My Rockets are off tonight but its gotten to where I almost hate when they have days off cause I wanna see them play. Their Jan schedule will be lots of fun for me--but it also could wear them down.

On to the games!


Dallas @ Washington- Dallas hasnt won since Dirk been back. This is a good way to start.

Sac @ Detroit- Sac just beat Miami and Detroit has actually been playing solid basketball.

Portland @ NY- I think Stotts deserves some COTY credit if he can keep up this pace. The team has no depth and has been criippled by injuries. I keep thinking theyll fall out the race, but they keep finding ways to win. They beat the teams theyre supposed to beat.

oh and like I said, Amare's back! I watched him at warmups before the Rockets/Knicks game. He was moving real fluidly on that knee. Seems like Melo should play today too.

Atl@NO- ATL on a tough back to back after getting slammed by Hou. NO looked good in EG's first game back. Can they string a run together? Hopefully ATL wears them down for the b2b with Houston tomorrow.

Clippers @ Den- Clips go for 18 on the road. The beginning of a tough week.

Philly @ LAL - Jrue comes home and tries to torch Nash.

Happy new years I guess. I always thought he could have a role with his shooting but whenever he played he was making too many mistakes.

We still havent officially signed Patrick Beverley cause were waiting on his FIBA papers to clear.

Once we do we gotta waive another player--maybe Cole Aldrich.

>Portland @ NY- Amare's back! I watched him at warmups
>before the Rockets/Knicks game. He was moving real fluidly on
>that knee. Seems like Melo should play today too.

Realistic expectations keep them low. I just want him to run around and feel good in the morning. Anything we get out of him is a bonus. I really just want my team to be 100% on the court after the all star break.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
<---- 5....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dlgiritpmfo

=======================================
Occupy Big Government..

Fannie, Freddie dole out big bonuses
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1011/67292.html

now that Amare is back

>now that Amare is back

Nah the turnovers have absolutely NOTHING to do with our starting Point Guard not being there. Its all STAT's fault.

Jeez.

Royce will thrive with my media!

Novak needs lin.

,

some Knicks fans to see this

Apart from that one playoff game against the heat last year, they combined well then.

They can make it work, but only if Amare accepts it's Melo's team and he needs to fit around that.

Chauncey came mid season with melo

After that you have douglas, shump, melo, lin and baron davis over around 50 games. Now which one of those pgs were supposed to make it work last season?

and they were winning.. why does the team actively GET WORSE when they both play?

During lin sanity and under Woodson.

Melo and stat were 8-2 under Woodson and Lin last season so there's that.

If Felton+Melo+Stat+Chandler takes the team past the second round of playoffs I'm happy to take a L.

Last 2 postseasons we had an injurred amare and backup pg running the show

Even after 2 seasons, they haven't played ALL that much ball together.

>

And he's in midseason form defensively

He hasn't been effective as a pick and pop guy for a while

yeah as bad as he was slumping he really is missed badly

Kidd is great but he's best when he s not the primary ballhandler at this point.

He's gonna need some help...blazers keep dropping in a zone.

They've been terribly terrible all year.

Melo the best of the front court with 4.. Tyson only got 1 at least he is grabbing Off Boards.

I praised dude coming out of Duke and I don't like Duke. He held his own like he belonged in the league but I don't think he's had more than 3 good games. What's going on? Maybe Gordon will help things out.

We need to be perfect the rest of the way

2.1 million is way too low for this kinda talent. i hope there's an 8 figure deal with his name on it next year. he deserves it.

He's not gonna get Joe Johnson money, but he's about to get pizzaid!

It seems like he'd want to stay in NY so he may take a discount, but how much? I mean im guessing if the season ended today he'd earn 7-10 million x3 and thats discounted because of who he is. If he didnt have any history he could be in that 9-12 range. Im not even talking about what I think he should get paid, but what the NBA market would pay for him.

on twitter or something to drive that price tag down.

>
I don't know what his overall ceiling is but he projects well as the mythical "closer".

a lot of pg's are gonna be answering tough postgame questions fucking with him next 10 yrs.

They playin hard

And were down 10 a lot of the 2nd half, that's tough.

Which gave Portland freedom to double melo

And our defense was bad for most of the game

Yea but despite the double dude hit for 45 shooting almost 60% you can't get much better than that.

