Put Some Hornacek On Our Game: 2016 New York Knicks Offseason Thread

[BAMBA]

Not having a draft pick this year makes every loss sting so much more...

 

[storyteller]

I cut some of the guys' descriptions so I could focus on the guys I really wanted to go in with. Plus I'd like to cut these down since they're already repetitive. Hopefully this generates more discussion than just the Calderon focus, I tried to highlight solutions for him and bigger issues I see.

Short Version: There's this bittersweet thing going on watching games like this. KP was absolutely brilliant, Melo played the right way for 3 quarters which led to some of his most beautiful assists in a long time, Jerian Grant was the driving force for a couple of very nice runs and the team as a whole played hard yet again. But then there are these awful rotations, a lack of adequate TO usage when the opponent starts to go off and the desperate scramble to retake momentum in the fourth which turned otherwise brilliant KP and Melo into sloppy players when it counted most. We probably do need another PG and Afflalo might not be a savior but just by knocking down Calderon and Sasha's minutes he becomes an exciting addition. I've never been so frustrated with a coach so early. It just feels like we're set up to fail and it makes some guys look bad. I'll give credit where it's due to some offensive adjustments made, but they really aren't enough. The good news is that we're playing one of, if not the, toughest schedules in the NBA. Against lesser teams, I'm fairly confident our guys can overcome the confused substitutions and take care of business.

KP - 9 offensive boards. 14 points, 13 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block in 28 minutes of astonishingly high energy play for a guy that big. He was nothing short of brilliant for most of the game. When he catches and shoots from midrange, it feels like an automatic 2 points. He can work into the paint using the threat of his jumper for pump fakes or backing guys down with his length to shield the ball from steals. His timing on rebounds is impeccable for so young and he's aggressive on both ends. Defensively, nothing new to report, he's a rim protector and active guy...an impact player already. Fatigue seemed to set in late and he made a couple of mental mistakes when the game was almost over and the Knicks were scrambling to come back...but wow...this kid feels like a guaranteed stud at this point.

Melo - He probably screwed up perception of his game during the same scramble for a late come back that victimized KP a bit. For three quarters, Melo showed exactly what you can expect from playing the system right. He was 6/13 with almost no forces (just still isn't there shooting the ball yet) and if he didn't have all 6 of his assists, he was close. His biggest adjustment was catching the ball closer to the rim. Multiple times he established strong low post position that led to free throws or an attempt at the rim. From the elbow, he expanded his vision (like a QB with checkdowns) so that when he couldn't find a cutter or someone flashing to the three point line, he started to peak at the paint for Robin Lopez. His passing literally manufactured at least 3 lay-ups for R-Lo that I remember. He was absolutely getting the best of a young rising star in Giannis who happens to be a great defender. The fourth quarter tanked him though. The Knicks were down a lot with a few minutes to go and Melo fell to old habits, forcing some things and not trusting the pass option. 17, 6 and 4 but the 5 TO's hurt and his FG% tanks after fourth quarter poor play. Still, what he showed was extremely promising. He trusted the system for the most part.

Grant - Another really exciting prospect for this team as it just feels like he'll make something positive happen if you give him space. Our offensive struggles in the fourth seemed to stem from his needing a rest and the first play when he returned was a drive for some free throws. Outside of Robin Lopez posting a +1, Grant was the only player with a positive point differential which makes it stunning that he totaled a +12. 8 points, 3 assists, 2 boards and a steal in just 23 minutes...felt like he was always out there for our runs. The obvious fix for his game is the jump shot, he had a step back jumper in college that was somewhat reliable but he's rarely looking to trust the J so far. With more reps, consistency and confidence; that jumper will turn him into a massive offensive threat. He's got explosiveness in his first step and when he accelerates it's near impossible to stay in front of him. His handle is good enough right now but that's another part of his game that could continue to improve. It's great that his IQ, vision and athleticism make him a productive player now and that he has really clear opportunities to improve his game.

Sasha and Jose - I'm trying not to just hate on these guys because they do try hard. Poor Sasha got 27 minutes which is 15 minutes too many. Calderon got 16 minutes where the pick and roll continued to be an issue but I'll give credit in that he looked to attack off the dribble a bit more which helped him find open players some. These guys need different roles. AA should save Sasha who really does try hard and Jose just needs to be utilized just right to be effective. I'd like to see Fish bring him off the bench fairly quickly so that he can face a player who has tired out a bit, that way he can push the pace against tired legs. I'd also like him against SG's or poor ball handlers.

R-Lo - He knows where to be on the floor, sets good screens and I still maintain that guys like KP and Galloway are boosting rebound totals because R-Lo clears out so much space under the basket. He was utilized less as a focal point which helped him be the guy to get easy buckets instead of the guy looking for someone to pass to. 12 points and 2 boards in 22 mins but with the usual caveat that his contributions go deeper than the numbers.

Lance Thomas - Plays hard...that's it.

D-Will - 15 points on 11 attempts, he was back to being a nightmare because of his drives. He has to contribute at least one other spot on the floor to really be valuable and he didn't last night...but we need him out there because he can get us points in a hurry.

