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发帖数: 9501 | 1 NY Knicks Midseason Report Card: Jeremy Lin goes to the head of the class
But Amar'e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony need to hit the books
JEREMY LIN - You just know that if Lin, and not LeBron James, were one-on-
one with Kobe Bryant in the final seconds of Sunday's All-Star Game he would
have taken the last shot. And he probably would have made it.
It's been that type of run for the second-year point guard who took, as
Steve Nash said "a desperate team" and completely transformed them. In three
weeks, Lin has gone from anonymous to one of the NBA's most popular players
. He's brought joy and winning basketball back to the Knicks and Madison
Square Garden. All the kid has done is save the Knicks’ season.
"A miracle from God," Lin calls it. Who are we to argue? Allan Houston may
have summed it up best when he said that Lin has brought "humility" to the
team.
Yes, he's not as strong going to his left. His shot is still suspect and the
athletic Miami Heat made him look less like an elite player and more like a
D-Leaguer. But Lin is 8-3 as a starter, and that's the only statistic that
matters.
Grade: A
TYSON CHANLDER - The veteran center leads the team in starts, minutes,
rebounds, blocked shots, free throw attempts, personal fouls, technical
fouls, hard fouls, common sense and leadership.
Perhaps Chandler's best moment came after a brutal loss to the Rockets in
late January when out of nowhere Chandler, speaking to the team's traveling
beat writers, casually mentioned that "Jeremy Lin can help us." This was
eight days before Lin became a revelation against the New Jersey Nets.
Having won a title with Dallas last June, Chandler carries himself
differently now. He's confident, focused and all about winning. He makes an
impact without having plays run for him and he can be counted on for at
least one hard foul per game. Chandler also must control his emotions better
— he's on pace to earn a one-game suspension because of his technical
fouls.
Grade: A-minus
JARED JEFFRIES - Raise your hand if you mocked the Knicks’ decision to sign
the offensively challenged forward. Fans were upset when Jeffries, who
fumbled away a chance to win Game 2 against Boston in the playoffs, was
brought back. But for the price — the veteran's minimum — Jeffries is a
good buy. He draws charges, uses his fouls wisely, defends, rebounds and is
Lin's personal body guard both on and off the court.
Can't help but remember all the groans at the Garden whenever Jeffries would
set up to take an open jump shot. Now, no one groans, and Jeffries, who
still can't finish around the rim, is making his jumpers.
Grade: B-plus
STEVE NOVAK - The game that changed everything for Lin was the loss at
Boston in early February. Lin played poorly that night and decided that
since he was in danger of being released, the next time he got a chance to
play, he'd let it all hang out. The same was true of Novak, who missed a
difficult last-second shot against the Celtics that night. He was a
reluctant shooter, too worried about fitting in. But his mentality changed
post-Boston.
Novak is on the roster to make 3-pointers and when he's open, he's now
taking them. His shooting is critical in Mike D'Antoni's system. The guy is
shooting 46% from behind the arc. Incredible.
Grade: B
IMAN SHUMPERT - It's not Shumpert's fault that he was forced to play point
guard until Lin was discovered. Shumpert is a shooting guard/small forward
and once he was removed from being a playmaker he was able to concentrate on
doing what he does best; being a lock-down defender.
The Knicks never would have beaten both Minnesota and Toronto on the road
had it not been for Shumpert's fourth-quarter defense. He has the potential
to be Bruce Bowe with an offensive game.
The one major concern is health. Shumpert is a rookie and he already has
knee issues. The Knicks are keeping their fingers crossed.
Grade: B-minus
LANDRY FIELDS - For six weeks, Fields looked as lost as the Knicks
themselves. Then Lin was inserted into the lineup and everything changed for
Fields. He's more relaxed, confident and productive.
If you believe in karma, Fields offered Lin a place to sleep after the
Knicks returned home from that aforementioned loss in Boston. Of course,
Fields' production went up with Carmelo Anthony out of the lineup. Last
season, Fields basically disappeared following the trade for Melo.
