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Knicks lose to Raptors
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By MARC BERMAN
Last Updated: 8:42 AM, January 3, 2012
Posted: 2:19 AM, January 3, 2012
Knicks Blog
Berman on Twitter
By MARC BERMAN
Last Updated: 8:42 AM, January 3, 2012
Posted: 2:19 AM, January 3, 2012
The jetlagged Knicks seemed in a post-California-trip haze during and after last night's 90-85 loss to the Raptors.
Nobody could get his story straight after this lousy Garden defeat regarding Carmelo Anthony's missed 3-point shot with 10.7 seconds left that would have tied the score. The miss killed the Knicks' comeback bid from 17 points down in the first half as they dropped to 2-3. Coach Mike D'Antoni said the team didn't run the correct play and could be seen speaking animatedly to maligned starting point guard Toney Douglas on the sideline afterward.
MELO YELL: Carmelo Anthony drives on the Raptors? Rasual Butler during the Knicks? 90-85 loss last night at Madison Square Garden that dropped the team to 2-3.
But both Anthony and Douglas, who had 21 points, including a 4-point play, thought he did the right thing and Anthony simply missed a good look that spoiled his 35-point evening. Anthony's trey attempt was their whopping 35th of the game.
"We forgot the play,'' D'Antoni said. "It's a learning experience. We didn't run the play right. [But] it shouldn't have come down to that.''
Trailing by three coming out of a timeout with 17.4 seconds left, Anthony took a feed from Douglas behind the 3-point line and bricked it. Douglas appeared to be in the wrong spot when he got the ball, or it is possible D'Antoni wanted him to attempt to drive first. The Knicks settled all night for long-range bombs, which could have been a result of their fatigue.
When told D'Antoni said they forgot the play, Douglas was confused. "It was get [Anthony] the ball at the end of the day,'' Douglas said. "We got to look at it on film. The play was to give him the ball. The game is so quick. [Today] at practice we'll be able to tell you all.'' D'Antoni would not specify what Douglas did wrong when asked. Anthony didn't know either.
"Coach told me to go quick,'' Anthony said. "That was the shot we wanted to go for. I asked him a two or a three, and he said whatever I wanted to go for at the time. If I had taken it to the rim, I probably would have had a worse shot than that. I figured we were down three with 17 seconds left. If I make it, it's a tie game. If not, we get a chance at the rebound.''
If the Knicks forgot the play, it was par for the course after taking a redeye flight back from California on New Year's Eve. They also felt the effects of missing Amar'e Stoudemire for a second straight game with a left ankle sprain, as replacement rookie Josh Harrellson left his magic in Sacramento.
Harrellson, the double-double hero in Saturday's victory over the Kings, did not convert a field goal, finished with two points and even his last-minute block of Amir Johnson could not propel the Knicks to victory. The Knicks shot a dreadful 28.2 percent in the first half. Harrellson was 0-for-4 -- all from 3-point range.
REALLY??? So much conflicting information here but I'm going to have to side with the players on this one. Dantoni wants to act like he had some elaborate play designed but wouldn't specify. Meanwhile, both TD and Melo confirmed that the ball was simply supposed to be given to Melo. The worst part about it was that MOA further displays his futile coaching by giving Melo the option to take whatever shot he wants!! What the f*** are you the coach for dude??? MOA should decide how he wants his team to proceed after a timeout. It should be his gameplan. I've never seen such bad coaching in my life!
Menwhile, Jorts is developing bad habits by playing like a wing player instead of a post player. SMH
Is anyone else seeing this crap!