Dude has be pouring hot lava and sticking daggers in the 4th quarter.

We cannot have Kidd, Brewer and Novak off the bench not giving us anything.
We have to chill with these slow starts.
This is a problem. A BIG PROBLEM.

We can't keep falling behind THAT much by halftime. Not only that, we're falling behind to mediocre to bad teams. A better team ends the game on us in the third quarter.

The only good news is that we started off so hot that a loss here and there isn't gonna kill us. But they have to tighten up the D, the rebounds, especially on the interior.

>The only good news is that we started off so hot that a loss
>here and there isn't gonna kill us.

All that really matters in the long run is that we are at full strength, healthy, and clicking when the playoffs start. I truly hope that we have enough of a lead to walk away with the division; but in the long run, we just need to be ready for a playoff run.

Hopefully we'll be at complete full strength after the all star break, and ready to get our asses in motion for the long haul.

>We cannot have Kidd, Brewer and Novak off the bench not
>giving us anything.
>We have to chill with these slow starts.
>This is a problem. A BIG PROBLEM.

>We cannot have Kidd, Brewer and Novak off the bench not
>giving us anything.
>We have to chill with these slow starts.
>This is a problem. A BIG PROBLEM.


imo its the starters responsibility to start the game well and I think that the Knicks have enough firepower to do it with the current starting lineup even though Felton out hurts it. They just gotta really lean on Melo to start well with energy.

I mean what happens when you move JR to starter and those guys continue to suck off the bench. You have the same struggles as Portland when their starters are out.

One way you can manage it is using shorter rotations. If you start JR you play him 5-6 minutes, bench him the rest of the quarter and then when you take Melo out at the end of the first, you bring JR back. You will have to end up relying on both guys to play 35+ minutes and thats no good in the long term for their overall health.

They gotta find a way to get Novak going. They really miss Sheed.

As bad as Cope's rebounding and defense are, he should probably start over Thomas right now because Thomas brings nothing worthwhile. At least Cope got that underground hip hop dumb out energy.

times.

Besides, the slow starts have been cause we are getting killed on defense, not cause the offense was awful. They need to fix the defense imo.

http://i.minus.com/ibnO6cp580swjn.gif

>http://i.minus.com/ibnO6cp580swjn.gif

(...when they make the playoffs, anyway)

the 2nd squad might be ok

energy and teh crowd buzzing im hearing Lakers would be up 7-10

____________

Dallas Heatvricks BACK 2 BACK CHAMPS!!

Holliday, Turner and Hawes got to their spots all night and converted. On the other end, we're missing makeable shots, Pau and Dwight can't finish at all, and then Kobe with a couple terrible decisions.

In the end...we had a string of 4 scores late and couldn't get critical stops to get the lead back.

>Holliday, Turner and Hawes got to their spots all night and
>converted. On the other end, we're missing makeable shots, Pau
>and Dwight can't finish at all, and then Kobe with a couple
>terrible decisions.
>
>In the end...we had a string of 4 scores late and couldn't get
>critical stops to get the lead back.

I watched the lakers feed and even the announcers were pleading for a defensive stop or two. The sixers missed 4 fts late and all it amounted to was a couple wild ass fall away shots.

Just glad it was a better game than that trailblazer snooze-fest.

----------------------------
Same as it ever was!

_______________________________________________________________________________________
Everybody knows that the best way to Attack The Media Status Quo™ is... by posting on a message board!

Cause once Shump gets back his value is literally 0. Dude can't even hit open jumpers anymore.
His acclaimed defense isn't there. He brings nothing to the table...it's a constant 4 on 5 when he's in the game. Shump takes his spot and probably pushes him completely out of the rotation, possibly down to the d-league

bc the 3 is on melo. and he can't score.

his drives to the hole are like jkidd, he looking for someone to pass to. dude you are 6'7 225 just go up strong smh

______________________
Young Jeezy- It's Tha World
Raekwon - Shaolin vs Wu-Tang
Obie Trice - Cheers

And I still say Shump >>Turner

you shoulda sat this one out son.

