Lin has certainly earned his share of this losing streak... 40 percent shooting and turnovers... Like Tebow, it's interesting to see people go to great lengths to defend every single thing he does. It's Melo's fault! Muah!!! (Is Lin doing an anti-Dennis Johnson and NOT putting his stars in the spots they need to be to succeed? Is he capable of doing that?)
What a punk kid <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_Jio7pFUKmY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
It's more attacking Melo and Amare than defending Lin. Which, if you've been watching the losing streak, there's truth to "Melo and Amare don't play defense! Rawr!"
Trouble is brewing - Lin better watch it http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/b...court-success-article-1.1038532#ixzz1p3qczPmk He would be better off with a small market team. Too much drama on the Knicks
"Let that be a warning to Lin if heaven forbid he stops making MSG money." Yeah, I think Lin is close to untouchable right now, unless the Knicks can upgrade at that position with a top-tier PG. The only reason the Knicks don't have a Bobcats-like record right now is because of Lin's inspired play when Stoudemire and Anthony were both out.
I was lucky enough to have watched every single Linsanity game since his breakout sub role against the nets. Darn I miss watching that team play, it was fun as hell rooting for the underdog and watching the team play with 100% effort and heart. The Knicks team now is hardly worth mentioning. No effort on D, no hustle plays, no ball movement. You can see from the body language of the remaining Linsanity starters that they know its not working out. Doesn't help that the coach tries to keep at least one of his two superstars in the game at all times. There's no chemistry. The top dogs want to continue their style of play and you can't blame them for that, thats what made them max-money players and they can't change on the fly even if they tried. They've been playing like that for 9 or 10 years. Lin tries to defer to Amare and Melo whenever he can. He's the rookie underdog making minimum money and thats the only way he can play if he wants to continue being buddies and a great teammate with them. He's a good player but he doesn't have the overwhelming and powerful personality of a Magic to lead this team comprising two superstar egos. Which leads us to the crux of the issue. The coach has to make the team play the way he wants it to. Assuming that D'antoni wants the Knicks to play like his old Suns with a creative point making plays in an open offense, he is the leader the team needs to put all the pieces in the right places and get them to function as a team. There has been multiple stories that he never wanted the Melo trade because it simply didn't fit into his style of offense and it is showing now. Defense is the main reason why they've been losing. The spotlight is on Amare. He simply does not know what to do on defense. Either the coach can't teach or Amare doesn't get it. If you watched the Knicks vs Spurs game last week, its painfully obvious how simple it is to exploit Amare on defense. Pops and Tony Parker has been showing everyone how its done, since the Suns/Spurs series from 2007 to 2010. Screen the guard with the big guarding Amare and switch. Watch as the defense opens up with Amare confused. He is on a max uninsured contract and nobody will trade for him. The rumors going about indicate that the Knicks are more likely to be shopping Melo around and this definitely won't solve their defensive woes. Management wants a star studded team to attract the fans and they want Amare, Lin and Melo as starters out on the floor. However this 3 players simply cannot function well as a team because of the differences in play style. The top dogs can't change their style and the rookie doesn't want to impose his on them. The coach is unable to make things work and everyone is frustrated. Seems like everyone is pouting and waiting for management to fix it. The Knicks will wallow in mediocrity until one of these major parts is fixed or replaced.
A telling sign is when Coach D'Antoni admits that the 2nd unit constantly beats the 1st unit on the floor.. Maybe because the 2nd unit actually plays together and defends well together. Might also be because, they are the players that helped get them on that 7 game win streak. Just saying.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Jeremy Lin thrived early in D'Antoni's system, have to wonder how he'll fit in offense Mike Woodson installs. And Woodson will make changes.</p>— Chris Mannix (@ChrisMannixSI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisMannixSI/status/180007172120391680" data-datetime="2012-03-14T19:07:08+00:00">March 14, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Woodson's offense in Atlanta was isolation-heavy (remember the Iso-Joe?). Fits right into how 'Melo likes to play.</p>— Chris Mannix (@ChrisMannixSI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisMannixSI/status/180007566837940224" data-datetime="2012-03-14T19:08:42+00:00">March 14, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Scouts telling me this coaching change should benefit Melo immediately. Woodson's offense heavy on isolation,two-man game, misdirection.</p>— Chris Mannix (@ChrisMannixSI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisMannixSI/status/180011642954858496" data-datetime="2012-03-14T19:24:54+00:00">March 14, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Lin, not so much. One scout says Baron Davis's skills fit better. Another says change "probably going to cost Lin millions in new contract."</p>— Chris Mannix (@ChrisMannixSI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisMannixSI/status/180012035197779968" data-datetime="2012-03-14T19:26:28+00:00">March 14, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
This would probably have more to do with Davis complaining about lack of playing time than him having skill sets that fit Melo better. I mean, Woodson joins the team and the immediate benefactors are the two people who reported dissatisfaction with their role on the team. I'm sure Woodson knows he could get away with it because Lin is humble, but Davis is washed up and in no universe will he be better in any offensive system than Lin.
