Put Some Hornacek On Our Game: 2016 New York Knicks Offseason Thread

A.V.

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#AnyCityGang
I had to DVR this ish and just finished watching, this gon' be a long one, just skip to the players you care about if you want.

Melo - It typically would be ridiculous to say a superstar had a statement game in a preseason game, but this is about as close as you can get. After two non-playoff seasons, one statistically poor season, a 31st birthday marked by knee surgery ending his season and the amount of questions people had about his contract value...it's really nice to see that he is capable of going off like he has these first two preseason games. Nobody's going to keep up the kind of shooting that he's shown for a season, but Melo is in the rare air where he can go on pretty long streaks playing lights out ball. When he plays like this, the offense is going to put up stupid numbers feeding off of him. That's what you saw last night clear as day, everyone else was eating because Melo was demanding everyone's attention.

KP - Inside scoring needs work, hands are still a question mark but both of those can be developed and he already showed willingness to attempt hooks, body fakes and footwork tricks. He will get better, even if it takes a while. The positives about his game, just about everything else. That first air ball was an attempt at a Melo move which I thought was cool lol. After that one, he shot the ball really well including a pump fake to a pull-up off the dribble that belongs to a SG not a 7'3 guy. His rebounding was all about positioning in this one, he was consistently in the right place to make a play whether it was a grab or a tap out. Still looks like he could get knocked around, but his IQ could really help on boards if he keeps that up. Defensively he's good already, not great but really solid with real shot blocking to boot. This is a really exciting prospect! He impacted every facet of the game positively.

Grant and Galloway - Combining them because it really felt like they fed off each other in a lot of ways. These are the young guys but they had that second unit moving the ball really nicely and they really change the pace of the game. It seems like any defensive rebound we get to one of these guys will lead to a foot race for the defense to get into position. The ball was moving really well. Neither player had to really create, they just played within the system and took opportunities to break and that kept everyone involved in the game. Galloway's fourth quarter passing was impressive in particular.

D-Will - I really like him as a triangle 4 when we can play him there. He's not a strong enough rebounder to be there consistently, but if he's at PF you immediately have a fast break offense. He finally started to show a semblance of a consistent jumper the second half of last season too. When he plays with that motor, his positives will outweigh his deficiencies. That has been a headache with him though, uneven performances. Hopefully, the contract is a motivator to play hard consistently because he'll have real value as a role player off the bench with that much effort.

KOQ - Honestly, I'm tired of repeating myself since the signing of dude. His skillset fits the system like a glove. His passing continues to set him apart from most options we could have signed. Dude plays hard on defense and eats up rebounds. He's gonna end up being one of the steals of the offseason, but a lot of people already knew that before he even touched the court. You can literally hear him communicating out there which is nice. Fan favorite by the end of preseason without a doubt.

R-Lo - Just a consistent presence period. He's gonna be reliable and that's all we need. Defensively, he always looks strong and it's the same with his boxing out and effort on the block. His elbow jumper wasn't falling but it's gonna be available pretty often. Offensive fouls could get annoying, but it's gonna happen with how many tough screens he sets.

Calderon - Played well and his cautious approach is frustrating but efficient. He really could play himself into being a movable contract imo, and he's at least good enough that we probably won't have to break up that Galloway/Grant tandem which I'd like to see stick together. He's got obvious flaws I won't harp on, this was a solid one from him.

Sasha - Boy I can't wait to get AA back...just don't like his game very much, especially not next to Calderon.

Early - Gotta get that jumper falling. Needs to knock off the risky passes that can turn into painful TO's. He has a scorer's mentality though and makes for a solid option at the end of the bench. He could develop into a role player we like out there, but last night showed holes in expected places that he'll have to fix in order to be that guy.

Lance and Amundson - hey the got out there and did what they do...they played hard...good end of bench guys.

TA - Not enough minutes to say much, but it seems like every time I see him out there one thing stands out...he's always gravitating toward the vicinity of the ball, so he'll basically always have a chance to be involved. It's small, but a wrinkle I like in the 15th man.

D-Fish - Just wanted to give him credit for how hard he has these dudes working. The second unit last night was high energy from beginning to end. I hate playing Sasha but he kinda has to at this point. Watching that Grant/Galloway tandem work showed me why he's running things the way he is. Most annoying thing was that Lance Thomas got first half minutes, split those between Early and Dwill fam; everyone knows what Lance is giving you.

Overall - The system is a lot of fun to watch when the players are buying in, which didn't happen last season. The team isn't always gonna shoot so well but considering the looks they generated all night, I don't think that was a complete aberration. Melo is more motivated than I think I've ever seen him and boy does this team compliment him. I actually really want to watch Melo share the floor with KOQ, Grant and Galloway. That's a line-up I'd like to see at some point...Grant/Galloway/Melo/KP/KOQ...man this season, if nothing else, is going to be fun to watch. I think we've really got the personnel to surprise a lot of people. It helps that people forgot what superstar Melo really looks like since he hurt himself two games into last season.

Couldn't have said it better myself :obama:

This is going to be the best Knicks team since the '12-'13 season. I actually think this year's team is going to blow that year out of the water. :wow: Phil's a GENIUS. We're not necessarily a finals contender...But damn if we don't look like a LOT of holes have been plugged, patched up, or completely remodeled (Porzingis & O'Quinn on the floor WITH Melo and 2 guards who can shoot and take care of the ball?).

:banderas:

Melo can have no excuses this season. I think he knows that. God willing, we might be about to witness something special...

:mjcry:
 

I.V.

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Good on melo

Carmelo Anthony tries to encourage inmates in visit to Rikers Island - New York Knicks Blog - ESPN

GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- Rikers Island is the main jail complex in New York City. On any given day, there are several thousand inmates there. Some are awaiting trial, some are serving short sentences. Hope and optimism are scarce commodities.

So when Carmelo Anthony spent time with a group of inmates at Rikers last month, he wanted to deliver a specific message.

"A lot of encouragement," he said on Sunday. "A lot of the kids that [are] in there, they still have a chance to come home in the next couple of years. ... They still have a life ahead of them."

Anthony visited a group of younger inmates (ages 16-21) at Rikers shortly before the start of training camp. He says he spent time in the cells and dorms of the facility, serving as a sounding board for the young inmates.


//edit//

My bad on the double post, shout to @Mr. Jack Napier
 
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DPresidential

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Good on melo

Carmelo Anthony tries to encourage inmates in visit to Rikers Island - New York Knicks Blog - ESPN

GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- Rikers Island is the main jail complex in New York City. On any given day, there are several thousand inmates there. Some are awaiting trial, some are serving short sentences. Hope and optimism are scarce commodities.

So when Carmelo Anthony spent time with a group of inmates at Rikers last month, he wanted to deliver a specific message.

"A lot of encouragement," he said on Sunday. "A lot of the kids that [are] in there, they still have a chance to come home in the next couple of years. ... They still have a life ahead of them."

Anthony visited a group of younger inmates (ages 16-21) at Rikers shortly before the start of training camp. He says he spent time in the cells and dorms of the facility, serving as a sounding board for the young inmates.
:salute:
 

DetroitEWarren

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Detroit You bytch Ass nikka
Good on melo

Carmelo Anthony tries to encourage inmates in visit to Rikers Island - New York Knicks Blog - ESPN

GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- Rikers Island is the main jail complex in New York City. On any given day, there are several thousand inmates there. Some are awaiting trial, some are serving short sentences. Hope and optimism are scarce commodities.

So when Carmelo Anthony spent time with a group of inmates at Rikers last month, he wanted to deliver a specific message.

"A lot of encouragement," he said on Sunday. "A lot of the kids that [are] in there, they still have a chance to come home in the next couple of years. ... They still have a life ahead of them."

Anthony visited a group of younger inmates (ages 16-21) at Rikers shortly before the start of training camp. He says he spent time in the cells and dorms of the facility, serving as a sounding board for the young inmates.
fukk that positive shyt. If u can't get 20 and 10 from any of those inmates then :camby:. Bet these same nikkas was in their 15 by 15's shytting on Melo last season. They ain't getting no future Knicks out of this visit, only a couple nikkas selling nicks on Guy Brew or Lenox Ave. He woulda been better off going to see Critt:steviej:
 

I.V.

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fukk that positive shyt. If u can't get 20 and 10 from any of those inmates then :camby:. Bet these same nikkas was in their 15 by 15's shytting on Melo last season. They ain't getting no future Knicks out of this visit, only a couple nikkas selling nicks on Guy Brew or Lenox Ave. He woulda been better off going to see Critt:steviej:



:deadrose:
 

GhostoftheMan

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please don't let this be true
 
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