More likely are some other reasons. Shumpert seems to be emerging from a season long slump, resembling the player he was last year. More importantly, injuries have opened the door for Toure Murry to get some playing time. He is not bad at all, showing the pre-season was no fluke. He is solid on the offensive side but very good on the defensive side. With most Knicks point guards, and especially Udrih, the Knicks get broken down off the dribble forcing rotations that ultimately lead to an open man scoring for the opponent. A healthier Amar’e and Kenyon Martin have also helped. Also, Melo seems to trust his teammates more and hog the ball less. This is creating ball movement. Lastly, they seemed to have somewhat figured out how Woodson wants them to rotate on defense. The one exception to this is Bargnani.
I have been following him closely during games and here is my conclusion. He is a solid offensive player. He has better and less good shooting nights but seems to understand the offense and be aware of his limitations and plays within his skill set. On defense he is actually not a bad one on one defender. He is long and can stick with most offensive players. The issue with him (other than his horrific rebounding for a 7 footer) is that nobody ever taught him how to play a pick and roll. He doesn’t understand either when he should fight through a pick, nor when his teammate should fight through a pick, when the pick is being set by the guy guarding Bargnani.
As a result they always switch, leaving mismatches on the floor. That is what gets them killed. Fortunately, one of the recent improvements on the defensive side is the Knicks better understanding how to defend as a team after the switch takes place and a mismatch is created.
The best part of the Knicks season this year is that they are fortunate to play in the horrific Eastern conference, meaning they are only a few games away from a 4 seed, and currently only half a game from the 8 hole behind the woefully inept Pistons.
If Woodson figures out how to properly reintegrate Chandler, and make sure Toure Murry stays in the rotation even after everyone else returns, the Knicks could make it to the second round of the playoffs. None of this is a given.
Regarding JR – If he was in the last year of his contract you bench him and don’t deal with him for a while. But they need to figure out a way to get his head on straight. He is with them for the next 3 years and probably untradeable. Good for Woodson showing a spine and finally disciplining the guy. It is likely he will need to do it again and next time even more harshly. The reality is that the drop-off to either Shumpert or Hardaway is negligible, so it really is a no brainer. He is so physically talented. If he can ever get his head on straight, he could be a real asset. Until then, you will never be able to count on him.