Game Thread: New York Knicks vs San Antonio Spurs 3:30 pm 2/12/2017 [Game#56]

The next stop on the San Antonio Spurs "Rodeo Road Trip" that will take them to eight cities, traveling 7,378 miles, is Madison Square Garden against the New York Knicks on Sunday.

This is the 15th annual trip of this kind for the Spurs (41-12), who are 2-1 on this latest version after Friday's 103-92 win over the Detroit Pistons. San Antonio won't play at home until March 1 against the Indiana Pacers.

Since this grueling grind first started in 2003, the Spurs have produced a .697 (84-36) winning percentage as well as a point differential plus-485.

Tony Parker has amassed the most career points on this trip, accumulating 1,789.

Kawhi Leonard has the hot hand for the Spurs. He's scored at least 30 points in seven consecutive games and has scored in double figures in 82 straight games.

Dewayne Dedmon had 17 points and 17 rebounds, both season highs, in the win over Detroit. Dedmon is filling in for center Pau Gasol, who is out with a broken finger on his left hand.

"He (Dedmon) hit the boards hard, he ran the floor, his energy, his aggressiveness, his defense -- he was fantastic in that regard," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said.

The Knicks (22-33) have dropped four straight and 20 of their last 26. New York gave up at least 30 points in each quarter for the first time this season in a 131-123 loss to Denver on Friday.

First-year coach Jeff Hornacek chastised his starters for a lack of defensive effort on Friday.

"They (Knicks starters) couldn't guard anybody," a visibly upset Hornacek said. "It's as simple as that. They should be embarrassed at the way they couldn't guard anybody.

"If those guys (starters) are happy scoring their points, we're going to lose every game."

In an effort to shake things up and get his team out of this winter funk, Hornacek switched Kristaps Porzingis from power forward to center against Denver. Porzingis managed 17 points, but had difficulty handling Denver's Nikola Jokic, who muscled his way for a career-high 40 points.

Porzingis certainly wasn't the only culprit exposed against the Nuggets. When Derrick Rose was on the floor, the Knicks were outscored by 15 points, and when Carmelo Anthony was in the game, New York was outscored by 13.

"Look at the difference between the first group and the second. They play with effort," Hornacek said. "They get after guys. A guy who got the ball, they get up on him. They help each other out. First group didn't do that."

Anthony is eight points from passing Charles Barkley (23,757 points) for 25th place on the NBA's all-time scoring list. Anthony averages 23.2 points this season, ranking him 17th in the league.

New York could be without center Joakim Noah, who has missed the past three games with soreness in his left hamstring.

(cbssports.com)

Thanks for the game thread Rady. I think Lance Thomas is back today, he's the Knicks best perimeter defender so maybe
he makes a difference in that sad D of ours.

tiger0330 said:

Thanks for the game thread Rady. I think Lance Thomas is back today, he's the Knicks best perimeter defender so maybe
he makes a difference in that sad D of ours.

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In all honesty, I'd totally forgotten Lance Thomas was on this team.

Thanks for the great game thread, Rady.

Let's see if the Spurs sit guys just to really rub this one in our face

ABC just did a pregame spot on the Garden that buried this franchise, PJ, and Dolan

hopefully these guys can at least make it competitive and not get totally embarrassed.

Hernangomez in the starting lineup!

So what do you think of what we just saw? Sprewell back at the Garden, standing between LJ and Dolan..

htr10 said:

ABC just did a pregame spot on the Garden that buried this franchise, PJ, and Dolan

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Should anyone be surprised didn't see it, but did they mention that our chance of signing anyone but DRose at 150M/5yrs is zero after Oak.

Looks like PJ is here for the full 5 years with Dolan saying he's not getting fired. He's not leaving 24M on the table esp since he's a bachelor again. I just don't have faith in the guy that he can turn this around with his 2 yrs left.

rady said:

So what do you think of what we just saw? Sprewell back at the Garden, standing between LJ and Dolan..

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Big coincidence that Spree is back after 13 yrs right after they ban Oak. Obvious damage control and PR by Dolan.

Zinger sets the ****tiest screens.

I read a story the other day that LJ will refuse to come to games until the Oakley situation is resolved. I guess Dolan made a compromise and settled his differences he had with Spree to clean up the horrible incident from Wednesday night.

rady said:

So what do you think of what we just saw? Sprewell back at the Garden, standing between LJ and Dolan..

Click to expand...

I cant wait till halftime .. why aren't Melo KP screening for our driving guards?

We have to be the easiest team to pick, our guys have slow feet. All Spurs have to do is set a pick and the guy shoots an open jumper.

I'm surprised guys aren't pulled for continually getting beat on the same play over and over again.

Kawhi are scoring all over Lance Thomas .. Lance belong in the Dog-House

SA a little sluggish to start the game.... they hlshiuld be trailing by double digits already but NYK have allowed 5 offensive rebounds and have committed 5 unforced turnovers in the first 8 minutes....

At least all 5 NYK starters have scored already and they appear to be somewhat invested in playing some defense today.

Playa2 said:

We have to be the easiest team to pick, our guys have slow feet. All Spurs have to do is set a pick and the guy shoots an open jumper.

I surprised guys aren't pulled for continually getting beat on the same play over and over again.

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Knicks are one of the most unathletic teams in the league. Probably the main reason they're terrible defensively.

KOQ comes into the game and first time he touches ball, just inside the 3-point line, he pulls an ISO-Melo. Holds ball for 10 seconds, never moves, then forces a shot (WHG was wide open cutting into the paint)....

Then, on the other side of the court he doesn't bother to box out Lee, who grabs the offensive rebound.

If KOQ is upset he didn't get the start, he certainly not proving to coach that he deserves it.

8-0 advantage SA already in the off rebounds category.

8 turnovers for NY.

Still a minute left in the 1st but it's evident that 3 hour practice yesterday did nothing.

We finally hold a team under 30 in the first but we are awful in some their areas and only score 18.

Melo makes it 9 turnovers in the first.

The Spurs 12 offensive rebounds in the first half are why the Spurs have the lead .. to many 2nd chance shots .. Melo have 19 or 20 minute of playing time in the first half grabbing only 2 rebounds .. whomever mention Melo as a good PF need to examine Melo first-half performance ....
Halftime .. Knicks 42 Spurs 48

mafra said:

KOQ comes into the game and first time he touches ball, just inside the 3-point line, he pulls an ISO-Melo. Holds ball for 10 seconds, never moves, then forces a shot (WHG was wide open cutting into the paint)....

Then, on the other side of the court he doesn't bother to box out Lee, who grabs the offensive rebound.

If KOQ is upset he didn't get the start, he certainly not proving to coach that he deserves it.

8-0 advantage SA already in the off rebounds category.

8 turnovers for NY.

Still a minute left in the 1st but it's evident that 3 hour practice yesterday did nothing.

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Quinn's big-body in the paint cut the Spurs 12 pt lead to a 6 pt lead at halftime

tiger0330 said:

Knicks are one of the most unathletic teams in the league. Probably the main reason they're terrible defensively.

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Nobody hustles either and nobody can pass. It's amazing how this franchise just can't get good G play. Makes me long for Spree-Houston days, Mark Jax and Rod Strickland, and of course the best (Walt & Monroe).

Unfortunately, I was too young for those 70s teams.