New York Knicks vs. Miami Heat Game 5 Post Game Recap

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Final Score: New York Knicks 94 Miami Heat 106

The roller coaster ride of a season has officially come to an end for the Knicks after losing Game 5 in Miami to the Heat 106-94. It was not the best of ways to end the season, as the Knicks trailed by as many as 19 and did not seem to have the intensity and energy of a team that had their backs up against the wall facing elimination. Even when the game was close, it had the feeling of a blow out. Even with that, they did not at any point look like they were giving up, which was a positive. The Knicks became the 103rd out of 103 teams to go down 3-0 and lose the series.

-2 Superstars not better than 3

The Knicks big players Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire were unable to have a repeat performance of Game 4, falling short against the Big 3 that Miami employs in Lebron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh.

Stoudemire struggled tonight, not having the same impact he had on Game 4. He was in foul trouble throughout the game, picking up his fifth foul with 6:41 remaining in the 3rd quarter and sixth and final foul with 4:48 remaining in the game. He finished with 14 points on 4-7 shooting, adding only four rebounds.

Stoudemire was unable to get into a rhythm in part because of the foul trouble but also because of the defensive strategy the Heat employed. Unlike in Game 4, the Heat forced Stoudemire to dribble and move more in Game 5, making it hard for Stoudemire to gain control and score. They were not allowing Stoudemire to take jump shots, instead forcing him to use his injured hand more than he had wanted.

Anthony started the game slow, but finished with a flurry, not going down without a fight. He played right to the final buzzer, giving the Knicks everything he had. Anthony finished with 35 points on 15-31 shooting, adding eight rebounds. He did everything he could to keep the Knicks in this game, but in the end it was not enough as no one stepped up enough around him.

After a rough start to the series, Anthony responded pretty well in the last few games. He did not provide the Knicks with the series win like fans and teammates had hoped for, but they did end the 13 game playoff losing streak; something to build off of for next season.

-Punchless Bench

The Knicks bench was basically nonexistent tonight. The Knicks bench was outscored by the Heat bench 22-16, something that can not happen if the Knicks wanted to come away with a win.

J.R. Smith struggled mightily tonight from the field, shooting 3-15 for 12 points.  He did not add anything else to the Knicks tonight as he had in the other games in the series, not grabbing a rebound or handing out another assist.  Outside of the point column, Smith put up zeroes across the board.

No one else on the Knicks bench got very many minutes, as Mike Woodson rode the starters heavily.  The other bench players outside of Smith did not really get a chance to make an impact, as Steve Novak, Toney Douglas, Josh Harrellson and Jared Jeffries combined for only about 28 minutes played.  The bench was one of the strengths for the Knicks heading into the playoffs, but was pretty much neutralized by the Heat throughout the series. 

-Defense and Closing out Quarters

The Knicks held the Heat to a low shooting percentage, holding the Heat to 43.6% shooting for the game, but struggled at defending the 3 point line.  The Heat shot 9-19 from the 3 point line, good for 47.4%.  They also allowed the Heat to take 34 free throws, and the Heat knocked them down, hitting 29 of the 34 attempts. 

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 The closing out of quarters and halves has been a problem for the Knicks all season long, and it reared its ugly head again in Game 5.  With the Knicks closing the gap to three with 2:42 to go, the Knicks crumbled heading into the half.  They were outscored 11-3 the rest of the way, leading to an 11 point Heat lead at the half which was insurmountable for the Knicks this time around.

-Shining Star

Mike Bibby showed up for the Knicks tonight, giving them everything they could ask for a more.  He scored eight quick points in the 1^st quarter, knocking down his first two 3 point attempts and another jumper in the corner.  In total, Bibby ended the game with 10 points, six rebounds and five assists.  The Knicks could not have asked for a better performance from Bibby.

Tonight was the end of the Knicks season and the future for the team is murky at best.  This off-season holds a lot of question marks for the future of the staff and roster.  Who will the head coach be? Will the front office be able to resign players like Jeremy Lin, Steve Novak and J.R. Smith? It will be an interesting off-season for the Knicks and their fans.

It was a roller coaster season and I hope you all enjoyed the ride like I did.  Keep checking back throughout the off-season for stories regarding free agency, the NBA Draft and everything else New York Knicks. 

New York Knicks vs. Miami Heat Game 5 Pre-Game News and Notes

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Wednesday May 9 7:00 P.M. ET

New York Knicks vs. Miami Heat

Game 5 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals 3-1 Heat Series Lead

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The Knicks were able to stave off elimination once Sunday afternoon, and look to do the same tonight in Miami against the Heat. The Knicks will need their big players to step up tonight as the team is again ravaged by injuries. Again facing elimination, the Knicks will need to come out with a lot of energy and intensity to match a Heat team looking to end their season.

-Injury Updates

Baron Davis is facing a 12 month rehabilitation after MRI's on his knee came back worse than expected. Davis suffered tears of his ACL and MCL in addition to a partial tear of his patella tendon. It is a devastating injury for anyone to have, but even worse for someone the age of Davis.

The injury means yet another change will be made to the starting lineup, with Mike Bibby getting the call. He played great in relief of Davis Sunday afternoon in a thrilling Knicks victory and hopes to replicate that performance tonight. Bibby cannot play 40 minutes, so look for Toney Douglas to possible see some playing time, along with J.R. Smith and Carmelo Anthony at times taking over ball handling duties.

Amar'e Stoudemire will also be in the starting lineup again. He suffered no setbacks after Sunday's game, but will still be limited because of the huge wrap he will have to wear on his hand to protect his stitches.

There was a lot of whispers that Jeremy Lin would be back in time to play this series, but that is no longer looking likely. Lin says his knee does not feel more than 85% strong, so he is not willing to push it. He is more than likely out for the remainder of the series. This is a smart move on Lin's part and by the team, as the future outlook of Lin is much more important that a game or two this series against Miami.

-Bench Needs To Produce

The Knicks will need a spark from their bench tonight if they want to compete. The Knicks bench is much more potent than the Heat bench with J.R. Smith and Steve Novak. They will need big performances from those two on the offensive side of the ball to keep this series alive.

