matter what. Besides, I’m a Met’s fan too so the Knicks are a vacation from that mess!

  • BigTyme

    And??? we said….

  • andEwing

    They are doing what their coach says because the coach will blame them if they don’t.

    Hopefully ownership sees it doesn’t work, Melo and Amare go have a chat with Dolan and the GM and tell them what’s up.

    On the otherside, if you just do what you want, and the team loses, you are the problem, not the coach.

  • So4realNY

    Wow you really did your home work on this one! A+ for you sir!

  • bb_dot

    seriously? that’d be something..

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_IRBXKEIXVMOUMM7CTZYDYIOCBQ speedster

    Its time for The Knicks to stick with what we have and build around these guys. No more complaining about the past or wanting to make some new trade. No trading Melo. No trading Stat. No trading Chandler. And no firing of Mike Dantoni, at least not until this year is over.

    We’ve blown up the roster again and again to finally get to this place. I don’t care what the haters say about Stat and Melo. I’ve always loved watching both of these guys play and think they’re warriors and winners. Are they as multifaceted as Lebron or Dwade? No. Both of them need a good PG to be effective. Think about it. Everyone’s been saying how STAT needs a good or at least decent PG to be truly effective. But so does Melo, if for different reasons. He needs someone isn’t afraid to not pass the ball to Melo. Melo did his best with Billups. Baron can be that guy. He has the respect.

    Look, I do think we gave up too much in the trade. But lets be real. We have Stat and Melo. And we never will know what really happened. Do I think we could’ve gotten Melo for less? Yes. I truly believe Dolan stepped in and showed our poker face. Maybe if we hold out longer NJ goes ahead and gets Deron and now Denver has to deal with us only. Maybe we could’ve kept Gallo if we offered Fields and TD once they asked for Mozgov. We’ll never know.

    People say Stat and Melo can’t work. But they still haven’t played that much together and we kinda blew up the team again by getting rid of Billups to get Chandler. But it was the necessary move. Ideally we could’ve all ready had our PG in place and then get Chandler, but it didn’t work out that way. All I know is I’m glad we have Tyson Chandler as our center. I’ve seen Amare completely dominate in games so many times its not even funny. I’ve seen Melo outplay Lebron just about every time they go head to head. And some of the most exciting basketball I’ve ever watched in my life featured Baron Davis running the show.

    Its all going to be fine.

  • Sandro Guedes

    I would wet my bed if that was true.

  • andEwing

    Great point, but if its going to fail once, it will be for the Knicks. But I agree.

  • andEwing

    I’m sorry but if you can get guard help back, you do it. I know that’s a killer, and also probably full of sheesh, but if they are asking, you have to negotiate.

  • DylanNYK

    Chandler can’t be traded, so I seriously doubt that. I like SAS, but I don’t see how that makes sense.

  • So4realNY

    Thank you for bringing sanity….

  • andEwing

    Source or you should be banned for being a dick-nose.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_IRBXKEIXVMOUMM7CTZYDYIOCBQ speedster

    They aren’t stupid players and Dantoni isn’t an idiot. Neither Stat nor Melo are point guards. They need a PG to bring out their best qualities. Stat needs a PG to run pick and roll and to find him at his right spots where he can either take it to the hole or hit the ten foot jumper. Melo is one of the best iso guys in the league, but he needs a PG who knows when to give him the ball and when to get other guys involved. And we need a solid outside shooter to stretch the floor. Its that simple.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_IRBXKEIXVMOUMM7CTZYDYIOCBQ speedster

    Melo needs a Point Guard just like Stat does.

  • WAGSY

    who mentioned the Nuggets?

    So4Fake? cling to your dreams as you lose and lose…

  • http://twitter.com/seansrule sean matthew

    Anyone who says its not true about the trade. Orlando is inquiring about them. Not the Knicks. IF Orlando wants Chandler and Stat, you make that trade asap. Not to mention you will have enough money to than go get your PG. You make that trade ASAP.

