Knicks Rout Heat in Season Opener

Friday, November 2^nd 2012

Post Game Recap

Final Score: Miami Heat: 84 New York Knicks: 104

Knicks Rout Heat in Season Opener

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With all the destruction that has been caused in the New York and tri-state area, there has not been much to cheer about and be happy about; the Knicks changed that Friday night with a dismantling of the defending NBA Champion Miami Heat.  The Knicks gave the 19,000-plus fans in attendance and anyone fortunate enough to watch on television a reason to smile, even if it was just for a few short hours.  The Knicks played a nearly flawless game, holding in check the dynamic Heat offense and never trailing in the game.

With Amar’e Stoudemire out for at least six weeks, the scoring load will be on the shoulders of Carmelo Anthony once again and for at least one night Anthony came through in a big way.  Anthony scored 30 points, but shot only 10 of 28 from the field.  He also added 10 rebounds, but the start he had put the Knicks in good position and set the tone right from the start.

Anthony shared some words for the fans in attendance before the game, thanking them for attending even with the rough conditions and showing his thanks with an inspired and energy filled start.

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Anthony shot 6 of 10 in the first quarter, going four of five from the 3 point line and totaling 16 points.  In comparison, the Heat scored only 17 points.  Anthony’s hot start gave the Knicks the edge right from the start and got the crowd really into the game, something that was a necessity against the Heat.

Anthony was given so many open looks from deep because of the continuous penetration of Raymond Felton, who is ecstatic to be back with the Knicks for a second time.  Felton, who finished the game with 14 points, nine assists and three steals, found the open man with ease and allowing the Knicks to shoot away from deep.

The Knicks finished the game 19 for 36 from the 3 point line, good for 52.8 percent.  Steve Novak led the way from deep, going five for eight and 17 total points.  Jason Kidd added three of his own 3 pointers and J.R. Smith joined the party with 2 of his own.  While Felton rested, Kidd and Smith ran the offense well also, combining for nine assists of their own. 

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The best three pointer of the night came during garbage time though, as Rasheed Wallace got his first playing time as a Knick.  The fans chanted his name wanting to see him in action and head coach Mike Woodson obliged, putting Wallace into the game.  The fans, already frenzied with the Knicks moments away from victory, blew the top off of Madison Square Garden after Wallace knocked down his three pointer.

Woodson preaches defense and defense is exactly what he got Friday night.  The Knicks suffocated the Heat for most of the night, as the Knicks executed their rotations crisply and locked down the perimeter.  The Heat shot only 35 percent from the 3 point line and held the Heat’s big three in check.  Lebron James led the way with 23 points, as Dwayne Wade scored 15 and Chris Bosh added 12.  The Knicks did an exceptional job on Wade and Bosh, as they each scored only two points in the second half. 

Next up for the Knicks is the first of a home-and-home with the Philadelphia 76ers Sunday afternoon.  The question heading into the game for the Knicks is will they have to game plan for Andrew Bynum, who has yet to play with his new team because of a bruised knee. 

New York Knicks vs. Miami Heat Series Roundup

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NBA Playoffs Series Review: 

Miami Heat beat New York Knicks 4-1

The Knicks came into the playoffs riding a hot streak, but were unable to continue their great play against a better Miami Heat team.  Injuries were a concern heading into the post-season for the Knicks and it got worse throughout the series.  The Knicks were unable to build any continuity in this series, starting a different lineup basically every game with a different Knick going down every game or another player being deemed unable to play for the series.  Even with all those problems and knowing what they were up against, the players never gave up; even if at times the execution, aggressiveness and intensity were not at levels they needed to be at.

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 Injuries doomed the Knicks from the beginning.  Heading into the playoffs, players like Jared Jeffries and Baron Davis were already nursing nagging injuries.  They gave everything they could, but in the end it was not enough.  It was also not the end of the injuries for the Knicks.  Tyson Chandler developed the stomach flu before Game 1, greatly impacting his performance throughout the series. Game 1 we saw promising rookie Iman Shumpert tear his ACL and lateral meniscus; he is looking at an 8 month rehab.  Game 4 Baron Davis suffered a horrific knee injury, tearing his ACL and MLC in addition to partially tearing his patella.  His career is potentially over, facing a 12 month rehab. Let’s also not forget Amar’e Stoudemire hitting his hand on a fire extinguisher case resulting in a laceration on his left hand that required 15 stitches.  He missed Game 3 because of the injury and is lucky to only miss that as doctors told Stoudemire that he was a millimeter away from hitting a nerve, which would have ended his basketball career on the spot.  These injuries and constant changing of the team was just too much for the Knicks to overcome.