Another person to keep an eye on off the bench if Josh Harrellson. He provides energy and toughness to a second unit that is lacking because of all the injuries. One area Harrellson helps a lot is on the defensive end of the court and the glass. With Jared Jeffries still nursing an injured knee, he has not been able to have the impact the Knicks had hoped for on the series. Harrellson is capable of providing that impact and more if given the opportunity.

-Bibby Turns Back the Clock

Mike Bibby will be making the start tonight and for the foreseeable future for the Knicks after the Knicks have lost Jeremy Lin, Iman Shumpert and Baron Davis all to injury. He will shoulder the point guard duties tonight for the most part. The veteran presence that Bibby brings to the court is a good addition to the Knicks. He will fill the void left by Davis while also being able to still control the offense. The only extended minutes Bibby has received was in Game 4 over the weekend and he stepped up huge for the Knicks, knocking down clutch shots in the 4^th quarter. The Knicks have to hop for much of the same tonight if they want to get the series back to New York for Game 6.

-Stars Stepping Up

Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire combined for a monster game Sunday afternoon, and the Knicks will need more of the same tonight. They should go to their offensive juggernauts early and often and try to get them going right from the start.

Anthony carried this team to the playoffs without a consistent sidekick throughout the month of April. The Knicks will count of him to set the tone for the offense as they run everything through him. If Mike Woodson and his staff are able to tweak their game plans by getting Anthony into better positions to score for himself and set up his teammates it would greatly help the team.

Stoudemire gave a spirited effort on Sunday afternoon, showing a lot of heart playing through the self-inflicted injury on his left hand. He was aggressive on the boards and gave great effort on the defensive end even though he was limited. The Knicks will need another game like that from Stoudemire to help take pressure off Anthony on the offensive end and Tyson Chandler on the defensive end and on the glass. Stoudemire has become the x-factor for this team; if he plays well tonight, the Knicks have no reason to think they will not be playing Friday night back at the Garden.

Miami Heat vs. New York Knicks Game 4 Post Game Recap

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Final Score: Miami Heat 87 New York Knicks 89

The Knicks live to fight on for another day after pulling off a thrilling victory this afternoon at the Garden over the Miami Heat.  They also ended their losing streak at 13 for consecutive playoff losses, winning for the first time since April 29^th 2001.  The Knicks avoided getting swept for the second consecutive post-season with the win tonight as well.

-Amar’e Finally Shows

Amar’e Stoudemire, who missed Game 3 because of the laceration on his left hand, returned to the lineup tonight and finally played like the STAT Knick fans became accustomed to seeing last season.  He showed a lot of heart and guts in playing tonight, not wanting to give up on his teammates and fans after hurting himself after Game 2.

Stoudemire finished with a double-double, going for 20 points and 10 rebounds.  Stoudemire got off to a blazing start, scoring six points and grabbing two rebounds in the first quarter before foul trouble forced him to the bench.  Stoudemire faced foul trouble throughout the first half, but was still able to provide a dominant performance despite that and the huge wrap on his hand.

Stoudemire had an eight-layer wrap administered to his hand before the game so he could play tonight.  Stoudemire, who has been inconsistent with his effort on the defensive end and on the glass, could have easily coasted and use the left hand as an excuse as to why he didn’t play well.  But that is the last thing on Stoudemire’s mind.  He is a competitor and a fighter, and gave a very spirited and effort filled performance this afternoon.

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 Stoudemire is well aware what he did was not smart, quieted some critics after this afternoon.  He was determined to return to the court for Game 4, owing it to himself and his teammates and fans to give it a go.  He not only gave it a go, but put on his best performance in a game the Knicks really needed him in.  Tonight, Stoudemire played more like the Power Forward he is labeled as.

-Melo Lights up the Garden

After putting forth a lackluster performance in Game 3, Carmelo Anthony came out determined to end the Knicks playoff woes.  That is exactly what he did with the help of Amar’e Stoudemire.

Anthony put on a show for the fans in attendance, scoring 41 points on 15-29 shooting, adding six rebounds and a team high four assists.  Anthony was not letting the Knicks lose tonight, knocking down clutch shot after clutch shot in the 4^th quarter to keep the Knicks in the game.  The stat that sticks out the most to me is that Anthony only had one turnover in Game 4, cutting that number down from five in Game 3.

The ball movement tonight with Anthony was also much better.  Anthony found teammates on a number of occasions who stepped up when needed.  It was a pleasure to finally see Anthony co-exist with Stoudemire on the court, as the two combined for a dominating 61 points, 16 rebounds and five assists.  The two also combined for +20 in the game, something that hadn’t happened all post-season and rarely happened in the regular season.

When Knicks management added Anthony into the fold last season, these are the types of games they expected every night.  Better late than never I say, as for at least one afternoon the dynamic offensive duo had the Garden rocking.

-Defensive Effort

The Knicks made a concerted effort tonight on the defensive end.  This helped them stay in the game as their offense outside of Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire sputtered for most of the afternoon.  The Knicks can keep up with the Heat when they put forth a defensive effort like they gave in Game 4. 

Lebron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh combined for 66 points, but the Knicks made them work for their scores as they shot a combined 22-49, good for 45%.  They forced the threesome into 11 turnovers as well.

The Heat’s Big 3 are going to get theirs, but the key for the Knicks was shutting down the role players that surround them.  The Knicks held the Heat to 3-19, 15.8%, shooting from the 3 point line and held the bench to a combined nine points. 

The Knicks held the Heat to 41.1% shooting overall, which was the key to this victory, as the Knicks didn’t fair much better on the offensive end, shooting only 42.7% for the game.

-Injury Bug Hits Again

As if the Knicks haven’t suffered enough injuries this season, especially to the backcourt, the injury bug wasn’t done going through the Knicks.  After already being without Jeremy Lin and losing Iman Shumpert in Game 1, you can now add Baron Davis to the injured list.

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 Davis suffered a horrific knee injury in the 3^rd quarter, dislocating his knee cap.  Watching Davis lay there in pain was sickening, as the injury was visibly nauseating.  The reactions of players and fans alike told you everything you needed to know about the injury.  A stretcher was asked for right away, as Davis could not get off the court without one.  Our wishes and prayers go out to Baron Davis for a speedy recovery on such a devastating injury. 

