Game Thread: New York Knicks @ Atlanta Hawks 7:30 pm 12/28/2016 [Game#31]

rady

Administrator
Staff member

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(16-14) -- (15-16)

VenueTVTIME
Philips Arena, Atlanta, GAMSG7:30 PM EST


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Injury Report

New York KnicksAtlanta Hawks
Courtney Lee - Sore wrist (QUEST)Paul Millsap - Right eye injury (DAY 2 DAY)
-Tim Hardaway Jr - Groin (QUEST)
-Tiago Splitter - Right calf strain (OUT)


Game Preview

ATLANTA -- The New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks are searching for momentum to take into the new year.

The teams, who meet Wednesday at Philips Arena, are enduring unsettled seasons. They find themselves bunched in a pack in the middle of the NBA's Eastern Conference with New York in fifth place and Atlanta in a three-way tie for sixth.

The Knicks (16-14) are coming off a 119-114 loss to the Boston Celtics on Christmas Day. That broke a two-game winning streak, which followed a three-game losing streak. The stop in Atlanta begins a three-game road trip.

"We have to be on the same page," New York forward Kyle O'Quinn said. "Communication is the key."

The Hawks (15-16) are smarting from a 104-90 loss at Minnesota on Monday, continuing a win-lose pattern over their last eight games. The game with New York will be the first of a three-game homestand.

"Collectively and individually, we need to be better," Atlanta coach Mike Budenholzer said.

This will be the second meeting this season. New York won the first game 104-94 on Nov. 20 at Madison Square Garden. Carmelo Anthony scored 31 points and Kristaps Porzingis had 19 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Knicks.

Part of Atlanta's problems can be attributed to injuries. Center Dwight Howard missed three games with a sore back, but returned for the Minnesota game. Guard Kent Bazemore missed two games with a sore right knee, but has yet to regain his offensive touch. Guard Tim Hardaway Jr. was held out of the game at Minnesota because of right groin injury. And on Monday night, forward Paul Millsap had to visit the doctor after the game to check on swelling that occurred when he was elbowed in the right eye.

Atlanta's other big problem right now is turnovers. The Hawks gave it up 19 times against the Timberwolves and average 15.7 per game, third-worst in the league.

"We need to be better with the ball," Budenholzer said. "It's going to help us be more efficient offensively."

Atlanta must also find a way to slow Anthony, who scored 29 points in the loss to the Celtics, but passed Elgin Baylor to move into 28th place on the NBA's career scoring list. Anthony (22.7 points, 6.0 rebounds this season) averages 26.1 points and 7.6 rebounds in 30 career games against Atlanta.

New York has minor injury issues, too. Courtney Lee (sore left wrist) and Maurice Ndour (sprained right ankle) did not practice Tuesday.

(cbssports.com)
 

mafra

Legend
You keep waiting for the officiating to balance out, but it never does for the Knicks.... around the 3:30 mark left in the fourth.... 3 of the worst calls you'll see.... still, Rose had a shot to win it but missed.... then, in OT, Milsap blatantly pushes KP to the floor but no offensive foul is called.... ATL gets a dunk and ref decides to call a technical on Hornachek....so, its ATL up by 1 with 20 seconds left.... instead of tied... But Rose falls down and loses ball... Knicks still had life, KP fouled shooting a 3.... but KP missed the first FT.

awful. Oh, Melo was ejected.... didn't see why though.... heard he threw a punch.

Melo ejection hurt.... ref stole a win.... but ultimately the game was lost bc nothing kP and arose failed when you needed them most. A terrible loss.... 3-4 seed looking impossible now (barring a deadline deal)....
 

mafra

Legend
Man.... Lance thomas is the most overpaid human being on planet earth.
 
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mafra

Legend
NYK without Lee, Melo ejected.... Rose 9-28 shooting (pass it once DR).... KP 7-17.... still had a chance to win.... problem was they got nothing from Thomas-BJ-WHG-Kuz (2 points combined).... NY now 2-5 last 7 games. Again, it's the inconsistent calls during the course of a game that irks a fan.... you can't call an off foul on NYK in OT then allow ATL to get away with an off foul (then T-up the Knicks bc HC is upset).... walk away.... you cannot gift a point to 1 team in that spot.

yuu can't toss Melo but then allow Howard to knock 3 guys to the floor without a flagrant (or Milsap).... a shame.... No way NYK could lose this game if not for the rookie ref looking like he belongs in a casino pit.
 

tiger0330

Legend
Didn't catch the game but it looks like another game they let get away. Horn with a T, KP missing 2 of 3 FTs, Melo ejected and still the Knicks made it close. Knicks need a spark, time to bring up Randle and PJ to start calling around for help.
 

mafra

Legend
For some reason, KP missed the third FT on purpose.... in a good note, Noah had a great game.... his defense on that pivotal possession at end of OT was spectacular.
 

Kiyaman

Legend
As soon as Melo got ejected early in the 2nd quarter .. it became an automatic Knicks loss by Knicks management.
No Theory .. FACTS .. After the LINSANITY win-win era the Knicks has been forbidden to win a game when Melo has been DNP by injury or whatever.

Rose 26 pts on 9-28 shooting, 6 assist in 43 minute .. C-
KP 24 pts on 7-17 shooting, 8 rebound in 42 minute .. C-
Coach Horn .. what happen to the HackaD.Howard for 50% FT shooting? F
What happen to Quinn and Willy playing-time minute in the 2nd half of the game?

The Atlanta Hawks performance this season has dropped from 4 seed to 9 seed down from the postseason by letting Horford n Teague chemistry go in offseason .. how we loss this easy road game win in Atlanta having much better talent at every position .. puzzling !!!
 

The Dragon

Benchwarmer
was it always like that in officiating or this year is the worst ever? maybe i am imagining....
Melo turned over the wining shot last game, Rose did the same twice this game.....
what is wrong with Lance Thomas, he used to be a very good role player who play his heart out, he is a ghost...
 

Kiyaman

Legend
Another sickening and horrible defeat on the road against an inferior team.
I cant blame the officiating when we are playing a mediocre Hawks team on the road.
Melo should be utterly ashamed at his behavior, totally needless, unprofessional and uncalled for.
Especially when he knew we were without another starter in Lee. Not good enough and again it calls into question his leadership or more accurately the lack of it.
The refs were generally dreadful and against us in virtually every respect but we need to rise above it when giving a easy Hawks team to beat. The bad officiating doesn't excuse the hole Melo put us in.
Noah had a good night. We need much more of this kind of game from him.
Can now see us falling back under .500 by the end of this road trip.
 

mafra

Legend
I'm not defending Melo, but I can understand why he gets frustrated some nights..... refs ignore so much contact, that the smaller dudes whomguard Melo are basically allowed to hit and push and elbow Melo w/out fear of the foul. Granted, Melo tries to bully with his body too.

these rookie refs are ruining the NBA. It's unwatchable they way they are officiating. Add in the reality that 1 NBA ref is in jail for cheating and a few other long timers have admitted how "some calls are guesses" you are left with irate fans.
 

mafra

Legend
In OT, the off call on KP then ignoring it when KP is shoved to the floor then calling a texhnical on NYK is a 5 point swing in favor of ATL. That pretty much determined last nights victor.
 
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