There has been plenty of talk that Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire can't play together, but I'm not so sure that is really what's wrong. Those two playing together isn't what has Melo shooting 41%, nearly 5% lower than his career average, and Amar'e shooting a putrid 41%, an astonishing 12% lower than his average. There has to be something more behind this than the clashing styles of two superstars.
Quite frankly I am not sure if their hearts are in it. Melo has been dealing with injuries, which very well could account for his slight down turn this year, but Amar'e doesn't have that excuse—for once in his career. It is possible that Amar'e's ego took a hit when the Knicks brought in Melo to be 'the man' when he was carrying the Knicks to the playoffs on his own. Before last season Amar'e was all talk about the Knicks needing to bring in more help, but I think he really fell in love with being he guy in the biggest stage and hasn't adjusted as well to playing Robin.
Just a theory of mine, but it makes a ton of sense. There is no logistical reason why Melo and Amar'e couldn't perform well together.
Now here is a giant list a problems I have with the Knicks right now:
- Amar'e has to stop fouling the whole entire team by the 2nd quarter.
- Iman Shumpert's biggest problem coming out of college was his jumpshot and yet he has proceeded to settle for jumpshot after jumpshot after jumpshot. He has the athleticism and ability to drive with the best of them and needs to start doing so. He has made some clutch shots from deep, but that is not what he is supposed to do.
- Josh Harrellson has to realize he is not Dirk Nowtizki. He is chucking up 3's like it is nobody's business (56% of his field goal attempts are from behind the arc). I like Harrellson and am not going to complain too much about his production considering his draft position and what not, but with the Knicks lack of big men he has to use that body to bang down low and try and open up the outside. He has a great shot just needs to come back with how often he fires.
- I have no words for what has happened to Toney Douglas's shooting. I was a big fan of his last year and he just looks lost nowadays.
- Landry Fields has been more of the player he was towards the end of last year, but I think over the last few games he was looking more like the Fields of old.
And my list of good things:
- Tyson Chandler. He has been everything the Knicks hoped for when they signed him and has been having a terrific year. Only player worthy of being called a New York Knick right now.
0 comments:
Post a Comment