Acquire Better Role Players
Last year, the Knicks won 50 plus games for the first time in nearly 15 years. Their 2013 team had leadership and veteran role players, but that hasn’t been the case this year. The team had Ronnie Brewer, Steve Novak, Kurt Thomas, Kenyon Martin, and Jason Kidd serving as the first pass-first point guard Melo’s seen in his career. Under Mike Woodson, that cast of players was a hard-nosed defensive edged collective that we thought that would propel Melo deep into the playoffs. The team would play the Boston Celtics in the opening round and lost to the Indiana Pacers during the 2nd round both in 6 game series. Mike Woodson is a defense-first coach and the cast of players he had last year perfectly fit his system.
The players this year however don’t fit the style of basketball highlighted by Pablo Prigioni, Jeremy Tyler, Andrea Bargnani and Raymond Felton back at starting point guard. In order for Carmelo’s true talents to be exposed on the court, he sadly may need an offensive witty coach, some one other than Mike Woodson. With Phil in town, Steve Kerr could come in to implement some of the triangle offense that helped Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant win championships.
Speaking of which, Melo is one of the only players the two legends like ironically, so seeing a new humbled Anthony in the triangle would be scary for the NBA. Mike Woodson is one of the only people in the Knicks organization Carmelo has trust with, but seeing his career flourish, may be something Phil Jackson has to handle if he wants immediate success for the impatient Knicks faithful.