After consecutive loses to the Celtics, Mavs, and the Spurs, the Knicks need to make some adjustments if they are to contend at the end of the season.
As we’ve seen in almost every game following the loss to Miami, oppositions are defending start up PG Jeremy Lin with double teams and smothering defenses that have worked to stymie his style and his game. Apparently, lame duck coach Mike D’Antoni didn’t use the time wisely during All-Star break to work on this issue or how Carmelo was to be utilized after his return from his groin injury.
It'll take more than prayers for D'Antoni to right this ship. AP/Kathy Willens
The Knicks were cruising with an 8-1 record led by linsanity and since Melo has returned they’ve stalled at 2-5. He has demanded the ball and been allowed to shoot at will by D’Antoni as witnessed by his 24 shots against San Antonio on Wednesday. Most of the time he creates which takes the ball out of Lin’s hands. But that’s what Melo does. At times it’s like watching Zach Randolph when he was a Knick. It didn’t work when Randolph was here and it hasn’t worked so far with Melo. When Melo, a.k.a. the Incredible Sulk, has played this season, the Knicks are 11-17. When he’s been out of the lineup 7-4. And he’s a liability on defense- although the Knicks didn’t trade for him for his defensive capabilities…
Carmelo Anthony has convinced D'Antoni that he needs the ball more and the coach has complied, but to no avail. Photo: iamnba.com
And speaking of defense, that’s been another issue for this Knick team of late, even though coach Mike Woodson has done an admirable job with this perrenial defensively challenged team. In their last 17 games the Knicks have given up 100 or more points just 5 times. All five have come over their last seven starting with Deron Williams’ revenge game on Feb. 20th.
So as they continue to barely hang on to 8th place in the standings at 18-21, D’Antoni had better find some solutions to this recent funk and maybe will have to do it without his leading defender Tyson Chandler (hamstring-wrist). It won’t get any easier either as the Knicks travel to Milwaukee to play the Bucks Friday and then have a back-to-back on Sunday-Monday vs the 76ers and the Bulls; both in first place in their respective divisions.
Jeremy Lin has been D’Antoni’s savoir so far this season, but if he continues to let Carmelo have free reign on the floor, then Lin will not be able to both facilitate and drive the lane as he did during so effortlessly during that 8-1 stretch leaving the Knicks to continue to be in a state of Lin-bo…
FANTASY FURNACE 
I think you’re right about Carmelo. He just seems to try too hard and is not a good fit in this system. You can’t escape the fact that they were winning with Lin.
Good stuff!
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Funny how the Knicks were winning when they were playing team basketball… Making the extra pass, running plays through the point guard, getting back on defense, exploiting the opponent’s weakness… Hmm.
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Big ups on the title of the post, love the new blog layout man it’s awesome
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Thanks man! (thought it was time for a ‘facelift’)
You’ve been a big supporter of the Furnace almost since the beginning. Appreciate the kind words and how we can always count on you to check us out…
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Appreaciate the words big guy, will be sure to keep in touch.
Keep writing,
@TheSportzGuru
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Carmelo’s not a good fit for the Knicks, plain and simple. Clever title by the way.
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It’s funny, but from what I remember, then GM Donnie Walsh wasn’t on board with the ‘Melo trade. I thought he was crazy for thinking such a thing at the time. Crazy like a fox, maybe.
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You’re absolutely correct! He was a big proponent of David Lee, Wilson Chandler, and Raymond Felton. Donnie Walsh, in my opinion was one of the best GM’s the Knicks ever had. Unfortunately, James Dolan, one of the WORST owners on the planet, relied on information from Isaiah Thomas in order to make most of his decisions, even after Thomas was casted out of the organization for, among other things, several ‘improprieties’.
You’ve got a great memory CT…thanks for sharing.
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