Amar'e to start? Woody still won't say

[kartyea]

How do we protect Melo from going up against 4's without starting STAT? Starting Sheed or Camby? That's not ideal and will put a strain on the front line once Tyson inevitably gets into foul trouble.

Amar'e has never come off the bench in his pro career, so I have to disagree that it doesn't matter. He has to get into the flow of a game, which is easier for him if he gets off to a fast start. Super Subs are for guys like JR and Crawford who can create their own shots and are instant offense.

The goal shouldn't be to get as many minutes as possible for Melo at the 4. That should be a change up when we want to play small or by necessity (like now). It's like what happened with the Yankees a few years ago with Joba. He had some good starts at first but eventually (after a lot of poorstarts and injuries) they realized he's best coming out of the bullpen where his strengths are maximized. Even though Melo can play the 4, his BEST position is SF so starting Amar'e allows him to maximize his strength while also putting Amar'e in his best position to succeed.

It's not as if Woodson is running a CYO team...if Amar'e isn't showing what he needs to in practice, he won't see the court. But if he is 100% and practicing well, there's no doubt that he's by far the best PF on the roster, including Carmelo.

So few in here know the game I just gotta appreciate reading posts like this.

[Anji]

^^^LOL, so few actually watch the games.

[rhymeratic]

How about we all believe we are a team of destiny. Let him start and watch both of them play together at all-nba levels.

[flimflamman]

Amare and Felton pnr continues the high energy attack and can free up Melo as defenders cheat over to defend Felton and Amare. Think back to 2010 when Amare and Felton were balling, imagine adding Melo to that offense, i dont see a problem. Chandler is active and has a high motor, he just has to move from the low post when Felton and Melo are in the area. On D Amare better be moving and keep on his toes and watch film. I just hope Amare is healthy. Atleast with this latest knee injury he gets to rest his back and rest his body. Adding a pf like him for2013 will be great. I cant wait.

[D-Leethal]

How do we protect Melo from going up against 4's without starting STAT? Starting Sheed or Camby? That's not ideal and will put a strain on the front line once Tyson inevitably gets into foul trouble.

Amar'e has never come off the bench in his pro career, so I have to disagree that it doesn't matter. He has to get into the flow of a game, which is easier for him if he gets off to a fast start. Super Subs are for guys like JR and Crawford who can create their own shots and are instant offense.

The goal shouldn't be to get as many minutes as possible for Melo at the 4. That should be a change up when we want to play small or by necessity (like now). It's like what happened with the Yankees a few years ago with Joba. He had some good starts at first but eventually (after a lot of poorstarts and injuries) they realized he's best coming out of the bullpen where his strengths are maximized. Even though Melo can play the 4, his BEST position is SF so starting Amar'e allows him to maximize his strength while also putting Amar'e in his best position to succeed.

It's not as if Woodson is running a CYO team...if Amar'e isn't showing what he needs to in practice, he won't see the court. But if he is 100% and practicing well, there's no doubt that he's by far the best PF on the roster, including Carmelo.

I have no idea how you can possibly say playing Amare with Melo and Chandler maximizes his strengths. It renders him a jump shooter. He will be the 2nd pick and roll option (if for any reason, because Chandler can't shoot and you can't run pick and rolls with Chandler's defender sitting in the paint), he will be the 2nd elbow option, he will be the 2nd post up option, he will be rendered a jump shooter on the weakside of Melo on the elbow/post and Tyson on the pick and roll.

We get everything Amare gives us between Melo and Tyson. He's rendered a jumpshooter in the starting lineup.

[OldSchool]

I have no idea how you can possibly say playing Amare with Melo and Chandler maximizes his strengths. It renders him a jump shooter. He will be the 2nd pick and roll option (if for any reason, because Chandler can't shoot and you can't run pick and rolls with Chandler's defender sitting in the paint), he will be the 2nd elbow option, he will be the 2nd post up option, he will be rendered a jump shooter on the weakside of Melo on the elbow/post and Tyson on the pick and roll.

