Via New York Post-“Rehab’s going well. There is no timetable set on my return. Hopefully I can return soon enough for the postseason. I’m gearing toward that,” Stoudemire said. “If not, I’m going to make sure I’m ready and 100 percent.”

One theory proposed to Stoudemire was simply waiting until next season to be certain all was well and there would be no danger of returning too soon. Plus, he would be stronger for 2013-14.

“It all depends how I feel,” Stoudemire said. “If I feel 100 percent by the postseason, then I should be ready for next season as well. If not, then I probably would have to wait until next season.”- Read More

via New York Post-Having Thomas gut out 27 minutes on a foot that would be diagnosed as broken after the game galvanized the Knicks, who are now enjoying a six-game winning streak entering Friday night’s game against the Bobcats at the Garden.

“That’s been one of our greatest advantages this season,” Knicks forward Steve Novak told The Post while taking part in a promotion at a Chelsea McDonald’s. “We have guys who have won championships. People say, ‘They’re too old. They can’t do it anymore,’ but the [veterans’] leadership has calmed the team in tough times. They say, ‘Look, this is how seasons go.’ ” Read more

(Big C) When you think about impact players in the league sometimes you have to look beyond the starting lineup. While the Knicks turn things around in the basketball world Knicks’ shooting guard J.R. Smith is becoming a force to reckon with.  Coming into the season, all eyes were on Carmelo Anthony, Stoudemire,  Felton and  Chandler to make things happen. Now critics are seeing that J.R. Smith is an important piece to the Knicks roster. Last season fans got a short glimpse of the potential of J.R. Smith and what he could do on the court.

During the offseason Knicks coach Mike Woodson took the time to get Smith to raise his game to the next level on both ends of the court.  Before the season started Mike Woodson said J.R. was a sleeper and he expected big things from the Knicks shooting guard.  Smith now seems to be focused on winning and doing whatever it takes to win games, rebounding, or providing that extra scoring punch off the bench, he’s doing it.

When people think of teams they tend to only think about the starting lineup and not the impact of the bench players. Outside of Jamal Crawford (16.5 points a game) there aren’t many players in the NBA that are making an impact off the bench like J. R. Smith (17.4 points a game).

Before this season J.R. Smith was labeled a player that only cared about getting his, you know the “Chucker” a.k.a. the “I Got to Get Mine" guy.  This season it is clear has made some improvements. that J.R. plays  not just to score but to block shots, get steals, and even scoring clutch shots. 

In recent games J.R. Smith got the Knicks back into the game when the Knicks are trailing behind or just when they need to get into a flow offensively.  He is the glue guy when Carmelo Anthony is out or is having an off game that provides scoring. 

With Smith getting back his shooting touch he is becoming a tough player to guard.  He has the ability to shoot deep from the outside, hit the step-back-jumper, or crossover his man to get to the hole. The problem is we need to see more drives and less shooting from 3.

On any given night J.R. Smith can look like one of the league's best, not just off the bench but on the court. Smith is averaging 5 rebounds to go along with his 17.4 points 2.8 assists and 1.3 steals a game.

With Felton in a slump and Amar’e being out J.R. Smith is quickly becoming a serious candidate for the 6th man of the year.  J.R. Smith already plays a high energy game but he just needs to take it up a notch in some areas...
 
Driving more to the hole

When J.R. drives to the hole this opens up this midrange shot and makes him a tough cover for any player to guard. Plus it puts Knick opponents in foul trouble.
 
Better shot selection

Smith needs to stop forcing shots and take more midrange shots when he is guarded one-on-one.
 
Taking fewer 3 point shots, adding more midrange shots

Passing
 
J.R. needs to look more for his teammates and pass the ball. The more Smith looks for his teammates the more they will work harder on offense. Players are not going to put 100% on offense if they know they will not get the ball.

 
The Knicks no longer have to look at just Carmelo Anthony to bail them out every time, if  J.R. Smith stays focused on driving and using the midrange shot the Knicks will have a good second option.  It feels good to have options.
 

(Big C) When Amar’e Stoudemire first came back the public was told that he would work his way back into getting minutes and into the starting lineup. Here we are two months later and it looks like Coach Mike Woodson still has not found a role for Amar’e that he’s comfortable with.

Amar’e Stoudemire’s minutes have not increased even though he has been playing solid basketball and showing signs of the player we remember him to be.  He has been shooting 58% in recent games and yet he has not been able to play more than 29 minutes nor has he been able to get solid minutes with the starting lineup.  As a matter of fact Amar’e ‘s playing time has been somewhere around the low 20’s.

With Amar’e Stoudemire looking like he is in shape and ready to play one may ask, “Why hasn’t Amar’e gotten a bigger role on the Knicks?” Going into the season Amar’e was suppose to be the 2^nd go-to-guy behind Carmelo Anthony. That has not been the case. The Knicks team has gone from Amar’e and Melo’s team to Amar’e becoming the 4^th scoring option and bench player.  Imam Shumpert was immediately put into the starting lineup after being out for months.  Amar’e on the other hand has yet to make the starting lineup since his return.  We’ve even seen James White inserted into the Knicks starting lineup before Stoudemire.

