Amar'e Stoudemire and Baron Davis: The Keys to New York Knicks' 2nd-Half Success

To this point in the season, the 17-18 New York Knicks have definitely underachieved in terms of expectations. Until Jeremy Lin came along, the Knicks struggled to find any type of team chemistry. While they've been able to turn things around as of late (9-3 in their last 12 games), the season-long success of the team will ultimately depend on the play of Amar'e Stoudemire and Baron Davis.

Both players have gone through different but similar situations in terms of how badly the Knicks have needed their production.

It's been a rough season on and off the court for Stoudemire. His season averages are the lowest they have been since his rookie year (averaging just 17.5 points, 8.0 rebounds and less than a block per game), continuing his downward spiral in production since the trade for Carmelo Anthony. In addition, just weeks before failing to qualify for the All-Star team for the first time in six seasons, Stoudemire's brother was killed in a tragic car crash, leaving him distraught and away from the team as he joined his family in mourning.

Davis, on the other hand, missed the first 32 games of the shortened season because of a bad back. In his absence, the Knicks failed to execute consistently, interchanging between Toney Douglas, Iman Shumpert and Mike Bibby as the starting point guard, before eventually giving way to sensation Jeremy Lin. Davis finally returned just a week before the All-Star Game, but has showed signs of rust through his first three games, shooting just 1-of-12 while committing seven turnovers.

If the Knicks are going to make a second-half push and a deep a run in the playoffs, they are going to need both of these players to be effective.

Fans and commentators have routinely attacked Stoudemire for his poor offensive production. However, there are good reasons why he has produced so little.

To start with the obvious, the offense no longer runs through him. Before the Carmelo trade, the offense was set up to allow Stoudemire to isolate and command the attention of the defenders. If the defenders didn't take, he exploded to the basket for a layup or dunk. If they did, he would kick out to Danilo Gallinari, Raymond Felton or Wilson Chandler for the open three.

Stoudemire was also running the pick-and-roll brilliantly with Felton, which allowed easy layups for both players. However, since the arrival of Anthony, not only were all these complementary players lost in the trade, but so was the offensive strategy.

Now the offense moves through Anthony, who tends to isolate and take it himself no matter what the defense is giving him. It's not necessarily a bad thing because when healthy, Anthony is one of the most dominating players in the league with the ball in his hands, but that alone will take away production from Stoudemire.

This has halted Stoudemire from attacking the basket, and forced him to settle for more spot-up opportunities. While he shot very well from the field last season, his shot has been a wreck this year and he has continually missed the spot-up jumper.

That being said, Stoudemire's biggest offensive problems seem to stem from being unable to play major minutes alongside Anthony. It has definitely made an impact on the way he sees his role, and as a result he has settled for too many jump shots and has been given fewer isolation plays. In addition, the lack of pick-and-roll opportunities has also hindered his performance as well.

However, this does not—I repeat, does not—mean that it cannot work. These two players can be on the same team and both make solid contributions to the offense if they are rotated correctly. They have been two of the fiercest offensive threats in the game in the past, and that shouldn't change now.

This is where Davis comes in.

If Davis can give the Knicks a solid 12 to 16 minutes a night, it would not only save Lin from having to play 45 minutes every game, but it would give Stoudemire a solid rotation partner. Besides giving the Knicks one of the best point guard combos in the league, the Knicks could separate their two best players into tandems of Anthony and Lin, and Stoudemire and Davis.

While Anthony and Lin sit, Stoudemire and Davis could run pick-and-rolls with each other, making them the players with the most control on the court. With J.R. Smith and Steve Novak in the game, the offense could once again run through Stoudemire, allowing him to isolate and play to his strengths. If the defense commits, either Davis, Smith or Novak will be left with the open shot.

For the system to work to its optimum efficiency, one player must command the attention of the defense in order for the complementary players to get open looks. It sounds so easy, but at times the Knicks make it look so difficult.

If these two can stay healthy and produce, it will open up new opportunities for the Knicks offense. What remains to be seen is the defensive intensity of their star players, especially Stoudemire, who at times looks completely lost. It's plain to see that his heart just isn't in it defensively, especially this year.

However, it may be a confidence issue. Because he has struggled so badly on the offensive side, it may have sidetracked him from at least being the shot-blocker he has been in years past. His attention to defense must pick up, and if it does, the Knicks will become a commanding force in the East.