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Knicks vs Cavs 12/4/14 – Game Recap

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Written by William Lee

Two questionable calls went against New York late in the game, sending the Knicks to their worst start through 20 games in franchise history. First questionable call was a travel called on Carmelo Anthony, who took a hop step through the lane that would have been the go-ahead layup, and then a minute later an 8 second violation was called when it was not clear if New York ever even had possession of the ball at any point, it was more of a scrum for the loose ball. With these events unfolding the way it did, it paved the way for a Kyrie Irving finger roll layup for a game high and season high 37 points, getting Cleveland past New York 90-87 Thursday night.

Who would have thunk it? A month ago when New York ruined Cleveland’s opening night, that the Knicks would only win three more games by December 04, 2014 when the two teams matched up again. Since that faithful day both teams have gone in completely different directions, albeit the Cavaliers still not meeting expectations.

New York looked a lot livelier Thursday night, whereas on far too many nights player’s efforts have come into questioning. The Knicks showed a lot of effort early on, grabbing four offensive rebounds in the opening two minutes. Iman Shumpert grabbing the fifth offensive rebound collected by New York in as many minutes of play, best exemplified the hustle the Knicks played with Thursday night early on, grabbing the offensive rebound, then chasing down a loose ball after losing control of the ball, passing it to a wide open Carmelo Anthony who reverse dunked the ball. It was a great back and forth game in the first quarter with eight lead changes, and five ties. Cavaliers led 25-24 after the opening period.

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Knicks vs Nets 12/2/14 – Game Recap

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Written by William Lee

New York hardcore basketball fans, Knicks’ fans and Nets’ fans alike marked down December 2, 2014 on their calendars before the season began. Both going into the season optimistically, unfortunately those expectations were never met. Both teams so far underachieving, needing to combine to produce double digit victories, while combining for a total of 23 losses. Not much of a bragging right for whoever wins really.

To start the game Brook Lopez shot an air ball, but quickly heated up, scoring six points after that misfortune. Lopez led the way for Brooklyn, constantly attacking the paint. Lopez scored of his 19 points of his 23 points by halftime. The Nets had their way in the paint scoring 30 points in the paint by halftime, with 20 points alone just in the first quarter. This theme continued as Brooklyn outmuscled the Knicks, scoring 48 points in the paint, and grabbing 21 offensive rebounds.

Carmelo Anthony shot a couple of air ball threes before finally getting it going late in the first quarter, scoring six straight points for New York before finally taking a rest with a little under two minutes remaining in the opening quarter. Without Anthony there was no other reliable shot creator on the team, and the Nets went on a 6-0 run, giving Brooklyn a double digit lead 27-16. This is especially true with the absence of J.R Smith, who missed the game with the “flu”.
New York clawed back into the game, holding Brooklyn to one field goal in the opening five minutes of the second quarter. The Knicks got into the bonus early in second quarter, but did not take advantage of this, going to the line only one more time before halftime. Even so, New York kept it close, always within arm’s length of tying the game, within one possession several times.

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Knicks vs Heat 11/30/14 – Game Recap

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Written by William Lee

Both team’s superstar returned to action Sunday night from injury, Dwyane Wade with a strained left hamstring, and Carmelo Anthony from back spasms.

Both teams were inept on offense in the first quarter, Heat shot 27.3% while the Knicks shot 33.3%. However the Heat got to the line, going a perfect 8-for-8 from the charity stripe. Miami who are sixth in league in stealing with 8.3 steals per game, took advantage of New York’s sloppy play early on, getting five steals alone in the first quarter. Amare Stoudemire came off the bench and his energy really kept the Knicks in the game, making three straight baskets once inserted. Stoudemire finished the game with a double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds. New York only trailed 21-17 after the opening quarter.

James Ennis, a rookie forward from Long Beach State went berserk, personally responsible for a 10-2 run to start the second quarter. Ennis showed off all his offensive skills, first a pull up mid-range jump shot, then a three-pointer, before finally getting free to the rim for a slam dunk. Then he would give a helping hand, setting up Josh McRoberts for a wide open three. Just like that New York saw themselves down 34-21 four minutes into the second quarter.

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Knicks @ Thunder 11/28/14 – Game Recap

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Written by William Lee

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New York was completely overwhelmed by the return of Russell Westbrook to Oklahoma City.

Westbrook first feed his teammates, assisting on the first three made field goals for the Thunders, and then eventually got himself involved with a vicious baseline dunk to give Oklahoma City a 8-5 lead. The dunk was only the start to what ignited a 15-0 run, where the run was bookended by a Westbrook three-pointer that gave the Thunder a 21-5 lead with under five minutes remaining in the opening quarter. Westbrook received a standing ovation when he was substituted out of the game, finishing the first quarter with 14 points, which was more than New York scored as a whole… New York shot a dismal 18.2% from the field, converting on only four field goals.

Even with Westbrook on the bench to start the second quarter, New York could not capitalize…instead Jeremy Lamb went to work on the Knicks. Lamb was personally responsible for a 10-0 to start the second quarter. Lamb scored eight of his 13 points in the run while also handing out an assist to Kendrick Perkins. The deficit for New York grew up to 40-13, where finally with Cole Aldrich’s hustle plays helped give a lifeless Knicks team an 8-0 run.

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Knicks @ Mavericks 11/26/14 – Game Recap

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Written by William Lee

On Thanksgiving Eve, New York for the first time, matched up against their 2012 NBA Defensive Player of the Year since their major off season trade this past summer. The trade that sent Tyson Chandler reuniting with his old mates, the 2011 NBA Champions Dallas Mavericks, as the Knicks would acquire Jose Calderon, whom just recently returned from injury to stabilize the point guard position in New York.

In a highly motivated game for both Tyson Chandler and Jose Calderon, each went off on their former team. Tyson Chandler went off for a season high in points and rebounds, scoring 17 points, and grabbing 25 rebounds, devastating New York by collecting 10 offensive rebounds. Jose Calderon not to be out done, tied his career high in rebounds with ten rebounds, and scored 21 points, all on three-pointers, knocking down seven from beyond the arc. Samuel Dalembert, who was also in the trade this past summer also had himself a great showing against his former team, collecting a double-double with 13 points, 13 rebounds, along with a couple of steals and blocks.

New York hung in tough Wednesday night despite not having their star player Carmelo Anthony due to issues with back spasm. Without Anthony, New York actually doubled up on Dallas early on in the first quarter, up 20-10 with five minute remaining in the opening quarter after Calderon knocked down his third three of the quarter.

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Knicks @ Rockets 11/24/14 – Game Recap

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 Written by William Lee

Carmelo Anthony had to call a timeout to get himself out of the game with 1:45 remaining in the first half. It would later be announced that Anthony was dealing with back spasms. Up until that point Anthony was having himself a great game, in fact, it was his 14th point of the first half, where it looked like he was experiencing discomfort after making a jump shot with 2:05 remaining in the second quarter. Anthony tried to stay in the game…but could not bear the pain, raising his hand to the referee indicating that he needed to leave the game.

When Anthony exited the game, the Knicks were trailing 49-38, and it looked like it would to be all doom and gloom, but the Knicks would go on 7-0 run to end the first half in the final 51 seconds to cut the deficit to 51-46 entering halftime.

New York tied the game up at 69 a piece after three quarters, winning the period 23-18, largely due to Houston’s own sloppiness with the basketball. The Rockets turned the ball over seven times in the quarter, this helped ignite the Knicks offense, and gave them more opportunities to work with.

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TRIANGLE!

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TRIANGLE!

Written by Nicholas McGowan

The Knicks headed into last night’s game against the Jazz with a 2-7 record, came out of the game with a 2-8 record. While it looked as though we would have chance to win the game with Melo’s tying bank in three 3 with 3 seconds left, it was just not to be as Trey Burke sealed the deal for the Jazz on a 19 foot baseline jumper over J.R. Smith. Now of course this record is not what we as fans envisioned but there is nothing we can do about it. We started off with a blowout loss to Chicago yet were somehow able to bounce back and beat the Cavs in LeBron’s homecoming. After that, after our hopes for the season skyrocketed, some of us had this feeling that maybe this season might turn out better than we thought, that maybe we will finish with a somewhat high seed in the eastern conference. At least that’s what I though, yet I was dead wrong as the Knicks went 1-6 over our next 7 games dashing all hopes. The playoffs look ever bleaker due to the fact that we suffered back to losses to Hawks, and also had losses to Pistons, Nets, and Magic. (All of those teams besides the Pistons could be competing for a playoff spot.)

Now the triangle so far has looked as expected, there are times when the Knicks have faded back into isolation basketball yet there are times when the triangle allows for open uncontested jumpers and layups. One problem that has still plagued the Knicks is the lack of the ability to make smart basketball decisions. Such as J.R. Smith and that final shot he took against the Magic, or the fact that with 4 minutes left in the third quarter J.R. had to take a seat on the bench because he had 4 fouls last night. On a night where Amar’e is out, and where Shumpert gets injured 58 seconds into the game, J.R. has to realize that he becomes the second scoring option; he cannot be taking bad fouls. The amount of 24 second shot clock violations also appear to be very high, I do not have an exact stat but its bad when the game is on the line and you appear to commit a 24 second violation. Now we were saved by replay, but the Knicks have to understand the situation better.
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Knicks @ Magic 11/12/2014 – Game Recap

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Written by William Lee

Two 2-6 teams early in the season, played with urgency to start Wednesday night. Both teams played with great energy and it was a high paced game, going back and forth throughout the first half. The game was tied 25 times, and changed leads 11 times within the first half.

Orlando held a 56-50 lead at halftime, largely due to being able close out quarters strongly. The Magic went on a 7-0 run to end both the first and second quarter. Evan Fournier got it going early on, scoring 15 points in the first quarter. Fournier was able to get free in large part because Iman Shumpert was overzealous on defense, leaving his own man, gambling to get steals.

Tobias Harris went off at late in the second quarter, scoring ten straight points for the Magic. There was no defense in the first half, Orlando shot 57.1% while New York shot 47.5%.

Not even a minute into the second half, New York needed to take a quick time out because Orlando got themselves a double digit lead scoring on their first two possession. Derek Fisher did not want to let Orlando run away with the game. The Knicks responded in a big way, going on a 16-4 run, taking the lead 66-64. Carmelo Anthony was the catalyst for the run, responsible for 12 points, scoring ten and handing out an assist to J.R. Smith. But just as the Knicks were riding high, and held all the momentum in the game, taking the lead with 5:02 left in the third quarter, a minute later Anthony would foolishly pick up his fourth foul in the game, essentially taking himself out of the game.

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Knicks vs. Hawks 11/10/14 – Game Recap

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Written by William Lee

Pablo Prigioni returned for New York Monday night, it made no difference, Atlanta again would win, 91-85sweeping the home to home series.

Both teams played an extremely sloppy and ugly first half. Atlanta shot 32.4% from the field, and turned the ball over nine times in the first half. New York didn’t fare any better, shooting 42.5% in the first half, and committed eight turnovers. Kyle Krover, the difference maker Saturday night, scoring 27 points and drilling six-threes, missed a lot of good looks in the first half, going 1/8 from the field. Krover struggled all game, going 4/13 from the field, but would nail a dagger shot to clinch the game for the Hawks.

With the game tied at the half 38-38, New York came out to a good start, making back to back threes by Iman Shumpert and Tim Hardaway Jr. The run would get extended to 9-2 run on a Hardaway Jr. and-one on the following possession, extending the lead to 47-40. Continue reading →

Knicks @ Hawks 11/8/14 – Game Recap

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Written by William Lee

The New York Knicks lose their fourth straight game Saturday night, losing to the Atlanta Hawks 103-96.

Derek Fisher decided to go small against the Hawks, inserting Tim Hardaway Jr. in to the starting lineup in favor of Jason Smith. The strategical move looked great early on with the increased floor spacing freeing up Carmelo Anthony on offense, whom has struggled early on this season. Anthony started the game off strongly, making his first shot of the game. Anthony played extremely well in the first quarter, almost notching a double-double in the first twelve minutes of play with 14 points and 8 rebounds. Anthony strong start led the way for New York to an early 32-20 first quarter lead.

Curiously Fisher kept Anthony in the game to start the second quarter after playing the whole first quarter. Fisher thought better of it, and pulled him out a one minute into the second quarter. With Anthony on the bench, Atlanta shortly would go on an 8-0 run. By the time Anthony was subbed back into the game mid-way through the second quarter, the Knick’s lead which was at one point 15, was now cut down to one possession 38-35. With Anthony back in the game, the overall energy of the team seemed to have picked up, freeing the other Knicks up to score. New York would finish the quarter strong heading into the half with a 61-48 lead. Continue reading →