K.Y.P. (Know Your Personnel)

That is a basketball term that is widely known and used, in the basketball community that is. K.Y.P., you know who you have, and you know what their strengths are and you know what their weaknesses are, and as a Pro team you know what kind of player they are when you get them. It would be insane to purchase a blender if you’re trying to make burgers for a cookout. So why would you, NY Knicks, get Carmelo Anthony who is a known scorer, and then complain about his lack of distribution? That makes no sense to me. To be honest it really angers me to a small extent, because everyone has their own, ridiculous, definition of what a superstar is and what they should do.
A player like Carmelo Anthony is really a glorified 2nd option. He’s a pure scorer that just happens to be so good at it that it has elevated him to superstar expectations. But, don’t be ridiculous, Melo is an incredible asset to a team, to denigrate him for a style of play that you courted is laughable.
To me the responsibility falls back on the Coach and the G.M. for how the team is playing. Last I checked, the Point Guard’s job was to facilitate and distribute the basketball. Now, I understand ball movement is a team thing, but the PG knows what plays to call and what will get more continuity in the offense. If you call an iso play for Melo, more than likely he can beat his man, so he’s going to try to score. Same thing for Kobe Bryant…he’s a scorer, why are you expecting otherwise? The system just needs to be different, take Team USA for instance. Carmelo Anthony doesn’t seem like a ball stopper with that crew, does he? No, he’s an offensive weapon, mainly because Coach K is a smart coach and they run sets where there’s movement and they get Melo in spots where he can shoot and not really have to work for his shot. But it doesn’t look forced and there is no standing around by the other 4, because it’s a set being run to get a look from him. If you have a better structure then there shouldn’t be any problem with his style of play.

Give a player with his scoring ability to Greg Popovich or Brad Stevens and watch what would happen.


SMH....Peace.