daJudge: There are different impacts from so called iso’s. I think Ru-ru discussed this at length, but if the point of the iso is to lead to either the iso shot or, with equal emphasis, the kick out to the weak side, it can be very effective. Particularly if the weak side beneficiaries can knock down the shot. If the iso player is an adept and willing passer and can draw a double, the offense buzzes. Further, if the iso can post in the block and draw the opposing Center to help on D, that obviously opens it up for our 5. While the Pnr may not thrive, the back door cut should also be available. This is very different from the point forward notion, which did not work too well IMO. I think the entry into Melo low can create numerous and varied opportunities on offense for our Boys. I see Novak, Chandler and JR as prime beneficiaries from this set. The problem I see is where Stat fits in offensively, unless of course he is playing the 5. Just an idea, but is it possible to have Amare down low on offense, more like a 5, but on defense, play the 4 and have Chandler down low. Perhaps just pulling Chandler out a bit on offense might allow the three to function together more effectively. I would love to see this attempted. Also, as always, nice write up Jim.

The idea with Amar’e is to get him the ball on the move. We’ve seen Amar’e make that quick cut from the wing to the elbow…. When there’s only a 5 down there to try to stop him it should basically be an automatic good shot.

Brian Cronin: For the record, D’Antoni did not ask for the #7 pick in the draft to be dealt. That was all Sarver. He dealt it to save money and then he traded away the pick he got for the #7 pick for a worse pick in that same draft, all for money (he then traded the traded down pick, too). He sold Rudy Fernandez’s rights for cash. And Fernandez would not have even cost him any money that year (he was in Europe). Sarver just wanted the cash more. Sarver dealt Kurt Thomas along with two first round picks (one of the first rounders was used to draft Serge Ibaka) for one second round pick. All to save money. So even if you believe that D’Antoni did not want draft picks (which I don’t think is accurate), he sure as hell clearly wanted Kurt Thomas. The Suns made the Western Conference Finals in 2010. Sarver then asked his GM to take a paycut after the season!Sarver may have barely gone over the luxury tax a few times butI don’t believe he ever actually had to pay it, as I believe the escrow tax covered their luxury tax payments each time they went over the luxury cap, something that I would have to imagine Sarver was aware would happen. As a whole, while Sarver has definitely spent more money than some of the cheaper owners of the league he has also clearly made plenty of decisions designed to save money, not help the team win. Which is certainly his right, of course, just noting that it did not help the D’Antoni Suns in their attempts to win a title (heck, since Kurt Thomas ended up on the Spurs who then eliminated the Suns in 2008, it specifically hurt them!).

This is the conventional explanation but I’m not sure it should be presented as 100% fact.

this didn’t actually happen yet, you know.

True, but “yet” is the operative term. How can he not bolt? Dude’s sixth in the NBA in threes made while not even being in the top twenty in threes attempted!

Brian Cronin:
So they save his game and revitalize his career and get repaid by him bolting after one season. I obviously don’t blame him for doing it, but it is still annoying.

this didn’t actually happen yet, you know.

That’s Glen Davis’s patented Amoeba offense.

So…yeah…he’s probably not going to be a Knick next year.

Dammit.