Still, Fields does a lot of the little things. His 3-point shooting (27%)
needs to improve, however.
Grade: B-minus
AMAR'E STOUDEMIRE - Something just isn't right with his body. Stoudemire
never complains or uses injury as an excuse, but athletically he's nowhere
near where he was last season. Maybe he's never recovered from the back
injury he suffered in the playoffs or perhaps his troublesome right knee is
worse than the Knicks are letting on. The condensed schedule doesn't help
matters.
Stoudemire's 17.2 points per game is his lowest scoring average since his
rookie year. His rebounding and shooting percentage are all-time lows. Of
course, that could be a result of Amar'e and Melo being unable to coexist.
"I told you last year that it can't work," says one NBA player who did not
want to be identified. "Those two guys can't play together."
Here's the bottom line: the Knicks can't be a serious contender in the East
without Stoudemire. The goal is to have him healthy come playoff time.
Grade: C
CARMELO ANTHONY - This is not working out the way anyone thought it would,
including Melo. He wanted to come to New York, but he wasn't prepared for
the Knicks having a losing record since his arrival.
They are 11-14 this season with Anthony in the lineup and 6-4 without him.
We know he can play with Lin because he's had success with point guards
Andre Miller, Allen Iverson and Chauncey Billups. What we don't know is if
Anthony can play in D'Antoni's system. So far, the evidence is overwhelming
that it is a bad fit.
Melo is still a top talent and the Knicks lone post-up threat - he is
averaging a team-best 21.4 points per game. They don't stand a chance
against Chicago and Boston without him. But he needs to be a more complete
player, which means competing every night on the defensive end. He seems to
do that when he goes against LeBron, but rarely against others.
The injuries — wrist, ankle and groin — have set him back, and in fairness
, he's played most of the season hurt.
Grade: C-minus
BILL WALKER - Filled in well for Anthony, and despite his bouts of
inconsistency, the Knicks are 15-15 when Walker plays. His playing time,
however, is about to be reduced dramatically with the addition of J.R. Smith
. The good thing is that Walker will be ready when called upon.
Grade: C-minus
MIKE BIBBY - Yes, it is the end of the line for the veteran point guard. The
Knicks knew that when they signed him. They also knew they were getting a
true pro that is invaluable in the locker room and on the bench.
Grade: C-minus
TONEY DOUGLAS - A terrific guy and competitor who hasn't been the same since
having offseason shoulder surgery. He failed miserably in his cameo as a
starting point guard. He's a back-up and somewhere down the road his
tenacity and competitive spirit will help the Knicks.
GRADE: D
MIKE D'ANTONI: No one really knows if James Dolan was considering a coaching
change earlier this month because Dolan, if nothing else, is far too
unpredictable. He’s the ultimate contrarian and if he was going to sack D’
Antoni he would have done so after last season.
From all indications, this is probably D’Antoni’s last run as Knicks coach
and he’s treating it as such. He’s starting to hold players accountable
and he’s showing a little more fire. His finest moment may have been when
he refused to go along with the story that it was Carmelo Anthony who
suggested to him that Lin get a chance.
“I don’t remember,” D’Antoni said.
The Knicks are defending better and with a point guard to run the system
they could be a threat in the East. They should win the Atlantic Division.
But D’Antoni still has to figure out a way to get Stoudemire and Anthony on
the same page.
GRADE: B-minus
BARON DAVIS, J.R. SMITH, JEROME JORDAN AND JOSH HARRELLSON: All received
incomplete grades.
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/ny-knicks-midseason-report-card-jeremy-lin-head-class-article-1.1029763#ixzz1nhHreeyF | T***c
发帖数: 17256 | 2 pia a pia a pia a pia a
JEREMY LIN - You just know that if Lin, and not LeBron James, were one-on-
one with Kobe Bryant in the final seconds of Sunday's All-Star Game he would
have taken the last shot. And he probably would have made it. |
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