Landry Fields, Where Has Your Game Gone?

Among many disheartening things in yesterday’s loss was the play of Landry Fields. Fields posted a line of 0 points, 1 rebound, and 0 assists, in 19 minutes and was invisible on the court during that time.

Fields’ bad play has become the norm since the Carmelo Anthony trade. However, with Chauncey Billups going down, Landry needs to step up and post a “Laundry Fields” type line. Many people, like Coach D’Antoni himself, feel that Landry’s bad play is a result of thinking too much. In my opinion, Fields’ bad play is a combination of both fatigue and thinking too much. In college, Fields played 2400 minutes in 4 years and he has already eclipsed the 3100 mark this season. Combine this with not knowing how to adapt to Carmelo’s game and it has resulted in the disappearence of Fields.

One thing I have noticed about Fields since the second half of the year started, is that he often tries to take his man of the dribble, but since he does not have the quickness to get to the rack, he often throws up a one handed layup/floater attempt. This is a clear case of Fields thinking too much. Landry also has to go back to defending hard. Fields has lost his the part of his game that consisted of grabbing rebounds, finishing on the break, and making the open jumpshot. Fields has made the game too hard for his own good and needs to go back to simply playing, rather than thinking.

Let’s hope Fields’ play yesterday was simply because of nerves being that it was his first playoff game and not because Fields has hit the Rookie Wall. However, if Fields does not pick up his play it might be in the best interest of the team to bench Landry and start either Bill Walker or Toney Douglas in game 3. In fact, I believe Fields was a big reason why the Celtics gained momentum in the 3rd quarter as he tossed up many wild shots killing the offensive flow.

Landry Fields has replaced Toney Douglas as the X-factor in this series and for the Knicks to do well they need Fields to find his game.

Go Landry Fields and Go Knicks!