I cannot fathom how stupid Woodson must be to employ the hack-a-Howard, but then not reiterate, remind, reinforce the fact that you cannot foul him with under two minutes to play.
I am also sick and tired of playing 82 road games. We are the only team in the NBA, with a true legit star, that gets ZERO hometown calls. For example, Bargs drains a three to tie it with five to play in the fourth, crowd chanting, knicks playing defense. Shot clock down to 1. Parsons takes an off-balanced shot from outside the paint. Whistle blows. Two free throws. Really? A phantom call simply because the defender sort of exhibits a slight downward motion with his hand. This is a second year player, drafted in the second round. This isn't Kobe.
Meanwhile, on our own home floor, I saw plenty of fouls NOT called on Melo... A star, playing on his home court, who was red hot. One drive in particular stood out: the defender had his hand on Anthony's back and blatantly swiped down on the ball, after raising hand high, then swooping down and missing. I don't recall freaking Steve Kerrr saying something then about forcing the ref to blow his whistle.
And, on the play the HOU player hurt himself... Melo drives, and this guy isn't planted... Carmelo's lower body is clobbered by this guy, who is jumping in a shifting direction towards where Melo was attacking. He doesnt jump straight up. Melo doesn't jump into him. He shuffles to the middle a bit and even had one foot inside the mini-arc. That much contact has to be a foul.
Knicks shot 2 Free Throws in the 2nd and 3rd quarters combined. This is why the NBA is a joke. We already know of one ref who rigged games for gamblers. Tonight was the perfect example. A non-call here, a bailout call there, suddenly guess what? Basketball is the only sport where officials actually have the power to award points to a team. In a game where the score is close, and lets be honest... Most NBA games.... it's 83-78 with 7 left in the fourth.
Melo not getting 4 FT shots and Parsons awarded 2... That's a six point swing right there. I understand refs suck. Officiating is terrible. Worst of all major sports. But after the Ewing era, and now with Melo... We consistently have home court taken away by the refs. When Melo gets no respect and Parsons is treated like an all-star.... Hard to overcome things.
Now, on to the game, I want to cry after every game.... Just knowing that (in a guard league) we start arguably the worst PG-SG combo in North America, and the just constantly reminds me that this team is going nowhere until we deal Shumpert for a viable PG. Felton-Shumpert were awful once again. HOw many times did Felton basically hand HOU the ball? We should contact Elias, because a world record must've been broken tonight by Raymond, for the most missed layups in a Professional career. We need to trade Shumpert and get a PG. I'll take Vazquez or Dragic plz.
We are good with JR and Hardaway at SG. We're not winning with defense, so get a true floor general. That means more to our chances than this supposed defense Shump is purported to play.
Woodson doesn't seem to be firm on his gameplans at all. He lets the other team control the pace of the game and doesn't adjust or make changes to stop it.
You're so right.
I was thinking earlier, is Carmelo really an NBA super star?
He doesn't dunk.
He doesn't get on the NBA highlights often, Jeff Green gets on NBA highlights more than Melo these days.
Melo gets zero respect from the refs, I've see little Jose Juan Barea benefit from the refs more than Melo has ever tried.
So is Melo really an NBA superstar?
I am not questioning his talent and skill, he's top 10-15 in the NBA.
But I think Melo is destined to lose for the rest of his career. No help from the refs, a play style that isn't fan friendly and worst of all that silly LeBron vs Melo rivarly that weights over Melo's head for the rest of his career. No matter what Melo does, he will always be looked down by LeBron.
The NBA is almost as bad as boxing. Boxing is known to have the worst judges in the galaxy. NBA refs are getting up there in corruption and killing the hype to a game.
Knicks back court vs our center position, what's worse right now?
I disagree with JR and Hardaway.
Melo already provides scoring at the perimeter. JR and Hardaway play too much isolation, it doesn't help ball movement when we already have Melo on the floor. Keep one, but not two.
Don't give up on Shumpert yet.
What's the rush? We're not going to compete in the playoffs this season. We'll make the playoffs, but do you honestly think we'll take 3-4 games away from teams like Indiana, Miami, Chicago etc.
Trading Shumpert will be as foolish as trading Lee or Ariza, who are both very good starters for their teams. We draft a good player, get impatient and trade him for a rental.
How have that worked out for us?
It never did, it never will.
Keep Shumpert and let him find his rhythm.
He's really in his 2nd year in the NBA, considering he played two half seasons.
We know Shumpert can play defense, pass the ball and shows potential to spot up shoot.
He has a good assist to turnover ratio, he can be our modern day Doug Christie who was an excellent championship caliber SG.
Only problem is, we don't have an all star PG to play next to Shumpert.
Trust me...
A PG in the mold of Chris Paul, Rubio, Westbrook, Irving or Curry would prefer to play Shumpert than JR Smith.
Shumpert is a complimentary SG and that's important in building a great team.
Felton is obviously the worst starting PG in the NBA, so we need a major upgrade at the PG position, plus a legit shot blocking center who can hold down the paint.