If You Hate Isolations, You Hate NBA Basketball

There's been a lot of controversy circling the Knicks recently as you no doubt know if you read this blog or don't live under a rock, most of it centering on Carmelo Anthony. With Mike D'Antoni out of the picture, all of the scrutiny will be focused on the guy who many people think was the reason for his departure. Everything from his sluggish body language and thuggish attitude to his shot selection has already been picked apart by everyone, and I'll admit there's merit to most of the criticism. One favorite gripe of Melo haters that I don't necessarily agree with, however, is this one: Melo's isolation plays are what's wrong with the Knicks offense. Yes, it's true that he tends to hold on to the ball for too long when the call is for an iso, and he needs to make quicker moves and be a more willing passer. But there seems to be a large population of Knicks fans and Carmelo haters (two groups of which there is much overlap) who think of isolation as a dirty word. Like Carmelo Anthony invented this ugly ruffian, selfish style of basketball in order to get his points like the me-first thug he is. Truth is, the NBA has been dominated by isolation plays for years, like it or not (and many people choose to not like the NBA because of this). While Carmelo may tend to isolate more than other players, what he does is not out of line with much of what the rest of the league runs on a nightly basis. To further complicate matters, Jeremy Lin came out of nowhere and initiated a free flowing offense for 2 weeks, that was pretty God damn fun to watch. It's only natural that this will be viewed as the antithesis to the ugly Melo ball, the "right way to play" as opposed to that other way. It was nice to see everyone sharing the ball and multiple passes every trip down the floor, but the way many Knicks fans have lionized those two weeks of Linsanity is bordering on insanity. The average caller into NY sports talk radio (not that these are the examples of intelligent sports fans but I would say they are a good representation of the average ideas of most NY sports fans) has reimagined those two weeks in February vs the Raptors and Kings as the rebirth of Clyde Frazier to Monroe to Debuscchere. The holy grail of beautiful basketball in all it's glory. Sorry Vinnie in Manhasset, that's not NBA basketball. Melo standing on the wing trying to break down a defender is.

Take a look at the last 20 years of NBA championships, when I think isolation play took over the league just as the superstar did. Not one of the champion teams played a Phoenix Sun, D'Antoni style, every one of the team had a superstar who spent at least half of it's team's possessions isolated on offense (a post up also counts as an iso), and the one team that didn't have any superstars ( the 2004 Pistons) played a drag out half court offense that played to it's bruising strengths. That lovely style of basketball that's so adored by both media members as well as the bandwagon Knicks fans who hadn't watched a game since Ewing, the sweet passes that seemed to sail through the air pushed by the spirit of Bob Cousy, James Naismith and Ghandi. That hasn't won a title since before Magic had HIV. The NBA game is predicated on superstar play, and has been since Michael, Magic and Bird became big money makers. Some times it can bog down the offense and make NBA games boring, other times it can result in amazing singular performances. The best teams mix in a little of both, running at opportune times, moving the ball and also incorporating isolation plays for their stars at the right time. There's been an outpouring of love for teams like Philadelphia and Denver who have like 9 guys each that average 11 points and no one can name 4 players in their starting lineup (in particular Denver who has apparently reinvented basketball since ridding themselves of that black hole, Melo). But you know where those teams will be in June? Watching the games just like me and you. The Knicks have a lot of issues that need solving including how to consistently make shots and defend and rebound, etc. But isolation offenses aren't going anywhere. It's a fact of NBA life. Get over your dreams of a socialist basketball offense where everyone is treated equally, and the wealth is shared. Professional basketball is not like that. There's probably a reason you stopped watching a while ago.

Is A Day Enough To Get It Together?

Thank you, David Stern. Somehow thinking it’s appropriate and necessary to have playoff games span over multiple nights, even though the games will be played in the same gym may help my New York Knicks tonight.

After Sunday’s depressing loss, a day off in Boston may actually help the Knicks in game 2 in a series I refuse to accept is over. Playing back to back nights after allowing an alley-oop inbound score, committing a bullcrap offensive foul, allowing a great three point shot, and missing a miserable 3 point attempt (all in about 37 seconds of hoops), a night off may actually help the Knicks.

The extra day off may allow just enough time for the Knicks to get over mourning the loss and focus on doing what built that lead on Sunday. It will also give Mike D'Antoni time to fix some of the holes that lead to Sunday's collapse.

The defense was fantastic. Blocked shots, hard fouls, and hands up defense were all things I doubted this team would ever do under D’Antoni. The problem was the offense. Melo shot like crap, but I’ll let Jalen Rose give you his insightful, “For the New York Knicks to win tonight, Carmelo Anthony needs to have a better offensive game,” sometime before the game. The offense was at its worse when they went into isolation basketball with someone (namely Melo and Billups) holding the ball for 6 seconds and heaving up a bad looking or difficult shot while everyone else just stood around and looking at each other. It looked like the times Kobe goes into “number 8” mode and makes amazing shots at times but the offense as a whole does not seem cohesive. The offense seemed to be its best when Stat was movin' and groovin' (thanks Clyde) and was drawing defenders and getting him the ball.

Mike D’Antoni is considered to be an offensive genius. He’s had an extra day to look at tape and an extra day to get his team in line. I have to think he saw all of that. Now the question lies in whether he can convince his team to listen and start moving, especially with that extra day to prepare. I have some faith he can and say the Knicks win it tonight by 5. If not, Mike D has to go.