LOL
Knicks' Amar'e promises to improve after never being 'taught defense'
By MARC BERMAN
Last Updated: 2:21 PM, January 2, 2013
Knicks power forward Amar’e Stoudemire vowed to become a better defensive player as the season goes on, saying he finally has a “defensive coach’’ in Mike Woodson.
It was not the first time Stoudemire appeared to lay the blame on his former Suns and Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni but it was the most emphatic. Stoudemire’s defense was putrid during his 16-minute, six-point, one-rebound debut Tuesday night, causing Woodson most of his concern. The Knicks are 0-1 with Stoudemire, losing to Portland, 105-100.
Stoudemire will play his second game Thursday vs. San Antonio after saying his left knee responded terrifically.
“Just having a defensive coach for the first time in my career is going to help,’’ Stoudemire said. “I’ve never been taught defense my whole career. To now have a coach who actually teaches defense and strategies and knows positioning and posture and how to guard different plays is going to be helpful and I’m taking it as a challenge and try to improve as a player.’’

Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
Amar'e Stoudemire and Knicks coach Mike Woodson talk during the team's loss to the Blazers on Tuesday night..
During practice Wednesday, Woodson had to go over to Stoudemire to instruct him about a bad angle and posture he was taking when trying to stop his man from going baseline. It truly seemed to be the basic fundamentals.
Woodson said Stoudemire mostly struggled on their pick-and-roll defense, saying a lot has changed since last season on how they defend it.
Woodson said he will still keep Stoudemire in the 16-minute range for the time being, coming off the bench.
“I think right now we have to sharpen our schemes up,’’ Stoudemire said of the D which allowed 105 points to Portland last night.
Stoudemire admitted he was surprised by the huge standing ovation he received when he checked in with 3:31 left in the first quarter to begin his season.
“I was extremely surprised to be honest with you by the fans,’’ Stoudemire said. “It was so loud, I was very emotional. The game was going so fast for me out there. I never felt that feeling before. But now I got that first game under my belt, going into game two I’ll be more aware of what’s happening and will have a much better game.’’

someone with that much athleticism and was a decent on the ball defender in phx was horrible on rotations and awareness. It was obvious that no one was teaching him anything. Now with injuries and age his athleticism is worst and he's horrible at pretty much every and any aspect of defense.

This is why i also felt he needed to be on the bench for ny home games this season so he'd know what the f we were doing out there.

Because he wanted to avoid distractions, and let the team just focus on the games, while he focused on rehabbing his knee completely. Don't know if I believe all of that, but it makes sense

As for the defense, wow. You're absolutely right (and I agreed since Phoenix)...I think he'll be a smarter player because his atleticism isn't what it was, and that's all we can hope for right now. He plays smart on D, I'll take that.

years and had better coaching and that went out the window.

Ray Allen, Chauncey, Paul pierce and even melo now come to mind.

Being a bad on the ball defender is one thing, but everyone can rotate properly, take better angles, be more aware etc.

in reference to amare, i'm not sure how being on the bench is a distraction and why he couldn't do his conditioning etc earlier. and be on the bench during games? not even all home games, but he was never there.

it's the 800 lb gorilla, cause stat's a genuinely great dude and most people want him to do well. however that contract, his record and fit w/ melo, and his injuries make it easy to get shit started.

remember when baron was on the bench? we kept acting like he was gonna be some kinda savior. he was a broke down 32 year old dude, but seeing him on the bench didn't keep folks from wondering what mighta been.

I suspect stat wanted to allow the team to do what it did without him, so it stood on its own merits, as opposed to shots on the jumbotron or telecasts of him on the bench, during a losing streak, and expectations getting high as to what he can do.

he's handled it real professional for a guy with the pride he has.

now as far as defense. fohwtbs. i still have the same principles I learned in jv damn near 20 yrs ago.

see your man and the ball. don't turn your back to the ball. bump cutters. talk on defense. rotate. box out.

just be honest and say I've never had to be accountable on defense, rather than no one taught you.

cause if opponents ppg determined if you got a game check, im sure a lot of niggas would get right.

but i mean we're all adults here. Everyone knows you making 100mil whether we see you on the bench or not. Can you be a better player when you come back by sitting on the bench...probably.


as far as being taught defense, i'm gonna assume that stat was locking dudes down and patrolling the paint straight through high school and you weren't lol. Its usually in college when cats learn how to defend. In high school, they teaching you offense to get you to the next level. Amare got to the league because of his offense and size. He's been playing defense the wrong way for what 10 years now! Its in his system.

