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Some Positivity After the Heat Game

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Written by William Lee

Normally I would write recaps on games for New York Knicks Podcast, but for the Heat at Knicks game January 09, 2014 I would like to try something different. I want to point out some positives that came out of the victory over the two time defending Champions Miami Heat. Some positives that if it continues to hold, may offer Knicks fans a slim hope, if and when New York sees them in the playoffs this spring. Now I want to just preface that I am not a coach, or anyone that played for his school’s team, just someone that is a basketball fanatic that watches way WAY too much basketball… Also I am admittedly going to be a homer, so maybe I am seeing everything from orange and blue goggle glasses. With all that said, here are some positives I take from Thursday night’s game, and situations that have to occur if you have any chance of beating the Heat once, let alone four times in a series.

Stretch Four  – One of Miami’s strength is their ability to overload the strong side on defense, yet have quick enough players to recover on the weak side. It helps when you have Lebron James and Dwyane Wade when using this defensive philosophy. Though we have seen stretch fours, give the Heat troubles, when the four is able to shoot the ball well from deep along with a good shooting backcourt. The most notable example of this was when the Dallas Mavericks won the NBA Championship in 2011, with arguably the best stretch four, Finals MVP Dirk Nowitzki. The Knicks seemly always have a stretch four on the court at all times, be it Carmelo Anthony or Andrea Bargnani. Bargnani had a great shooting night Thursday night, and highlighted this theory when he was able to knock down open shots, or attacked the rim when the defense was stretched too far. Of course Carmelo Anthony is going to be Carmelo Anthony, and we saw what he can do when he was put in the stretch four position last season (2012-2013). Side note, this was the biggest disappointment of last season when New York was eliminated and New York fans could not have seen what would have played out if the 2012-2013 Knicks team played against the Heat, and see what they could have done. Continue reading →

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Knicks @ Celtics – 12-13-13 – Game Recap

/ Jay / Leave a comment

Written by William Lee

This is fucking depressing…..

The New York Knicks Friday night looked to take revenge on their Boston Celtic Atlantic Division rival for the Sunday matinee beating. With the 41 point lost fresh in the memory, the Knicks did not lack effort this night. Jared Sullinger got it started for the Celtics destroying Andrea Bargnani in the post, going a perfect 3/3 in the opening period for eight points. Carmelo Anthony kept the Knicks in the game scoring double digits in the first quarter. Courtney Lee in three minute of play in the first quarter, scored eight points, making two very difficult threes, both with the shot clock winding down, including a buzzer beater to end the first quarter, giving Boston a 29-26 lead.

New York could not play defense without fouling in the second quarter, sending Celtics to the free throw line on the first three Boston possessions to start the period. This sparked a 16-2 run to begin the quarter for the Celtics, giving Boston a 45-28 lead. The Knicks were over the foul limit with 8:04 remaining in the second quarter due to poor defense, and Sullinger’s continued dominance in the post, adding nine more points in the quarter. The Celtics though did not take advantage of this fact, going to the line only twice for the rest of the quarter. Carmelo Anthony carried the Knicks to the end of the first half, leading New York on a 13-3 run to end the period. Anthony was single handedly responsible for 11points during the run, scoring nine points, working it in the post and handing out an assist to Bargnani for a layup. This cut into the deficit to six, with the Celtics leading 54-48 after the first half.

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