KOQ - 6 points, 5 boards, 3 blocks...only got 17 minutes to do all that. They're not letting him create as often the past couple of games, which is too bad because of his passing. But he plays well in the time he gets and I think he should always be getting over 20 mpg.

Galloway - 13 points, 7 boards, 2 assists in 32 minutes. He played well but against the level of defense the Bucks were playing he becomes a less effective playmaker for others as he's not a big risk taker. His ability to get to the line is starting to manifest well.

Fisher - You start the game and end the game with your best five players barring a positional clash. I think it's really that simple. You can mix up your subs instead of making line changes and that'll fix your "we need young legs with our bench unit" excuse. I think starting line-up shifts are inevitable though. What's more worrisome to me is that he's late to pull the trigger almost every time, be it a substitution or a time out. By playing people for long stretches before benching them, he can't send them back in quickly and they seem fatigued earlier than they would be if they were getting interval breaks. Compound that with the fact that we're playing a fast pace and it's even worse; I think that's why we see so many quick runs for our substituted packages but then give up runs just as quickly. The guys come out full sprint but are left out there tired and give up as much as they gave us before they finally get a break. Fisher does make some adjustments I can really appreciate. The ball moved through Melo off the bat and that got the offense started fast. Melo was being set up closer to the rim more often and R-Lo had less responsibilities handling the rock. He was pretty quick to bench the back court in the third when they came out flat again. He's showing some nice decisions but right now they're pretty clearly outweighed by the bad decisions.

Random - Giannis is frustrating...because he's not a Knick. I think KP could become that for us. The guy that other teams' fans can't help but like to watch play but who they also hate because he can kill you in so many ways. Bucks are gonna be good when they're fully healthy.

 

[Victim of Racism]

But then there are these awful rotations, a lack of adequate TO usage when the opponent starts to go off and the desperate scramble to retake momentum in the fourth which turned otherwise brilliant KP and Melo into sloppy players when it counted most.

KP - Fatigue seemed to set in late and he made a couple of mental mistakes when the game was almost over and the Knicks were scrambling to come back

Melo - He probably screwed up perception of his game during the same scramble for a late come back that victimized KP a bit.

Grant - Another really exciting prospect for this team as it just feels like he'll make something positive happen if you give him space. Our offensive struggles in the fourth seemed to stem from his needing a rest

Sasha and Jose - Poor Sasha got 27 minutes which is 15 minutes too many. Calderon got 16 minutes where the pick and roll continued to be an issue but I'll give credit in that he looked to attack off the dribble a bit more which helped him find open players some. These guys need different roles. AA should save Sasha who really does try hard and Jose just needs to be utilized just right to be effective. I'd like to see Fish bring him off the bench fairly quickly so that he can face a player who has tired out a bit, that way he can push the pace against tired legs. I'd also like him against SG's or poor ball handlers.

Galloway - 13 points, 7 boards, 2 assists in 32 minutes. He played well but against the level of defense the Bucks were playing he becomes a less effective playmaker for others as he's not a big risk taker. His ability to get to the line is starting to manifest well.

Fisher - You start the game and end the game with your best five players barring a positional clash. I think it's really that simple. You can mix up your subs instead of making line changes and that'll fix your "we need young legs with our bench unit" excuse. I think starting line-up shifts are inevitable though. What's more worrisome to me is that he's late to pull the trigger almost every time, be it a substitution or a time out. By playing people for long stretches before benching them, he can't send them back in quickly and they seem fatigued earlier than they would be if they were getting interval breaks. Compound that with the fact that we're playing a fast pace and it's even worse; I think that's why we see so many quick runs for our substituted packages but then give up runs just as quickly. The guys come out full sprint but are left out there tired and give up as much as they gave us before they finally get a break. Fisher does make some adjustments I can really appreciate.

When KP, Gallo, and Grant plays poorly defensively or offensively, it's the coach and 'Melo's fault but Jose and Sasha can't be missing shots and defending poorly because they've either missed a lot of games or are old.

You want Gallo and Grant subbed for fatigue, but then you want them to play 48 mins because you don't want Sasha and Jose to play at all.

That's the gist of this thread when defense hasn't been the problem. For all this talk about defense, no one wants to admit that the defense has been solid for at least the last 3 games. The offense has been causing the losses and the guys taking the fewest shots are not the father. Neither is the coach. You won't win games scoring 84, 86, and 92 on 40% from the field, especially against elite teams. I don't care if you have perfect defense. No one seems to know that or have the ability to address it.

 

[storyteller]

When KP, Gallo, and Grant plays poorly defensively or offensively, it's the coach and 'Melo's fault but Jose and Sasha can't be missing shots and defending poorly because they've either missed a lot of games or are old.

You want Gallo and Grant subbed for fatigue, but then you want them to play 48 mins because you don't want Sasha and Jose to play at all.

That's the gist of this thread when defense hasn't been the problem. For all this talk about defense, no one wants to admit that the defense has been solid for at least the last 3 games. The offense has been causing the losses and the guys taking the fewest shots are not the father. Neither is the coach. You won't win games scoring 84, 86, and 92 on 40% from the field, especially against elite teams. I don't care if you have perfect defense. No one seems to know that or have the ability to address it.

I literally allow for both guys to get minutes in my description and talk about how to make Calderon more effective.

Sasha and Jose - I'm trying not to just hate on these guys because they do try hard. Poor Sasha got 27 minutes which is 15 minutes too many. Calderon got 16 minutes where the pick and roll continued to be an issue but I'll give credit in that he looked to attack off the dribble a bit more which helped him find open players some. These guys need different roles. AA should save Sasha who really does try hard and Jose just needs to be utilized just right to be effective. I'd like to see Fish bring him off the bench fairly quickly so that he can face a player who has tired out a bit, that way he can push the pace against tired legs. I'd also like him against SG's or poor ball handlers.

And I'm not about the explain how Galloway and Grant would make the offense better. We're gonna have to wait until a change happens (which will happen soon with Afflalo coming back) and just revisit this concept with a new starting backcourt and new roles for everybody that can give us some concrete evidence to look at. Because we're not gonna agree on our projections.

 

[Victim of Racism]

And I'm not about the explain how Galloway and Grant would make the offense better.

You should explain it because Jose and Sasha aren't making Gallo, Grant, 'Melo, and KP (for the most part) shoot below 45%. Jose is the best passer on the team. That is a fact. He missed like 40 games. Gallo and Grant have no excuse. And you have young and old legs that need to be preserved. Gallo and Grant don't need to play 30 mins. Only thing I can think ok is O'Quinn needs to shoot more. They tried to make Jose shoot more but he can't make shots. NY needs offense. Hopefully Arron can help.

 

[storyteller]

You should explain it because Jose and Sasha aren't making Gallo, Grant, 'Melo, and KP (for the most part) shoot below 45%. Jose is the best passer on the team. That is a fact. He missed like 40 games. Gallo and Grant have no excuse. And you have young and old legs that need to be preserved. Gallo and Grant don't need to play 30 mins. Only thing I can think ok is O'Quinn needs to shoot more. They tried to make Jose shoot more but he can't make shots. NY needs offense. Hopefully Arron can help.

Honest question, what line-up did you think was most effective last night? Which group of five players in the game last night had the most positive impact? Unless you're going to tell Jose and Sasha were the back court, then I don't think it needs to be explained...and if you're going to tell me that Jose and Sasha WERE the back court in our most effective five last night, I know for a fact that we won't see eye to eye so I'm not gonna waste the words.

 

[Danie84]

And, Another L

...I'm not ready to see this movie again

Thank GAWD we get the Decay of Tobe remains, next, tho

 

[Illuminatos]

I know we were pissed when we got the 4th pick but the Lakers jumping us in the draft might be one of the best things to happen to this franchise.

 

[K-ZOE]

No team relies on their starting back court unless they're superstars. Name one team where this isn't true. Then tell us more about how Grant and Gallo can be relied upon to win games for NY.

Are you serious?

Maybe your playing the semantics game and pretending I'm saying teams can't win unless the starting backcourt plays well every game. But every team is looking for positive production from the backcourt superstar or not.

The Pistons are relying on KCP and Reggie Jackson to play well enough to give them a chance to win every night. Are they relying on Drummond more? Possibly. But the backcourt has to contribute too.

^^^There's your 1 example that you really didn't need. I don't even see how this point is arguable. This goes for any level of basketball. If I don't need my 5 starters to perform at least the bare minimum at there respective roles, why the hell am I starting them?

 

[The War Report]

Giants/Knicks play around the same time Sunday.

 

[Sampson]

:phillol:

 

[Sampson]

:kpzing: How many 3s did they have.

 

[JMurder]

When KP, Gallo, and Grant plays poorly defensively or offensively, it's the coach and 'Melo's fault but Jose and Sasha can't be missing shots and defending poorly because they've either missed a lot of games or are old.

You want Gallo and Grant subbed for fatigue, but then you want them to play 48 mins because you don't want Sasha and Jose to play at all.

That's the gist of this thread when defense hasn't been the problem. For all this talk about defense, no one wants to admit that the defense has been solid for at least the last 3 games. The offense has been causing the losses and the guys taking the fewest shots are not the father. Neither is the coach. You won't win games scoring 84, 86, and 92 on 40% from the field, especially against elite teams. I don't care if you have perfect defense. No one seems to know that or have the ability to address it.

Why don't we put our best guards out there to start with so that they can get more time to rest. Solves all our problems... We get off to a good rhythm early instead of trying to play catch up, we don't have to worry about our young guys tiring because Calderón and Sasha can spell them, and you don't have to come up with excuses as to why the Knicks losing isn't just their fault even though no one is saying that.

 

[KOBE]

y'all think Kobe is going to get cheered in madison square garden tomorrow or nah?


can't see us winning, but if fisher is still starting calderon then russell might stand a chance of defense for a bit.

 

[Cory MBA]

y'all think Kobe is going to get cheered in madison square garden tomorrow or nah?


can't see us winning, but if fisher is still starting calderon then russell might stand a chance of defense for a bit.

Yeah. It's likely Kobe will get cheered. We appreciate Kobe.