NY Knicks: 10 Adjustments Carmelo Anthony and Co. Need to Make for Next Season
Unlike the Miami Heat, the revamped Knicks did not make to the NBA Finals in their first season together.
Although no one really expected New York to be title contenders this season, there is a sense of urgency within the organization to make sure the team is a title contender next season.
Does this involve getting Chris Paul?
Perhaps, but potential roster changes do not make the Knicks title contender. New York needs to start focusing on the players that they have now, and not the ones they may pursue for the future.
Trade speculation will undoubtedly surround this team as they enter next season, but molding the players they have now to fit a championship bill needs to be the main priority.
Can the Knicks, as is, contend for a title next season.
Definitely.
Carmelo Anthony, Amar'e Stoudemire and company have the athleticism and ability to become a championship caliber team in less time than people think. If they can improve and further develop upon certain areas and aspects of their game, then there is no reason why the Knicks cannot be one of the elite next season.
It all comes down to developing stronger chemistry and continuing to grow as players, and a team.
With this in mind, let's take a look at 10 adjustments the Knicks need to make heading into next season.
No. 10: Get Carmelo Anthony Fully Acclimated into Seven Seconds or Less System
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Every member of the Knicks roster needs to be fully acclimated into Mike D'Antoni's seven seconds or less offensive system by next season.
And by everyone, I mean Carmelo Anthony.
While most of the Knicks are fully acclimated into D'Antoni's system, including new arrival Chauncey Billups, Anthony has room to improve.
Toward the end of the season, Anthony exhibited a bit more awareness of the Knicks offense, but he still struggled with transitioning away from his usual iso-oriented play style. During the playoffs, he seemed to revert back to his old ways and tried to go one on one in most offensive series' instead of keeping the ball moving.
Some may make the case that Anthony, with Amar'e Stoudemire and Billups suffering injuries, had to take over the game in the playoffs.
And they are right, he needs to have that mentality at times, but he has to take over the game using the seven seconds or less system.
In Game 2 of the Celtics series, Anthony single-handedly kept the Knicks within reach of victory, and he did so by making quicker decisions on the offensive end. He was not holding the ball for an excessive amount of time, but instead facilitating the ball movement or taking the quick shot.
If Anthony could have played within the system like that for the duration of the players, the Knicks may have been able to steal a couple games from Boston in that disaster of a first round.
Yes, while with the Knicks, Anthony averaged 26.3 points and three assists, but in this system those totals, especially assists have the potential to be even higher.
Anthony has to be both a scorer and a facilitator in this system, and the Knicks need to make it a priority that this becomes a reality.
If New York can get Anthony on board with his role in this offense, championship caliber status is within in reach for these Knicks.
No. 9: Learn to Fight over Screens
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New York needs to improve their defense in all facets of the game, but fighting over screens is a weakness that stands out in particular.
During the Celtics series, the Knicks failed to recover off of opposing screens, which led to, on numerous occasions, easy baskets to the likes of Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo.
Amar'e Stoudemire is the most notable culprit in this aspect. Too many times this season did he leave his teammates staggered and confused after his poor screen recovery. When Stoudemire would get picked, he would drop back or even slide to the weak side as his man drove to the basket for an easy two.
While Stoudemire is the biggest culprit, Ronny Turiaf, Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups have room for just as must improvement.
Turiaf's and Billups' struggles can be contributed to injuries, which have left them not as agile as they could be. Even still though, fighting over screens is a necessity.
New York can not simply drop back and allow opposing offenses to drive right by them. They have to stay aggressive and fight over the screen, forcing the opposition to pass the ball off.
When you have two players as athletic as Stoudemire and Anthony, there is no reason why fighting over screens should be an issue. Stoudemire and Anthony are quicker than most of the other players at their position, and fighting over screens should therefore be a strength of their defensive game.
The Knicks have to be more aware of this defensive strategy because teams are going to continue to exploit this weakness, as the Celtics did in the playoffs.
If New York wants to reach that next level of play, and Anthony and Stoudemire want to prove they are not liabilities on the defensive end, this is an adjustment that needs to be made.
No. 8: Perfect Pick and Roll Between Anthony, Billups and Stoudemire
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While many were thrilled with Carmelo Anthony's arrival, some were enraged by the blockbuster deal?
Why?
The trade cost the Knicks Raymond Felton, who, aside from exceeding production expectations, perfected the pick and roll with Amar'e Stoudemire before his departure.
Stoudemire and Felton became quite a pick and roll tandem, and now Billups must develop that same type of chemistry with Stoudemire. In addition, Billups has to run the pick and roll with Anthony more.
When Felton and Stoudemire ran the pick and roll, they broke down opposing defenses time and time again. So wile Felton's departure comes as a hit in that department, Stoudemire has a capable partner in Billups. And the Knicks now have a second player in Anthony to run the pick and roll with.
