How closely are you guys watching this team? Carmelo Anthony, Chancey Billups and Anthony Carter have only been Knicks for 4 games. What are you seeing with your own two eyes? What I'm seeing is a group of guys that flatout know how to play this game. They are eager to lead even though they aren't familiar with the concepts of what D'antoni wants to do out there. Carmelo is has been off shooting 39% from the field. He's consistantly been a 45% shooter for his career. He's been taking Carmelo shots all in the flow of the offense. He's been missing shots he usually makes with his eyes closed. At the same time, the dude is cold blooded. He talks in interviews like everything is under control and has a tone that suggests there is a mass murder about to take place. Defense's need to be very afraid of what these Knicks are becoming.
How often has Chancey Billups hit a momentum changing shot? Gotten points when the Knicks absolutely needed them. How often has he gotten to the line forcing the defense to bail him out? We got a champion is Chancey Billups. He simply gets the job done and is unflappable and understands what tempo is. He understands the flow of the game. He makes incredible reads and there is no doubt who is in charge of the team. This is a guy that has been here only 4 games! What the heck happens when he is used to his teamates and the orange and blue that he now wears on his back?
The forgotten veteran in the deadline trade is Anthony Carter. He has been a ball mover and unforgiving defender. He understands the need to take a step in and shoot the baby jumper. He gets the ball and as soon as he recieves it, he flicks it to the open man. The Knicks have never had a player come off the bench this intangible at point guard since Childs and Ward were splitting time. You can't sleep on experience. Anthony Carter brings that to the game, practice court and locker room. His knowledge will become infectious as time goes on and must not be understated.
This brings me to everyone else. Right now, every player aside from the alpha dog Amar'e Stoudamire has had a deer in the headlight look about them. They are caught watching their new teamates expecting them to carry them. As I'm suggesting in this piece, there is a presence...a swagger oozing from the pores of our new Knicks. Their will is destined to infect the rest of the roster. Against Orlando the whole team was flat and collectively shot 37% from the field, yet still only lose by 6. Don't disregard the fact that Orlando took their play to playoff level proportions to overcome what this new Knick team was doing to them. Miami played their "A" game the other night, as did the lowly Caviliers. Same Cavs team that whooped the Lakers not too long ago just to quiet the crybabies.
Knicks fans...Stare at your team in awe for the first time in a decade instead of disbelief. This Knick club is on the cusp of doing something special. I'm not even talking about next year or in a few years. Right now this group is going to do nothing but gel and get better. Alot of people are sleeping on this Jared Jeffieries pick up off waivers. The same defense Miami almost beat the Knicks with the other night is what Jared excelled at in his last days as a Knick. Jared was the lone man up top guarding the point guard at 6'11" while the other for players stacked up around the paint closing out shooters and the lane. This time around the Knicks don't have David "Jazz hands" Lee patroling the paint. They have Amar'e who is 4th in the league in blocked shots out there. The overall awareness on defense is better than its been in 10 years. Carmelo said practice makes perfect. You watch...this is what we all been waiting for.
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