The Free Agency

[Lercher]

We (certain Knicks fans) want our "medicore picks" back, they (most of Nuggets fans) are happy they got rid of CA and the only part of the trade they feel bad about is Chauncey Billups who's Denver's hero. It feels bad clicking the Nuggets board and reading "who needs Lamelo?", "I don't wanna see him coming back here", "glad we got rid of Lamelo" and "we must resign Chandler", "Gallo has all-star potential", "he would be a nightmare to guard" etc... I hope Carmelo starts working hard and plays his best more consistent, that's all, if I have choice between guy scoring 15 points in G1 and 42 points in G2 or two guys scoring 35 points in both G1 and G2 I would opt for Wilson + Gallo...

[CA7]

It just fathoms me that guys will choose Gallinari and Chandler over a proven vet Carmelo Anthony, he's better than both and he has a new renowned focus on becoming a better defender this year, I mean damn, what the hell did Gallo and Chandler do here that was so impressive, nothing at all. Carmelo gets so much hate yet similar playing styles like Dirk and Durant are God's yet are not defensive stoppers but are Elite players, its stupid, Carmelo is giving this team something they haven't had in a while a true Elite player, STAT is great but is a #2 guy, Melo is a true #1 and once we get CP3 a guy who will take us over the top, oh boy, but NO fans wanna be stuck in mediocrity with Felton, Mozgov, Chandler and Gallinari playing next to STAT instead of Carmelo, Stoudemire, Paul and 2 solid role guys at the 2 and the 5.

I'm done with this convo and I hope no one who's bashing Melo starts oraising him when he does his thing this year

[Lercher]

Gallinari and Chandler mostly sharing their time at #3 averaged higher numbers than Anthony does playing solo, I posted all their stats in other thread. Denver without Anthony and with some medicore players instead made a 18-7 run to the playoffs and almost every Nugget fan was surprised how their ball movement and defense got better without "Lamelo" as they used to call their former superstar. They are simply happy they're a better team than they were before the trade plus they have more depth and plenty salary room to further improve.

I also love the idea that Melo thought the grass was greener out of Denver. Last time he went 1-9 in any stretch was in 2004. And despite all the crap he did to screw up his career (no list necessary), the media/fan backlash was never that strong here. He's gonna get ripped apart if the Knicks keep losing.

Melo had no idea how good he had it in Denver, most of us knew he gave minimal effort at times, had some off the court issues, and did not like playing within a real team system, but he was given a pass because he was our guy. In New york that **** does not fly, they expect more from their stars, and Melo will have to figure out how to give more to survive.

You have to say based on performance that Felton, Chandler, Gallo and (maybe even) Mozgov are fundamentally good defensive players. Someone coached them on defense. Karl's scheme now works because... of better players.

After 7 1/2 years, Melo is still pulling the same crap he always has, I can remember many games where the Nuggets lost and he was happy, I also remember plenty of games where he played like ****, and found a way to blame the loss of others.

It is funny how hard Knicks fans have tried to defend Melo over the last few months, one day you will realize that according to Melo it is never his fault when a team loses and all on him that they won, just as I said in my post. It has nothing to do with being bitter, but everything to do with reality.

So the Nuggets come back down to earth at some point. Down to what? Right now they are on a 67 win pace. They are doing it by defense against good playoff teams, it is not like they are cleaning up against a bunch of the bottom dwellers. It is funny and sad how underrated so many of the Nuggets players have been over the years, and right now they are proving it. Even if all they are is a 50-55 win team, they still are the same or better then they were prior to the trade.

The problem with Melo here in Denver was that everyone stood around watching him create his own shot - when the best offenses pass the ball off of pick and rolls and screens, moving it around until the open shooter is found. Watching Denver play since the trade, it's almost day and night difference - you can clearly see the rotations on defense are better, the passing is crisper, and you can't count on who is going to attack you. We have a ton of good 3 point shooters, and we can dribble penetrate with the best in the league.

Personally, I could care less if you are right or wrong because the Nuggets win/lose are now playing a brand of basketball that is very fun to watch in comparison to the stand around and watch one guy operate on offense that created no player or ball movement, which is what they were doing on offense prior to the trade. Plus, now instead of missing rotations and playing sloppy defense, they are playing some great team defense.

And more, and more, and more...

[Wargames]

Hey the Melo drama is over. Yeah our teams FO gave away to many assets but the Knicks tend to suck at trades. Carmelo also wasn't just bought here to score he was bought here to lessen the offensive load for Amare who was being doubled teamed all game (thus allowing the other Knicks to score easier).

Gallo, Will, and Felton were not scrubs and being on a team in Denver that no longer relied on Melo scoring off of Iso plays (because he is a good enough player to be able to score on just about anyone in a iso play) helped because they could move the ball around and get open looks.

Anyhow we have Melo an while I question going for CP3 instead of a center and complementary pieces the FO is dead set to get him (probably because it will guarantee ticket and knick memorabilia sales)

We as fans want the Knicks to win a championship (so we can shoot down all the knick haters) and the Knicks FO wants more viewers for MSG so they can charge more for advertising fees. Hopefully by 2012/2013 both sides will be satisfied.

[CA7]

Dude Gallinari and Chandler did not split time at the 3 they played together most of the season Felton-Fields-Chandler-Gallinari-Stoudemire was the main line-up for O'Antoni most of the year so dont run that bull**** with me, it aint flyin, Carmelo puts this team in a better situation than Gallinari and Chandler have, could have and ever have. Billups and potentially Paul are better championship winning options than Felton at then end of the day