Carmelo Needs A New Celebration Move

Carmelo hit another game winner last night to give the Knicks their 7th straight win heading into the playoffs, and clinching their first winning season in 10 years. While everything is clicking now for New York, there's still a huge underlying problem that needs to be addressed before the first round next week:

That stupid looking tongue out laugh that he does in celebration of big shots.

Every great closer needs a go-to celebration move after hitting a big, "prepared" shot. Jordan had the stone-faced fist pump, and therefore Kobe also has the stone-faced fist pump after game winners. Kobe has also added the Sprewell-like under-bite in recent years to his big shot celebration arsenal. Tiger Woods employs a more angry fist pump after big moments, but there's so many options for appropriate "I just did that" celebrations of one's own awesomeness; cackling with your tongue out is not one. That look Melo gives is more suitable for slamming down the winning domino on a milk crate in front of the bodega on 116th st., but not for a classy New York Post back page. And they know class.

So, what should be Carmelo's new standard celebration? He could bring back Nick Van Exel's raise the roof? Sam Cassell's big balls routine (which I highly recommend incorporating into your daily life)? Reggie's bow to the crowd (later stolen by Paul Pierce)? LeBron's run around like a chicken with it's head cut off? Or something new and never seen before? Bron did a subtle throat slit to someone in Cleveland the other night, maybe a more exaggerated version would be cool. Or how about the knife in the heart that Steve (Smitty) Smith used on occasion? He is half Puerto Rican and did grow up in Baltimore and Red Hook though, so maybe an imaginary box cutter or miming pulling a razor from under that tongue would be more appropriate.

Whatever Melo chooses, he needs to come up with something quick. Or forever go down in history as that guy who made stupid faces in clutch situations.

Perpmelo finally does something

Congratulations Knicks fans, Stephon Marbury's back in town, so is Jared Jeffries, and soon we'll have Isiah Thomas coaching the team again (once D'Antoni is unfairly run out of town). We can relive the last 15 years of toture, hurray! What a great trade!

Stephon Marbury... oh wait, I meant... Carmelo Anthony finally contributed down the stretch of a close game after whining and complaining like a prima donna for the last 2 weeks. After hitting a game-winner his first week with the team, Knicks fans were likely thinking that this was a sign of good things to come. Not quite. Primarily due to the crappy Perpmelo trade, the Knicks have fallen to 7th in the East, behind the Sixers (ugh), and are now in place to face the Celtics in the first round of the playoffs. They've got a good chance.... NOT.

I heard Jerome James had a good game at the park the other day. Hey Knicks, why not bring him back too? Thanks a lot Perpmelo.

Mike D'Antoni Has To Go

I like Mike D’Antoni. In a dark time of Knicks’ basketball, he brought his mustache along with an entertaining style of basketball to the Garden. It all made a very bad Knicks team at least a little fun to watch…but Mike’s time is up. As Mikey D’s track record has proven, entertainment usually translates to a bunch of points and a bunch of disappointing losses.

With the recent losses, the Knicks have shown a lack of offensive continuity. They have also continued their futility on the defensive end of the ball and seem to forget all things intangible (rebound anyone). The result has been a string of bad losses (much like the beginning of the season). If the Knicks want to compete for more than a playoff spot, there needs to be a change in the offense and a change in the "offense comes second to nothing".

The addition of Melo means you have to create an offense where both he and Amare can coexist. Melo’s strength isn’t in playing the move and spacing game D’Antoni preaches. His game can be likened to Kobe and the role Kobe plays in the Triangle. He can be on the ball, dish when the defense collapses or shoot when he’s alone in the post or has space to shoot facing the basket. With that considered, there also needs to be at least a basic commitment to some defense. Every team/player goes through stretches where baskets are hard to come by. What keeps great teams in those games is their ability to play some defense and keep things a little close (all things the Knicks have struggled to do recently making these loses look so bad). D’Antoni seems either incapable or unwilling of making those offensive/defensive adjustments, meaning he has to go. Maybe this Melo move was a secret sneaky move to get him out of his job by The Snake (Isaiah Thomas) and James Dolan.

I suggested Ewing as a possibility in a recent post. Another option mentioned by Bill Simmons is have Phil come back to where it started and try and win a ring like his old coach/idol Red (a move I would endorse but seems unlikely). Anyone have any other names to throw in the hat?

The New Stephon Marbury?

After trading half their team away to Denver for Carmelo Anthony, the Knicks are reeling, having lost 7 of their last 8 and fallen behind the 76ers (REALLY?) in the playoff chase, while the Nuggets have been on fire, having gone 9-2 post-trade. Just recently, Carmelo failed to score a field goal in the 4th quarter against the Celtics, a team the Knicks might see in the first round of the playoffs.

Carmelo has always had problems with authority. In the Olympics he refused to enter the game because he felt he wasn't getting enough touches. Under George Karl he acted like a real perp, causing Karl to become distant from the team and eventually develop a life-threatening disease (maybe that's not on Carmelo).

Rumors were swirling that Carmelo hid on the bus after the Celtics game like a bratty 8 year old kid who struck out in tee-ball. Is Carmelo really a punk, prima donna athlete who will never live up to potential (like my man Stephon) or will he live up to the hype and be successful in New York? I predict that he fails. Expect to see him playing in China in a couple years and looking something like this: