Crazy⑧s
Evacuee
INTRODUCING THE NYK
Gallinari and Stoudemire were at it again Saturday.
The duo combined for 70 points - 45 after halftime - in a 124-115 win against the struggling Los Angeles Clippers.
?It was like a video game,? Stoudemire said after scoring a season-high 39. ?? The positive from this is that we?re on a three-game winning streak and our chemistry?s now starting to come together. We showed how good we can be and what it takes to win, and we?re showing winning qualities. We?ve just got to keep it going.?
STAT NAMED EC PLAYER OF THE WEEK.
Stoudemire averaged 29.0 points on .608 shooting from the field, 9.5 rebounds and compiled eight blocks, leading the Knicks to a 3-1 week on a four-game west coast road trip. The Knicks' captain posted a point/rebound double-double in each of New York's three wins during the week and scored a season-high 39 points while adding 11 boards in a victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday night.
THE CURSE OF THE GARDEN MUST BE LIFTED
New York is just 1-4 at MSG, largely due to its inaccuracy from beyond the arc. The Knicks are hitting an NBA-worst 26.0 percent of their 3-pointers at home, while they?ve knocked down 38.9 percent on the road.
They?re 5-0 when they hit 40 percent or more from 3, and 1-8 otherwise.
THE CURSE AND OUR CURRENT BIG 3.
Stoudemire?s production has been consistent regardless of venue, but that hasn?t been true for his teammates.
Felton, who will be facing the Bobcats (5-8) for the first time after spending his first five seasons with Charlotte, is averaging 19.3 points and shooting 50.4 percent on the road as opposed to 14.2 points and 41.3 percent at home.
Gallinari?s differences have been even worse. He?s averaged 25.4 points and hit 43.2 percent of his 3-pointers in his last five road games. In the Knicks? five home games, he?s averaged 12.8 points and shot 25.0 percent from beyond the arc.
CO-CAPTAIN FELTON PITS HIMSELF AGAINST HIS FORMER FRANCHISE
Not sure how many of you boys know, but Raymond was destroyed by Jameer Nelson in the first round of last year's ECSF.
Michael Jordan had seen enough to last him a lifetime, and pointed to the exit without, basically, saying a word.
This had to have a profound effect on Raymond. In the video below, his frustrations are easily spotted.
This is as an emotional game as Felton's had since he left college.
KEY TO VICTORY
Composure. That, IMO, is paramount. The MSG crowd are ravenous for a victory after a 1-4 start at home. This team has the tools, the will and the savvy to pull out a victory. Whether or not we come through will come down to cohesion, composure, desire and belief in one another on the floor.
The NYK are a highly capable team. Great players and depth. We can beat the Bobcats.
KEY MATCH UP
Gallinari VS Wallace
Gallo's been playing with his thinking cap on. Drawing fouls, timely cuts and passes, he's been fantastic. But come game time, he'll be under some serious defensive scrutiny. Wallace is a defensive stalwart and has been selected to the NBA's All Defensive first team. He also has an epic athletic edge on Gallo. A big test for our new found 3rd option and most clutch performer.
NOTABLE INFO ABOUT CHARLOTTE'S CURRENT FORM
Perhaps Charlotte will be better served by playing at New York?s up-tempo pace on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Bobcats? 73.2 field-goal attempts per game are the league?s fewest, but they seemed invigorated running the floor with Phoenix on Saturday.
It helped that the Suns didn?t have Steve Nash(notes). Charlotte took a season-high 87 shots and hit a season-best 57.5 percent, getting the first triple-double in franchise history from Stephen Jackson(notes) (24 points, 10 boards, 10 assists) to lead the way to a 123-105 win.
?We knew that we could attack the rack and be aggressive, and we knew if we played defense we could beat these guys,? said Jackson, who?s averaged 26.0 points and hit 51.4 percent from 3-point range in his last four games.
Jackson?s two trips to MSG with Charlotte haven?t been as memorable. He shot 36.6 percent as the Knicks won each meeting by four points behind 26.5 points per game from Wilson Chandler(notes).
GOOD LUCK RAY. LET'S GO KNICKS!