Knicks Drop Sloppy Game in Chicago

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Post Game Recap

Final Score: New York Knicks: 85 Chicago Bulls: 93

Knicks Drop Sloppy Game in Chicago

The Knicks dropped a tough, hard fought and sloppy game in Chicago Saturday night, falling to the Bulls 93-85.  It was the fourth game in five nights for the Bulls and third in four nights for the Knicks; it showed as both teams looked tired, having trouble knocking down shots and struggling to get anything going.

The Bulls came into the game sporting the best rated defense, and it showed as the Knicks shot only 32.1 percent from the field.  As expected, the Bulls out-rebounded the Knicks, but the margin was much closer than expected at 47-40 in favor of the Bulls.  Here are some positives and negatives from the game tonight:

-Positives

•             James White gave the Knicks good minutes off the bench again with Carmelo Anthony sitting out with a laceration to his left middle finger that required five stitches.  White was rewarded with 13 more minutes tonight after 17 against Miami Thursday and made the most of them.  White finished with a team high +10 +/- and gave the Knicks a good defensive effort, doing a solid job on Luol Deng for the portions he was in the game.

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•            Tyson Chandler was again a monster in the middle for the Knicks, grabbing a season high 18 rebounds to go along with 14 points.  Chandler also showed up big time on the defensive end like Knick fans have become accustomed to seeing, taking his counter-part for the night Joakim Noah out of the game and out playing him.  Noah scored 10 points and had 11 rebounds, but turned the ball over a career high nine times.  It is an impressive feat for Chandler, as Noah came off a career game Friday in which he went for 30 points and 23  rebounds and added six assists.

•             Kurt Thomas again put in a strong effort for the Knicks.  He does not play many minutes,   but you know what you are going to get when he is on the court.  Thomas also helps the Knicks in areas they are weak in, like rebounding.  The Knicks were outrebounded by the Bulls tonight, but they showed effort and energy in attacking the glass even though they were under-manned and lacking some size.  The Knicks were paced by Chandler’s 18 rebounds.

-Negatives

•          The offense lacked without Anthony tonight.  The Knicks were unable to find a consistent scoring threat, as no one had the hot hand for the Knicks tonight.  Against the Heat, the Knicks relied on the pick-and-roll; against the Bulls they had no such success.  Because of this, the Knicks were unable to get many open looks from the perimeter, making only eight three pointers compared to the 12.1 per game they had been making entering the game.

•          J.R. Smith once again struggled, unable to pick up the slack left with Anthony being injured.  It wasn’t for an effort of trying for Smith, as he took 14 shots, eight of which were three pointers, but made only four shots and two from long range.  Smith also struggled with his handle tonight, turning the ball over five times.
•          Ball Security was not where it needed to be for the Knicks tonight, as they turned the ball over 15 times.  The Bulls scored 14 points off the Knicks turnovers and the lack of cohesion led to a stagnant offense that the Knicks could never get going.  The defensive pressure put on by the Bulls definitely played a part, but some of the struggles for the Knicks tonight were self-inflicted.

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•         Raymond Felton put on a masterful performance Thursday against the Heat, but he struggled some against the Bulls.  With Anthony out, the onus fell upon Felton to carry the offense, leading to Felton taking 30 shots from the field.  Felton was able to only make nine of his attempts, scoring 27 points but not doing it efficiently.  Felton said after the game that taking 30 shots is not something he wants to do often.  Not to make excuses for him, but he was hit on his injured left hand early in the game and could have affected him as the game went on.

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. 

Knicks Re-Sign J.R. Smith

J.R. Smith Returning to Knicks

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The New York Knicks and shooting guard J.R. Smith have agreed to a new contract after Smith declined his player option earlier in the season.

After declining a $2.5 million dollar option, Smith and the Knicks agreed to a two year contract with each year being worth $2.8 million, a 20% increase from last season’s salary.  The second year of the contract is not guaranteed, as it is a player option.

Smith’s role with the Knicks this year could see an increase because of roster moves.  With Landry Fields verbally reaching a contract with the Toronto Raptors, Smith is expected to step into the starting shooting guard role.  Also, with Iman Shumpert shelved for the time being, Smith will have to pick up some of his minutes as well.

Retaining Smith is a good move for the Knicks in my opinion.  People who saw him play with the Knicks last season after returning from China can make a strong argument that it is not by looking at the stats; Smith shot 40.7% from the field and 34.7% from three point range in the regular season, below his career averages of 42.7% and 36.9%.  His numbers in the playoffs against the Heat were even worse, dropping to 31.6% and 17.9%.

But if you look past the shooting numbers you can build a strong argument for Smith being a good player to retain.  He plays good defense, stepping up against bigger players such as Lebron James and being able to guard both guard spots as well.  He also provided the Knicks with another ball handler when Jeremy Lin went down with an injury. 

Where Smith helps and isn’t given credit for is on the boards.  He rebounds well for a shooting guard, something the Knicks are going to miss with Fields north of the border.

Smith also showed great growth under head coach Mike Woodson so it will be interesting to see how much more development he can have in a full season under Woodson.  Smith has all the talent in the world and the tools to be a top NBA player, he just needs a coach and staff that are willing to work with him through his rough patches and help him grow as not only a basketball player but a person as well. 

Knicks Land Marcus Camby from Rockets

Knicks Land Marcus Camby in Sign and Trade with Rockets

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The Knicks were able to land another important piece today in center Marcus Camby.  He will backup both Tyson Chandler and Amar’e Stoudemire and can start at either power forward or center if injuries do occur.

The Knicks signed Camby to a three year $13.2 million deal, with the third year being only partially guaranteed.  It will turn into a 2 year $10 million if the third year isn’t picked up. 

Most people are under the impression that the Knicks have no cap space, so the first thought that comes to mind is how do the Knicks keep adding players? In this scenario, it was by a sign and trade.

The Knicks agreed to send Toney Douglas, Jerome Jordan, Josh Harrellson and second-round picks in 2014 and 2015 for Camby. The deal cannot be finalized until July 11^th, once all deals can be finalized for NBA players. 

The 38 year old and 16 year veteran had narrowed his choices down to the Knicks, Brooklyn Nets and Miami Heat ultimately choosing the Knicks because of money.  The Heat and Nets could only offer the veteran’s minimum, with no assets to trade.  The Knicks had assets to trade, in turn being able to give Camby more money.

Camby has still been productive even this late into his career.  He averaged 7.2 points and 9.8 rebounds per game in 59 games between the Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers.  The addition of Camby gives the Knicks one of the best one-two punches at the center position in the NBA. 

This will be Camby’s second go-around with the Knicks, as he played with them from 1998-2002.  Hopefully his tenure this time can be as successful as his first time, as he started for the Knicks in the NBA Finals in the 1999 series against the San Antonio Spurs.