Feb 24, 2013; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks head coach Mike Woodson talks with power forward Amar
The media in New York is in a Phil Jackson frenzy. Will he or won’t he take the job as President of the New York Knicks. Although this is good news, the Knicks still need to keep their eye on the proverbial ball and make the playoffs with a big game against the Boston Celtics tonight.
Yes, I think Jackson will make a great addition, as he brings a basketball mind to a clueless front office. As for Mike Woodson, he is fighting for his basketball future. To his credit, he has maintained his job. But in the NBA, it is about legacy. There are a lot of coaches who have won in the NBA that are now out of work and looking to get another shot. Woodson is coaching for his future. To not make the playoffs will leave a devastating stain on his resume.
2014 started out well enough: Raymond Felton was hurt and Beno Udrih and Kenyon Martin played great. However, February saw Felton back, Udrih shipped out, and Martin in a walking boot. So, how did the Knicks win four in a row?
Woodson, as stubborn as he can be, made two significant changes after a year of no change. He abandoned the small lineup that reporters love and went to a more traditional lineup with a front court of Amar’e Stoudemire, Tyson Chandler and Carmelo Anthony. What happened was a transformation. Chandler became happy again; he began to rebound. Anthony continued to do what he has done: score. However, Stoudemire, who begged for minutes all season, was unleashed. Prior, he publicly fought with Woodson who blamed his lack of minutes on his medical restriction. Stoudemire continued to contend that he had no restriction, that Woodson alone was restricting him.
In basketball it is common to play a traditional lineup. A point guard, shooting guard, small forward, power forward, and center. Early this year Tyson Chandler broke his leg and the follies and falling from grace began. I have never seen a championship team play two point guards, two shooting guards and no center and win games in the NBA. Yet, the Knicks continued to play Felton, Iman Shumpert, J.R. Smith, Anthony and Martin. The Knicks got pounded on the boards but more importantly they left the middle open for teams to attack and attack they did.
Four games ago, Woodson, out of job desperation, started Amar’e Stoudemire and the winning began. Since Woodson inserted Stoudemire into the starting lineup five games ago, he’s scored 18 points per game on 61 percent shooting. He’s pulled down 6.6 rebounds and blocked 1.4 shots in 27 minutes. The Knicks have outscored opponents by an average of 11 points per game while Stoudemire’s on the floor. More importantly, they dominated the first quarter — a quarter they usually gave up 30 or more points. Once this happened, once Amar’e went to the front couth an amazing thing happened. In spite of reporters saying Anthony and Stoudemire couldn’t play well together, they did. They’ve complemented each other like Ham and Eggs. It also revitalized Chandler, who has had double digit rebounds in every game Amar’e has started. The middle was contained on defense as Amare not only scored but blocked shots, 3 against Cleveland alone.
Anthony respects Amar’e. He’s seen him go through three knee surgeries, several months of rehab and setback after setback as a Knick. Anthony is in control of this Knicks team and locker room, Anthony loves what he’s seen from Stoudemire of late.
Mar 3, 2014; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; New York Knicks power forward Amar
“He has been playing unbelievable,” Anthony said after Stoudemire scored 23 points in the Knicks’ win over Philadelphia, their fourth straight. “Offensively and defensively, he has been working. He is a guy that, now, we can throw the ball in to and make something happen. We believe in him to make plays.”
Over the last five games we’ve gotten a glimpse of the old Amar’e Stoudemire. By playing him properly and appropriately, he can continue to excel.
Amar’e will do better as a four and an occasional center. Monday night, Woodson went back to his old ways and started a front court of Amare, Anthony and Smith. This led to an open middle as the Knicks gave up 31 and 30 points in the first two quarters. People rag on Amare’s defense; he is not a center. Woodson should have kept the large front court and started either Cole Aldrich or Jeremy Tyler. Small ball does not work. Philly, one of the lowest scoring teams in the NBA, took control of the first half. The Knicks were just more talented, and Amar’e played well but better when Tyler was on the floor with him.
Amar’e knows he isn’t the dynamic athlete he used to be, but he knows in spite of his knees he is still a quality NBA player. He’s helping the Knicks win games, such as the 123-110 victory over the 76ers on Monday night at Madison Square Garden. Stoudemire had 23 points and six rebounds to help the Knicks earn their fourth straight victory. His low post scoring, his presence opens up the court for both Anthony and Smith.
“I think the key is playing inside-out with STAT,” Smith said. “He’s a tough on the block and once we get him in the pick-and-roll and pick-and-pop situations, it’s going to be hard to guard him.”
In the Philly game Amare finished 9-for-10 from the floor and earned eight trips to the free throw line.“We played through STAT,” Woodson said. “We got it to him in the pick-and-roll and that opened things up for other guys.”
Not bad for a guy who was limited to 10 minutes per game earlier in the season and the talk was he was done. Give him credit. Although he was not happy with his role, he came to the gym every day, he worked hard, rehabbed hard and is a great lockeroom guy.
Stoudemire’s play has been, in my opinion, the key factor in the Knicks’ recent rise up the Eastern Conference standings, and if he stays healthy he could lead New York into the second round of the playoffs. The key now is to win.
Tonight against the Celtics, Stoudemire and Chandler will both be out, and it will surely hurt the Knicks. Hopefully the Knicks can scavenge a win and get both of their top big men back to continue their playoff push.Amar’e is in the fourth year of a five-year, $100 million contract. The team will probably do everything it can to get his expiring contract off the books in the off season or before next year’s trade deadline. I am curious what Phil Jackson thinks. As for Amar’e, he is not worried about the off season, if he will be traded, he plays to win. He’s perfectly content to enjoy the moment.
“This feels great,” he said late Monday night. “I’ve been working extremely hard to get back to my normal self. My confidence is there — it never really left. It’s just a matter of working hard and getting back to top shape. So far so good.”
So we thank you, Amar’e, for giving us hope, you have stayed centered and focused all year, now maybe your influence will lead this team to the playoffs.
Dr Eric Kaplan is a best selling Author www.5minutemotivator.com
Follow him on Twitter @drekaplan