It’s Time to Get Real About the Knicks
The face that no one wants to see
My favorite time of the year is upon us. The week after the All-Star Break signals the beginning of a period I like to call ‘Basketball Heaven’. While the NCAA is coming into its home stretch, with teams battling to make it to the field of 68, the NBA is resuming the regular, everyday routine of in season play. More importantly, this week signals the time of reckoning for NBA teams. Our team is now 32-19 a week after the break, and after a horrendous loss to the suddenly-impenetrable Pacers, it’s time to get real about the Knicks.
An Anomaly in Anthony’s Best Season
It’s hard to argue against the statement that Carmelo Anthony is having the best season of his career. He’s leading the NBA in scoring per game at 29 points per, and he’s averaging a career high in 3-point percentage (41.1%) and PER (24.5) while doing so. His Knicks stand at a 32-18 record, good for second-best in the Eastern Conference, and for the third straight year he’s been named an All-Star starter.Yet one oddity is glaring at me, and although I saw it with my own eyes, I needed to see the statistics to confirm it.
Like Many New Yorkers, Melo Went On 15-Day Fast
NBA Suspends Melo One Game
The N.B.A. has suspended Carmelo Anthony one game for his confrontation with Kevin Garnett after Monday’s loss to the Boston Celtics. In the words of Stu Jackson, N.B.A. VP, Melo “attempted to engage with [Garnett] multiple times after Monday’s game and therefore a suspension was warranted. There are no circumstances in which it is acceptable for a player to confront an opponent after a game.”
Are the Knicks Really “Living and Dying” by the 3-Pointer?
You may already be aware of this but the Knicks attempt a lot of 3-pointers. They also make a lot of 3-pointers. This inevitably leads to the discussion, similar to the Yankees “relying too heavily on the home run,” that the Knicks “live and die” by the 3-ball and that this style of play will hurt them in the playoffs.
Recap: Knicks 100, Nets 86
The New York Knicks welcomed the Brooklyn Nets to Madison Square Garden for the first time ever and handed them a 14-point loss.
First Quarter
The start of this game was quite boring, actually. The crowd was dull, as was the play. Melo, Felton and Chandler played the entire quarter, and helped the Knicks leap out to an early 26-23 lead. Melo led the team with eight points on 3-6 shooting, and put to rest any doubt that he was still injured. Chandler recorded four rebounds and two blocks in the quarter, but, more importantly, held Brook Lopez to four points on 2-8 shooting.
Carmelo Anthony, Tyson Chandler and Amar’e Stoudemire Will Work
As someone who predicted pretty early last season that the New York Knicks would be a better team without Amar’e Stoudemire and advocated trading him to the Bobcats for Boris Diaw and DeSagana Diop — both were expiring contracts and the move would have allowed New York to have cap space this summer — I’m shocked this observation is coming from me.
Knicks Show Fighter’s Heart in Win Over Nets
If Tuesday’s Knicks victory over the Nets were a boxing match, Jason Kidd landed the knockout punch in the form of a (controversial?) three-pointer, evening the NBA version of the Subway Series at one game apiece.
Video Highlights: Knicks 100, Nets 97
From the fine folks @OakleyandAllen, I present to you video highlights from last night’s win over the Brooklyn Nets.
#HelloBrooklyn Wallpaper
The Knicks Wall Podcast: Episode 1
Are the Knicks for real? How will Amare Stoudemire fit in? How about them point guards, eh?!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Three Man Weave: Knicks D, Point Guard Play and The New Melo
With the NBA’s and Knicks’ season in full swing, the time has come for the return of TheKnicksWall’s “Three Man Weave” column. This week, we’re taking a look at the Knicks top rated defense, the play of their three-headed monster at point guard and the change in the overall play of Carmelo Anthony