With the injury, Mike Bibby was forced into extended action and he did as well as anyone could have ask him.  This was quite possibly the best performance Bibby has put on as a Knicks given the circumstances and everything going on.  Bibby knocked down huge 3 point shots, and helped on the boards grabbing five rebounds.  If not for such a great performance by Bibby in relief duty, the outcome of this game could have easily been worse for the Knicks. 

Game 5 between the Knicks and Heat will be Wednesday, May 9^th back in Miami at 7:00 P.M. ET.  The Knicks will look to avoid elimination again, and could help be on the way in the form of Jeremy Lin?  He would be a welcomed addition with the loss of Baron Davis. “It was a great feeing.  To win here in the Garden – the fans are tremendous,” said Carmelo Anthony.  Hopefully he and the rest of the Knicks have a chance to do it again and can pull out a win Wednesday night.

New York Knicks Grades: Game 3 vs. Miami Heat

If there was a game for the Knicks to steal in this series, Game 3 was that game.  Sadly, the Knicks were still unable to overcome the Miami Heat, but stuck with them well for three quarters.  The Knicks lost 87-70, now facing an almost insurmountable 3-0 deficit in the series.

Coaching: Grade: C-

After Game 2, the Knicks looked to have worked out some kinks and were confident heading into Game 3 at Madison Square Garden.  The Knicks didn’t back down and never gave up, but they just did not execute as efficiently as they could have.

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Defense was not the problem for Mike Woodson and his staff, as they finally got the Knicks up for the occasion on the defensive end; evident by the 58 points through the first three quarters.  It looked more like the Knicks team Woodson led through the end of the regular season, giving up only 91.5 points per game, good for 4^th in the NBA since Woodson took over.  

The problem for the Knicks was on the offensive end.  They scored only 70 points and were unable to get anything going at any point in the game.  “Offensively, we just didn’t have it,” Woodson said.  “We were so stagnant.  I’ve got to take the heat for that.  I thought with Game 2, we moved the ball from side-to-side and tonight we played one side of the ball all night long.”

One reason for this was the decision to start Steve Novak and have it backfire terribly for the Knicks.  Novak was inserted into the starting lineup with hopes that he would stretch the defense and open things up for the rest of the Knicks offense.  That never happened as the Heat were all over Novak, not allowing him any air space to shoot the ball.  This decision loomed large because of the deficiencies that Novak has on the defensive end of the court.  When he is unable to knock down 3 pointers, he becomes a huge liability because he is not making up for what he gives up on the defensive end.

Woodson and his staff took a gamble but unfortunately lost.  Look for more changes to be made in Game 4 as the Knicks look to end NBA records and building for the future.

Backcourt: Grade: B

As a Knicks fan, you really could not have asked for more out of Landry Fields and Baron Davis.  They both came prepared and ready to play in Game 3, giving the Knicks everything they had being two of the more over-matched players in the starting five.

Landry Fields was great for the Knicks in the first half, scoring a team high nine points. 

He did not miss a shot in the first half, giving the Knicks the offensive spark they desperately needed.

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 Fields also played great defense on Dwayne Wade in the first half.  Wade struggled mightily outside of his 12 point 3^rd quarter with Lebron James on the bench.  Fields has been widely criticized throughout the season and playoffs, but definitely came to play in Game 3 and you have to respect his effort given how inconsistent his playing time and role have been.

Baron Davis gave another gutsy outing for the Knicks tonight.  He, like Fields, looked good in the 1st half but was unable to provide the same impact in the 2^nd half of the game. 

Davis ran the team as well as anyone could have given the circumstances.  It was a hard fought, dragged out game that was sloppy and tough for everyone involved.  Davis being a wily veteran was prepared for what the playoffs bring.  It was good to see Davis giving it his all even though he is visibly hurt and hobbled, which is having a major impact on his game.

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 Frontcourt: Grade: D

Mike Woodson took a shot putting Steve Novak into the starting lineup and moving Carmelo Anthony to the Power Forward position.  Let’s just say the plan did not go as hoped. 

Steve Novak was shut down by a ferocious Heat defense.  They would not allow Novak to beat them from the perimeter.  Novak has only scored a total of nine points on seven shots in the series.

When Novak is not knocking down 3 pointers, it is a liability to have him on the court.  He is not a strong rebounder or defender, giving up countless second chance opportunities on defense.  He gives up too much on the defensive end to get major minutes if he is not getting the opportunities to knock down perimeter shots.

The Novak experiment didn’t work, but the bigger disappointment here has to be Carmelo Anthony.  The one game the Knicks needed him to step up and carry them, he was unable to.

Anthony scored 22 points, but needed 23 shots to get there, going 7-23 from the field and 7-9 from the foul line.  He added eight rebounds, but also had five turnovers. 

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 The Heat threw everything at Anthony in the game, I’m pretty sure there was even a kitchen sink on the court at once point.  They pressured him and put him into tough situations, much like Game 1 of the series.  Unlike in Game 2, Anthony was not able to get off to that hot start and have his teammates feed off of him.  With all eyes on him, Heats defense and Knick fans alike, Anthony wilted a little under the pressure with no sidekick.

Defense: Grade: B+

This grade would have easily been an A+ f basketball games lasted only three quarters.  Through three quarters, the Knicks hung with the Heat because of a fast moving, pressure filled defense. 

The charge was led by a healthy Tyson Chandler, who received his Defensive Player of the Year award prior to the game.  He looked to be fully recovered from the stomach flu, grabbing 15 rebounds, two blocks and two steals.  He changed numerous shots of Heat players, being the presence the Knicks had missed in the first two games of the series.

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 Another boost came in the form of Jared Jeffries, who played 14 minutes which was three more than in the first two games combined.  He brought energy and defensive toughness with the second unit that was lacking in Games 1 and 2.  Jeffries was visibly still affected by the sore knee, but it was nice seeing him going out there and fighting for his teammates.

One thing that stands out is the performance of the Knicks defense on the Heat’s big 3.  Lebron James had more turnovers and fouls than made baskets in the game, as the Knicks forced him into eight turnovers and five personal fouls compared to nine made shots.  Outside of a dominant third quarter in which Wade scored 12 points, the Knicks held him in check allowing him to score only eight the rest of the game.  Chris Bosh only scored nine points and grabbed 10 rebounds as he returned from the birth of his son.

Defense was not the problem for the Knicks tonight, holding the Heat to only 87 points total, 58 through the first three quarters.  If the offense had been clicking like the defense, I firmly believe the outcome would have been different.

