Hello I am here to fix your offense.

by Robert Curre on Jan 19, 2012 3:47 PM EST

The Knicks offensive problems can be fixed before Davis takes the court. But here is what needs to happen.

1. Carmelo needs to take better shots and play faster with the ball: People complain about Carmelo's Isos, I don't really care that he Isos but he needs to clean up certain aspects.

A. Carmelo calls for Isos too early in the clock rather than looking to score off ball movement and player movement. Limit Isos to 8 seconds or less.

B. Carmelo holds the ball too long thus killing ball and player movement. Off the catch Carmelo either needs to shoot, drive, or give it up. Holding it while 4 guys stand there holding their dicks should never be an option.

C. Get to the rim: Carmelo takes far too many low percentage jumpshots out of his Isos. If he is gonna Iso as much as he does then he needs to be far more efficient at it. Get to the rim or get to the free throw line, if that isn't happening give up the iso game.

2. Play Mike Bibby More: This move comes with a risk because Bibby has been relegated to spot duty off the bench because his defense is atrocious. But Bibby is in his 13th year and he spent the majority of the previous 12 as a fairly successful starting point guard. This means he has some understanding of how to run an offense and keep thing structured. However, as bad as the offense has been and as poor as the point guard play has been, playing Bibby more couldn't be worse.

3. Play faster: The Knicks are struggling to score against set defenses in the half court. So the best way to deal with that is to pick up the tempo and try to attack teams before they get set.

4. Move the ball: The reason the Knicks are having trouble scoring is the ball movement is poor, and because it is poor hardly anyone can get any rhythm. Players need to touch the ball to develop a rhythm, so the more the ball moves the better shots the team with get and the better prepared the team will be to hit those shots.

5. Consider giving Novak more minutes: Same problem as Bibby the dude can't guard a statue, but he is a shooter and right now the Knicks are struggling to find guys who can make shot, especially off the bench. He was signed because he can shoot, and I would give him a look over the next couple of games and see what he does.

6. Tell Landry to drive more: While Landry gets in trouble when he over dribbles, he does do some nice things when he drives. The more guys looking to get into the paint the better.

7. Put Amare on the Left elbow: the spacing problems between Amare and Chandler are a result of Amare not finding a comfortable spot to stay. Amare likes the left elbow and so does Melo, well Amare needs the left elbow more than Melo so he should get it. Putting Amare where he is comfortable will help get him going.

8. Ten shots a game for Tyson: Chandler is very effective when he gets the ball, problem is he does not get it enough to be effective. If you are going to run PNR with him he needs to get touches out of it, that will collapse the defense around him and create space for Amare to curl in behind the PNR and get shots in the paint.

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I think we all agree on these things (except for Bibby)

It really makes no sense that the Knicks haven’t made any adjustments. They are a horrible 3 point shooting team, so they take near the most threes. They are horrible is isos, and they’re isolating all the time. The bench is given no time to get into a rhythm. D’Antoni leaves injured players in to launch ill-advised shots. He changes Landry’s jump shot right before the season so he obviously would be useless. He plays Jeffries even though his career would otherwise be over.

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by mindfeck on Jan 19, 2012 4:08 PM EST reply actions

Oh and the Knicks do have a very fast pace

It’s just that they don’t take good shots.

NBA Team Analysis and Player Comparison

by mindfeck on Jan 19, 2012 4:09 PM EST reply actions

I agree with everything BUT

nobody will be able to change Melo’s approach to offense.
He’s used to ISOs, he thrives in ISOs, he made a name for himself playing ISOs.
If the team becomes stagnant and cannot win – that’s not his fault (or so he thinks).
He shouldn’t be given the ball so frequently and so early – but how can we expect rookie Iman to make that decision? Not realistic.
At least Melo’s offense is less predictable than STATs. Don’t start me on this.
Maybe (just maybe) it will get better when BD is on the court, especially for STAT, but Melo and ISO are married to each other one no one can separate them.

by YIK on Jan 19, 2012 4:42 PM EST reply actions

i think he means iso

with 8 second left on the shot clock. basically after we’ve moved the ball around and exhausted our options off of ball movement and player movement.

i’m not perfectly certain, but thats how i read it. perhaps robert can clarify?

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by stingy d on Jan 19, 2012 5:05 PM EST up reply actions

precisely.

The isolation option is basically bail out offense. The reason you want a player like Anthony who can iso is they can bail out possessions when the opponent defends the other options well. However Anthony should not be in bailout mode until at least 8 seconds left in the shot clock. If he gets the ball with a say seconds on the clock and goes into an iso, that;s fine. Because the best shot we will probably get that deep in the clock is a shot that comes from a Carmelo iso. But that is how Carmelo should use that weapon in his arsenal. The problem is not that he Isos, but that he is doing so incorrectly right now.

by Robert Curre on Jan 20, 2012 11:01 AM EST up reply actions

too true...

by bucketsncents on Jan 19, 2012 5:51 PM EST up reply actions

i agree with all this, Currence

I really gotta ask, though. What is Mike D’Antoni actually doing? I havent been a vocal critic of his, but lately I’ve really wondered what it is, exactly, that that guy tells the players. It seems like there are absolutely no adjustments being made, they’re just trying to force something that isn’t working to work. Very frustrating. And if he is telling them to do different things and the team simply isn’t listening, that’s even more troubling.

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by Anthony Bonner's Subpoena on Jan 19, 2012 4:46 PM EST reply actions

I basically agree with this

But I think you can distill it down to one adjustment – Carmelo gets the ball in motion – every time. Never in a post-up. It’s an adjustment for Carmelo but it keeps the whole floor in motion, and though it probably makes it harder for him to shoot because he’s used to doing the post thing, it makes it easier for him to pass, and there should be passing opportunities as the defense converges on him.

Get The Frickin' Rebound

by fuhry on Jan 19, 2012 4:56 PM EST reply actions

fuhry you know I love you but dat shit cray

I LOVE watching Carmelo operate in the post. He’s the fucking man in the post. Sweetest spin in the L.

To maybe tweak your position, what we don’t need ISO-wise from Melo is when he establishes position and calls for the ball after he seals his man behind him…but it’s like one step in from the arc. That’s a guaranteed jab step-jab step-pull up. Maybe I’m the only one, but I don’t really have a problem with Melo sizing up his defender and ruining his shit after lulling him into thinking he’s going one way, because when he’s healthy and right that shit is unstoppable.

Melo will never be the type of player who can take his guy off the dribble after a handoff from a screen or something. He’s not adizero quick. He’s more deceptive and smooth/powerful off the dribble. He gets mauled down low so I can understand his reluctance to jump into the fray, but that’s where he gets his FT’s and efficiency up. He wanted to come home? He wanted the money? He didn’t give a shit what kind of team he was eventually joining even though he had all the leverage? Fine, this is your team now big man. Take the fucking lumps and exploit your strengths instead of settling for your jumpers(as sweet as they may be at times). Thank god he’s a willing passer, though. When our offense eventually starts humming, the fact that Melo can recognize the open man is going to be huge.

Fish Fingers give me a break.

by GAx on Jan 20, 2012 12:59 AM EST up reply actions

Good post

I’ve personally been clamoring for a faster pace and more Steve Novak for the last few weeks.

Shump, Fields, Amar’e and Tyson all would benefit from a faster pace, and even though it’s not Melo’s preference it doesn’t hurt him to play fast. Also would get TD some easier looks even though he mostly can’t finish worth dick in the break.

As far as Novak, in his short playing time with the Knicks, I haven’t seen him play terribly on defense. He’s not good, but he didn’t seem to necessarily hurt the team. Throw in a lineup with Novak at the SF, Stat at the PF, and Jorts at the 5. Lots of spacing for Amar’e, Jorts can stretch the floor and pull centers away from the basket, and on defense Jorts has the toughness and smarts to guard bigger centers.

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by WSD on Jan 19, 2012 5:35 PM EST reply actions

all true...