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 The Heat just seemed more prepared than the Knicks.  Right from the start of the series, it was evident that the Heat and their coaching staff had made the necessary adjustments.  They changed their defensive approach against the Knicks, specifically, Carmelo Anthony.  The Heat decided to front Anthony, making it difficult for the Knick guards to get Anthony the ball in good spots on the court.  If Anthony did end up with the ball, he was far away from the basket and then faced double and triple teams, forcing him into tough situations.  Mike Woodson and the Knicks were able to figure it out for spurts, but were unable to overcome the Heat as they just seemed to be one step ahead of the Knicks the whole series. 

Another thing that stood out was the play of Steve Novak.  He became a folk hero in New York, knocking down 3 pointer after 3 pointer after being inserted into the rotation.  But his disappearing act in the playoffs was alarming.  Novak managed to only get off nine shots in the five game series.  A lot of this can be credited to the Heat’s stifling defense but it is still worth noting that he got up 17 shots in three regular season games against the Heat.  This was a disappointment for the Knicks, as the Heat were one of the worst teams in the NBA at defending the 3 point shot.  It was an area the Knicks should have thrived in, but instead they floundered; another example of the Heat coaching staff preparing their team better than Mike Woodson and his Knicks staff.  The front office will have a difficult decision to make with Novak this off-season.

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The bench had been a strong point for the Knicks all season but did not have the impact in the series as hoped.  Novak, as mentioned earlier, was neutralized by a swarming Heat defense.  J.R. Smith was a gamer, but struggled mightily from the field.  Smith shot 24-76 from the field, good for 31.6% and an even more disappointing 5-28 from 3 point range, good for 17.9%.  One positive for Smith though was, outside of Carmelo Anthony, he was the only player on the Knicks who was able to get his own shot.  They did not fall as often as you’d hope, but he was aggressive and never backed down from tough match-ups with Lebron James and Dwayne Wade.  Smith has said in the past that he will test the free agent market this season, but as a Knicks fan I really hope he is back.  Sure he is immature at times, but he brings it every game and with a little guidance would become an outstanding player.

The defense was not up to the level it needed to be for the Knicks to pull off an upset.  Injuries really set the Knicks back from the beginning of the series.  Jared Jeffries was limited throughout because of a sore knee he was unable to overcome from the regular season.  Jeffries anchored the defense on the 2^nd unit and without him they struggled to keep the Heat at bay.  Losing Iman Shumpert in Game 1 was a huge blow as well. Shumpert is quickly becoming one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA, defending the opposing teams’ best players on a nightly basis.  Tyson Chandler being under the weather was the biggest blow.  Since coming over as a free agent this past off-season, Chandler has changed the culture around New York.  He turned the Knicks from a laughing stock on defense the past few seasons into a top 5 defensive team this season.  Without him manning the middle and setting the tone from the beginning of the series, the Knicks were doomed. 

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In the playoffs the stars are supposed to shine their brightest.  For the Knicks they had the unfortunate draw of having to face three of them in Lebron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh.  Those three outshined the Knicks star duo of Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire.  Outside of a spirited Game 4 performance in which Anthony and Stoudemire combined for 61 points and 16 rebounds, the rest of the series was pretty much lackluster.  Stoudemire struggled with foul trouble and inconsistency, finally blowing up after Game 2 when he suffered the laceration on his hand.  Anthony had 3 big scoring outputs, but they were not the more efficient outings, taking a high number of shots to reach those totals. Anthony was unable to carry the Knicks against a superior Heat squad alone.

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 So ends the roller coaster Knicks season.  This season was like a roller coaster that was really hyped up, but ended up falling short of expectations.  There were low points and high points throughout the season.  I am happy as a Knicks fan that they were able to overcome so many distractions throughout the season to make the playoffs, just hoped for a better performance.  The Knicks did end their 13 game playoff losing streak which is something to build off of for next year.

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. 

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 vs. Miami Heat Game 3 Post Game Recap

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Final Score: Miami Heat 87 New York Knicks 70

Tonight provided the Knicks with their best opportunity to steal a game in the series, but were again unable to overcome a better Heat team.  The loss tonight means the Knicks are one loss closer to summer vacation and also that the Knicks are now in the record books.  Tonight’s loss gave the Knicks the most consecutive losses in the playoffs in NBA history, at 13.  For three quarters, the Knicks were able to hang with the Heat, but were sorely outplayed in the 4^th quarter, resulting in a blowout loss. 