Bench: Grade: B+

The Knicks bench didn’t have a great night, but they are not the reason for the loss.  They came into the game and gave the Knicks everything you ask for from the bench, energy and hustle. For the game, the Knicks bench finished with a +7, compared to a -32 for the Heat bench.

J.R. Smith struggled with his shot, but did not let that effect the rest of his game.  He didn’t back down from the bigger Lebron James on defense, and when asked took on the responsibility of guarding Dwayne Wade as well.  Smith also cut down on his turnovers, having only two in the game.

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Mike Bibby did a solid job backing up Davis at point guard.  He had a very unlikely eight points, and also added three rebounds and an assist.  Bibby has been a pleasant surprise for the Knicks throughout the series. 

Jared Jeffries and Josh Harrellson provided the Knicks with the spark they had been looking for on the defensive end of the court and on the boards.  In 19 combined minutes, Jeffries and Harrellson combined for seven rebounds.  They also provided the Knicks with a much needed defensive presence in the middle on the defensive end. 

New York Knicks Grades: Game 2 of Series vs Miami Heat

Game 2 was much better for the Knicks, but the end result was still the same.  The Knicks lost to the Heat 104-94, falling down 2-0 to the Heat in the series. 

Coaching: Grade: B

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 The Knicks were not able to pick up the win in game 2, but the game plan was definitely better this time around.  The necessary changes were made on the offensive end by Mike Woodson and his staff.  The offense is most successful when it is ran through Carmelo Anthony, and the Knicks struggled to get him into position to make plays in game 1.  In game 2, Woodson tweaked the offensive sets.

Carmelo Anthony was smothered by Lebron James and company on his post ups in game 1.  The Heat defense made it nearly impossible for Anthony to receive passes and make plays because they fronted him and then sent a double team.  This frustrated Anthony and the Knicks, evident from the 3-15 shooting and blowout victory for the Heat.

In Game 2, the Knicks put Anthony in better positions to succeed.  Woodson tweaked the offense by having Anthony start more at the top of the key instead of on one side the court.  This opened up the floor making for a better free-flowing offense.  It also enabled Baron Davis, J.R. Smith and Mike Bibby to run the patented pick-and-roll game, making for easy opportunities around the basket. 

The reason this grade is not higher is because the Knicks still have not made up a game plan to slow down the Heat.  After having a top 5 defense in the regular season, the Knicks have been embarrassed in two games by the Heat, giving up over 100 points in both contests. 

One reason for this letdown has been because of the health concerns the Knicks have been facing.  Tyson Chandler has been fighting the flu, and Jared Jeffries is not 100%, unable to play more than a few minutes per game.  Losing Iman Shumpert in Game 1 will also hurt the Knicks defense, but a good game plan put in would help.

Backcourt: Grade: B-

Baron Davis gave the Knicks a valiant effort in Game 2.  Davis, battling his newest injury to his back, soldiered on and gave the Knicks as much as they could have asked for.  He is on a minute limit, but played nearly the whole second half, 21 minutes, after only playing six minutes in the first half.  Davis scored 12 points and added six assists.  The Knicks could not have asked for a better performance from Davis who is visibly hindered by his nagging injuries.

Davis’ backcourt mate, Landry Fields, did not fair as well.  Fields only played 18 minutes, most of which seemed to be wasted.  Fields has lost all confidence in his jump shot and is a liability on the offensive end.  Passing the ball to him is a waste of time, as he will just take a dribble or two and pass it back out; going nowhere fast.

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Fields also has become a liability on the defensive end, as Dwayne Wade did whatever he wanted to Fields on offense.  He scored from all over the court and was virtually unstoppable.  Fields will need to step up his performance with the Knicks facing so many injury concerns.  Fields is solely responsible for this grade being so low after such a performance from Davis.

Frontcourt: Grade: B+

Unlike in Game 1, Carmelo Anthony got off to a scorching start this time around.  He ended up scoring 30 points, adding nine rebounds.  He came ready and prepared to play this time around.  His confidence was sky high and he attacked the Heat defense from all different angles. 

For the Knicks to have any chance of winning games, they will need performances like this from Anthony the remainder of the series.  They would also like to have efficient games from Amar’e Stoudemire, like he had in Game 2.  Stoudemire went for 18 points and seven rebounds, much more involved than Game 1. 

Sadly, Stoudemire will most likely not have that opportunity.  He punched the glass container that holds the fire extinguisher in the Heat locker room, getting a very ugly laceration.  Medical attention was needed as sources say half of Stoudemire’s hand was ‘hanging off’.  He will miss Game 3 and does not seem likely to play the remainder of the series after receiving 15 stitches in his hand.

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Defense: Grade: C-

The Knicks once again gave up 100 points, 104 to be exact, which will not be acceptable when trying to beat the Heat.   

The only positive for the Knicks on defense was the improved play of Tyson Chandler.  He was much more active in Game 2, aggressively going after rebounds and playing a lot more like his old self.  He grabbed seven rebounds, and looked like he was more engaged.  His energy level was also much higher, visibly looking more engaged and energetic; closer to the normal level up play Chandler is accustomed to.

Chandler says he should be fine by Game 3.  It would be a huge boost to a Knicks team to have Chandler playing at full health.  With Jared Jeffries being limited and Iman Shumpert being lost for up to 8 months, the Knicks are without a lot of their defensive stoppers.

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Another thing that may help the Knicks on defense is Amar’e Stoudemire not playing.  Stoudemire has been atrocious on defense on all season and was not getting any better in the series against the Heat.  Chris Bosh was taking advantage of Stoudemire every time they lined up against each other.  The Knicks defense has been better all season while Stoudemire sat on the bench, so hopefully the trend continues if Stoudemire isn’t going to be playing. 

Bench: Grade: B-

The bench was better than bad, but worse than good in Game 2 against the Heat.  They did what they regularly do, providing hustle and energy.  But they also had some of their weakness exposed, one of which being defense without Jared Jeffries. 

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J.R. Smith brought the same intensity and aggressiveness he did in Game 1, showing just how tough he is.  Smith did not back down from Lebron James or Dwayne Wade, taking on whatever Mike Woodson placed in front of him.  Smith also provided a nice punch in the scoring column, going for 13 points on 6-11 shooting.  He was the only Knicks outside of Jared Jeffries limited minutes, to finish with a positive +/-. Smith has been the most consistent and best player for the Knicks in the first two games in my opinion.

Mike Bibby gave the Knicks good minutes again off the bench.  The Knicks did not suffer a letdown with Bibby running the team.  He actually got big minutes in the first half, playing 18 of his 21 minutes in the first half, as Mike Woodson rode the hot hand.  Bibby has been a pleasant surprise for the Knicks in the playoffs.

Novak is the one who was exposed the most in Game 2.  Novak was caught multiple times in the wrong position on defense, allowing for wide open 3 point attempts for the likes of Shane Battier and Mike Miller.  If Novak is not knocking down 3 pointers, he has very little reason to be on the court most of the time.  It was encouraging to see Novak grab five rebounds though.  But he will need to step up the effort on the defensive end as well, as Novak will see a lot of playing time with all the injuries he Knicks have and his prowess he has of knocking down perimeter jump shots. 

New York Knicks vs. Miami Heat Post Game Recap: Game 2

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Final Score: New York Knicks 94 Miami Heat 104

The Knicks put on a better performance tonight than in game 1, but still came up short against a strong Heat team.  The Knicks fell to 0-2 in the series, in the process tying the NBA record for most consecutive losses in the playoffs at 12 games.  The Knicks will need to show a little more urgency and aggressiveness in game 3 if they hope to end the playoff losing streak.

-Offensive Flow Improvement

Carmelo Anthony led the charge tonight on offense, coming out of the gate strong and finishing with 30 points.  Anthony scored 14 of the first 24 points for the Knicks, setting the tone early and often.  Mike Woodson and the Knicks made the necessary adjustments so that they could still run their offense effectively.  Instead of keeping Anthony on the wings and the blocks on one side of the court, the offense was run more towards the top of the key.  It balanced out the court more and gave the Knicks more options.

With Anthony playing so well, the Knicks were able to run more of their conventional pick-and-roll offense, balancing out both sides of the court.  Starting Point Guard Baron Davis and back-ups J.R. Smith and Mike Bibby were able to make plays feeding off of Anthony’s great effort.  Davis finished with six assists, while Smith had five and Bibby added two.

Amar’e Stoudemire was also much more active tonight, scoring 18 points and grabbing seven rebounds.  Stoudemire was able to avoid foul trouble and looked much more comfortable tonight compared to Saturday afternoon.

-Tyson Chandler Shows Up

Battling the flu is not an easy thing to do, especially when you’re expected to be a vocal point of your team.  But that is exactly what Chandler did tonight, having a much better turnout tonight in game 2 than in game 1.  He was still not 100%, but he was much closer to his regular self, showing much more aggressiveness on offense, defense and the boards. 

Chandler led a pretty dominant performance for the Knicks on the glass tonight, especially on the offensive end.  Chandler had six offensive rebounds tonight and seven total.  In limited action, Jared Jeffries compiled three offensive rebounds of his own.  Anthony and Stoudemire did a good job of cleaning up the defensive glass, combining for 14 defensive rebounds and 16 total.

-Where is the aggressiveness?

Much like in Game 1, the Knicks were not aggressive enough in attacking the paint to get to the foul line.  They attempted only 19 free throws compared to 27 for the Heat.  The Knicks have to make a more concentrated effort in getting to the foul line.  Right now they are giving in to easily to the pressure from the Heat and letting it fly from the perimeter way too often.  It is okay to take perimeter shots when they are there, but many of these shots are contested and forced towards the end of the shot clock.  The Knicks need to get more flow and continuity to their offense and it will open things up for them.  Too often the Knicks are stagnant, standing around watching Anthony or Smith dribble and take pull up jumpers.

-Rotation Changes

It still perplexes me as to why Landry Fields gets so much run with the first unit.  Obviously, the injury to Iman Shumpert has caused changes to be made.  But Fields is not the answer in my opinion.

When Anthony is double teamed or Davis and Smith break down the defense off the pick-and-roll, passes are wasted to Fields.  Fields will position himself somewhere along the 3 point line and he is where they kick it to.  But Fields is hesitant to let fly from the perimeter and will usually just waste time dribbling and then kicking it back out to the top anyway.  It is wasted time and movement by the Knicks that results in nothing.

Smith and Steve Novak need to be in the game more in those situations because of the skills they offer.  Both Smith and Novak are more than capable 3 point shooters, and the Knicks need to take advantage.  The Heat are one of the worst teams at defending the 3 point shot, so it would be beneficial for the Knicks to work that into their offense more once they return home for Game 3.

-Injury List a Mile Long

The Knicks, for the second straight season, picked the worst time to start to have injuries mount.  Iman Shumpert is out for up to 8 months after tearing his ACL and lateral meniscus and will be missed.  In addition to him, the Knicks have two rotation players in Baron Davis and Jared Jeffries who cannot give you extended minutes you need in the playoffs.  I believe Mike Woodson needs to give a chance to other people on the bench like Josh Harrellson and see what they have.  Giving them a shot may give the team a spark they need.

You can also add another name to the injury list now.  Details are still coming out, but it is clear that Amar’e Stoudemire injured his hand.  He was seen coming out of the arena tonight in a sling with bandages covering his hand.  He supposedly punched the glass case that holds the fire extinguisher, shattering it.  It is believed that Stoudemire received stitches in his hand and his status for Game 3 and the remainder of the series are up in the air.

The Knicks return to action Wednesday for Game 3 in the series against the Heat.  It is do or die time for the Knicks now, who will be returning to what will surely be a raucous and loud Madison Square Garden crowd.  

New York Knicks vs. Miami Heat Pre-Game News and Notes: Game 1

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Saturday, April 28, 2012 3:30 P.M. ET
New York Knicks vs. Miami Heat

Game 1 2012 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals 0-0 Series

The NBA Playoffs are finally here.  It has been a crazy season with the lockout condensing the playing schedule and a roller coaster ride for the Knicks but they have gotten to where they wanted to be.  This will be the most intriguing first round match-up because of the history of the Knicks and Heat and also because this is the match-up with the most star power.

The Knicks are riding a wave of confidence into the playoffs, accomplishing many feats even though there were shaky times in the season.  The Heat present a very difficult match-up obviously finishing 46-20 in the regular season.  That does not mean the Heat are perfect though, as taking a closer look you’ll see the Heat have holes just like any other team.  The Knicks could be the perfect team to ruin the Heat’s NBA Final’s expectations.

-Injury News and Notes

The Knicks have a huge question mark going into the first game of the series this afternoon.  Sometime between Thursday and Friday, Tyson Chandler contracted flu-like symptoms.  Mike Woodson has been saying there is a very good chance that Chandler will miss game 1.  The players are saying otherwise, but even with talk that Chandler may miss the game is no good.

Chandler is the heart and soul of the Knicks defense and not having him play would be disastrous.  There is so much that he brings to the game even when he is not actually playing. 

I believe that if Chandler is not seriously injured he will be on the court.  He did not come to New York to sit out playoff games and watch from the bench.  Once the adrenaline kicks in and things get going I would fully expect Chandler to be doing his thing on the court.

In other news, everything seems as it was a few days ago.  Both Baron Davis and Jared Jeffries are not 100%, but will be suiting up.  They will give the Knicks everything they can, even if it is in limited amounts of minutes.  At this point, even a little something is better than nothing because as the playoffs come around, all hands are on deck.

-X-Factor Bosh

The Knicks need to handle Chris Bosh.  They can not let him go off in any of the games if they want a realistic chance of winning this series.  You know what Lebron James and Dwayne Wade are going to give you so stopping Bosh is key.  If the Knicks can keep him from consistently knocking down his 17 foot jump shot it would go a long way. 

It will be a big decision of who guards Bosh for the Knicks.  Stoudemire is a lesser defender than Chandler, but Chandler is needed to be as close to the basket as he can so he can control the boards.  Stoudemire is going to have to step up his game on the boards and on defense for the Knicks to succeed in the series.

-3-Point Shooting

If the Knicks are going to make noise in this series, it will come down to 3 point shooting.  The Heat are one of the worst teams in the NBA at defending the 3 point line and that is something the Knicks can take advantage of.

The Knicks have gunners Steve Novak and J.R. Smith who can shoot the ball from anywhere on the court.  If they are able to get going in any game, they can single handedly change the outcome on 3 point shooting alone. 

The perfect formula for the Knicks would be to work the inside out game.  Look to dominate the paint early and often and then look outside.  If they can get some easy looks at the rim from the start, the perimeter will open up once the Heat have to sag their defense and protect the paint.  Novak, Smith and the rest of the Knicks will then have open looks and will just need to convert.

-Limit Turnovers

The Heat are one of the most athletic teams in the NBA and fully use it their advantage.  Lebron James and Dwayne Wade are always looking to play passing lanes and cause turnovers to get into the open court to start some fireworks on the fast break.  The Knicks have to do their best in limiting those opportunities and lowering their NBA high turnover rate. 

Miami is very dangerous in the open court because of James and Wade.  The Knicks have to make it a point to slow that down as much as possible.

One positive the Knicks have going for them is that they have two postseason proven and experienced point guards in Baron Davis and Mike Bibby.  Both understand playoff basketball and how much different of an atmosphere it is.  Look for them to help keep the younger Knicks composed along with other team leaders Tyson Chandler, Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire.  

New York Knicks vs. Charlotte Bobcats Pre-Game News and Notes April 26

Thursday April 26, 2012 8:00 P.M. ET
New York Knicks vs. Charlotte Bobcats

The Knicks end the regular season tonight against a Bobcats team riding a 22 game losing streak.  This is an important game still for the Knicks, as their playoff seed is still not set.  If the Knicks and 76ers share the same result tonight, the Knicks will get the 7^th seed in the Eastern Conference and a first round match up against the Miami Heat.  If the Knicks win and 76ers lose they also get the 7^th seed.  The only way the Knicks can fall behind the 76ers tonight is a lose in combination with a 76er win.  So the question now comes, do the Knicks lose on purpose, trying to avoid Miami in the first round?  As a fan I do not want to watch my favorite team be the ones who end the Bobcats 22 game losing streak.  I may be in the minority tonight, but I want to see the Knicks come out firing trying to end the regular season on a high note and not lose to the Bobcats even if it means a match up with the Heat in the first. 

-Lots of Lineup Changes

The Knicks will start a very different looking lineup tonight, giving multiple players the night off.  Tonight’s starting lineup for the Knicks will be Mike Bibby, Iman Shumpert, Landry Fields, Josh Harrellson and Amar’e Stoudemire.  Baron Davis, Carmelo Anthony, Tyson Chandler and Toney Douglas are all sitting tonight.  Douglas is the only one who is actually not healthy enough to play, as he is sitting out because he is sick.  This will be an interesting game for the bench, as they will get extended playing time.  It is an opportunity for many of them to showcase what they have going into the playoffs trying to earn playing time from Mike Woodson.  Woodson has said he will use tonight to see who deserves minutes going forward into the playoffs.

-Show Up Tonight

The playoffs are right around the corner, so why not start with the intensity tonight?  It should not be hard to get the bench players to play hard tonight.  They are all fighting for a spot in the rotation for the playoffs and have nothing to lose.  There should be no drop off in intensity and work ethic with this group.  I actually believe the Knicks have a better chance of beating the Bobcats with this group because they will match the energy the Bobcats will bring trying to end their losing streak.

The Knicks want to ride a wave of momentum into the playoffs, especially because it will be a tough opponent in either the Bulls or Heat.  Losing to the Bobcats would destroy any good feelings the Knicks are building up, so tonight is a game they should come out in and try dominating from the start.

-Going for Recognition

Steve Novak has come out of oblivion this year and has turned in a great season for the Knicks.  Tonight he has a chance to secure the league lead in 3 point shooting if he knocks down a couple of jumpers.  The Knicks should do everything they can to get Novak that title.  He deserves any recognition he can get because of how well he has played this season, playing most of it out of nowhere.  He is better known for his championship belt maneuver than actually playing.  

New York Knicks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers Post Game Recap April 20

Final Score: New York Knicks 90 Cleveland Cavaliers 98

The Knicks had a chance to take advantage of losses by teams ahead of them in the standings tonight and were unable to do so.  They came out flat and were unable to recover against a lowly Cavaliers team in Amar’e Stoudemire’s return to action after missing the past 13 games.  The Knicks will now have a difficult time overtaking the Boston Celtics or Orlando Magic to improve their playoff seeding.  A win by either team or loss by the Knicks will lock them into the 7^th seed at best. 