BUT… we (referring to us P&T geniuses) know all this, which means they (referring to the knicks players and coaches) know all this…

so the question isn’t HOW to fix it, the question we’re all struggling with is WHY it’s not happening…

some say not enough together time.
some say too much melo being who melo will always be (me).
some say the players have tuned the coach out.
some say the coach has given up.
some say all of the above.

i say change shit now, rather than drag out this misallocation of resources. if we know what’s wrong, and it isn’t being fixed, there’s something wrong with the stakeholders.

by bucketsncents on Jan 19, 2012 6:05 PM EST reply actions

well said, Robert

I agree and I wish you were working for the Knicks. It’s hard to figure out what goes on because we are not in the locker rooms with them or watching them when they watch films or practice. The speed needs to be picked up and Melo is capable of playing up tempo ball. I know Melo is good at Isos but as you said, don’t give it to him so early on almost every possession. It will make things so much easier if the other guys are involved and then he won’t have to even shoot so much. If nothing else is working or everyone else is struggling, then give it to Melo but he is also playing through injuries right now and I don’t like that.

Picking up the speed would help everyone and I heard MDA mention that they wanna do that. It looked like they did pick up the pace a little last night but they should focus on that. I believe a lot will change when Baron does get back on the court because he can run an offense and penetrate.

by RASHADI on Jan 19, 2012 7:01 PM EST reply actions

Mostly agreed

re: point #1, I wish. We’ll see. But sometimes it seems like it’s going to take the jaws of life to get the ball unstuck from his hands. But this is who he’s always been and some of us (ahem) have been saying this for a long time. The reason I’m optimistic about Baron is not that I think he’s gonna drop 20 and 10 and be a beast (he won’t) but because I think he’ll intrinsically understands that in order for this offense to work for everyone Stat and Melo need to be shooting on the move or on the catch, not holding onto the ball, and he’s one of the few PGs in the NBA with a pair big enough to tell Melo to get in line.

I don’t think Mike Bibby or Steve Novak are going to do much. Bibby looks d-u-n done out there and Novak, I dunno… I just don’t see why he’d continue to ride pine if Mike D’Antoni of all coaches thought he’d spark our offense. Amar’e on the left elbow, Chandler getting more looks… this should all be the natural result of a true PG orchestrating the offense.

The pace thing is funny though… you know we’re currently #3 in the whole NBA in pace?! The fuck? It seems every possession takes forever and hardly ever get a fast break. If we’re running at all, it’s running around in circles.

by flossy on Jan 19, 2012 9:50 PM EST reply actions

Last point

Maybe its because all the TO’s followed by defensive stops followed by missed shots early in the clock (or blown layups) are skewing the pace….

by screamedia on Jan 19, 2012 11:41 PM EST up reply actions

I am honestly shocked at that pace stat.

I thought for sure we’d still be kind of high, but more settling towards the middle of the pack rather than #3.

Now that I know that, I hate our one-and-dones even more. Let’s get some coherent movement on offense. Let’s recognize that moving the ball around will mean it’ll come back to you if you’re open and able. Let’s not take it upon ourselves to either shoot an open elbow J that hasn’t been there all night or drive knee-first into Josh McRobert’s groin.(coughAMAREcough).

I actually would love to see Novak get some spin and see just how much of a specialist he can be for us. Dude has an awesomely quick release and confidence no matter which “hot spot” he’s at behind the line. I love that about him and wish he had been in for that last possession against the Suns.

Fish Fingers give me a break.

by GAx on Jan 20, 2012 1:04 AM EST up reply actions

Agree with any and all of your points

It all makes perfect sense. The problem is getting the players to execute this type of offense which might be impossible How do you get a guy who makes $20 million to change the style that has gotten him into that salary bracket in the first place?

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by YuckFou on Jan 20, 2012 3:17 AM EST reply actions

Because he can see

That his end of his prime years is in sight and he wants a ring.

Get The Frickin' Rebound

by fuhry on Jan 20, 2012 1:41 PM EST up reply actions

But

he has to believe in the coach first.

