I missed this one unfortunately as I was working a 12 hour night shift (I love the Knicks but need straight cash homey
)
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 cocky. 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?