pk500 wrote:Agree. I'm sold on KP after initial skepticism. As you said, he moves and shoots as well as any super-big (7-foot or larger) in the league. He still needs to curb the silly fouls, but that will come with time and experience.
I don't think the Knicks will deal Melo. He's their only marquee superstar for now, and all the Knicks' management needed to do is look at the Sixers' bench last night and realize you're going nowhere in the NBA without at least one elite player on which to hang your hat. 'Melo still is a lethal scorer.
I listened to a podcast yesterday with Zach Lowe of ESPN and his guest, Chris Herring, who covers the Knicks for the Wall Street Journal. Don't laugh -- Herring is really sharp even though the Journal isn't known for its sports coverage. Herring claims the Knicks are trying to build around Melo at the 4 and Porzingis at the 5, hopefully complimenting them with a few good guards.
Herring also made a good point about the dimension in Melo's game. He's a totally different player with USA Basketball, whipping passes around the perimeter and not always going isolation, because he's not the best player on the team. He can be a very unselfish, complimentary player when he's not the alpha dog.
Melo still has that role with the Knicks. But the surprising emergence of Porzingis lightens the load on Melo to score and do everything for the Knicks, which might cause him to add dimension to his NBA game like he does in FIBA competition for the United States. Porzingis has been full of praise for 'Melo, treating him respectfully like a big brother. So I don't think Melo is jealous of KP's emergence or success, especially since it has made the Knicks a better team than expected.
Sorry, Bill: The Sixers are a f*cking trainwreck once again, with very little light at the end of the tunnel. I feel bad for Brown. I think he's a good coach and a good dude. He deserves combat pay for working with this franchise for three seasons.
I totally agree with the USA Basketball analogy. I heard nothing but great things about Carmelo when he was on team USA. There is no doubt he has the skills to be an awesome team player....will he do that though? I've seen little evidence of that for extended periods of time. Maybe this time will be different.
As far as the Sixers...you mean Jakar Sampson, Hollis Thompson and TJ McConnell didn't impress you last night?
Not that it matters but it was the second of a back to back and it was on the road. It was obvious the Sixers had little juice even in the first quarter. Wroten and Marsall, who obviously are not game changers, will be back in a week or so. At least they are established NBA players. Yeah, I know I'm grasping but its all I got!
As far as the draft in June...Simmons is going to be a game changer. He's a beast. I'd LOOOOOVE to see him in the new Sixers uni next year. Other than him - Kris Dunn (PG Providence) might be just what the Sixers need.
. Sad thing is the Sixers have a protected 1st rounder from LA in this year's draft. They just hurt their chances at getting it. Lol. Okafor's first win since the NCAA title game. 
