1622 replies to this topic

[RutgersJetFan]

Well since nobody else was willing to do it...

[SMC]

I still don't have power, so I've only listened to the games on radio. Knicks sound cohesive and playing good defense. I like the small lineup with Melo at 4, but I don't want Kidd worn out. Melo also seems highly motivated. Good start to the season.

Edited by SMC, 04 November 2012 - 06:46 PM.

[SMC]

Novak's game this year really highlights Woodson as a coach. The difference in his game is night and day compared to last year. It's not just defense, it's literally everything. He's way better off the dribble now and the way he spaces himself out on the floor is actually strategic rather than random like it was last year. He's turning into one hell of a weapon.

That's what it sounds like. It was also cool that Woodson has a set play for Novak after a missed Knick free throw.

[RutgersJetFan]

I still don't have power, so I've only listened to the games on radio. Knicks sound cohesive and playing good defense. I like the small lineup with Melo at 4, but I don't want Kidd worn out. Melo also seems highly motivated. Good start to the season.

With Melo, I think it's the combo of Kidd and Woodson, maybe even spending the summer with Kobe or Lebron...whatever, who cares.

The main difference today was that they were finding ways to maximize efficiency in the paint by moving the ball when they hit spots in the game when their 3 wasn't failing. They were doing the same thing against Miami to a lesser degree the other night too. Years past they just would have kept shooting. The solution was to always shoot your way out of all problems. Smith tried it to a degree today but it was noticeably more controlled. Now they're focusing much more heavily on ball movement and taking of advantage of how versatile they can be size-wise. I don't think it's a coincidence at all that the Knicks first two victories have both been the result of jumping out to an early lead and just holding it for the whole game. Effort only gets you so far, it's just a fact of the game. You have to be able to adjust on the fly when things change up and the Knicks have done a really great job of that so far because of their experience and variety on the bench. When Camby comes back all bets are off on how much we're going to be able to take advantage of teams with our bigs.

Edited by RutgersJetFan, 04 November 2012 - 07:27 PM.

[cr726]

Only got to watch some of the game and the Knicks moved the ball very very well.

[BroadwayJoe12]

Not too much power on the laptop, been down in the city helping out since after my final friday, but DVR'd both games and just got around to seeing them. I'll have to admit, I was a bit worried when they were hoisting up so many threes, but today's game really set me at ease. Absolutely love the ball movement, Kidd is a fantastic addition, and if they aren't a top 8 defense throughout the course of the entire year I would be extremely surprised. It really all starts with Melo's commitment and it seams to have stepped up everyone else's intensity as well. Just as Clyde and Breen were saying, you can really see the affect Woodson has had on JR's game, he still makes some questionable decisions, but he is playing much more within himself. Thank god for the knicks, because this was the best Sunday I've had in ohhh since week 2 of the NFL season.

[SMC]

If it wasn't for the Giants' choke job it wouldve been a great sports Sunday for me as I listened to both games on the radio, huddled in my cold house.

The ball movement is great to hear and it is a conscious effort as Kidd mentioned in the postgame. He knew that the Sixers were going to play to stop the 3s so the counter was to attack the rim. The Knicks had a stretch of something like 4 straight layups to build the lead in the 3rd quarter.

As a fan, I can't help but look ahead to December. STAT's injury situation may be a blessing. He should be the 2nd unit's 5 when he comes back. I think he'd be a perfect addition with Novak, Smith, and Prig. Not much defense with that group, but they can score.

Melo was in complete beast mode last year as the 4 and it has, thus far, carried over in these 2 games. He may wear down a bit over the next 8 weeks at the 4, but then again, he didn't last year. Melo is the team's best post player. He can also defend and rebound when he commits. STAT is simply a horrible defender and rebounder.

Edited by SMC, 05 November 2012 - 10:02 AM.

[Damaged89]

They're just all over Philly defensively tonight.

also, SHHHHEEEEEEEEDDDDDDDD

Edited by Damaged89, 05 November 2012 - 08:57 PM.

[RutgersJetFan]

Totally gay for Felton.

[Bergen Jet]

Is it safe to start getting excited about my Knicks yet?

Holy crap I am in love with the way this team is playing.

[Bergen Jet]

Totally gay for Felton.

I felt the same way his first tenure with the team, but man he looks like a steal so far this go around.

[BroadwayJoe12]

First time in Knicks history that they start the season with 3 consecutive double digit victories, not to mention holding all three opponents to under 90 points. The defense is for real and the ball movement is night and day from last year. I take back my previous statement of guaranteeing we finish top 8 in defense; no way I see them falling outside of the top 5, with a legit shot at being the best overall defensive team in the league. All this without our best perimeter defender in Shump?? I'll take it.


Oh and SHEEEEEEDDDDD quickly becoming the talented and darker skinned Brian Scalabrini.

[Bombdirt]

3-0 for the first time since '99. (Wow, has it really been that long?) It's weird: I know it's only three games, but so far this year I'm enjoying the ride when they're up by double digits instead of just waiting for them to blow it.

[JiF]

Ok, this is a totally different team than I was expecting to see.

Wow.

[SMC]

Finally got power back last night and watched my first Knick game (heard the other 2 on radio).

The Daily News Frank Isola put it best on how the Knicks are playing: "It's really not that complicated; defend, move the ball, play off your superstar and good things can happen."

Injuries will be this teams major worry, because they're built to play sound basketball. This is the Felton I remember from 2 yrs ago and Melo is a beast at 4. He has to stay there for the rest of the season.

[JiF]

Finally got power back last night and watched my first Knick game (heard the other 2 on radio).

The Daily News Frank Isola put it best on how the Knicks are playing: "It's really not that complicated; defend, move the ball, play off your superstar and good things can happen."

Injuries will be this teams major worry, because they're built to play sound basketball. This is the Felton I remember from 2 yrs ago and Melo is a beast at 4. He has to stay there for the rest of the season.

Thats the one concern. They're old as dirt and its kind of a hodgepodge of players that I really didnt expect to play well together. Its only 3 games in but so far so good. My fear is the wrong mix gets hurt and you start to see a different team.

[SMC]

Thats the one concern. They're old as dirt and its kind of a hodgepodge of players that I really didnt expect to play well together. Its only 3 games in but so far so good. My fear is the wrong mix gets hurt and you start to see a different team.

Yeah, I agree.

Along those lines, I like Kidd in the starting lineup and only getting 25 mpg. Having both Felton and Kidd out there as facilitators is great. They can counter any type of defense because of their smarts.

I would be concerned with Kidd's health, but 25 mpg isn't too much time.

The benefit of having a deep, veteran bench is that you don't have to play them a lot of minutes and they all know how to pace themselves.

Last, I like Brewer in the lineup in a Bruce Bowen-esque role. He can guard the good 3s that are out there.

[RutgersJetFan]

Great chart on ESPNNY today of the Knicks' shot selections and where have been successful on the court. I'd repost it but I'm on the iPad today. Very efficient from the arc obviously and in the paint but there are clearly some problems with their midrange scoring from the top of the key and the left side of the court. I think there are two important deductions from it; first, I think it shows what the Knicks had been planning to do on offense with a healthy Stat. His midrange attempts dropped with Chandler on the court last year and this is probably an indication that this year's offense planned on getting them back up from that spot on the court. In other words, despite previous arguments from me, there may be some advantages to having both Amare and Melo on the floor at the same time because this is certainly a weakness that teams like Boston and Miami will be able to exploit as the season progresses.

Second, I really hope this is a result of both Stat and Shumpert just being out, because they, in particular, possess two of the better midrange games on the roster, and one of the distinct things on offense that Miami has exploited in the past two postseasons have been teams with weak midrange games, (i.e Chicago in 2011). While it's very early in the season to think this is a large concern, it's still something Woodson is going to have to start hashing out around the AS break.

Edited by RutgersJetFan, 06 November 2012 - 05:12 PM.

[RutgersJetFan]

Yeah, I agree.

Along those lines, I like Kidd in the starting lineup and only getting 25 mpg. Having both Felton and Kidd out there as facilitators is great. They can counter any type of defense because of their smarts.

I would be concerned with Kidd's health, but 25 mpg isn't too much time.

A regular-type season is the biggest variable in this regard IMO. It's really crazy to see the Knicks having 3-4 days in between games again, I forgot that's how things are normally. You had sh*t last year where they had stretches of 7 games in 11 nights, all with a new roster. This year they have time to practice and guys like Chandler can finally get a little rest after playing 2 games with strep.

Prigs has turned out to be a blessing. The stress he alleviates because of Shumpert being out goes way beyond just minutes. They can keep Smith in as a 6th as a result, which is where he thrives. They can keep Brewer relegated to being the specialist that he is and not asking that he overstep his abilities.

[BroadwayJoe12]

A regular-type season is the biggest variable in this regard IMO. It's really crazy to see the Knicks having 3-4 days in between games again, I forgot that's how things are normally. You had sh*t last year where they had stretches of 7 games in 11 nights, all with a new roster. This year they have time to practice and guys like Chandler can finally get a little rest after playing 2 games with strep.

Prigs has turned out to be a blessing. The stress he alleviates because of Shumpert being out goes way beyond just minutes. They can keep Smith in as a 6th as a result, which is where he thrives. They can keep Brewer relegated to being the specialist that he is and not asking that he overstep his abilities.

His defense is a pleasant surprise and he allows us to have someone to orchestrate an offense so there's no drastic dropoff when kidd or felton are on the bench. He needs to stop passing up open looks though, teams will start to play off him if he continues that. He's got an awkward looking shot to me, but it's not terrible and is decent driving. Love his comments about how high JR Smith got for the dunk and said something like Manu gets kind of high, Luis Scola?? he goes for layup.