Here are a few reasons I can think of to explain why Woodson has elected not to play Amar’e in the starting lineup or at the end of games:

He is saving Amar’e Stoudemire for the playoffs. For 2 years in a row Amar’e has been injured in the playoffs when the Knicks really needed him.

2.     Amar’e’s poor help and pick and roll defense has forced Woodson to go with players that can guard their man and provide good help defense. We all know that Woodson would rather play a defensive player over someone who is not good at defense. (just ask Copeland).

I get it.  Woodson may have some legitimate reasons not to start Amar’e, give him more minutes, or let him finish out games.  However, at some point Woodson has to notice teams have adapted to the Knicks and know how to stop them.  It is time for the Knicks to make adjustments.

Solution: Start Amar’e.

The Knicks have to have another scorer in the starting lineup to help Carmelo Anthony. Amar’e, like it or not, is the second best scorer on the team. There have been too many games where the Knicks have slow starts because of their lack of offense. With a starting lineup of Chandler, Carmelo, White, Shumpart, and Felton the Knicks only have 1 player aside from Melo who can score (and that would be Felton).  Think about it.  Who makes a starting lineup with players who can’t score?  This just allows teams to clog up the middle or double Anthony.

With Amar’e starting, teams will have to respect his offense game and this will open up plays for the Knicks. Amar’e should also close out games and get more minutes with Melo, Chandler, Felton, and Smith. The Knicks cannot afford to try and build chemistry when they get to the playoffs. Chemistry has to start now.

Overall, if Mike Woodson doesn’t trust Amar’e in the starting lineup or to close out games what does he trust Amar’e to do?

(Big C) It’s  a new season but things have not turned out the way Amar’e Stoudemire had planned.  The face of the Knicks and the guy who turned the Knicks around does not look like the same player from last season. Stoudemire is not scoring at will and he does not have the same fire in his eyes like last season.   Fans and critics are wondering what’s going on or trying to figure out what happened to Amar’e.  It may be 27 games into the season for Amar’e but there is reason for concern.  Amar’e has gone from a 25 point (50%) game player to a guy that is now averaging 18 points a game shooting 44%.

Here are some factors that I feel are the reasons to Amar’e Stoudemire drop in  production:

 1. Rust - With the Knicks having a long lockout and a short training camp I think it is taking Amar’e longer to get his game back. Especially since he has been in and out of the lineup and never really built chemistry with his teammates. Amar’e’s shot and timing are off.  Not to mention Amar’e has missed games due to injuries and the loss of his brother.

 2.  Weight Gain - Coming into this season Amar’e Stoudemire was said to be working on his dribble and his game. However, Amar’e has gained weight. Last season Amar’e Stoudemire weighed 240 pounds and this season he weighs 260 pounds.  In a sport like basketball being faster than your opponent can give you an edge.  20 more pounds can also be the difference between dunking over another player or getting blocked when you attempt to go up strong. 20 pounds could be the difference between blowing by your man or your man staying with you for a stop. Weight gain can stop a player’s offensive game in the halfcourt or on the break. Extra weight would only help Amar’e if he had a post up game but that’s just not his style of game play.

3. Playing the Power Forward Again- Last season Amar’e was asked to play center where he dominated as an offensive force.  This season Stoudemire moved back to the power forward position when Chandler arrived.  We all know Stoudemire is a natural power forward, he’s played the power forward position his entire career except last season. However, moving back to the power forward position is one of the main reasons why Amar’e looks like he has lost a step. Last season Amar’e was dunking and taking his man off the dribble with centers guarding him. This season he is re-adjusting to playing the power forward position. Even though centers in the NBA are stronger and block more shots they are also slower than your typical NBA power forward. So last season Amar’e had no problem getting by his man for the easy basket. Now when Amar’e tries to take his man off the dribble, the forward guarding him is staying with him. Power forwards are simply better at keeping up with Amar’e than most centers.  They are also athletic enough to say with Amar’e when he jumps.

4.   No pick and roll: - This season Amar’e Stoudemire has to rely on creating his own shot more than ever.  Amar’e Stoudemire is one of the best pick and roll players in the NBA.  Oddly enough the Knicks have not used the pick and roll with Amar’e in the lineup.  You can expect a dip in Amar’e’s scoring based solely on this point. Not to mention he is not getting the same number of shot attempts.  

What’s the solution?

The solution for the Knicks is to run more pick and roll plays involving Amar’e.   The pick and roll going with Lin should make Stoudemire’s life easier in the scoring department.  The Knicks should also set more screens for Amar’e using Chandler so Amar’e can have more opportunities to cut to the basket or shoot the midrange shot.

Overall, Amar’e is a big part of the Knicks winning.  The Knicks now have to find a way

to mix it up with Amar’e and his teammates to get a balance in scoring.

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