Brian Cronin: I don’t see how Melo could not prefer the small forward position. Like Lebron, it is just a much better fit for them physically. The thing that makes it tough on them physically, though, also gives them advantages over power forwards on the other end.

and Lebron has 30+ lbs on Melo.

We should have a rotation at the 4 of Thomas, Sheed and Camby (and Amare when he gets back) with Melo there for maybe 10 mpg.

Melo definitely prefers small forward. He’s rarely guarded by power forwards, and frankly there will be teams that prefer to use power forwards on him defensively because his post game is so good right now.

I don’t see how Melo could not prefer the small forward position. Like Lebron, it is just a much better fit for them physically. The thing that makes it tough on them physically, though, also gives them advantages over power forwards on the other end.

He probably played too much too soon and is paying for it a bit right now.

We’re only eleven games into the season and already Woody’s lineup decisions are looking pretty darn strange. Some guys playing too much, some guys playing too little, weird lineups (White at center was the scariest example). The key guys are good enough that they can make up for the lineups, but I fear it will take a toll on some of the players as the season goes on. We’ve already seen it affect Brewer (even Woody had to admit to it).

nicos:
Chandler did come out too high on several screens but when he did the other Knicks left the lane wide open- Asik caught the ball at the free throw line a couple of times and no one rotated and he had easy dunks.It’s especially annoying because Asik has trouble catching the ball in any kind of traffic- you don’t have to be able to contest the shot, just get in the lane and he’s a turnover waiting to happen.I also think Brewer got caught looking to help before any help was necessary- something almost everyone has been guilty of (esp. JR)- when the Knicks had fresher legs that over-aggressiveness was forcing turnovers but now they’re a half a step slow and it’s turning into easy lay-ups.

Well, the problem is that when you give up the dive man because you come out too high and the opponent spaces the floor with the 3 other shooters it’s virtually impossible for Melo or Kidd or whoever to get from the 3pt line down to the key.

This is the foundational premise of MDA’s offense and it’s the best thing the Knicks run on offense with Felton and Chandler. That or Melo with the ball, but you get the idea.

Woodson was not unhappy with the help defense. It’s the point of attack defense that has to be strong against a team that spaces the floor. And this team isn’t going to do shit if Chandler does not at least pay a solid defensive game.

I’m fully convinced something is wrong.

Offensively, he’s only just begun given the kinds of looks he’s getting off the high pnr and the way he’s consistently destroying his defender in post-up isolation. He’s developed some new wrinkles to his post-game.

Defensively, he’s always been a good on-ball defender and it really doesn’t matter what position he plays. He had some great positions on Lin tonight, and we’ve seen him take on Gasol and West.

He’s simply a cog in the Knicks switching defense. And he has those great hands against bigger players.

Melo’s biggest problem defensively is boxing out bigger players. He’s always really struggled with it. He just doesn’t have much spatial awarness of where his man is.

His other defensive problem is covering pick and roll, getting over screens and giving too much space to smaller, faster players on the 3pt line.

But you can live with that stuff.

His best defensive year came at the 3. So, all of this position stuff is pretty much nonsense.

With the way Brewer is (n’t) playing defense, I don’t think there’s any question the Knicks are better served with Amar’e on the floor.

Even if Amar’e gives up, say, two more scores per 50 possessions, he’s a better defensive rebounder.

Kidd and Felton should perfectly balance Amar’e and Melo. I think you’ll finally see those two be the sort of unstoppable duo we’ve seen glimpses of the last two years.

The bigger conundrum is figuring out how to maximize Amar’e's time with Felton and a spacing big man (not Chandler), while also keeping him on the floor for all the minutes Melo is out.

Either way, the problem is being totally overblown. Amar’e gives this offense a chance to be great.

The much bigger concerns right now are Chandler and Brewer…

http://knicksnow.com/videos/2062/postgame-ny-hou-woodson