I went out of my way to watch the Knicks the other night, something I don't think I've done since I left New York, at which time they were still using peach baskets.
The non-basketball stuff about Lin would be of little interest if he couldn't play, but he can. Now, can he play with Melo?
carmelo is an offensive savant. i caught his first game with the 'cuse at the pre-season nit ten years ago and was blown away by his ability to score in a variety of ways unlike any other 6' 7" + player since george gervin. while he's one-dimentional compared in terms of his lacking defensive focus, his offensive game isn't as selfish as the new york media would have us believe.
in denver, where he won (going to the western conference championship, eventually losing to kobe) he had a brilliant PG next to him (billups). billups was a scorer AND distributor (lin?), anthony's game thrived and they won. the difference between that team and this knicks team? defense. kenyon martin, chris anderson, nene, dahntay jones, anthony carter, renaldo balkman, chauncy billups; all stellar defensive players. this year's knicks team has tyson chandler, jared jefferies and that's about it. between lin, anthony, amare and landry fields, the knicks starting five doesn't scare anyone on the defensive side.
the focus is on carmelo fitting in on the offensive end with lin, but watch for how lin's turnovers go down (from 36 in 6 games) with more easy assists to carmelo. my money is on carmelo moving the ball just fine and iso'ing when he should, because, well, he's the best pure scorer in the league. and if they don't step up defensively as individuals and as a team, none of it matters, even if lin and carmelo get gay married.
Posted by: sean coon | Feb 16, 2012 at 09:56 AM
"But, can he play with Melo?"
Stuck in an airport today, have watched nine straight hours of ESPN airtime drenched with that question, starting with "Mike and Mike" and on and on. So dig it, I'm an expert.
And the answer is.......YES. But can Melo play with Lin? Aye, THAT is the question.
Posted by: Bill Yaner | Feb 16, 2012 at 03:30 PM
ugh. such disrespect. :|
Posted by: sean coon | Feb 16, 2012 at 03:46 PM