Comments on: Knicks not contenders with ‘Melo, but they have hope

By: dysraw1

dysraw1 — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 14:09:37 +0000

they do need to make another move we really need at least 2 more biggs

By: passerby23

passerby23 — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 23:53:03 +0000

While you make some good points about the Knicks, I think ultimately Helin is right on this one. No, I wouldn’t want to face an offense like that who could explode on any given night. Melo might be a tough cover for the Bulls wings, but the playoffs are another animal entirely.

The pace slows in the playoffs, which works against the Knicks offense and favors an already stout Chicago defense. The Knicks also have lost depth. What happens if/when Amar’e gets in foul trouble against that Bulls frontline in the playoffs?

Then, there is the exceptional shooting the Knicks have shown against the Bulls that you can’t expect to continue (especially since they just shipped out most of their shooters). 50% from three or better is pretty damn good that won’t hold up in the playoffs.

On top of all that, the Bulls will have homecourt against a team that now has to find chemistry with a handful of games left.

Bottom line: the Knicks would be a pesky opponent you wouldn’t want to play with their offensive firepower, but the Bulls hold a huge advantage. Defense wins in the playoffs and until the Knicks can show some, they’re not beating anyone.

By: gatch21

gatch21 — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 19:16:51 +0000

I am a Knick fan,have been for almost 40 years and am not happy or excited about this deal long term. Your description of Anthony is dead on. Defense wins championships…always has, always will

By: leearmon

leearmon — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 19:02:27 +0000

It’s not really fair to say Melo is a “marginal rebounder”

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/a/anthoca01.html

By: mharenza

mharenza — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 18:22:01 +0000

I just do not see the long term benefits of this trade for the Knicks. I cannot disagree that Carmelo Anthony is an excellent scorer. However, it also cannot be ignored that he is a marginal rebounder and terrible defender. Furthermore, the salary cap implications of the deal appear to be short sighted. Although the exact labor situation can only be speculated, that there will be a lockout with the end result being future salary cap figures being drastically reduced. I just see a situation where the Knicks have Stoudermire and Anthony and little else. I feel bad for Knicks fans, I really do. I would probably be excited now if I were them….but in a few years when the situation is imploding they won’t have Donnie Walsh to bail them out again. But Isiah will be there, so at least you will have that going for you.

By: arrabin56

arrabin56 — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 16:56:35 +0000

It’s amazing how much the focus can change in such a short time. Yes the cap is likely to be lowered. Yes, right now Amare and Melo add up to about 40mil. But it wasn’t that long ago everybody was talking about all the salary rollbacks. I assume it isn’t going to be “everyone’s salary is rolled back except for Amare and Melo to screw the Knicks.” The truth is it is 100% impossible to tell right now one way or the other if the Knicks will be able to sign another star or not, and what other space they’ll have.

By: savocabol1

savocabol1 — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 16:43:09 +0000

Basketball is irrelevant in the regular season.

By: leearmon

leearmon — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 15:57:23 +0000

Yes they have a great defense, but if you paid attention, you would see their offense, not so spectacular. They don’t shoot the ball well. Are poor ft shooters (Noah won’t help there) plus they turn the ball over quite a bit. While their defense is very good, (.331 -3pt%, 92.4 ppg, .429 fg%) NYK have crushed those numbers the two games they played each other. GM 1, NYK 66.7% from 3, 50% from the field and scored 120 points. GM 2, 54.5 from 3, 53.2 from the field, scored 103 pts. So its hard for me to understand how any reasonable basketball viewer can debate the Knicks’ chances vs Chicago. Yes Noah is returning to injury, but he’s always hurt. Just because he’s coming back, doesn’t mean he will transform them into the Celtics, I mean they have played one of the easiest schedules thus far. The Bulls play great defense, and they will need to vs a strong offensive team, whomever they play in the postseason. The question with Chicago is how will their offense work? Chicago is a better team than New York, no question about it, but if you paid attention to basketball, you would know the NBA is about match-ups especially in the postseason, and you would also know better to write sentences like the one I pointed out in my previous post.

By: gatch21

gatch21 — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 15:50:12 +0000

They had hope for the future before the trade. They gutted a young team with potential and I think this is crappy deal for Knicks. They will regret trading Gallinari

By: Kurt Helin

Kurt Helin — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 15:17:20 +0000

leearmon, you clearly have not been paying attention — the Bulls are second in the league right now in defense. They are very good defensive team and are just now getting Noah back. Those Bulls are borderline contenders, these Knicks are still a long way from that.

By: jmclarkent

jmclarkent — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 13:50:18 +0000

I wouldn’t be shocked to see Toney Douglass/ Billups/ Fields on the floor at the same time. If they can fill in the gaps during the offseason, this could be interesting.

By: florida727

florida727 — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 13:37:21 +0000

Best part of this deal going down? We don’t have to listen to the ‘where’s he going’ crap anymore. That, and of course the Knicks irrelevancy for the remainder of the season…

By: leearmon

leearmon — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 13:23:58 +0000

“They are not putting fear in the hearts of the Celtics, Heat or Bulls…”

This is one of the funniest lines you have written in a long time. You don’t think the Bulls are a little worried about playing this team? For all of the shortcomings on defense that the Knicks have, and they do have a lot, lets not forget they have two of the best scorers in the league. So while Derrick Rose and Boozer will get theirs, who guards Melo? Deng, Brewer? C’mon. And Amar’e gets killed on defense, yet Boozer gets a pass. I would love to ask Chicago, Miami and Orlando if they are anxious about playing New York in the first round. And Billups isnt made for a Mike D’Antoni system? I would argue the opposite. Billups is not quick, but he is one of the best p&r PG in the league.His ts% is far better than Felton’s and the fact that Billups is such a good three point shooter will only help STAT because defenders wont go under the screens. Not to mention his 6’4 frame will limit those PG post ups, unlike Felton. Is the road ahead going to be difficult, sure, But Fields was the best piece that we had, and he’s still there. Our rebounding (which was one of our weakest points) has gotten much, much better. Melo is ofter cited as being only a “chucker” but his rebounding rates show much more…

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/a/anthoca01.html

So a better rebounding squad. Better three point shooting. More playoff experience & 3 elite players. Nope, no team is worried about playing the Knicks…..

By: hnirobert3

hnirobert3 — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 12:39:06 +0000

“Knicks fans don’t care. They got their guy.”

Option #3 after James and Wade.

By: hnirobert3

hnirobert3 — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 12:38:35 +0000

Felton’s numbers are a product of the system D’Antoni runs. He’s nothing special.

By: dysraw1

dysraw1 — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 12:25:43 +0000

LOSING ray & gallo is big ,im hoping that cb can step in and fill rays shoes properly