My Wife is a Patriot's fan...

by Giantssincesix on Jan 20, 2012 2:41 PM EST up reply actions

Absolutely Rob

just wondering why dantoni is not realizing this….why don’t you submit your resume??

You just got Tysoned!!!!!!

by Jason Bee on Jan 20, 2012 8:28 AM EST reply actions

I think we should give the Bibby-Shumpert combo the starting reigns for a little

or at least more time out there together. It’s hard to hide Amare or Bibby’s defense, but that is part of what Shump and Tyson can do. Shump seems to be a much better all-around player than Landry, so continuing to start him over Landry is not too much of a stretch. Bibby has always been a good 3-point shooter and has given them a lift with his 3’s in a few of the wins, the Knicks just need people out there who can score when given an open shot at this point.

Don’t know if this is what you were saying, but the best way to speed Melo up in my opinion is to not allow him to go ISO until there are, say, 8-12 seconds left on the shot clock and nothing else productive has happened. That would give him enough time to take a few jabs, or w/e, before putting up a Melo shot. There ain’t much you can do to change the shots he takes, when healthy he makes enough of them to be confident enough to keep chucking them.

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by astromets on Jan 20, 2012 1:08 PM EST reply actions

D'Antoni is not going to start Bibby

Shumpert will start as will Fields, the two have not been a bad defensive back court and their size has helped improve the Knicks rebounding. But simply because Bibby cannot start does not mean that he could not get more minutes. Now you are probably correct that it would make sense to pair him with Shumpert or Douglas when on the floor as they are better defenders. But while I am not suggesting that Bibby is dynamic at the point by any stretch he knows how to play the position and may be able to get some structure and consistency going in terms of getting the Knicks to execute something that resembles an offense if he got larger blocks of time on the court. However, starting Bibby is not an option because he is too poor a defender at this juncture to have on the court 30 mins a game. In years past D’Antoni might have just gone with Bibby and said “I’ll live with what we give up on the defensive end, because we need to score points.” But he does not have that luxury this year. The Knicks have to show that they are better on defense so, he can’t go with Bibby even if he wins a few more games as a result. 110-108 wins are just as bad as losses for D’Antoni.

by Robert Curre on Jan 20, 2012 2:28 PM EST up reply actions

Wish Novak

would get more PT….he has a real sweet shot w/ range and this could be used right now.

You just got Tysoned!!!!!!

by Jason Bee on Jan 20, 2012 1:17 PM EST reply actions

In past years Novak would probably be in D'Antoni's rotation and playing 20mpg.

However he is a defensive liability when left on the floor for long periods of time, and D’Antoni is committed to at least trying to get better defense played this year. However, since he has proclaimed that he is in crisis mode, and he has been struggling to find anyone who can consistently make shots, do not be surprised if Novak gets an early cameo, especially if the knicks struggle to shoot the ball early against the Bucks, and if he hits a shot or two, he may end up getting more minutes. But Novak is not playing more now because he hurts the defense.

by Robert Curre on Jan 20, 2012 2:19 PM EST up reply actions

who said anything about playing him long periods of time?

He can get 10 – 12 mins off the bench and (possibly) provide a spark when the Knicks have struggled to score, at least spread the floor a little. Almost Shawne like possibly where you have to guard him. He’s def one of the better pure shooters they have. They have been struggling offensively for a few games now. Would have liked to have seen dantoni try to actually adjust and give him some consistent mins off the bench.

You just got Tysoned!!!!!!

by Jason Bee on Jan 20, 2012 2:45 PM EST up reply actions

Your point 4

I like.

The only way I know to run the offense successfully without a true point guard is constant ball movement with all five guys. Which also requires a lot of movement and rolling (no pick).

I guess the question becomes, can Melo buy into this?

I’m sure he is capable, but I think he needs confidence in the other players to make their shots which they haven’t exactly been doing also. He also would need the basketball IQ to understand the XO game well enough to see this.

This could also solve our problem with the fact that we cannot depend on our three point shooting.