and we're done

Opening Tip: No star treatment for Melo

Mike Woodson talked the talk when he said last week he was going to hold his superstar -- Anthony -- as accountable as anyone else on the roster this season.

"I'm going to stay on Melo just like I stay on the guy who plays the least minutes," Woodson said. "It's got to be that way."

On Tuesday, Woodson walked the walk.

Anthony was a step slow on the defensive end in the first half and into the third quarter. When J.J. Reddick came off of a screen untouched for a layup -- going right by Anthony -- a few minutes into the third, Woodson had had enough.

He hollered at Anthony from the sideline. A few plays later, Anthony hollered back. During a break in play, Anthony went to the sideline to talk to Woodson, who was demonstrative in discussing Anthony's lapses on 'D.'

Anthony seemed to understand.

From there, the Knicks clamped down and held Orlando to just eight points in the first 9:30 of the fourth quarter. Anthony helped their cause, pulling down three fourth-quarter rebounds.

Clearly, Carmelo got the message.

That may have not happened earlier in his career, or as recently as last season, when Mike D'Antoni was manning the Knicks' sideline.

But it seems Woodson has gotten Anthony to commit on the defensive end.

The first 28 minutes against Orlando notwithstanding, Anthony has played intense defense this year, pulling down rebounds, denying penetration and hustling for loose balls in the Knicks' five wins.

For that, Woodson deserves credit.

"I'm trying to get Melo to do everything," Woodson said last week. "I don't want him to be perceived as just a scorer. Melo's been defending for us, he's been rebounding for us, and that's what he's got to do."

And Woodson will stay in Anthony's ear to make sure that happens.

Woodson's holding everyone -- including Anthony -- accountable so far. How much has that played a role in the Knicks' 5-0 start and how important is it going forward?
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Mike got that whip snappin. :hat
 
clyde the glide said:
george karl stunted his growth as a player.  he had way more potential than just being a great 6th man.
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I can't really think of anyone who has truly flourished under Karl (as a result of Karl's coaching. I also can't think of anyone (significant) who hasn't been thrown under the bus by Karl once they no longer play for him. The silver lining in how he treated JR is that now the 6th man role is accepted easily. But it's clear that JR smith is a starting talent who can do a lot more than just score. Karl has no true scheme that anyone can actually explain. He rides the talent of his teams by telling them to "make the smart basketball play." It's disgusting to watch and hear because you can sense that no one knows exactly what he's talking about. Billups was the reason Denver made the WCF from a schematic standpoint. Karl did nothing in Denver but boost the team's record by a few games over Jeff Bzdelic. With that said, I feel sorry for Ty Lawson.
 
Nevermind that Rasheed Wallace is on the squad, but I really like this Knicks team. It has the feel of the team that made it to the 1999 NBA finals for some reason. Maybe with all the veterans, they are realizing that the time is now. But, the only thing that worries me is how they will play when Amare comes back. Will it be like last year when Carmelo came back and the team atmosphere just changed for the worse or what????? The rest of the season should be interesting.
 
Some of my friends think that having a black coach helps. That Woodson can do and say certain things and it just resonates differently with a player like JR. Like when Woodson told him to pull his damn shorts up. I don't think most white coaches can get away with little things like that. It wouldn't come across the same way. Plus JR has said he sees woody as a fathher figure

I know it's something people don't like to talk about and it might be BS. Just curious what you guys think.
 
DubA169 said:
Some of my friends think that having a black coach helps. That Woodson can do and say certain things and it just resonates differently with a player like JR. Like when Woodson told him to pull his damn shorts up. I don't think most white coaches can get away with little things like that. It wouldn't come across the same way. Plus JR has said he sees woody as a fathher figure
I know it's something people don't like to talk about and it might be BS. Just curious what you guys think.
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Its something that shouldn't matter but at the same time it is about who the coach is. If Phil Jackson or coach k told jr the same thing best believe they would pull their shorts up.

When i played football our head coach who is without a doubt the most respected person in our high school if he told anyone to pull their pants up they did. How a coach carries their self is huge in the level of respect they will get from the players. Coaches like Dantoni and even SVG with his episode in Orlando with dwight just were not coaches who demanded respect from the players and it shows on the court.
 
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I agree honestly. Sometimes these dudes need someone who can understand them on various levels and not just a coach who tells them what to do. I would actually say lately there's been an increase in black coaches in the league in general.
 
If you're winning games you'll listen/respect your coach 95% of the time.

I'm pretty sure if players like JR Smith, Demarcus Cousins, Delonte West, Beasley, Mcgee played for Phil Jackson or Gregg Pop (white coaches) they'd mature a lot faster and steer away from that headcase category just because they're in the presence of a well respected coach/mentor almost every hour of the day.

Not necessarily a race issue IMO, i think its more of a winning/culture thing.
 
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I think players also show more respect to coaches who were former NBA players too and they feel more understood by them.
 
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Mike Woodson is in a position of power, these guys know there are no more scapegoats or excuses. Its on them. And I'm guessing JR playing for a new contract has as much to do with his 'growth' than anything.
 
MrONegative said:
I'm just crossing my fingers that they handle this Amar'e situation right.
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Truth is, Woodson had Melo, Lin, and Amar'e working together. Hell, he actually had the HAWKS working together. The only real question is Amar'e's back and overall health.
 
onewearz said:
somebody here gotta know who's under there
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streethoopkilla
 
Magic is schooling this clown *** panel on ESPN I swear he's the only one who talks about our team with no hate. Dudes want to call our 5-0 start a "mirage" and make weak *** excuses like "i don't believe in them until they beat a top team on the road" or "melo can't guard brandon bass or lebron james in the playoffs" like huh ?
 
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magic and bill simmons def have beef. that exchange just now about big men in the nba really just looked like the jock making fun of a stat nerd. lol whatever, knicks are 5-0
 
KingFoamNYC said:
Magic is schooling this clown *** panel on ESPN I swear he's the only one who talks about our team with no hate. Dudes want to call our 5-0 start a "mirage" and make weak *** excuses like "i don't believe in them until they beat a top team on the road" or "melo can't guard brandon bass or lebron james in the playoffs" like huh ?
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wilbon right?

that dude is seriously useless
 
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