Billy Goat wrote:Synciere wrote:Billy Goat wrote:
I'd take CP3 as he's still great. I'm just not buying this story. It reeks of the NBAPA making another move to get Dolan to fire Phil.
Perhaps... I understand if people wouldn't take CP3 due to age, even though he hasn't really started to decline yet, but that argument could be had. But to say this story reeks of anything.... that's a reach.
Rosen's (is that who it is) articles as mouthpieces for Phil touting Noah's leadership and Sasha's triangle knowledge reek of propaganda. Phil publicly eviscerating Melo for ball holding while building a bad roster, then adding his Lebron 'posse' comments, then refusing to take any of those statements back... you'd have to be MORE surprised if these guys, who are thick as thieves, who's families are thick as thieves, wouldn't feel this way about Phil. Phil has given the NBAPA more than enough ammunition on his own; CP saying he wouldn't want to play for Phil isn't that.
Paul did miss 20+ games last year- so that certainly has to be accounted for.
The Knicks are in a tough spot. Phil's biggest blunder was resigning Melo so it's hard for me to feel bad for him here. Things wouldnt be much different if Phil were nicer to Melo either. Melo is what he is, a high volume non efficient jumpshooter who doesnt defend, pass or rebound. Until he's off the roster the Knicks will continue to spin their tires in the mud.
You're taking way too many leaps here, and stating them as if they are fact when in fact they are not. Carmelo was an 18 PER guy last year. Not great, but the worst he's been in years, and could easily rebound back to his career numbers as his game isn't predicated on his athleticism. He averaged 6 rebounds per game. He's closer to 7 for his career. That's more than solid for a SF. He averaged 3 assists per game. He's never been a selfish player. Ever. So yeah, he holds the ball, and creates stagnant offensive sets, but he has never been nor is he currently the problem. Stating we'll 'spin tires in the mud' is hyperbolic and inaccurate.
Things would've been MUCH different if Phil was nicer to Carmelo IN PUBLIC. He's our frigging President of Basketball Operations, a job that covers a myriad of responsibilities, including team and personnel evaluation, acquisitions, and PUBLIC RELATIONS. By publicly disrespecting our franchise player, a player who's been nothing but loyal to this team, who came to this team when few others would, and placing the blame of team losses at his feet while excusing his primary acquisitions, you cannot say his biggest blunder was signing Melo. He could say whatever the hell he wanted privately, but to treat Melo the way he did publicly, you'd think Melo had broken some law and gotten suspended by the league. Come on... You can't actually believe this stuff...
