New York Knicks: 15 Ways Amar'e and Co. Can Make Noise In The Playoffs
Everything is going well in the Big Apple. Amar'e Stoudemire, a.k.a. STAT, was named player of the week and the New York Knicks are sitting at a solid sixth spot in the East.
The Knicks are proving to be what most people expected them to be: a better-than-average team that has the potential to be dangerous, when all is clicking together.
In the last 10 games, the Knicks went 9-1 and hold a five-game winning streak. For a team that isn't known to play the best defense, Coach Mike D'Antoni's Knicks are off to what could be a very successful season, given the current expectations.
In fact, it's entirely possible that Amar'e and the Knicks could make some noise in this year's playoffs. The Heat aren't where they need to be, the East hasn't drastically improved, and the Knicks are off to a great start.
When you mix that all together, the potential is there, and after watching this team play, there are some aspects of the Knicks' game that could help them to be successful at the end of the season.
Here are 15 ways Amar'e and Co. could make some noise in the playoffs, in order from least important to most important. Hope you enjoy!
15. Perform Coach D'Antoni's Style Of Play To Perfection
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I'm going to tell you guys right now, that I do not admire Coach D'Antoni's methods, nor do I agree with his style of coaching, but the bottom line is, with the right point guard (Raymond Felton) and with an experienced veteran in Amar'e, offense won't be an issue.
Though the Knicks probably won't contend for a title this year, their style of play tends to succeed in the early stages of the playoffs, simply because the team isn't usually completely tired at this point in the season.
Now if they did somehow miraculously make it to the finals, then we would be telling a whole other story.
If Amar'e and the Knicks can work Coach D'Antoni's offense to perfection, I don't see any reason why a first-round victory is out of reach for this team.
14. Shoot The Lights Out From Downtown
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Following up the previous slide, it would be stupid for me not to include the the most important aspect of Coach D'Antoni's offense, which is outside shooting.
Without a consistent outside presence, Coach D'Antoni's style of play is ineffective. Just take a look at the current Knicks' roster. It is basically Amar'e surrounded with good outside shooters, who sadly do not buy into the whole lock-down defense scheme, but that's just how it is with Coach D'Antoni's teams.
They run the floor, hit open shots in transition, but they tend not to play the greatest defense, and honestly, every system has its flaws.
Players such as Danilo Gallinari, Toney Douglas and Raymond Felton need to be consistent outside shooters in order for this offense to work, and if they can manage to do so, this team will be dangerous.
13. Stay Healthy During The Regular Season
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The Knicks have already been feeling the effects of injury. Both Eddy Curry and Ronny Turiaf who has returned recently have been roughed up in the early goings of the season, and it has been somewhat of a catchup mode for the Knicks at points in the season.
Every team will suffer injuries; the priority should be to limit those injuries as much as possible. If the Knicks can manage to keep this current roster healthy, it will be a huge bonus in the long run (playoffs).
12. Danilo Gallinari Plays Well
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If there is one player that the Knicks will need to step up in the later stages of the season, it has to be Danilo Gallinari.
Gallinari got off to a rough start in the beginning of the season, struggling to make an outside shot, but recently, he has really gotten his rhythm back and he is beginning to flow again.
He is currently averaging 15 PPG and is shooting roughly 39 percent from outside, which is a great start, but the Knicks will need Gallinari to maintain a consistent outside threat heading into the playoffs.
11. Raymond Felton Runs The Team To Perfection
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Raymond Felton has really been playing well this season. He is currently averaging: 18.1 (PPG), 4 (RPG), and 8.5 (APG).
For a second-tier point guard in this league, those are fantastic numbers, but as a point guard trying to run Coach D'Antoni's offense, while also getting Amar'e his touches, stats need to be second to running his team.
A point guard's job is to facilitate and run the team, and so far Felton has done a solid job.
But when it comes playoff time, he needs to step his game to a whole other level if the Knicks want to be successful in the postseason.
10. Limit The Turnovers
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If a team decides to make the jump from an average team to a good team, limiting turnovers is a great first step.
It is basic common sense: the more possessions a team has, the more chances they get.
The Knicks have been doing relatively well, averaging 15.2 turnovers per game. I consider a good team to be below 20 and the Knicks have obviously performed at that level.
Like I said before, that is a great first step for a team that wants to play extra games in the postseason.
9. Don't Rely Completely On The Jump Shot
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The saying, "you can live or die by the three," is valid for every team. Because the Knicks are playing under Coach D'Antoni's high-tempo, run-and-gun style of offense, it would be easy to settle for the outside shot, but the Knicks really need to try hard to be more than just a jump-shooting team.
The Knicks are currently shooting .466% from the field and .363% from beyond the arc, which is not bad considering they put up a lot of shots every game, but when you have a great player in Amar'e Stoudemire, it would be foolish to shoot the majority of the shots without involving him.
If the Knicks want to be successful in the playoffs, they need to run the offense through Amar'e and they need to play an inside-out style of play, while pushing the tempo.
They will no doubt shoot many jump shots throughout the game, but if the shot isn't there some games, which will happen, they need to look for Amar'e to create down low.