We get everything Amare gives us between Melo and Tyson. He's rendered a jumpshooter in the starting lineup.

I dont think so. We are going to run our offense thru Melo. Teams have been doubling him as soon as he touches the ball. Putting Amare in that lineup gives teams a huge dilemma. They have to make a choice. Do you double Melo and open up things for Amare? Do you play Melo straight up? The more I think about it the more I think its absolutely necessary Amare starts with this team. He's our X factor this year. If he plays well... We are going to be unstoppable.

[EnWhyKay]

I have no idea how you can possibly say playing Amare with Melo and Chandler maximizes his strengths. It renders him a jump shooter. He will be the 2nd pick and roll option (if for any reason, because Chandler can't shoot and you can't run pick and rolls with Chandler's defender sitting in the paint), he will be the 2nd elbow option, he will be the 2nd post up option, he will be rendered a jump shooter on the weakside of Melo on the elbow/post and Tyson on the pick and roll.

We get everything Amare gives us between Melo and Tyson. He's rendered a jumpshooter in tthe starting lineup.

Not true... You can make Amare the primary roll guy.. Because Tyson can hit a 10-15 footer.. He just doesn't shoot it enough..

[EnWhyKay]

Also before Amare got Hurt you guys act as if Woodson hadn't been thinking all summer about how he would play Both of those guys in Tandem.. I trust in him and I trust in both Melo and Amare... Amare more so when he is 100% than when he isn't... I get agitated reading a lot of post that want to relegate an All Star to the bench.. When we need an interior presence on the floor..

Fellas its either Melo or a three for us.. Or a Tyson Chandler pick and roll.. And Tyson will only benefit us if Ray Felton spoon feeds him and he can get a dunk or layup..

Amare is a way more dynamic offensive player than Tyson Chandler.. On a good day Tyson will give you 23... Amare will give you 40... Lol... I digress we will see..

Ultimately whatever happens if we win ill have no complaints..

[Jesse2272]

DLethal

He has common sense and is refreshing

this argument is just making me more hungry for turkey n Ham

[D-Leethal]

I dont think so. We are going to run our offense thru Melo. Teams have been doubling him as soon as he touches the ball. Putting Amare in that lineup gives teams a huge dilemma. They have to make a choice. Do you double Melo and open up things for Amare? Do you play Melo straight up? The more I think about it the more I think its absolutely necessary Amare starts with this team. He's our X factor this year. If he plays well... We are going to be unstoppable.

Not true... You can make Amare the primary roll guy.. Because Tyson can hit a 10-15 footer.. He just doesn't shoot it enough..

Lets just hope you guys are right. Nobody knows how it will turn out until it happens. I do remain somewhat hopeful due to Woodson and Kidd.

[ewing]

Not true... You can make Amare the primary roll guy.. Because Tyson can hit a 10-15 footer.. He just doesn't shoot it enough..

Tyson has never hit jumpshots consistently in his career.

[ewing]

I think Amare will come off the bench to start so long as we continue to play really well but will move to the starting lineup. It does seem like last year this was a team divided over the coach. I don't think Melo and Amare were on the same side. I hope that if that true it can be in the past b/c on paper i see this team as there most dangerous with both on the court

[flimflamman]

The team needs Amare on offense. We shoot to many outside shots.

[Becks2307]

Amare had no real PG last year, I think we'll be fine on offense guys, esp with the chemistry he has with Felton

[Mbellz3o8]

Melo and Amare need on more go at it to see if they can mesh and play together. Amare playing takes Novak time away , less time for Sheed so he doesn't tire out and less time for tyson too. Amare is the only other proven scorer on our team that can take over games. We still need that proven 2nd go to guy/sidekick and Amare is that. RayRay/Kidd/Sheed/Jr are all nice players but they are role players you cant expect them to be a go to guy on a contender for awhole year