Melo's Shooting
Since Woodson became coach, Melo has hustled defensively, made some terrific assists, and rebounded pretty well. His shot selection has generally been good. He is just not hitting his shots and, with respect to drives to the paint, he has been blocked too many times. His shot will come back, but I am concerned about his explosiveness.
The George Karl complaint about Melo was, to some extent, his inconsistency. But Melo has had very few, if any, really good games this year. I recall being truly impressed with one of his games against Boston in the playoffs last year. He was extraordinary. I have not seen such a game at all this year.
In general, I am impressed with the way he is playing under Woodson and am waiting for his shot to come back.
As for Lin, I am not liking his current game. The complaint against Melo had been the ineffetiveness of his ISO game But Lin effectively plays an ISO game, though he just keeps moving. He has become a ball stopper. Notice how his assists have diminished and he often takes more shots than anyone else.
I do not know why Woodson starts Fields. He has been terrible. His talents are more suited to the free for all D'Antoni system. His shooting has been less than mediocre -- even his foul shooting.
I love Shumpert's defense, but he just never seems to make a shot. He can drive and get close to the rim, but as Clyde noted last night, he does not know what to do with it at the finish.