Chuck Texas wrote:1. Tyson Chandler fancies himself a leader--especially on the defensive end. Dirk wasn't threatened by this because Dirk has always been more a lead by example guy than a vocal guy. So he was willing to let Chandler be big voice in the locker room. I wonder if that "big voice" didn't go over as well in a Melo-led locker room?
This is exactly what I think happened to the team and I'm disgusted with Melo for it. He isn't half the leader Tyson is.
Even tonight with him not playing, the ball was moving more and guys were giving maximum effort. Our point guards weren't marginalized and they were given chances to facilitate for everyone else. It's starting to seem like the Knicks have a lot more fun playing the game without Melo on the court. And who can blame them?
Melo is a ball-stopper and a me-first player. On top of that, he isn't vocal and he isn't a strong personality. Instead, he acts like a weezle. He'll get a coach fired or create a rift in the locker room before he'll own up to his own shortcomings and change his game for the betterment of the team.
This is what I notice and I'm not afraid to say it. Melo said he was "all in" this year and it doesn't look like it. The offense looks exactly how it looked last year with Melo on the floor and he seems perfectly fine with that, until the losses pile up and he's ready to point fingers again. As if his teammates are supposed to be %100 invested in something that doesn't benefit them or the team as a whole.
Maybe if Melo had been leading this team to more victories than losses, guys would be singing a different tune about playing his way..