-Lack of Urgency

The Knicks came out flat and complacent against a lottery bound Cavaliers team after learning about their playoff spot being locked up the night before.  That was the feeling that head coach Mike Woodson took out of the game.  "I've seen this happen over the years that I've been in this league," Woodson said.

"You clinch a [playoff] spot and it's like a sigh of relief and they stop playing. And then they think that they can gear it back up. There's nothing about tonight's game that I liked at all." 

Tyson Chandler chalked up the game to players feeling fatigued and tired.  Whatever the reason behind the lackluster performance, the Knicks need to turn it around and come out ready for their next game Sunday afternoon at the Atlanta Hawks. 

-Out Hustled and Muscled

The rebounding numbers were absurd in the game tonight.  The Knicks got out rebounded 52-32, getting beat to all the loose balls by a Cavaliers team that has nothing to play for but come out with more energy than the Knicks.  The domination did not stop there for the Knicks, as they were outscored 42-28 in the paint by the Cavaliers. 

One glaring stat when looking at the final score sheet is how badly the Knicks frontcourt was outplayed.  Tyson Chandler, Amar’e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony were out rebounded by the smaller and less talented Cavaliers front court of Antawn Jamison, Tristan Thompson and Anthony Parker 19-12. 

You know it was a tough night for the Knicks when your backup point guard is your leading rebounder.

-Showing Up in Short Notice

With Baron Davis being a late scratch due to the stomach flu, Mike Bibby was thrust into action on short notice.  The short notice did not seem to have a negative effect on either Bibby or his backup for the night Toney Douglas.  Bibby scored 12 points and added four assists.  Douglas added six points, six assists and a team leading nine rebounds off the bench. 

-Gotta get the cohesion and rhythm back

Right from the start you could tell something was a little different about the game than it had been in the last few weeks. With the return of Amar’e Stoudemire there will be a period of time they will need to work the Kinks out. Stoudemire struggled for most of the night being plagued by foul trouble.  He managed as many field goals as fouls (five). 

The Knicks tried to work Stoudemire into the offensive flow early and often, but was unable to get anything going.  It seemed to also ruin the offensive games of everyone but Carmelo Anthony, who scored 11 of his 12 points in the first quarter.  Anthony only had 1 attempt after halftime, sitting the whole 4^th quarter as the Knicks were unable to mount much of a comeback.

The Knicks have three more games on the season to figure things out with Stoudemire returning from injury.  The first game is Sunday afternoon in Atlanta against he Hawks at 1:00 P.M. ET.

New York Knicks vs. New Jersey Nets Pre-Game News and Notes April 18

Wednesday April 18^th 7:30 P.M. ET

New York Knicks vs. New Jersey Nets

After a great win last night against the Boston Celtics on national television, the Knicks get right back at it tonight with a quick turnaround against the New Jersey Nets.  The Knicks currently sit 3 ½ games behind Boston for the Atlantic Division title and lead the Philadelphia 76ers by 1 game for 7^th place.  This will be the 3^rd meeting between the Knicks and Nets, with each team winning one so far this season.  This will also be the last time the Knicks visit New Jersey, as the Nets are prepared to move to Brooklyn for the start of next season.  Everything is lining up for this to be a trap game for the Knicks, so they have to come out strong from the start and put away the Nets.

-Avoid Complacency

Coming off a big victory like last night for the Knicks, it is common for teams to come out flat in their next game.  This is especially true when the next opponent is one that should be easily handled, which is the situation the Knicks are in tonight.  They have to avoid coming out flat and not give the Nets any confidence.  The Nets are eliminated from playoff contention so this game is exponentially more important for the Knicks.  This game will not be a cake walk as the Nets are not going to back down to the Knicks.  Putting them away early will be beneficial for the Knicks because if they let the Nets hang around till the end the result may not be what Knick fans are hoping for.

Carmelo Anthony has become a leader on both ends of the court since Amar'e Stoudemire and Jeremy Lin went down with injuries.  It will fall on his shoulders to make sure the team comes out ready to play with energy and intensity. 

-Injury Updates

The Knicks now have another person re-added to the injury list.  Baron Davis was under the weather and tweaked his hamstring in the game against the Celtics last night.  Davis was limited to just 18 minutes last night because of the various ailments.  He also had to cut short his morning shoot around because of a knee problem.  This is something to keep an eye on because the Knicks are deathly thin at PG with Jeremy Lin going down injured and Mike Woodson not having confidence in Toney Douglas.  Look for Bibby to get ample opportunities to shine again tonight. 

Jared Jeffries will again be on a minutes limit tonight and will continue to be for the foreseeable future.  He is returning from a knee injury which has plagued him all season.  The Knicks can afford to rest him for spots now, but come playoff time they will need his defensive expertise to succeed.

The Nets are not unscathed when it comes to the injury front.  Superstar Point Guard Deron Williams was announced out for tonight’s game last night because of a strained calf.  It is the same calf injury that cost Williams 4 games in March.  Sundiata Gaines is expected to start in place of Williams. 

-Defensive Intensity

With the Nets playing without their best player in Deron Williams it is setting up for the Knicks to come out flat because they under-estimate the opposition.  That is a terrible mindset to have and will destroy the Knicks if that is indeed how they come out.  Instead the Knicks need to turn up the defensive pressure even more and rattle all the players that will be moving up in the rotation because of the injuries. 

The Nets can not be taken lightly though as they still have dangerous players.  Recently the Nets have sported three starters who have been explosive on the offensive end in Gerald Green, MarShon Brooks and Kris Humphries.  They are playing as if they are still in the playoff race and cannot be taken lightly.  It will take another top notch defensive effort from the Knicks to slow down those three and the rest of the Nets.  

Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks Post Game Recap April 17

Final Score: Boston Celtics 110 New York Knicks 118

Mike Woodson has stuck with winning the Atlantic Division as the goal for this Knicks team, and with the performance put on by the team tonight he is not alone.  The Knicks kept their division title hopes alive tonight taking care of business at the Garden.  The Knicks kept their hopes alive for the division and moved a full game ahead of the Philadelphia 76ers for 7^th place in the Eastern Conference in the process. 

