Comments on: 2012-13 Game Thread: NO SLEEP ‘TILL…BROOKLYN

By: Juany8

Juany8 — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 13:16:17 +0000

Kidd is probably the Knicks 4th best player, he has a massive influence when he’s in the game, and even without him (and Brewer in overtime) The Knicks still essentially tied a team that looks like it will win 50 games. Injuries matter, the Knicks were already dealing with some significant injuries before the game and at some point you lose too many valuable players and you end up with Raymond Felton running the offense in the 4th quarter of a close game.

Melo went absolutely beast mode last tonight, he left no doubt who’s the best player in New York (and I don’t think it’s that close anymore, I’d take Tyson Chandler over Deron Williams too)

At some point you have to realize that the absolutely elite teams do not give two shits about regular season losses like this. How many times has Poppovich simply left his bench out there in place of his starters? How many games have the Celtics taken a night off on the road against crappy Eastern Conference teams? The benefit to having an old team is winning the big games when they count, not random back to backs when key players are injured. That’s why I always thought a 60 win prediction was absurd, I think it’s more likely they make the Finals than win 60. It’s been 4 years since a 60 win team even made the Finals

By: jon abbey

jon abbey — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 12:00:08 +0000

by the way, only 4 of Chandler’s baskets were offensive rebounds/follows from Felton misses, FWIW, and Felton got assists on three others.

By: JK47

JK47 — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 11:57:29 +0000

Why Ray Felton is wack:

.491 TS%
25.0 USG%

By: Glew

Glew — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 08:43:35 +0000

I personally do not think it is alright to accept “encouraging” loses. God dammit I wanted this win to make up for the Houston game. I do not think 20 plus win blowout games are “boring” on any level and anyone that does should really put their energy into something more constructive for themselves. This was a rough one boys. Melo’s contested 20 footer at the end of reg is not the shot he should be looking for as our finisher. We really missed kidd tonight. He is absolutely essential to this team. Didn’t think so when we signed him but dude can ball so craftily hard. I would have liked to see us go after people in foul trouble more, most notably brook lopez. I believe he had 5 fouls for a good portion of the 4th qrt and d wills had 4. We need to force them to foul out in close games, something kidd I think would have done. I honestly feel deep rooted angst towards brook back lopez mountain, in a jealous/frustrating sense as he is much better than I recall. Also our guard situation going forward could be an issue with Brewers potentially lingering knee and dislocated finger, kidd’s new meeting with back spasms, and shump still weeks away. Not sure if it is possible but I would love to dump white for delonte west. The one thing I think we can take away from this game is that help is on the way brothers. Also it is November and I keep telling myself we should relax as I have no doubt that we are a better team than the nets at full strength and should be the 2nd seed in the east. Let it be known the rivalry has most certainly begun.

By: jon abbey

jon abbey — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 06:47:23 +0000

and wow was Slick Rick embarrassing at halftime, although they did him no favors with a quiet backing track and no posse around him.

By: jon abbey

jon abbey — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 06:39:19 +0000

OKC was beating CHA 79-25 midway through the 3rd? that doesn’t even seem possible.

By: jon abbey

jon abbey — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 06:34:52 +0000

I think you guys are missing my point, though. if it’s not working (and it mostly wasn’t), stop running the pick and roll every play, run more plays through Smith and Melo and let them create for themselves or their teammates. after a certain point, it was crazy to have the ball in Felton’s hands so much.

it is kind of encouraging that we’re without three key rotation guys (Kidd/Amar’e/Shumpert) and still almost beat one of the best teams in the East on the ‘road’. I sure hope Kidd is back Wednesday, though.

By: ruruland

ruruland — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 06:20:45 +0000

nicos: The Nets were actually pretty disciplined on defense- a lot of the secondary action off of the pnr wasn’t there because their wings stayed at home for the most part and Felton couldn’t kick the ball out for open threes off of the drive as he has so often this season.Conversely, the Knicks once again got caught staring at the ball too often and let the Nets move enough to generate offense even when Stackhouse was the only guy who hit anything from outside.

Yeah, there were some breakdowns on defense in a lot of areas, but overall the really good defensive possessions far outnumbered the bad ones. The way the Knicks team defended in the second half was really eoncouraging. The really good defensive team is in there, we just won't always see it. Most of the time, especially when Amar'e comes back, it won't matter much. Knicks just need to make sure they turn it on for 10-15 minutes a game so they're sharp when they need for full games against the elite teams.

By: ruruland

ruruland — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 06:13:36 +0000

jon abbey:
Felton was really exposed without Kidd there, yikes. and why the hell does Woodson run endless pick and rolls with Felton and Chandler when the other three guys on the court are Melo, Smith and Novak?

Because Melo, Smith and Novak are all superb spot-up shooters. Melo and Smith can make plays when defenders sag.

Because of all the surrounding talent, the Nets opted to not help on the pick and roll and instead let Felton and Chandler get their shots.

Many nights that’s a strategy that will backfire in a massive way — we’ve seen it all year. Tonight it resulted in (roughly) 15-32 (including offensive rebounds which were the result of the pnr) with free throws and higher than normal turnovers because of the extra dribbling.

That’s pretty good efficiency on the surface. But it’s probably way below the efficiency the Knicks normally get on the play when defenders sag.

Now, if the Nets choose to utilize that strategy in the playoffs, forget about all the tings Amar’e does for you, Felton is going to shoot a lot better than that on those kind of looks 6 out of 7 games.

(Chandler’s efficiency on the alley-oops and put-backs won’t change much, so that part of it will remain the same.)

That’s why the high pnr with the game’s best dive man, a fast pg who is a skilled passer and smart decision-maker, and shooters and guys who can make plays against out of position defenders is the best offensive play in basketball.

You don’t happen to think Amar’e Stoudemire could abuse Kris Humprhies and Reggie Evans, do you?

http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/h2h_finder.cgi?request=1&p1=stoudam01&p2=humphkr01

By: nicos

nicos — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 06:12:55 +0000

jon abbey: Felton was really exposed without Kidd there, yikes. and why the hell does Woodson run endless pick and rolls with Felton and Chandler when the other three guys on the court are Melo, Smith and Novak?

The Nets were actually pretty disciplined on defense- a lot of the secondary action off of the pnr wasn't there because their wings stayed at home for the most part and Felton couldn't kick the ball out for open threes off of the drive as he has so often this season. Conversely, the Knicks once again got caught staring at the ball too often and let the Nets move enough to generate offense even when Stackhouse was the only guy who hit anything from outside.