SU just watched what was an exciting Knicks game resulting in a win over the Blazers. Derrick Rose made a couple of tough shots down the stretch but here’s the deal. Porzingis was great – 31 points and scoring from all over in the 2nd half. Rose was in foul trouble and Brandon Jennings was great with 11 assists. But then for the final 5 minutes, every possession and I mean every possession was Rose and Melo playing a 2-man game and basically freezing everyone else out. Porzingis had no touches in the last 5 minutes. Outrageous. Rose went 1 on 1 every possession or passed to Melo who must have shot 7 for 23.
The Knicks got great contributions from the other 2 Euro players and SU is beginning to really like those guys. This could be a fun team to watch. But tonight, you could even hear the Knick fans booing Melo when he stopped the ball down the stretch to do his thing instead of moving the ball which is what got them in position to win in the first place.
SU says: trade Melo. It’s time and you know what? Package him with Rose. Go with the youngsters and Jennings who has played incredibly unselfishly this year for him. The entire rest of the team plays unselfishly. You can hear the fans and their anticipation – these are smart fans. They want the ball to move. Rose is a backcourt ball stopper and Melo is a front court version. Phil Jackson: you are out of here shortly. Leave the fans with hope and clean house now.
Am I right?
Sports Update Intergalactic 
You are absolutely right. At best the Knicks are a lower seed playoff team which typically leads to a first round exit. One thing I do like about Phil is that he seems to have a better eye for talent than prior GM’s and presidents. Granted that is a low bar (other than Donnie Walsh) but the point being that he is more likely than a lot of folks to get quality pieces for Rose/Melo.
Mark, the challenge is that any trade has to be for contracts of similar value so you always end up trading one over paid player for another. I guess the chance for value is in the other pieces that might be included in the deal or a future draft pick. I will give Jackson credit for having an eye for the European players. What’s striking is that these guys can actually shoot which is so lacking in many of the 19-year olds that come out of the college ranks in the US.
One reporter in the postgame press conference pointed out to Hornacek how much the end of this game resembled KP’s last 30-point game in which he never saw the ball at the end- Hornacek was somewhat evasive but did say they tried to run some plays for him but it didn’t work out
Yeah, well I was watching and “believe me”, there were no plays being run for him. Knick fans are very familiar with the Mike Woodson play book and it was on full display there in the end. I mean why do you decide to run plays for the guy who was shooting 7 for 22 on the night? And does Derrick Rose need to go 1 on 1 every possession? And since he made the big shot, you know this will be the norm for then 2 months at the end of games. Porzingis needs to be the focal point. Have to hope for a slight injury from one of these ball stoppers so we can see what is possible.