What if PJ Succeeds

[logic]

Most of the NBA is elite players and team strength. If you find the right pieces that fit well together (Kobe and Shaq...on the court) then the team strength comes more natural than if you find elite players that you need to find ways to get them to mesh (MJ and the Bulls, the Heat, and this current Knicks squad are probably unmeshable).

I don't see what hair you are splitting here. The Lakers had Shaq and Kobe and the Bulls had Jordan and Pippin. Both teams were good but no championship until you had Phil's coaching. As far as I have seen he is not coaching the Knicks.

PJ has done it both and if Dolan really fucks off you have to trust PJ will at least get the players that will be easy to get to mesh well together. He could even be the coach's mentor like Riley was/is in MIA.

Still don't know what you mean by both ways. Both situations he walked into a great team with the best player in the league and was able to coach them over the hump to a ring.
It is a rare, rare coach that will allow the Execs to coach like Spo did. I think it was because he was brought all the way up through the organization from the film room. Good luck with that in NY.

Probably, but Melo is something you could build around and Amare being 1 year closer to being off the books is a good thing.

There has been a decade to build around Melo and no one has figured out how yet; maybe Phil can. But there are still the stacked Heat and Pacers in their conference with better players at the same position and other parts already in place. Good luck Knicks.

 

[BOTSLAYER]

MJ didn't mesh great with Pippen just Like Wade, LBJ and Bosh all have overlapping talents.

Kobe and Shaq mesh perfect, big little inside outside every cliche in the book.

PJ worked with MJ to get him over the hump with Pippen (overlapping skill sets) and worked with Shaq/Kobe to get them over the hump.

Build around was an exaggeration, think build with on the team.


Melo has sounded excited to play basketball and excited to change his game for the first time ever. He can spout all the BS post season he wants but he never had this in his voice. Also note the win streak the Knicks are on? Coincides with PJ talks for the most part.

Current version of Melo is a horrible piece for a ring contender, with some PJ work though he could adapt a bit.

 

[logic]

Melo has sounded excited to play basketball and excited to change his game for the first time ever. He can spout all the BS post season he wants but he never had this in his voice.

Jennings and Smith sold Joe D with the same talk; but when it came time to play they couldn't do it--still the same Jennings and Smith. I think 10 years in Melo is going to be Melo, so you better get some guys who can complement him and not expect too much of him to change.

 

[BOTSLAYER]

Jennings and Smith were looking for contracts, Melo has one and will have one.

10 years is a long time to try and change though.