-Carmelo Stays Hot

Carmelo Anthony once again put on a show for the Knicks faithful at the Garden.  He kept up his average of 30 points per game since March 26^th going for 35 points.  The more impressive stats are the team leading 12 rebounds and 10 assists Anthony added, going for his second career triple-double and first with the Knicks.  Anthony set the tone for the Knicks right from the start, scoring 12 points in the first quarter.

A key to his stat-stuffing game was his aggressiveness on offense.  Not only was he attacking the basket, but he was following his own misses and totaled four offensive boards for the game.  This enabled him to get easy put backs on his own misses and make sure to keep the Celtics out of striking distance, keeping the difference around 10 points the whole game.

Where Anthony made another big impact was on the defensive end of the court.  When the rest of the players on the roster see the superstar player giving it his all on defense, they will follow suit.  Players on the team look to Anthony for leadership and he has not disappointed since Mike Woodson has come on board. 

-Change of Pace

The Knicks seemed to never fully buy into what Mike D’Antoni was trying to get them to run while he was the head coach.  That is no longer a problem under Mike Woodson.  Mike Woodson and his players all agreed that the Knicks were settling to much Sunday night against the Heat, which resulted in a lot of deep contested jump shots down the stretch; which enabled the Heat to put the Knicks away.

If you look at the stats you will see the Knicks took 32 3 point shots tonight, which would constitute as deep jumpers much like against the Heat.  The difference tonight was they were in rhythm and the ball movement was more on point.  The thing that helped most was the utilization of the skip pass (passing the ball from one side of the court to the other over the defense, not going around the horn).  This threw off the Celtics rotations and left Knick shooters wide open. 

The Knicks tied an NBA record knocking down 14/21 3point attempts in the first half alone.  They finished the game an insane 19/32 from deep.  You would think the Knicks got lucky and were just knocking down shots, which may have been the case sometimes but they came into the game with a game plan and executed it excellently to throw off the Celtics. 

-Bench Play and Players Step Up

The Knicks bench came in and dominated tonight.  Paced by 3 point extraordinaire Steve Novak (8-10 3 point shooting) and J.R. Smith (8-16 FG 7-10 3PT FG), who each scored 25 points, the Celtics bench stood no chance.  The Knicks benched outscored the Celtics bench 55-2, giving the Knicks the edge they needed to get the victory. 

Not to be forgotten is the great play of Mike Bibby.  Bibby added a 3 pointer of his own and also contributed 5 rebounds and 6 assists.  It was easily Bibby’s best game as a Knick as he controlled the game throughout as Baron Davis again struggled tonight because of all his nagging injuries.  It was nice to see Bibby come in and play well as this has been a difficult season for him in New York.

The efforts of Tyson Chandler also can not go without recognition.  Along with his patented defense, Chandler added a big 20 points for the Knicks to go along with his 7 rebounds.  The Knicks again could not find one player to step up next to Carmelo Anthony; instead they found 3 as Chandler, Novak and Smith joined Anthony as the 4 Knicks to score 20+ points each.

Next up for the Knicks is a meeting with the New Jersey Nets Wednesday night.  It will be the last visit for the Knicks to New Jersey as they are set to re-locate to Brooklyn for next season.  The game starts at 7:30 P.M. ET and can be seen on MSG. 

Washington Wizards vs. New York Knicks Post Game Recap April 13

Final Score: Washington Wizards 65 New York Knicks 103 

The Knicks did exactly what teams in their position are supposed to do and that is handle inferior competition. They had a glorified scrimmage tonight against the Wizards in preparation for the Heat Sunday night leading wire to wire and never being in danger of losing. With the win the Knicks not only improved their record to 31-28, they also moved into 7th place in the Eastern Conference because they own the tiebreaker with the Philadelphia 76ers who lost tonight. The Knicks are now 3 games behind the Boston Celtics for the Atlantic Division crown and the same amount of games behind the Orlando Magic for 6th place in the Conference. 

-Stifling Defensive Effort 

Since Mike Woodson took over as head coach, the Knicks have been a top three defensive team in the NBA, giving up an average of 90.3 points per game. Tonight was no difference as they set the tone early giving up only 13 first quarter points. The Wizards managed to score at least 20 points in only one quarter tonight, shooting woefully from the start. The Knicks held the Wizards to 27.8% shooting and were able to hold John Wall in check. 

Wall managed only 8 points on 2-12 shooting and was not able to get into the open floor where he excels. The Knicks also forced Wall into 7 turnovers, something he has to improve upon if he is to live up to his potential. The Knicks were able to force 21 total turnovers as a team as the Wizards lived up to their billing of being one of the worst offensive teams in the NBA. 

-Carmelo Stays Hot 

Carmelo Anthony continued his hot streak tonight with 18 points on 8-17 shooting in 29 minutes. He could have easily scored 30 tonight but for once the Knicks did not need him to, instead resting him and the rest of the starters for a majority of the 2nd half. Anthony also added 5 rebounds in his limited minutes, as the Wizards just do not have the manpower to matchup with someone of Anthony’s talent. 

-Efficiency from the Point Guard 

Baron Davis has been struggling recently because of a number of nagging injuries and has started to show his age. Tonight, on his birthday, he looked re-energized and ready to go. Davis scored 18 points and did it from all over the court. He went 4-5 from 3-point range and also had a number of drives in the paint that resulted in baskets. Davis showed explosiveness to the basket tonight, something even he says has been missing recently from his game. 

-Bombs Away 

When the Knicks are playing well it starts with the defense. Blowouts like tonight occur when you mix that defensive effort with lights out perimeter shooting. The Knicks shot 14-29 from 3-point land tonight compared to 4-20 from the Wizards. Baron Davis was the only start to knock down a 3, going 4-5 from deep. J.R. Smith and Steve Novak paced the bench unit, combined for 7-16 from 3-point range and combined for 41 points off the bench. Mike Bibby added some perimeter scoring as well, knocking down 2 of his own 3-point shots. When the Knicks are knocking down 3-point shots they are a very tough team to beat. 

Next up for the Knicks is a meeting with the big 3 from South Beach in the Miami Heat. The Heat have struggled recently against top tier defensive teams, which the Knicks currently are. The Knicks will look to continue this trend Sunday afternoon at 1:00 P.M. at the Garden.