    The longer the Melo and Stat play together the less value they will have. These guys cant play together. They have played 50 games, you shouldn’t need a coach to get some chemistry through 50 games. It is obvious that Stat is not happy with Melo. This wil only get worse. Unless you make a change. Howard can post up and compliment Melo much better than Stat does. They are completely different players. If the Knicks could have Melo not he Wing and Howard in the paint. With Enough money to get get a third point guard like Deron Williams this summer you make that Trade ASAP.

  • BigTyme

    Great post! Add Bill Walker to that list of players not liked by the coach

  • Sandro Guedes

    So you think Dolan would send Melo and Stoudemire away, instead of D’Antoni, in that case?

    Here’s how the conversation would go, IMO:

    Dolan: We’re losing, man. What’s going on D’Antoni?
    D’Antoni: The players don’t do as i say. That’s why we keep losing
    Dolan: What do you have to say boys?
    Melo: The players don’t trust the coach, so we started playing by ourselves.
    Dolan: But i pay the guy 6M a year, why don’t you listen to him?
    STAT: ‘Cause we did that for 50 games and the record was negative. We were the worst rebounding team, the worst shooting team, we were on our way to not even make the playoffs. That’s why.
    Dolan: What’s up with that, D’Antoni?
    D’Antoni: “Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go! oh wait…”

    End of story.

  • So4realNY

    The source gotta 100% true b/c it came from Frank Isola… I mean Peter Vecsey…. I mean Chris Sheridan…I mean Chris Booosard….SMH

  • Sandro Guedes

    Sad but true.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_IRBXKEIXVMOUMM7CTZYDYIOCBQ speedster

    Heather, I’m about to make a slightly sexist joke at your expense. But I think you’ll appreciate it.

    Guys, its pretty sad when a chick is the one on this basketball blog who is being most even keeled and sensible about this team. Man up and support your team. Don’t lose faith. We’re gonna be fine.

  • http://twitter.com/seansrule sean matthew

    The Knicks have clear whole in there team.

    Chandler and Stat step on each others toes because they both run the pick N roll.

    Melo is a ball hog. and a one on one player. Stat is as well.

    Chandler and Stat have no post up game. These 3 all stars do not compliment each other. They all do the same thing and nothing else.

    Trading Chandler and Stat for Howard is not blowing up the team in any way. Maybe you could throw Fields in that trade for Jameer Nelson. He is an expiring contract. That would be a very formidable team.

    Nelson
    Shump
    Melo
    Harralson
    Howard

    That team has a PG has a scorer has a Center. Than all you need to add is 1 or 2 bench players. And they would have enough money to do so.

    What we have with how much money we have left will not get us a championship. Isn’t that what we are trying to do win a Championship.

  • BigTyme

    @Wagsy
    Keep lovin Gallo b/c you (NOT US) luv them Nuggets!

  • andEwing

    MOST RECENT thing I can find talking about this scenario. Also states that it hasn’t been initiated, AND it would be a post-season scenario.

    http://www.cbssports.com/nba/story/16944177/postups-as-magic-plot-to-keep-howard-other-scenarios-blossom

  • So4realNY

    The thing that makes me question the story is the fact that the money doesn’t work out if it’s just the players he lists. More players would have to be in the mix. Who else does Orlando send back to make the money work?

  • DylanNYK

    He said it on his radio show. Couldn’t even happen right now, so I think its BS.

  • http://twitter.com/seansrule sean matthew

    My source was what Stephen a Smith just said on ESPN New York

    “Orlando will deny this move but I am being told that Orlando has inquired about a trade for Chandler and Stat for Howard”

  • Fields Fanatic

    I assume it would STAT and Chandler for Howard and Turkoglu. That’s the only way the contract can match and make the trade work. Turkoglu is contracted through next season.

  • So4realNY

    We said “What u talkin about Willis?” I mean Steven? The trade doesn’t make sense b/c the contracts don’t fit.

  • http://twitter.com/seansrule sean matthew

    Maybe a Jameer Nelson. And we throw in Fields.

    Obviously more pieces need to be made for the trade

    But according to Steven A Smith on ESPN NY Orlando has inquired about a trade around Chandler and Stat for Howard.

  • Fields Fanatic

    Nah, he just plagiarizes others work and passes it off as his own without crediting the original author. This one is Bill Simmons.

  • bb_dot

    i like your attitude. but there is a fine line between “not panicking” and being ignorant. I’m not sure on what side we travel right now. I agree with your assessment of Melo, Amar’e and Chandler. But I disagree on the coach and on Baron. The flaws of this team aren’t minor, that much has become clear to me at this point. It is not just a bit of tweaking and we will dash into the conference finals.

    “Coach” can only succeed with a very good PG. We don’t have one. Baron is injured and nobody knows how he will get back. Melo can’t snap out of iso-mode, Amar’e needs p&r’s. I think trading one of the two stars for a premier pg is becoming more and more of an option. The way how Amar’e and Melo have been cancelling each other out is ridiculous. Obviously firing the “coach” and seeing if somebody else can put the pieces together is my first option.

  • So4realNY

    Thanks for the headsup!
    I’ll see you in detension mr. FRANKGIFFORDFAN!

  • kousinkar

    Yes, I assume the Magic would require any team to take back Turk’s contract. However, I believe Turk has an option on his contract to extend one more year (at ~$12M/year!) through the 2013-2014 season.

  • DylanNYK

    Yup. Not sure how much better it makes us. Big upgrade at C, and huge downgrade at PF. I would rather just stick with what we have.

  • andEwing

    Where is your source Sean?

    This is the most recent thing I’ve found-

    http://www.cbssports.com/nba/story/16944177/postups-as-magic-plot-to-keep-howard-other-scenarios-blossom

    I’m not calling you a liar yet, but you can’t post Shish like this unless you can back it up.

    Orlando offers this, you do it immediately.

    I CAN’T BELIEVE THIS though – The knicks would be sending 32 mil in salary. Orlando is 15 mil over the cap next year WITHOUT D.Howard. This would put them over the cap for the next 5 years basically.

    FURTHER Orlando is a team that 3 years ago backed out of a trade where they were only sending their 1st round pick for Amare because their doc’s didn’t like his uninsured knees.

    I’m seriously trying to find a way this trade could work, but it is impossible. Both teams lack their amnesty.

    ORLANDO would have to trade D. Howard, turk or reddick and duhon AND STILL use their 4.5 mil trade exception.

    THEN they are locked up salary wise for 5 years. Doubt this very very much.

  • http://twitter.com/seansrule sean matthew

    Turkoglue with Melo and Howard would be great. Turkoglue spreads the floor and can knock down the 3 he is also a good passer and ball handler.

    Howard is down low in the paint. Melo is on the elbow. We would also have enough money to get a Raymon Felton.

    Maybe we could get Jameer Nelson in that trade as well for Fields.

    That team is a much better team than we have this team has no chance of winning a championship.

  • So4realNY

    Wow I feel honored that you took your valuable time from your Nuggets blog to pay me a visit ***blushing***

  • bb_dot

    if motivated Turk is a good player with hoop smarts. But obviously he would come off the bench for Melo or even play SG at times.

  • http://twitter.com/seansrule sean matthew

    MY SOURCE IS STEVEN A SMITH.

    Steven a smith said Orlando called the Knicks to inquire about a Tyson Chandler Amare Stoudemire for Dwight Howard.

    http://espn.go.com/espnradio/newyork/play

    Rewind a couple mins ago.

    Turn on Espn radio ny he’s talking about it.

  • DylanNYK

    Don’t see why they would include Nelson. If they trade for Amar’e and Chandler, they are going to need a PG. Also, I’m not sure that Felton would accept an MLE offer, and he said he wants to re-sign in Portland. Don’t think the trade makes us that much better.

  • bb_dot

    Howard is the best C in the league and he is 26 years old. That trade a no-brainer. I just can’t believe it’s true though.

  • http://twitter.com/seansrule sean matthew

    Turkoglu makes less than Chandler

    Howard and Amare cancel each other out

    We would prob have more money to offer after this trade to offer a Pg not necessarily Felton but a better PG.

  • andEwing

    Whaaa!!!!>????

    No matter how you slice this, this deal saves us 4-5 mil a year, gets rid of 2 of our longest contracts, including one that is “untradeable” according to many.

    Amare and Dwight balance out, but we actually save money on this deal because hed is only making 11 mil.

    And I know Turk isn’t a star, but I’m SURE someone would take him, salary and all, if we tossed in some quality potential with him like fields/jorts/iman/etc.

    This opens up our cap quite a bit then and makes this a real possibility-

    Howard
    K. Mart / Jorts / Turk
    Melo
    Fields / Iman
    D-Will (cause we can pay him if we can get a taker for turk)

    R U Kidding Me.

    Seriously, if the nets whiff on D. Howard and we get him, I’d give the farm for D. Will now just to crap on the Nets some more.

  • andEwing

    It can’t be. Frankly, You trade anything you can for a guy like D. Howard. If they wanted Amare and Stat, you’d have to think about it. Seriously, howard has never had anyone else on that team and is a contender every damn year.

  • DylanNYK

    Either way, we would probably be over the cap, meaning the most we could offer is the MLE. The Knicks already have a good C and PF. I don’t think Howard (minus Amar’e) helps our offense, which has been our biggest problem this year. It wouldn’t be a bad trade necessarily, but I think it would be a lateral move.

  • bb_dot

    love your typo. Amar’e and STAT for Dwight. lol that would be the best trade ever! But yeah, agreed 100%

  • http://twitter.com/seansrule sean matthew

    i believe Orlando inquired about the trade. Whether Orlando will make the trade is another story.

    All I’m saying is if Orlando wants to make that trade you make it in a heart beat.

    Melo and Howard have two completely different games. Stat Melo and Chandler all have a similar style which steps on each other toes. Stat and Chandler like to be in the paint and run the pick n roll neither have a post up game. Melo and Stat like to run one on one.

    Stoudemire is clearly not happy with Melo. He is not the same person he was last year. We have no post up presence which we desperately need. Turkoglu could work well with Melo because he spreads the court and can handle and pass the ball way above average.

  • DylanNYK

    lol nobody is going to take Turk from us, and we have no assets to trade for D-Will. If you ignore those facts, it makes sense.

  • FRANKGIFFORDFAN

    I don’t plagiarize.You are a hater because I call you put .I was multi tasking and forgot to give the credit at the top as I usually do ie: credit ESPN

  • Sandro Guedes

    As in “we don’t have cap room for any real PG or any other outside shooter” simple?

    So you get a PG. He can’t play pick n roll with STAT, ’cause Chandler is on the way.

    What does he do?

    Give the ball to Melo. Iso happening.

    I guess Knicks fans will only be able to open their eyes as soon as Baron Davis plays 10 games or so. Then, you’ll see it’s not a PG problem.

    We had Billups last year, All-Star PG. Same STAT, same Melo, same D’Antoni.

    Did it work?

    Yeap, there you go. Oh wait, this year we have Chandler. As if he is going to be the one to facilitate the offensive end.

    Our big 3 take 70% of our cap room. Our big 3 don’t match.

    In fact, we have the worst Big 3 in the NBA, as far as Superstars go.

    But hey, we have our name on the All-Star game. Maybe not on the playoffs but who cares right? We can buy jerseys from the All-Star game naming Melo or Stoudemire.

    Screw the playoffs, we have a Big 3 anyway.

  • andEwing

    THANKS – You are back in the not a liar club.

    Do you have a time-stamp because I can’t find it- I’ve been between 2:10 and through now. Plenty of talk, but haven’t heard anything about this deal – just want to hear the specifics.

    ALSO KEEP IN MIND – we can trade chandler March 1, and the deadline for trades got pushed back to March 15th.

  • bb_dot

    I’m with you. Just wondering if SAS is smoking something..

  • So4realNY

    nuff said!

  • bb_dot

    Howard’s last three games:

    21/23 against Lakers
    25/24 against Kings
    17/25 against Charlotte

    how do you NOT make that trade if it is offered to you. just sayin’

  • So4realNY

    I don’t believe it either, look no further than Amare’s (uninsured) contract!

  • Mucha7

    Stephen A. Smith is credible so I assume the Dwight Howard trade rumors are true but I believe Tyson Chandler cannot be traded until March 1st.

  • So4realNY

    At this point Steven A Smith is using the Knicks simply to stay relevant….how sad Steven….how sad…

  • DylanNYK

    We can’t even trade Chandler for over a month, so its pointless speculation. If Howard is still on Orlando at that time, then maybe its a discussion worth having. Right now its not even worth talking about.

  • bb_dot

    If a call was indeed made to the Knicks FO, it’s far from pointless speculation. This would be a much bigger trade for the Knicks than Melo’s or the signing of Amar’e, both of which have been discussed ad nausea on this blog.

  • DylanNYK

    But it can’t even happen until March. Until then, we are “stuck” with Melo and Amar’e, so we need to try and make it work.

  • bb_dot

    sure that’s true. But don’t tell me that the prospect of this is not at least somewhat interesting to you..?

  • DylanNYK

    If its true, its definitely worth considering. But I just have a feeling its one of those rumors that goes away after a couple days, and we don’t even know if Howard will still be available when Chandler can be traded.

  • chris b

    he would play stretch 4 and shoot 3s

  • http://twitter.com/gdaibes1 Ghanem Daibes

    It speaks to how low we’ve come that we’re looking to JR Smith/Baron Davis to be our saving graces.

    I want to throw up.

  • FRANKGIFFORDFAN

    Do you know how to get the source to come up when I copy an article on the internet? If so,please reply.He does not (FieldsFanatic)like me.

  • chris b

    why then did they try so hard to resign him for more money, like an extension

  • http://twitter.com/seansrule sean matthew

    http://espn.go.com/espnradio/newyork/play

    Rewind to the 2:48 and 2:55 steven a reports the Howard thing. Around the 2:51 Mark Steven A brings up the Howard Stat trade.

  • http://twitter.com/Heather_Rose_ Heather Robinson

    Lol no offense taken. I’m used to it.

  • http://twitter.com/seansrule sean matthew

    Best case Senario BD averages 13 points with 6 assist a game. And JR Smith averages 10 points a game. This is not our savior.

    Our savior is Melo and Amare working to play together. Even with a PG you still need your best players to work off one another. It cant just be the PG choosing Stat or Melo.

  • Gramman

    Like every , ONCE WAS , player , they need to fit on teh right team and have the right coach .

    Amare last year was the face of the KNicks. Today is Melo

    Mike D has lost the players for the most part

    I think Amare should be traded . Take the best package you can get that re-creaates cap flexibility.

    Out of those names listed as possible available PG’s to help Baron , should Baron ever come , is Sessions.

    Grunwald or whatever his name is , needs to put Amare on the market. Grab .take best deal and call it a day. This is now the summer of Dwight and Deron folks.

    Start planning and make the necessary trades.

    I never liked the roster moves except for Chandler and we al know he was over paid. Best center avail, thats how it goes.

    Go back to Walsh’s plan , give Woodson the rest of the season , sign K-Mart & JR as I’d assume we would then have cap space if we traded Amare .

    See if Minny wants anyone for Sessions.

    FORGET..I SAY AGAIN…FORGET ABOUT PHIL JACKSON COMING OUT OF ZEN RETIREMENT TO DEAL WITH AN OWNER LIKE DOLAN.

    Who is going to lead this team? I say Bill Laimbeer.

    Sheeeet, Id sign AI right now . You all know I would sign Arenas to see what he can bring. No experiment is a bad one at this stage after 7 home games lost with a 6-10 record on a short season.

    Moves are needed and Mike should go on vacation early. Enough is enough. Should have taken the Chicago deal instead of NY . Dummy

    Trading Amare should be the starting strategy . Go from there. Bench Melo giving his hand a breather , give Amare the team back to boost his value. Shed salary to give D-12 and D-Will a shot. Dont trade Chandler unless its Amare & Chandler for D-12 and Turk.

    Dump all tose stupid one year deals and then you have dough for Deron,

  • moderatethis

    Amare and Chandler for Howard is the most STUPID thing Ive ever heard.

    So wait, we had a championship PG Chauncey Buillips moronically used our only amnesty clause on him when he had a expiring contract, to sign Tyson Chandler even though we had Turiaf and maybe could have brought in vet center and used Jordan at the center spot too. Leaving the team with no capspace in 2012, SO now your telling we have to trade Amare AND Tyson Chandler for a guy that if we had just waited until the offseason we could have signed and kept STAT and probably brought back Billups?

    Billups
    Shump
    Melo
    STAT
    Howard

    Could have been our SL but they wanted Chandler I DIDN’T, and now our only hope is to trade Amare AND Chandler? I’m not doing it!! It’s one of those moves that set you back we need to move forward, step 1 FIRE THE COACH and get someone who knows how to use the players we have.

  • TheHonorableHaS

    I agree.

    I’m not sure if you responded to my post by accident, but that has nothing to do with my above comment.

  • kousinkar

    That amnesty was our one “Get of Jail Free” card.

    By amnestying Billups and signing Chandler, the front office was essentially saying “we want to contend NOW”, yet they did virtually NOTHING after signing Chandler. The front office should have been chasing down every possible vet min signing out there – T-Mac, Delonte West, Mike James, Kurt Thomas, Reggie Evans – that would have solidified the bench. At that time, the Chandler+Knicks hype could have helped sell championship dreams to the available players who were considering a temporary paycut. Now? Not so much. I’m worried we are one month away from begging Gilbert Arenas to save us.

    Just no vision, whatsoever. I feel like I’ve seen this movie before.

  • TheHonorableHaS

    …to sign Tyson Chandler even though we had Turiaf

    Yo, I laughed so hard my eyeballs almost popped out of my head.

  • knick4life

    A voice of reason!

  • knick4life

    “Obviously firing the “coach” and seeing if somebody else can put the pieces together is my first option.”

    Exactly. But this is not obvious to some people.

  • moderatethis

    Your laughing ??

    Are we a better team with Chandler than we we’re with Billups and Turiaf ??

    They blew up 2012 for Chandler.

    You should be laughing at that.

  • knick4life

    “and how come the team scoring fluently when Melo on the bench”

    Have you been watching the games this season? Our team has anything but scoring fluently with Melo on the bench. Bill Walker makes a few threes in one quarter, and all of a sudden we’re better without Melo? Come on.

  • TheHonorableHaS

    Turiaf hardly ever played, I think he’s hurt even now… again.

    We definitely miss Billups and we sure as hell need help in the backcourt, but there were options available to shore it up; the front office just chose to go into hibernation mode.

    That isn’t Chandler’s fault, he’s been the best Knick this season… by far.

  • http://twitter.com/seansrule sean matthew

    No it couldn’t have you cant pay bllups 10 mill Howard 20 Stat 20 and Melo 20.

    You can only have 3 guys making max money.

    With Howard and Melo you would have 2 guys making max money with money left over.

    The problem is Stat and Chandler do the same thing. They both run pick n rolls both like to be in the paint and they both don’t post up. Melo and Stat like to run one on one. Everyone steps on each other toes. Melo and Howard don’t do the same thing. Howard clogs the paint and posts up. Melo works on the perimeter. It would work perfectly. If you could get Torkoglu you have a PF who can spread the floor and is a good passer and ball handler. These guys all do different things and complement each other well. Thats how teams work.

  • MrBoots

    It’s about marketing not basketball. It became “We want to contend NOW,” because Dolan spent big bucks to re-do the Garden, and raised ticket prices 49% to pay for it. Nobody wants to pay that much for interior decorating, so going for it now and adding another “big name” became the operating imperitive. There was little afore-thought about how Chandler would mesh wirth STAT and Melo, and no thought given to strategically fill out the roster or to replace Billups. Bibby was a bone to Woodson, but hardly a credible replacement.

    Remember, it is Isaiah’s man in charge. Back to Isaiah World of expensive ill-fitting names that sound great in the Promos, but don’t pay-off on the court because nobody wanted to spend the time thinking about role players.

  • knickknack69

    Your right, but some of that falls on the coaching. The ticky tack fouls are on the players.

  • knickknack69

    Man those are two big needs. You can’t fix that this season. This is exactly what I mean. You act like that’s any easy fix. That’s a huge problem. Not a small fix. That’s like saying the only issues the jets have is Rex Ryan and Mark Sanchez. Please……

  • knickknack69

    I think cbev,DylanNY,andEwing are in denial. You guys are homers. You must work for the Knicks or something. I’ve been watching the Knicks since Edmund Sherod was the point guard. This is a bad put together team. Just putting big names together doesn’t make it a good team. You need more than big names. Than again Dolan will never understand that. This was orchestrated by him anyway.

  • bobgoknicks

    we will never win as long as Dolan is alive

  • bobgoknicks

    go back to Walshs plan?you mean lose for three years on purpose and beg LBJ to play here?

  • bobgoknicks

    that all ended with the Melo trade

  • bobgoknicks

    oh i meant the T Mac trade

  • bobgoknicks

    oh sorry i meant the Marbury trade

  • bobgoknicks

    How do you know its a girl?

  • bobgoknicks

    Ive been watching this team since 1965,im not gonna stop now,but i do have the right to rip them to shreds when i want

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_LFXMQAVIHDUUZ644UKW2AXOX6Q First

    the problem is the coach! he is terrible with this team .he doesnt know how to use his players.look at last night bill walker got hot then he benched him and we didnt see him again.we had a squad out there playing well was moving the ball around they looked good with melo on the bench he went back to melo..it s like all his substitutions are on a time clock..i look at the clock and say to myself ok here comes this substitution…u need to be unpredictable and this coach aint the other coaches have his number..if your down 16 with 1.5 min left put your valuable players on the bench why risk injuries to them ?and whats up with this love affair he has for jared jeffries ? jeffries is so terrible yet he gets the call in before jorts who has been a bright spot this season!..dantoni does not have control of this team and what he does have control of he is screwing up !

  • andEwing

    A quarterback is 90% of an offenses success in the NFL now. AND Rex needs to change, they don’t need a new coach.

    NBA isn’t like the NFL. Its much easier to find pieces that are average, AND new offenses get instituted all the time during the season (slow tweaks to a new style).

    So if Baron is good, or they can find someone who can pass, and they get a new coach, we could solve the problems pretty quickly.

    Lacking a QB or coach in the NFL is much harder to fix.

  • chris b

    that all falls on the coaches

  • chris b

    /You ar esh33ing me right. Have you read all my posts for the past 2 years(had different name lost my password) I have probably had 20 posts modified for going after the FO and Dolan hard with real shi3 they are afraid to print. And I go back to McGuire and Braun circa 1951 in the old garden. I am not in denial, I analyze the game very well and played the game as a pg, and have coached the game for 45 years. I think I know the game. I am know efing homer. Dolan is a pos

  • chris b

    read the above post, you are right this team had no thought at all in its construction, its like after the Clyde Willis era the team tried the same ####, getting Spencer Haywood and Bob MacAdoo, it was terrible. This is just as bad. 1. you need a pg, 2. you need a center, 3. you need a scorer. 4. you need role players including shooters. We wnt into this season with no pgs People should be demanding their ticket money back for fraud

  • chris b

    And that is why you need a coach, and he has to have imput. That is why Pat left. The owner has Pat as president, and he handles all the players, and has meetings with coach daily. Not so here post is for sean

  • chris b

    Chandler does some things well, other things he is lacking. He has no low post moves, he is nor a quick jumper for rebounds, he will not shoot from the foul line other things he is good at. He plays D with passion, he is a great teammate and will do anything to help them succeed . But the FO are a bunch of jacki, they overpayed him and nothing left for the most important position pg. That should have been the top if they were going to get rid of CB

  • http://twitter.com/washmalone none

    cbev, you have the watched nba for many years whats your explanation for such low scoring boring games with no fastbreaks no creativity by coaches on offense, just sheer brute force and preferental treatment by refs. the game is entertainment its not a sweat shop just trying to produce at any cost. every coach is so conservative and its a detrimite to the fans

  • Gramman

    Genius reply. What are you 14?

    No, Walsh new :BJ was a long shot and what I mean is getting back to have some cap flexibility so we can fix and get better players . He is said we should always maintain a certain amount of cap flexibility. And of course be patient.

  • Melo2penplaza

    “The ball is already having more than enough trouble moving,”
    Your right…but left out “moving into the Hoop”
    JR Smith is a big help there. Why is Melo being tripled?
    Because our guards can’t throw a rock in the Ocean!

  • Melo2penplaza

    Starbury 2? Do your parents know your on an Adult blog?
    Grow up!

  • Melo2penplaza

    Pass to who?

  • Melo2penplaza

    WAGSY is really a woman that is mad Gallo got traded.

  • Melo2penplaza

    Because we will trade Fields to get him more money if needed!

  • Melo2penplaza

    Why do you keep insisting Denver has the rights to JR Smith when 20000000 people including the MSM have stated the fact they do not? Smith and Kmart are no longer a part of Denver!

  • Melo2penplaza

    I’s trade TD & Fields & Lin to get Sessions!

  • chris b

    You have valid points. You will note the Euros can all shoot. The training in this country sucks. AAU is terrible, kids are not taught skills, particularly shooting. Go to a AAU 12 14 16, the games are dominated by the biggest toughest kids that bully. The officials, who are usually reffing 4 games a day don`t call anything as they are trying to get the game done in an hour. The coaches don`t teach correct defense, they let the kids hold reach and push, and there are no calls. You take a kid to a traineer, and they spend all the time teaching one on one skills with nine million dribbling moves to get to the rack, put virtually no time on shooting skills or moving without the ball, In Europe kids play less and work on skills much more. I had Euros occasionally when I was coaching as exchange students, these kids had been taught to pass catch, move without the ball and to shoot. You are right on with the time frame. This is when the aau took over and diminished to hs coaches hold on the kids. Today college coaches virtually never walk inside a hs gym, but go to abig AAU tourny and you will find hundreds there, looking for the biggest toughest kids. Thugs if you will. Kids with shooting skills are lost in the shuffel most times because the kids with the ball don`t give it, and there are no offenses that rely and picks and curls and the like. Its all dribble drive and selfish hoops

  • chris b

    My reply got shuffled somewhere else. No denial as far as seeing what is going on. I actually study the game and do research on this stuff. Read Ds book, it is enlightening and explains well the #### that is going on with the knicks. He was hired to cover up the crap product they were selling and put up points to bring in fans, not to win. Like throwing a paint job over the rotting wood to cover it up. I think Dolan listens more to marketing people then basketball people. They are trying to cover up an inferior product with Madison Ave techniques instead of doing due diligence about how to build a team, I don`t call that denial, if you do, then we just have different definitions

  • chris b

    Exactly what I have been saying. Its the quick fix started by the Yankees to put as## in the seats. It worked to a degree with yanks because of no cap

  • chris b

    Sean Stats and Chandler have similar games yes, Mello is a completely different animal. I would compare his game more to Bernard Kings game with BK being a little quicker and Mello being stronger. BK had much better guards and coaches so he got the ball and shot right away, didn`t need isos.