Anthony and Stoudemire running the pick and roll together should not be out of the question either. Anthony has the ball handling skills necessary to facilitate it, and both he and Stoudemire have the range to make it work.
The Knicks have more pick and roll options than they have had in a long time, yet it seemed almost non-existant in their offensive scheme. With so many viable options, it is a waste of talent to not run it more often.
Over the offseason, the Knicks need to work on cohesion within the pick and roll. When executed properly, it can break down opposing defenses and lead to an easy bucket. Ball movement is important as well, but mixing it up is just as important. So the Knicks need to integrate the pick and roll into their offense accordingly.
The Knicks could develop a similar scheme that the Boston Celtics have. Yes, New York averaged more points per game than the Boston, but the Celtics pick and roll execution was amazing.
Rajon Rondo has the option of running it with Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce, so it keeps defenses guessing. Billups is in a similar situation. He has the option of running it with Stoudemire or Anthony, who are both lethal from all areas of the court.
The Knicks wasted their pick and roll potential this season.
Come next season they need to make the proper adjustments and integrate it into their offensive system better, and more frequently.
No. 7: Create Cohesiveness Between Carmelo Anthony and Landry Fields
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Landry Fields hit what many believed to be the "rookie wall" as the Knicks closed out the season.
Fields had a strong season averaging nearly ten points and seven rebounds per game, but his production declined a bit toward season's end.
While many attribute Fields' struggles to hitting the "rookie wall," I attribute them to Fields hitting the "Carmelo Anthony wall." Most were concerned with ensuring Amar'e Stoudemire and Anthony being able to play together that Fields' and Anthony's cohesiveness went overlooked.
Fields' decline in production began shortly after Anthony arrived. Any player has trouble adjusting to a new team structure, but Anthony is a type of player that Fields never got a chance to play along side before.
Just as Stoudemire commands attention in the low post, Anthony commands just as much in the high post. Fields was not used to have to clear out and give Anthony room to create.
Previously, the offense was ran through an array of wings like Fields, Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallinari, as second and third offensive options. Now all of a sudden, Fields finds himself playing along side the first offensive option and he could not figure out how to adjust.
This has become such a predicament that many believe the answer to the Knicks at shooting guard is no longer Fields, rather a player outside the team at this point.
However, we cannot count out Fields and Anthony developing cohesiveness. If Fields could give Anthony a little more room to create, he could become a viable option for Anthony when he draws the double team. Fields is more than capable of hitting the open shot; he shot almost 40 percent from beyond the arc and nearly 50 percent from the field overall.
This brings up another aspect of their cohesion. Anthony needs to exhibit more trust in his teammate. Too many times when Anthony found himself double-teamed did he try and force the ball to a veteran like Chauncey Billups or Stoudemire. Many times it is Fields who will be left open as a result of an Anthony double-team, so Anthony needs to find him when he's open.
Fields' knowledge of the game exceeds that of his age, and Anthony needs to realize this. Fields can help this by showing more confidence going into next season. He was almost non-existant in the playoffs, which didn't help his case with Anthony.
For the Knicks to give up on an Anthony and Fields pairing now would be a mistake. This being said, these two do need to adjust their game to fit each others needs. Yes, Anthony is the star, but with Fields' potential, he has to make this wing partnership work.
If Fields and Anthony can get used to playing along side one another, the Knicks would have an outside tandem that would create quite a problem for opposing defenses.
No. 6: Prepare Toney Douglas to Run the Offense a Lot More
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Chauncey Billups is still a stellar point guard, but he is almost 35 and is not going to be able to give the Knicks 30 plus quality minutes every game.
His body is breaking down, and as New York discovered in the post season, he is more susceptible to injury than ever.
With this in mind, the Knicks need to prepare Toney Douglas to be the floor general more often this season.
Many questioned whether or not Douglas would be able to run the offense effectively entering into this past season. He proved critics wrong to a certain extent, simply flourishing after the Carmelo Anthony trade.
On the season, Douglas averaged 10.6 points, three rebounds, three assists and over one steal per game. He is a great defender and break down opposing defenses with ease when he drives the lane.
However, despite his upside, he still cannot run this offense full time if called upon. Douglas has to improve his court vision, as well as his confidence.
Billups has been directing offenses for years, while Douglas is inexperienced in that department. He crumbled under the pressure of being in charge of the offseason this postseason, revealing another weakness of this Knicks team.
With Billups aging, the Knicks need to work with Douglas extensively to ensure that he can fill in. Douglas has the potential, and under Billups' tutelage, it is more than possible.
But he needs to adjust his game quick.
He needs to learn when to drive the ball and when to pass it off. He needs to develop enough confidence to lure the defense into the low post and then kick the ball to the outside. And he needs to take control of his teammates when he is running the point.