8. Get Second-Chance Points
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Rebounding is the key to winning games, alongside defense, and right now the Knicks aren't doing too well.
The Knicks are sitting at the 19th spot in the rebounding category and for a team that puts up a lot of shots, second-chance points should be a one of their strong suits, especially with Amar'e down low.
Everyone has experienced and seen the great rebounding teams, or great players who have had the determination to get second-chance points, and it isn't pretty for the other team.
In order for the Knicks to add another threat to their team, everyone on the team needs to have the mindset of not giving up on the possession until the other team has the ball in their hands, and if the Knicks can have that mindset, it will be a huge advantage for them, especially in the postseason.
7. The Knicks Have To Play At Their Desired Tempo
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Another crucial aspect of Coach D'Antoni's offense is the fast tempo. D'Antoni doesn't have Steve Nash to run the offense anymore, but he does have a good point guard in Raymond Felton.
Felton is very capable of pushing the tempo, and so far he has done a good job in running the team. The Knicks have to do two things better than the other team every game in order to win: shoot at a high percentage and set the tempo.
One of the great advantages under D'Antoni's style of offense is, that you can tire the other team out by getting them out of their comfort zone, and also by making the other team constantly run the floor.
Some teams can adjust, but the Knicks have to be the enforcer in every game, by setting the tempo, and not only doing that, they have to also be prepared to run up and down the floor, while playing at a high level.
6. Amar'e Needs To See The Floor
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Amar'e will no doubt be the main focus of the other teams. He can hurt you in multiple ways, so naturally teams will begin to double-team if necessary.
Now when Amar'e gets double-teamed, he needs to be ready to see the open teammate quickly.
Common sense is that, when two players are on one person, there has to be an open teammate and when you are a good outside shooting team, not only does Amar'e have to make the right decision, the other players need to be ready to shoot.
If the Knicks can manage to execute an inside-outside game with Amar'e, the Knicks will be very hard to beat.
5. Limit The Other Team To Under 100 Points
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I know it seems silly to even mention this, but it should be a goal for the Knicks not only this regular season, but in the postseason.
When playing a fast-paced game with mediocre defense, it is sometimes easy for the Knicks to score well over 100, but the other team usually does the same.
Because the Knicks are scoring 107.73 (PPG), holding the other team under 100 would increase their chances of winning by a lot.
This is somewhat childish to say, but I still know it will be an important key to winning for the Knicks.
4. Amar'e Needs To Get Physical
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There are a handful of players that play a similar game to Amar'e: LaMarcus Aldridge, Josh Smith, Blake Griffin, etc. These players like to face the hoop, rather than have their backs to the basket, which is understandable considering they are all very athletic.
The only problems Amar'e has, are that: he lacks defense and he isn't as physical as he needs to be.
Amar'e could easily post up any power forward in the league if he pleases, but he tends to fall in love with the mid-range jumper, which is a good way to make his defender respect him, but Amar'e needs to get more physical, by posting up more.
If Amar'e can manage to soak up the desire to play better defense down low and to also post up other big men in the paint, it will be very hard to stop him and the Knicks.
3. Play Better Defense
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If the Knicks want to separate themselves from a Phoenix Suns team, or any other run and gun team, they need to be willing to play defense.
Throughout this article, I have criticized the Knicks lack of defense, because I know that they can play better. Now I've only watched a handful of their games, but it seems to me that they are choosing not to play defense, merely because of their style of play.
There is a reason why the Phoenix Suns never won a title with Nash and Amar'e and that is defense. Other teams such as the Lakers and Celtics will adjust to their tempo and then they will win the defense and offense category.
That is why the Knicks have to be willing to play defense. The important thing is the effort, defense is all effort and I know the Knicks won't be the best defensive team in the NBA, but it isn't too much to ask, to play better defense.
If the Knicks can play some defense, they will just be that much harder to beat down the road.
2. Be More Than a Jump-Shooting Team
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I've been emphasizing the point that the Knicks need to shoot the lights out in order to be successful, well I'm also saying that the Knicks need to do more than shoot the ball.
Tying everything together, the Knicks should be able to do the following: play good defense, have an inside game, set the tempo, and limit turnovers.
All of these aspects of the game tie into more than just a good jump shooting team and that is all the Knicks need in order to be competitive in the post season.
It is about time that one of Coach D'Antoni's team finally decides to do more than score over 100 and shoot outside shots, maybe the Knicks can be the first.
1. Amar'e Steps His Game Up To a Whole Other Level
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There is time when a star becomes a superstar and that is during the playoffs. I have watched Amar'e ever since he came into the league and I can't say that he has drastically improved his game year in and year out.
Well here's your chance, Amar'e, prove to me and everyone else that you are among the very best in this league, and that you can lead your team farther than the expectations.
In order for the Knicks to be successful in the post season, Amar'e has to step up his game higher than anybody else on the court, and with his mixture of talent and skill, there is no reason why he cannot.
We will see really how good Amar'e and the Knicks are in time and with the Big Apple riding their backs, there is a lot of pressure to do well, so don't mess it up, Amar'e.
It's up to you to take your teammates to where they need to be.
