The work and dedication is something I cannot complaint to most Knicks players, except the highest-paid Carmelo and Amar'e.
Jeremy Lin should not play with both bigs and Melo. It is JUST not working. because you got what? Two big guys inside that painted area + Melo's defender just sitting 2 steps from the paint (he can't stay close to melo because melo can dribble in)
Jeremy Lin also needs to have better peripheral vision, and sometimes he needs to have the ability to enter the paint without pick and roll. because nowadays what the other team does, is to just block Jeremy by the 3pt line, and then he is stuck, and he doesn't know where to go.
Lin also needs to earn more muscles, with the legs to maintain or increase his speed, and with a stronger upper body to resist strong PGs eating him up.
Dual PG could have helped knicks for some today, except Dual PG cannot work with iso-melo, because they're shot creators, but not exactly the perfect type of shooter.
Amar'e simply forgot what is defense. He doesn't contest shots like Chandler, who is even taller than him. Freezing him on the bench sounds like a good deal temporarily.. although his midrange and FTs are better than Dwight Howard.
Melo selfishly took the shot for end of regulation, and Novak was almost wide open. He is too into his personal glory, although at times we do need that toughness.
Melo also took 5 seconds to draw a foul, so... What the heck? He's giving up or what! Why do you not shoot a damn 3, and if you don't want to, let Jeremy, or Novak do it! Gah!
That T by shumpert is simply stupid. It's going to sound incredibly harsh, but without that T and the FT, knicks could have won by 1 point. it's how cruel NBA is... and it's why NOBODY in NBA should earn Ts against his own team.
Ideal startup: Lin, Novak, Jefferies, Chandler, Shumpert
Ideal bench: Melo, fields, Stoudemire, Amar'e, JR Smith
let Lin to be with the unselfish team... Billups probably couldn't won the champs with selfish players. The startup I am talking about, is very dangerous. Lin (Penetration, assist),Novak (3-pt spotter),Jefferies & chandler are extraordinary at rebounds, and chandler is good at pick n' roll. Shumpert provides defense, some explosiveness, and he'll share the ball if the shot opportunities are not great.
why bench Melo+Amar'e+Fields+Davis+JR
First of all, all 10 people earned more than enough to be starters. Starters are just a "statistic". when the opposing team runs their bench team, this knicks bench can kill. When the other team is still running with their 1st team, a fresh powerful bench can wear them down a lot. Melo can do the shooting job. Amar'e loves that stuff too (he is too lazy with defense...). Fields gets to virtually be a PF, grab rebounds that Amar'e can never reach... Davis does penetration, 3s or whatever like a PG, and JR can add some fire into 'melo's offense, plus Melo fortunately is willing to ship the ball to JR, but not always for everybody else...
Small lineup:
Lin/Davis, Jefferies, Melo, Shumpert, Novak
and substituting Novak for Lin+Davis would make Jefferies=5,Melo=4 can make it even smaller and faster.
End of regulation (trailing)
Novak, Lin, Melo, Chandler, Shumpert
except chandler, everybody has 3-pt shooting ability, and AS LONG AS MELO shares balls with everybody, Knicks will live
Defensive Lineup
Davis/Lin, Chandler, Jefferies, Fields, Shumpert
without Lin the offense of this will be quite weak, but a bit better with Lin, while getting a bit worse with defense
When knicks gets a superPG, like D-Rose, D-Will or Rondo, or the physically superior ones, they should start Davis. If it's like Kidd/Nash/Harris, they should let Lin start and run the offense.
I think trading Amar'e + Melo for Iguodala + Howard sounds reasonable. Upgrade for the paint, slight downgrade for the swingman sounds reasonable. Plus Iguodala is less selfish. but we can only afford losing Bibby and Toney Douglas. I'm sorry for them two, but NBA is more about victory&business, not much about love...