In all likelihood, Douglas is going to see some big time minutes at the point next season, and he and the Knicks need to ensure he is ready to rise to the occasion.
No. 5: Knicks Bigs Need to Become More Aggressive Rebounders
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The Knicks are not known for their height, but they are known even less for their rebounding.
On the season, the Knicks averaged only four rebounds per game, which was twentieth in the league. This needs to change.
New York is not a tall team, but that is no excuse for their rebounding woes. The few bigs they have need to step up their rebounding prowess.
Amar'e Stoudemire averaged 8.2 rebounds per game this season, but standing at 6'10" and playing nearly 37 minutes per game is cause for that number to rise. Stoudemire should be at 10 rebounds per game at least. He is more athletic and has more of a vertical leap than most that play his position, so he should not be getting outworked on the glass.
Ronny Turiaf is another culprit. He averaged barely over three rebounds per game this season. He is also 6'10", and although he only played 18 minutes per game, with his defensive awareness that number should be closer to seven.
Landry Fields, a rookie shooting guard standing at 6'7", was able to grab over six boards per game using sheer will power. If Fields can have that much success on the glass, players like Stoudemire, Turiaf and even Shawne Williams need to hit the glass harder.
If New York wants to take themselves to the next level, they need to adjust their rebounding strategy. A shooting guard should not be bringing down the bulk of their rebounds.
Case and point, the Knicks bigs, as few as there are, need to hit the glass a lot harder.
No. 4: Adjust Three Point Shooting Strategy
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The Knicks need to continue to shoot the three-ball, but they need to adjust the strategy in which they do so.
Three-point shooting is one of the things that kept the Knicks as competitive as they were able to be this season. They had some of the best three-point shooters in the league in Toney Douglas, 37 percent from downtown, and Shawne Williams, over 40 percent from beyond the arc.
Even Carmelo Anthony became a lethal three-point threat when he arrived in New York, shooting over 42 percent from three-point range.
Given the Knicks impressive statistics from downtown, why should they adjust their three-point shooting strategy? The three-ball gave them life didn't it?
Yes, but it also killed them.
The Knicks live and die by the three and that simply cannot be. If their three-pointers aren't dropping, they are almost guaranteed to self-destruct and suffer a loss. A team cannot live and die by the three. It needs to be a weapon in their arsenal, not the lone game-deciding factor night in and night out.
During the fourth quarter of games this season, with time winding down and the Knicks down by a few points, they relied on the three too much to get them back into it. If you are down by three, you do not need a three to tie; take the two if it's there.
In New York's system, if you are open, you have to take the three, and most can get on board with that philosophy, but too many times the Knicks forced up three-pointers in a game's final minutes. If it's not there, don't take it.
This is what the Knicks need to change. Three-point shooting is a strength of theirs, but they need to ensure that next season they do not allow said strength to continue to lead to their demise.
No. 3: Establish Consistent Stamina for Entire Game
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How many times did we witness New York fall behind by double-digits only to fight their way back in the fourth quarter, and then ultimately end up losing.
A lot.
How many times did the Knicks get off to a large lead early on and then ultimately fail to maintain said lead?
Even more than the former.
New York had a tendency this season to only play consistently strong basketball for only half a game, and this needs to change.
The Knicks need to condition over the offseason to run the floor hard the entire not game. Not just the first half, not just the second half, not just the fourth quarter, but the entire game.
Games are not won by playing hard only half the time, as the Knicks and their fans witnessed this year.
The truly impressive wins this year, the two against Miami, the two against Chicago and the one against San Antonio, came when the Knicks played a complete game.
By complete, I mean that they ran the floor on offense the entire game and forced the opposing defense to play at their pace. By complete, I mean they played consistent defense, not always exceptional defense, but they did get back in transition effectively and kept their feet moving all game.
New York needs to make such occasions a tradition.
Are the Knicks capable of this?
Definitely.
Amar'e Stoudemire has to stay aggressive on defense the entire game, instead of allowing his man to get easy baskets because he is afraid to pick up another foul.
Carmelo Anthony needs to keep his feet moving and his man in front of him on defense so he doesn't force his teammates to leave their man to come help him.
Landry Fields needs to keep shooting the ball; he cannot continuously pass up open looks just to put the ball in Stoudemire's or Anthony's hands.
Toney Douglas needs to continue to drive the lane all game. He has a knack for breaking down opposing defenses in the paint, but he has an aversion to doing this all game.
The aforementioned factors, and more, are things the Knicks need to do all game so that their performances are complete. They cannot slack off on one area to focus on another. New York has to build up their stamina to all these things, all of the time.
Should the Knicks begin to play complete games next season, look for the wins to pile up.
However, if they continue you their inconsistent ways, then look for them to struggle to make the playoffs.
No. 2: Push Landry Fields' Confidence to the Next Level
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Landry Fields had quite a season for the Knicks, averaging 9.7 points and 6.4 rebounds per game for New York.
And he played in all 82 games, starting in all but one.
Not bad for a player drafted in the second round who wasn't expected to make a significant contribution.
However, Fields' has the potential to do a lot better. With his basketball IQ exceeding that of his age, his season was actually slightly disappointing.
Yes, he was a rookie of the year candidate early on (well more of just a ballot consideration since Blake Griffin was a lock), but his production and confidence wavered toward the season's conclusion.
Some attribute this to hitting the "rookie wall," while I have already contributed some of it to hitting the "Carmelo Anthony wall," but the fact is Fields just stopped doing what he does best.
Toward the end of the season, Fields was continuously passing up open shots just to put the ball in the hands of Stoudemire or Anthony. It is a good train of thought when you aren't open, but if you have room, and are shooting nearly 50 percent from the field for the season, you have to make something happen.
The bright side of it all is that Fields was only a rookie, so this is excusable to some degree. However, if the Knicks and Fields fail to build upon his confidence over the offseason, he may be come complacent in his ways, which could be extremely damaging to his career.
Recently, many have entertained the idea that Fields is not the answer at the shooting guard position, but this is just an overreaction to his rookie struggles.
Fields can hit the three, drive the lane and even hit the running jumper. His rebounding can be matched by few at his position and his defense is above average, a welcomed attribute on an offensive oriented team like the Knicks.
And we cannot overlook the fact that despite his end of the season struggles, he exhibited a knowledge of the game light years ahead of his class.
The solution to the shooting guard position for the Knicks lies within Fields.
However, if Fields allows this past season's conclusion to linger and kill his ego, recent overreaction will eventually be considered a stroke of genius.
As long as he builds his confidence over the offseason though, and realizes that he has the tools to be not only a facilitator, but a contributor, he will become quite a weapon for this Knicks team.
So while Fields' struggles are a concern, his potential to improve is a huge positive, and a premiere reason why we know the Knicks are capable of adjusting their game and reaching the next level.
No. 1: Develop Scheme That Proves Anthony and Stoudemire Can Coexist
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Let's face it, the Knicks gave up a lot to create a tandem of Amar'e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony, and the display we have seen thus far has not proved that the risk was worth the return.
To be fair though, it is still too early to deem this pairing a failure. Stoudemire and Anthony need the offseason to develop chemistry and learn how to play together better.
However, once we enter next season though, there are no more excuses. So Anthony and Stoudemire need to make this offseason count.
Although both players had very successful season, Anthony averaged 26.3 points and 6.7 rebounds and Stoudemire averaged 25.3 points and 8.2 rebounds, it was still evident that there was much room for improvement.
As previously mentioned, Stoudemire and Anthony should run the pick and roll between themselves, but it goes further than that.
Too many times did both players force the action on offense. Stoudemire, although a better ball handler than most power forwards/centers, would dribble the ball way too much on offense, and Anthony would hold the ball way too long before than forcing the action.
Some may believe that the previously noted are two unrelated issues. If this is the case, think again.
Before Anthony arrived, Stoudemire did not try to force the action as much. He kept the ball moving and most of his buckets came off of cuts to the basket or mid-range jumpers coming off screens. Even Anthony was guilty of going one on one too much, more so than he did in Denver.
Confused?
So are the rest of us.
Why is these two players forced the action less when they were the only stars on their teams, as opposed to when they are playing together?
Is it an ego issue? Do they doubt their team's depth?
While both could be issues, the real issue is that both player were outside their element.
Neither Stoudemire nor Anthony is accustomed to playing along side someone of their caliber on a nightly basis. They have not yet adjusted their games to compliment each other's.
This is why come next season, Stoudemire cannot watch from the corner as Anthony drives the ball to basket. This is why next season, Anthony cannot stand idly behind the three-point line as Stoudemire dribbles the ball into a crowd beneath the basket.
These two need to play off each other. When either of them makes a move, they are going to draw double teams. And when this happens, the other needs to put themselves in position to give the other an option other than forcing a shot.
Stoudemire and Anthony need to work together, as opposed to separately on the offensive side of the ball. How many times did we witness Stoudemire and Anthony dish off to one another?
Not many.
Outside of Anthony passing the ball down low to watch Stoudemire go to work, their cohesion on offense was non-existant.
Each player is going to have to adjust their game accordingly next season if the Knicks are too succeed. They need to develop a chemistry that facilitates one another's game.
If Anthony and Stoudemire do this, the Knicks will be a very intimidating team.
But if they don't, New York is destined for a disappointing season.