-Carmel-No Anthony

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 On a night in which the Knicks needed Carmelo Anthony most, he was not able to provide one of his patented performances.  Anthony finished with 22 points, but needed 23 shot attempts to get there, going 7-23 from the field.  Anthony also added eight rebounds. 

Once again, the Knicks were unable to get Anthony into positions of strength, playing right into the Heat’s hands.  Anthony was forced into tough spots, resulting in poor shot selection and iffy ball handling, the result of five turnovers.

For a coach that preaches accountability for his players, it was good to see him take accountability for the stagnation and overall terribleness of the Knicks offense.  “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.”

“They’re loading up on him,” Woodson continued, in reference to Anthony.  “They’re doubling him and they’re forcing him to take tough shots.  Even when he passes the ball, we’ve got to get other guys comfortable shooting the ball.  We moved the ball, their defense was solid but we still got good looks.  Out defense was solid throughout the first half and pretty much throughout the whole game until the fourth quarter and then we just, we gave in.” 

-Novak No-Show

Steve Novak replaced Amar’e Stoudemire in the starting lineup tonight and it was a rough outing to say the least.  Novak scored as many points as Stoudemire and Stoudemire was in a suit at the end of the bench.  Novak only took two shots in the first three quarters of the game, not stretching the Heat’s defense as Woodson had hoped.  The idea was that Novak would open up the court, making it easier for Carmelo Anthony to operate and enabling the Knicks to run the pick-and-roll.  It never came to fruition at any point in the game.

Novak entered the game only taking five shots and scoring nine points.  He was again exposed in the starting lineup of not being much more than a 3 point specialist.  The Heat were able to get plenty of second chance opportunities because Novak is not an adept rebounder or defender. 

It’s easy to second guess a decision after it happens, but if I were put in the same position, I would have started Josh Harrellson.  In limited minutes, Harrellson was very active for the Knicks on both the offensive and defensive boards and played great defense.  He was +8 in his five minutes of action, giving the Knicks a spark they could have severely used.

-J.R. and Tyson Bring It

There were not many positives to be brought out of this game that may have set the NBA back a few years.  It was very reminiscent of the old rivalry games between the Knicks and Heat from the 90’s.  Not everyone was prepared for such a slobber-knocker, but two people, J.R. Smith and Tyson Chandler, definitely were.

Smith struggled from the field, going 5-18 for the game scoring 12 points, but he never backed down once from the duo of Lebron James and Dwayne Wade.  Smith provided great effort on the offensive and defensive ends of the court and was a trooper for Mike Woodson.  Smith also provided two highlight reel dunks that looked like they would turn the momentum of the game in the Knicks favor.  The second dunk ended an 8-0 personal run by Lebron James brought the Knicks within eight with 8:45 remaining.  The Knicks sadly were not able to build off of that as the wheels fell off after that and the Heat continued their onslaught.

Tyson Chandler was another positive for the Knicks.  Chandler looked 100 times better than he did in the first two games of the series, having a major impact on the glass and a major reason the Heat struggled so much through the first three quarters.  Chandler finished the game with 10 points, but more importantly grabbed a game high 15 rebounds, adding two blocks as well for good measure.  Chandler showed tonight why he won the Defensive Player of the Year award and how important he is to the Knicks success.

It all comes down to Sunday afternoon for the Knicks.  It is a do-or-die game, as the Knicks face getting swept and eliminated from the playoffs for the second consecutive season.  Game 4 starts at 3:30 P.M. ET Sunday afternoon back at Madison Square Garden as the Knicks look to extend their season for at least one more game.  

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 Grades for Game 1

Game 1 could not have gone much worse for the Knicks and their fan base.  The following post breaking down the grades for the team will reflect that.

Coaching: Grade: D

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There is not much to be said about this one.  Since the last meeting between the Knicks and Heat on April 15^th, Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra has done more to change game plans than Knicks head coach Mike Woodson and it showed in Game 1.

The first evidence on this was the difference in how the Heat guarded Carmelo Anthony.  They started off fronting him in the post and mid-range areas with whoever was guarding him, most cases being Lebron James or Shane Battier.  A trap would then come from another member of the Heat defense.  This effectively took Anthony out of the offense, forcing him to pass the ball to his teammates hoping they would make a playoff or into tough shot attempts.  The Heat were well prepared on stopping the Knicks superstar and the Knicks had nothing to retaliate with.

The only reason this grade is not an F is because Woodson did have his squad ready to come out and compete mentally and physically.  But Anthony had a rough start, causing a collapse of the Knicks offense and a hole being created that Woodson could not get his guys out of.  A potential reason for this happening is the success the Woodson and the Knicks have been having running their half-court offense through Anthony recently.  Once that was shut down by the Heat, the Knicks were lost on offense and the Heat built an insurmountable lead. 

Woodson flashed some of his frustration uncharacteristally picking up a technical foul early in the 3^rd quarter.  A combination of his team struggling and some questionable calls from the officials put Woodson over the edge.  Look for Woodson and Knicks to have a more complete game plan the next time these teams face off Monday night.

Backcourt: Grade: D+

Baron Davis is single handedly responsible for this not being an F.  Even though the Carmelo Anthony and the Knicks struggled in the 1^st quarter on offense, Davis picked up the slack scoring 10 points.  He knocked down two 3 pointers and even finished a fast break with a dunk.  It was still obvious watching that Davis is limited because of numerous injuries he is playing through.  Davis would eventually hurt his back and not return to the game.

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Iman Shumpert was quite most of the night as well.  He had a nice sequence early in the game against Dwayne Wade but was not heard of much from after that.  Being a rookie playing in his first playoff game it looked like he was slightly intimidated; especially with whom the opponent for the Knicks was.  Sadly, Shumpert was not able to finish out the game as he suffered a left knee injury in the 3^rd quarter.

The injury is a devastating one for Shumpert and the Knicks, as he tore his left ACL and lateral meniscus.  He will miss the remainder of the playoffs and will be sidelined another 6-8 months.  Surgery is scheduled for Monday afternoon back in New York. 

Frontcourt: Grade: F

It is hard to argue with this grade.  When your two superstars in Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire effectively do not show up for a game, there is no higher of a grade you can give.  Anthony was shut down and dominated by Lebron James right from the outset.  James smothered Anthony on defense for most of the night barely giving him enough space to breathe.  Anthony missed his first seven shots of the game, and ended up with 11 points on 3-15 shooting. 

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For whatever reason, Anthony seemed hesitant at times on offense.  He was not his normal attack the defense self that he has been for the last month.  Let’s just hope this was an off game for Anthony and that he will bounce back.  Anthony did at least grab 10 rebounds and was aggressive in doing that.

Stoudemire was mired in foul trouble for a lot of the game and was unable to get into much of a rhythm.  His highlight came in the first quarter when he finished with a thunderous dunk through the heart of the Miami defense.  Other than that he was pretty much a non-factor, scoring only nine points on 2-7 shooting.

Defense: Grade: F

The score should provide all the reason you need behind this grade.  While the Heat scored 100 points, the Knicks tied a franchise low in scoring 67.

The health of Tyson Chandler will be something to pay attention to throughout the series.  Without him playing up to his normal abilities, the Heat slashed through the Knicks defense at will.  There was little resistance given and the Heat took advantage ending up with 33 free throw attempts compared to 11 for the Knicks (this was not all the Knicks fault as it seemed that the referees had strict instructions that Lebron James and the Heat needed all the help they could get.). 

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Another thing that does not help this is the availability of Jared Jeffries.  He is battling a knee injury and is visibly restricted by it.  He is limited to only 15 minutes per game, and was said to be great amount of pain after Saturday afternoon’s game logging only seven minutes.  With all three of the Knicks defensive stoppers in Chandler, Jeffries and Shumpert either battling injuries or already out, it will fall upon the other Knicks to step up their game.

Bottom line is that the Heat came prepared in stopping the Knicks superstars and the Knicks could not do the vice versa.  The Knicks looked lost on defense while the Heat prepared a game plan and worked it to perfection.

Bench: Grade: B

The bench was the only real positive for the Knicks in this one.  J.R. Smith, Steve Novak and Landry Fields all did what was expected of them in the game.

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Smith struggled at times with his handle, turning the ball over four times, but he was not alone in that as the Knicks tied a franchise high with 24 turnovers.  Where Smith exceled was attacking the paint.  He showed no fear going up against James on the defensive end was confidently shooting the ball from the perimeter.

Novak did what he normally does, knocking down both his 3 point attempts.  He also added four rebounds, something the Knicks will need more of with the health concerns of Chandler and Jeffries.  Fields provided energy and a spark off the bench in his short 18 minutes of playing time.  Look for Fields role to change for the remainder of the series though, as he is likely to rejoin the starting five with the injury to Shumpert.

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.