It doesn't absolve him of any responsibility of not learning his own craft, but it is a major reason why he sucks so much on that end.

>but i mean we're all adults here. Everyone knows you making
>100mil whether we see you on the bench or not. Can you be a
>better player when you come back by sitting on the
>bench...probably.

these dudes, and that's athletes by and large, are sensitive. you know that. check their quotes and twitter feeds. Media in this town are vultures. You know their get-down. The Knicks start off slow, then they're all in people's faces about "when do you think stat's coming back? can he help you? should he come off the bench?" If they're doing well, they're in his face "how do you think you'd fit in with the team? What's your role gonna be?" And if no comments them, then shit gets made up.

I understand your point, and I agree with it fundamentally. I think he made the right move, and if woody or the org weren't ok with it, they'da told him.


>as far as being taught defense, i'm gonna assume that stat was
>locking dudes down and patrolling the paint straight through
>high school and you weren't lol.

actually I was. not to get all Polk High w/ it, but I'm 6'5" w/ a 6'11" wingspan. very kirilenko-ish. I knew to play, I had to defend, plus I was damn good at it.

Its usually in college when
>cats learn how to defend. In high school, they teaching you
>offense to get you to the next level. Amare got to the league
>because of his offense and size. He's been playing defense the
>wrong way for what 10 years now! Its in his system.

you're right. being super gifted allows you that pass. not to mention going to 6 different schools, he either didn't have time to get taught, or he was likely each coach's meal ticket and he didn't bother knowing he had a future pro.


he's also been in the league 10 yrs. unless someone is drawing up plays from the planet Zorg, there's enough tape and data to have a fundamental understanding of what most teams are running. He sometimes looks as if defense is where he's supposed to stand between possessions, as opposed to an action word.

woody don't fuck around w/ accountability tho. he'll be on notice. And for all the DPOY shit, tyson should have been taken him under his wing and schooled him.

>LOL
>Knicks' Amar'e promises to improve after never being 'taught
>defense'
>By MARC BERMAN
>Last Updated: 2:21 PM, January 2, 2013
>Knicks power forward Amar’e Stoudemire vowed to become a
>better defensive player as the season goes on, saying he
>finally has a “defensive coach’’ in Mike Woodson.
>It was not the first time Stoudemire appeared to lay the blame
>on his former Suns and Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni but it was
>the most emphatic. Stoudemire’s defense was putrid during his
>16-minute, six-point, one-rebound debut Tuesday night, causing
>Woodson most of his concern. The Knicks are 0-1 with
>Stoudemire, losing to Portland, 105-100.
>Stoudemire will play his second game Thursday vs. San Antonio
>after saying his left knee responded terrifically.
>“Just having a defensive coach for the first time in my career
>is going to help,’’ Stoudemire said. “I’ve never been taught
>defense my whole career. To now have a coach who actually
>teaches defense and strategies and knows positioning and
>posture and how to guard different plays is going to be
>helpful and I’m taking it as a challenge and try to improve as
>a player.’’
>
>Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
>Amar'e Stoudemire and Knicks coach Mike Woodson talk during
>the team's loss to the Blazers on Tuesday night..
>During practice Wednesday, Woodson had to go over to
>Stoudemire to instruct him about a bad angle and posture he
>was taking when trying to stop his man from going baseline. It
>truly seemed to be the basic fundamentals.
>Woodson said Stoudemire mostly struggled on their
>pick-and-roll defense, saying a lot has changed since last
>season on how they defend it.
>Woodson said he will still keep Stoudemire in the 16-minute
>range for the time being, coming off the bench.
>“I think right now we have to sharpen our schemes up,’’
>Stoudemire said of the D which allowed 105 points to Portland
>last night.
>Stoudemire admitted he was surprised by the huge standing
>ovation he received when he checked in with 3:31 left in the
>first quarter to begin his season.
>“I was extremely surprised to be honest with you by the
>fans,’’ Stoudemire said. “It was so loud, I was very
>emotional. The game was going so fast for me out there. I
>never felt that feeling before. But now I got that first game
>under my belt, going into game two I’ll be more aware of
>what’s happening and will have a much better game.’’
>


I just want him to move out the way when Melo has the ball.