This was the first game I didn’t want to watch from the beginning. It looks like I wasn’t too inspired on this one. Madison Square Garden was the scene of one of the most horrible incidents ever.
Few minutes before the end of the game, the Nuggets were leading 119-100, and JR Smith decided to go for the dunk. The only Knick left to defend was rookie Mardy Collins who tought another dunk was not such a good idea. So what does he do? He flagrantly fouls Smith (as seen in the New York Times image) to shut him down.
What followed afterwards was something that needn’t happen. Smith reacted and tried to get even with Mardy, Nate Robinson – a very explosive player – could not just stand there, and got involved, slamming JR to the floor with a move that is more to be seen on TNA then on a basketball court, especially the Madison Square Garden one.
As the brawl was close to be ended, Carmelo Anthony throwed a sucker punch to Collins and Jared Jeffries exploded with anger chasing Melo, dragging with him all the officials who tried to stop him.
The result? All 5 players from each team (Collins, Robinson, Frye, Jeffries, Lee and Smith, Najera, Camby, Anthony, Miller) were ejected and are waiting for the suspension wave that will fall soon.
This was pretty much it how it happened. If you didn’t see it, there’s a clip on youtube.com containing the brawl.
What I can’t stop thinking about, is what the hell was on their mind? What in the world tried Collins to prove with that foul?? Let this go in your head: You’re a freakin’ rookie!! Sometimes you get dunked! What if Yao would have had a similar reaction when Nate blocked him few weeks back? Of all the players we have, did this had to come from a player that barely gets some playtime? Oh well, maybe it did, this way we don’t lose important players.
Secondly, what’s with Robinson? I can understand that you’re trying to defend your teammate but that IS NOT the way to handle it. Ok, we all know you’re undersized and try to tell anyone they should not look at you that way, BUT you already proved yourself in the dunk contest! We believed you when you blocked Ming too we didn’t wanted to see you in this situation. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him out for the next games to come.
Last, but not least: I had a better opinion about Anthony, that punch was really unnecessary, especially when it looked like the spirits cooled. Way to go Melo, I guess someone did teach you how to “Hit and Run”.
As for Isiah’s post game statements: Hillarious!! “He didn’t wanted the guy to dunk again”. As I said before, life is not candy when you’re a rookie! You’re not in the position to decide who gets to dunk and how many times, or was it just a frustration? He was later asked what did he spoke to Carmelo after the incidents and Thomas replied that he asked how come they (him and Camby) are still in the game when the Knicks had already surrended?
Now, this may sound a little harsh, but doesn’t George Karl has a better coaching record then you? Isn’t his team over .500 ? So.. then what exactly was that supposed to be? Some kind of.. advise?
In an extrapolation from this brawl, I remember the good old fights our mighty Knicks were involved into. Now those were some watchable times. Van Gundy jumping on Alonzo’s foot, Childs punching Kobe, the whole team taking on the Bulls.. that was something completely different. They were showing the same hustle in their attitude, and in their hearts as they did in their minds too.
Anyway, on a brighter note: This incident, might have some positive effects on the team. But just maybe. Even though it was a foolish act, they showed they care for one another and acted like a team. This might as well be a breakthrough that will consolidate a so much needed team chemistry, but it could also be the worst thing that ever happened to the Knicks. It’s all up to them right now.
