I missed this one unfortunately as I was working a 12 hour night shift (I love the Knicks but need straight cash homey:P)
Anyway, I did catch it on the radio and I have a few questions to ask if that's okay.
What do you feel made the difference to us being able to play what at times what lockdown D?
Why did Spoelstra move Wade to PG?
Was it still obvious even in such an impressive defeat that we need a true C who can pick up numerous rebounds?
Thanks.
Oh yeah nearly forgot....
WOOHOO!
MIA was w/out BOSH, so that really helped the Knicks. The Heat couldn't really expose NY in the paint b/c Chris is a big part of their interior offense. Lebron played PF instead, and he missed 14 of 18 shots... Some were wide pen 10-foot looks.
Of course, Wade and Lebron could get to the rim at will... BUT, the Knicks did try to stay in front even if many drives went uncontested from help defenders. It didn't matter b/c the refs pretty much gave MIA whatever it wanted, so any contacted was deemed a foul. On one particular drive in the 4th, Chandler protected the rim and blocked a Wade layup attemp... got all ball. Wade still got free throws.
D-Wade gave NY this game b/c he shot .500 from the FT stripe. He was like 7-14 or something. That was huge.
Shawne Williams was aboslutely fantastic tonight. He played GREAT man-2-man defense. He locked Lebron down. Sure, LJ was off, but SW was able to pester James in the 2nd half and stayed in front of him. Just being there helped to keep LJ cold. Williams also helped out on the glass and drove to the hoop. He's getting better and better, and is looking like a steal. Credit MD there... We all ragged on him for keeping SW on this team.
Fields was brilliant all night. Gallo great in the 4th quarter. He may be awkward and uncoordinated at times, but he plays with that competitive fire. Something Chandler sorely lacks, which is why it'll be hard for WC to get to that next level (especially in the post season). Felton was ineffective for the most part, with far too many unforced turnovers.
STAT kept us in the game but was shut down in the 4th. Credit Amar'e for being a true leader and passing the ball, letting his teammates close it for him. He forced a shot or two, but only when we couldn't get a bucket. Only once, after Fields made a 3 from the corner, was I upset with STAT (b/c he didn't get a defensive rebound and allowed MIA to get an easy basekt off a miss).
TD was also big. His energy and defense in the 4th helped bring NY back into it.
Great win. We won it. We won it with hustle, energy and defense. That kept us in the game, then MIA went cold and we hit a few big shots. That's how you do it. BUT, we must bring that every game, against MIA it is easy to do. What about when we play ATL or PHI?
LJ was ice cold yet still scored 24 points or so. WADE was 13-14 at one point,a nd I think MIA went with him at the PG b/c they wanted him to decoy and feed others, and help get LJ going. Stupid. WHo knows. MIA has a real issue on what to do in the 4th... who to go to.
But Knicks shouldn't get ****y. Use this as a sign that hustle, energy and defense works.
More than the win... most impressive was that the KNICKS won it... Role players and bench closed this game.... Who would think we would beat Wade-James, in a close game, when Felton-Amare are non-factors down the stretch?
I think S-Williams can slide right into Chandler's role. I think if Walsh can get Carmelo for a package where he dumps Wilson Chandler, Anthony Randolph, Eddy Curry & Bill Walker... then he got a steal. I think he bluffs and holds the line here, but will relent at the deadline if all he needs is to toss in Fields OR Gallo.
The bottom line: Felton-Amar'e-Carmelo will be on the floor in crunch time. Toss in EITHER Gallo or Fields and we are fine. Of course, we still need a big but MD only employs an 8-9 man rotation anyway.
Felton
Gallo or Fields
Carmelo
Stoudemire
CENTER
Douglas, Turiaf, Williams, Free Agent
Good news is DEN likes Walker.
What an awesome win. Williams is looking like he could start getting more and more minutes, especially on defensive assignments. it doesn't hurt that he knocks down open shots too.
Gallo brought it at home. I think the crowd and the Garden atmosphere is finally starting to change. STAT is in the starting lineup of the all-star game. We are beating power house teams like San An and Miami. Spike Lee is getting face time on national TV again. I think all of this is starting to put the 'Bockers on a home court advantage. In previous years it could of been considered a disadvantage as teams would always bring there A game to the garden and expect an easy W. Now they are scared to come in to STAT City.
No one is afraid of Miami, but you can hear the fear in head coaches when they come to NY to face the Knicks. Everyone From J.T. in T.O. to Pops in San Antonio have given us credit. We're not going to be considered an easy W anymore and teams are getting more and more scared.
Especially when they realize that this is a good team, that is young and getting better. Not to mention poised to add one of the best players in the league and take over the East.
GO NY GO NY GO
great game...!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Agreed but don't sell the farm to get Melo, we don't have to.
Wouldn't you rather be able to get Melo and a quality big? That's definetly on the table at the moment if we continue to play hardball over Melo.
The only reason we'd pull out of the Melo stakes if we knew something that others don't.
There's no chance we walk from a deal for the best pure scorer in the NBA today when he's so clearly the missing scoring piece to what could be a devastating triumverate. (Felton, Melo, Amare)
Great team effort last night while having not shooting well from deep. Kinda reminded me of the old school Knicks-Heat games where neither team shot well and so the game turned into a scrum. Quality win at home and the team got a little of its swag back. Amare turning into a real leader. Wasn't sure he had it in him. We got the man in the middle back in NY. As for Melo, if we can get a sixth seed without him, why mortgage the farm. Go Knicks!!!
I'm sure glad the knicks was able to take advatage of this game. The Heat didn't play since Saturday (rusty) and they didn't have Bosh in the game. Lebron was missing mad easy ****, clearly he wasn't on his game, probably because of the prolonged rest. Wade was their only true bright spot, he had migraines and still did his thing (as a leader of the team should do).
We still had a bad game, the last few baskets were the deciding factor. Those 2 three pointers from Fields and Gallo were the game breakers.
Big time here was we won a game where we weren't shooting well.
Generally in almost every game the Knicks have played they've had to shoot at least 45% otherwise they lose.
It was HUGE that they were able to come back and step up their game when their shots were just off.
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote