What to Watch For: New York Knicks vs. Brooklyn Nets December 11

Tuesday, December 11^th, 2012

Pre Game News and Notes

New York Knicks vs. Brooklyn Nets

The Knicks will look to get some revenge in round two of the Battle of the Boroughs as they travel to Brooklyn to take on the Nets.  The first time around, the Nets won a hard fought overtime game 96-89.  In the first meeting, it was the Knicks who were not at full strength; tonight it will be the Nets who will be playing short-handed.  Here are some things to watch tonight:

-Jason Kidd in the Lineup

In the first matchup of the season, the Knicks were without guard Jason Kidd.  Thankfully, this time they will have Kidd at their disposal and he should assume his regular role in the starting lineup. 

Without Kidd in the lineup, the Knicks offense struggled; the ball movement was stagnant and the offense was over reliant on isolations, especially with Carmelo Anthony.  With Kidd in the lineup, the ball movement is crisper and everyone is on top of their game.

Kidd also brings veteran intangibles that are irreplaceable for the Knicks.  He is 39 years old, but he has the hands of a 24 year old and can still make things happen on the defensive end of the court and still makes precision passes not every point guard is capable of. 

-Attack the Paint

The Nets this time will be the team without a key piece in their lineup, as starting center Brook Lopez will miss the game with a foot injury.  It will be the sixth straight game that Lopez misses, meaning Andray Blatche will take over at center for the Nets tonight again.

The Nets are 1-4 without Lopez in the lineup, with their only win coming against a lowly Orlando Magic squad.  The Nets will also have Reggie Evans in the starting lineup, replacing Kris Humphries to try and replace the defense lost with Lopez sitting out.

Without Lopez in the lineup, the Nets are allowing 11.5 more points per game; 102.2 without Lopez compared to 90.7 with him.  The shooting percentages also see a drastic change without Lopez in the lineup, as the Nets are allowing teams to shoot 50.7 percent from the field without him compared to 44.9 with him. 

Blatche has filled in admirably for Lopez, scoring 17.2 points per game to go along with 9.8 rebounds, but he leaves a lot to be desired on the defensive end, blocking only 0.4 shots per game compared to the 2.5 Lopez provides.

-Bench Play

With the injuries the Nets have, their starting lineup will be shifted around much like the Knicks in the first meeting.  That means that their bench is weakened, meaning the Knicks have to take advantage.

Since Lopez has been out, the productivity of the Nets bench players has suffered as well.  Jerry Stackhouse has been shooting 30.4 percent from the field and C.J Watson is averaging only 1.5 assists and shooting 37.5 percent.

The Knicks bench has been coming alive of late, with Steve Novak finding his touch and Rasheed Wallace giving strong minutes as well.  J.R. Smith has struggled with his shot recently, but the effort he gives on defense and how he fills other stats still helps the Knicks.

With the Nets lineup change, the Knicks now have the superior bench and will have to take advantage as they cannot rely on Carmelo Anthony, Raymond Felton and Tyson Chandler solely to carry the offense.  

Nets Can't Stop Losing Streak Against Bucks

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Nets vs. Bucks Post Game Recap 12/9

The Brooklyn Nets woes continued on Sunday at the Barclays Center losing to the Milwaukee Bucks 97-88, as the Nets are now on a four game losing streak, and have lost four out of five games without Brook Lopez.

The Nets star backcourt of Deron Williams and Joe Johnson were outplayed by their counterparts on the Bucks in Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis who combined for 50 points to just the 24 that Williams and Johnson were able to score.

The best player for the Nets in the starting lineup was by far Gerald Wallace who had a monster double-double scoring 16 points on six for 12 shooting to go along with a season-high 16 rebounds.

The starting lineup saw a shakeup at the power forward position from Avery Johnson, as Kris Humphries was moved to the bench, and Reggie Evans moved into the starting five. The move didn’t make much of a difference for the Nets however, as Humphries had four points and seven rebounds, and Evans had five points with nine rebounds, and four steals.

MarShon Brooks was finally given some minutes in this game, and was one of the main reasons for the Nets comeback attempt after being down by 29 points Brooks led the Nets off the bench scoring 14 points on four for five shooting, and was perfect at the free throw line going five for five.

The Nets will have a tough task on Tuesday trying to snap their losing streak at home against the New York Knicks and Carmelo Anthony in the second round of the East River Rivalry.

Knicks Continue Strong Play at MSG

Sunday, December 9^th, 2012

Post Game Recap

Final Score: Denver Nuggets: 106 New York Knicks: 112

Knicks Stay Undefeated with Hard Fought Victory

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In his first game back after a two game absence, Carmelo Anthony returned to the court, helping the Knicks back into the win column.  With the victory, the Knicks continued their home winning streak, winning all their home games thus far this season. 

Under Mike Woodson, the Knicks are 19-1 at home in the regular season.  Also, the Knicks continued an amazing stretch in which they have only lost back-to-back games in the regular season only once.

Anthony struggled early, but got his shot going when the Knicks needed it most; Anthony missed 12 of his first 17 shots. The fourth quarter Anthony finished strong, going five of seven and scoring nine key points as the Knicks were able to hold off a scrappy Nuggets squad. 

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Anthony finished with 34 points and six rebounds, going 10 of 24 from the field and 11 of 16 from the foul line.  Anthony showed tonight how much he really means to this Knicks team and how much a team can benefit from having a superstar to close out games.

The Knicks struggled as a whole from the free throw line tonight, but thankfully it did not hurt them at the end.  Even when struggling from the line, going 36 for 27, they made more free throws than the Nuggets, who went 21 for 29.  If the Knicks had knocked down more free throws, the end of the game would not have been so close and in question. 

Ball security was at a premium for the Knicks coming into the game, as the Nuggets thrive in the open court and on fast breaks.  The Knicks were able to limit those opportunities by turning the ball over only nine times. 

When the Knicks turn the ball over 12 times or less, they are now 13-0; but when they turn it over 13 times or more they are 2-5.  The Knicks shot poorly from the field, at only 43 percent, but was able to make up for that by not turning the ball over. 

They also made up for it with their hustle on the boards.  The Nuggets came into the game as one of the top rebounding teams in the NBA with players like Kenneth Faried and JaVale McGee in the middle.  Without Rasheed Wallace tonight and Marcus Camby, the Knicks were dangerously thin up front with only Tyson Chandler and Kurt Thomas, equaling a potentially disastrous situation on the boards. 

The Knicks weren’t having any of that though, as they were outrebounded by the Nuggets by only one, 40-39, thanks to a dominant performance by Chandler with a game high 12 and a surprising nine from J.R. Smith.

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Chandler continued his spirited play Sunday night, playing with tenacity and energy knowing the Knicks really needed him with Wallace and Camby both sitting out; he responded with another double-double, his eighth of the season.  Chandler finished with 15 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks, changing the Nuggets shots on numerous occasions.

The Knicks were able to pull the game out night, but it should not have been this close.  The combination of poor defense (the Nuggets shot 55.6 percent from the field) and poor shooting (43.0 percent from the field for the Knicks) goes together like oil and vinegar.  Nonetheless, the Knicks scored when they needed to and got the stops that were necessary in picking up the victory tonight.

Jason Kidd was amazing for the Knicks tonight, showing that age is just a number once again.  As Alan Hahn has said plenty of times, Kidd’s body is 39 years old but his hands are still 24.  Kidd was instrumental in the Knicks coming back tonight and holding onto the lead.  He made timely baskets and led the Knicks with seven assists.  The Knicks look much better on the court when Kidd plays.

This opinion of mine has a chance to be proven correct soon, as next up for the Knicks is round two in the Battle of the Boroughs as the Knicks head to Brooklyn to take on the Nets Tuesday night and will look to exact some revenge from the loss earlier in the season the Nets handed them.  Kidd sat out the first meeting this season and I firmly believe that if Kidd had played the Knicks would have come away with the victory.

What to Watch For: New York Knicks vs. Chicago Bulls December 8th

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Pre Game News and Notes

New York Knicks vs. Chicago Bulls

After winning in Charlotte Wednesday and Miami Thursday, the Knicks look to finish their road trip strong and undefeated with a victory over the Bulls tonight.  Tonight will be another tough task for the Knicks, as the Bulls have played well in winning four of their last five games and are sitting atop the Central Division.  Here are some things to watch for in the game tonight:

-Carmelo’s Status

After sitting out Thursday night’s win over the Heat, Carmelo Anthony’s status for tonight’s game is up in the air again.  Once again, he is questionable and will be a game time decision with the laceration to the middle finger on his left hand. 

While testing the injury Thursday against Miami, Anthony was able to shoot the ball well but was unable to catch the ball cleanly, using mostly his one good hand.

The Knicks proved that they can play without Anthony if players like Raymond Felton, J.R. Smith and Steve Novak step up, blowing out the Heat by 20.  Tonight may be a different story though, as the Bulls are much stronger on the defensive end than the Heat, having the top-ranked defensive efficiency in the NBA compared to 23^rd for the Heat.

-Contain Joakim Noah

Joakim Noah is in the middle of a career year for the Bulls, being a driving force behind the Bulls being a top ranked rebounding team. Noah is playing a career high 39.6 minutes and making the most of them, putting up career numbers across the board with 10.8 rebounds, 13.9 points, 4.3 assists, 2,2 blocks and 1.4 steals per game.

The onus will fall upon Tyson Chandler, who is having a career year in his own right, to slow down Noah.  Chandler will need to make his presence felt on both sides of the court as he has been recently, averaging 15 points and 11.4 rebounds in his last five games.

Chandler will need help in the paint tonight though, especially is Anthony doesn’t suit up, as the Bulls employ a much bigger team than the Heat did.  Rasheed Wallace will need to use his veteran savvy and stay closer to the basket and not gravitate towards the three point line.  Look for Kurt Thomas to again start if Anthony is out and get some minutes against a team whose main focus is defense and rebounding.

-Can Felton Keep it Up?

Raymond Felton has been having a nice bounce back season, highlighted by the amazing performance he put on against Miami Thursday with Anthony absent.  If Anthony sits out again, look for Felton to be the vocal point of the offense once again. 

The Knicks have the advantage at the point guard spot with Derrick Rose being out combined with Felton’s red hot play.  Felton is averaging 22.3 points and 7.7 assists per game, hitting 11 of 24 three points in the Knicks last three games; all Knicks wins.

Throw in Jason Kidd and the Knicks have a major advantage in the backcourt over the Bulls combination of Kirk Hinrich and Nate Robinson.  The Knicks should be able to control pace and tempo, a must in a game their star player might sit out and against a team that is as dominant in one area as the Bulls are.

No Melo, No Problem

Thursday, December 6^th, 2012

Post Game Recap

Final Score: New York Knicks: 112 Miami Heat: 92

No Melo, No Problem as Knicks Blow out Heat

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No Melo, no problem for the Knicks tonight in Miami as they blew out the Heat 112-92.  It is the second time this season the Knicks beat the Heat by 20 points.  The win by the Knicks gives the Heat their first home loss this season and biggest loss at Miami since Lebron James and Chris Bosh joined Dwayne Wade in South Beach; leaving the Knicks as the last team in the NBA without a home loss.

Just like the first time around, the Knicks beat the Heat by putting on a show from the three point line, knocking down 18 of their 44 attempts.  This is the second time they made 18+ three pointers in a game, with the other time being the first defeat of the Heat; this time around they did it without the help of Carmelo Anthony, who was sitting out with a laceration on his left middle finger that required five stitches.

In his place, Raymond Felton picked up the slack as the go-to scorer.  Felton played by far his best game of the season given the circumstances.  Knowing Anthony would sit, Felton took it upon himself to carry the Knicks and responded with a monster game.

Felton did everything tonight, running the pick-and-roll to perfection with Tyson Chandler and even taking over some of Anthony’s isolation sets; on one occasion Felton cooked Udonis Haslem with a crossover reminiscent of Allen Iverson, taking it to the rack for a layup. 

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Felton attacked the basket with fearless abandon and precision tonight, always making the right move to counter whatever the Heat were doing on offense.  Felton actually shot the ball better from deep, going six of 10 from the three point line and four of 10 inside of it.  He finished the game with a season high 27 points in addition to seven assists, four rebounds and two steals.  The Knicks needed him to step up tonight in Anthony’s absence and he did that and more.

Chandler continued his great play tonight, finishing around the basket and controlling the paint on both sides of the court.  Chandler’s stats are not as eye popping as some of his recent performances with 13 points and nine rebounds tonight, but his presence alone made a difference.  The Heat shooting 42.1 percent from the field shows just how tough the defense was tonight, led by Chandler in the middle.

The Knicks defense was on point tonight and was the driving force behind the building of the big lead.  The perimeter rotations were crisp and came out strong in the second half, limiting the Heat to only one basket the first six minutes of the third quarter.  Without that effort on the defensive end, the Knicks would have gotten hammered tonight.  They allowed only 39 points in the second half and 12 in the fourth quarter.

With Anthony injured, the Knicks were in need of people stepping up and that is exactly what they got; under the bright lights of a nationally televised game the whole team shined in picking up the slack left by Anthony’s absence. 

The bench played outstanding, as they outscored the Heat’s bench 57-19.  Steve Novak led the way on the bench, with 18 points.  Rasheed Wallace chipped in 12 of his own and the same good defensive effort he has been giving all season to go along with seven rebounds.  J.R. Smith struggled with his shot again, going four of 15, but he made timely baskets and made contributions in other parts of the game, grabbing six rebounds, handing out four assists and getting one steal. 

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Pablo Prigioni did his thing as the backup point guard, chipping in seven points of his own and grabbing a career high six rebounds.  James White was forced into duty because of injuries and responded as well as Mike Woodson could have hoped for, not missing a shot en route to scoring seven points. 

The Knicks came into the game with supreme focus and an understanding of what they had to do to get the victory without their star player.  Not only were they on point with the defense, they put in a concerted effort to protect the ball, turning the ball over a season-low tying seven times. 

Next up for the Knicks is a visit to Chicago to end a three game road trip Saturday night, the third game in a stretch of four games in five nights for the Knicks. 

What to Watch For: New York Knicks vs. Miami Heat December 6th

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Pre Game News and Notes

New York Knicks vs. Miami Heat

After a thrilling victory Wednesday night in Charlotte, the Knicks are right back at it with the second game of a back-to-back in Miami against Lebron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh and the Heat.  The Heat, like the Knicks, are undefeated at home this season making for a great matchup between two of the top teams currently in the NBA.  Hopefully the matchup everyone wants to see in Carmelo Anthony vs. Lebron James comes to fruition.  Here are some things to watch for tonight:

-Injuries Galore

The Knicks come into the game with the biggest question mark of all; will Carmelo Anthony suit up? Anthony suffered a laceration on his left middle finger Wednesday night diving into the bench and received six stitches on the wound.  If Anthony is unable to go the Knicks better bring their A game on defense because points will be hard to come by without their leading man.

The Heat are not without injuries, as their lineup will have drastic changes if Mario Chalmers (torn finger tendon) and Norris Cole (strained groin) both do not suit up.  Lebron James will most likely handle point guard duties full time if neither guard can suit up, as both are game time decisions.

The Heat may also be without Udonis Haslem (hip pointer), leaving an already lacking Heat team dangerously thin up front.

Depending on which players actually make it to game time able to play, the schemes and game plans could change drastically.  Whichever coach can adjust and adapt to the conditions best will put their team in the better position to come out on top.

-Make the Most of Advantages

The Knicks best lineups thus far this season have been their small-ball lineups in which they employ more players on the court to stretch the floor.  The Heat generally play smaller, but with the injuries to their point guards they could get even smaller upfront if James has to run the offense himself. 

As the Knicks have succeeded with the smaller lineups, it may be beneficial tonight to go big at some point.  Tyson Chandler has been dominating in recent games and should continue his hot streak tonight as he will be matched up with Chris Bosh most of the night.  Rasheed Wallace should find his way to the paint more often as well and resist from floating out to the three point line.  The Heat do not have the size to contend with both Chandler and Wallace if they are on the court together.

-Pick and Roll Game

If Anthony is unable to suit up, the pick-and-roll game becomes that much more important for the Knicks.  Raymond Felton has been playing masterfully since his debacle against the Nets, not turning the ball over in two consecutive games since his time with the Bobcats. 

Felton and Chandler have been on fire recently, running the pick-and-roll to perfection.  Felton remains under control, knocking down jumpers or taking it to the rim himself or throwing lobs to Chandler, who always finishes, evident of his 72.1 percent shooting on the season.

The pick-and-roll game is also run well by Pablo Prigioni, who is adapting well to the NBA game after playing overseas his whole career previously.  Prigioni works it will with Wallace and Chris Copeland, who we could see a lot of on the court tonight if Anthony doesn’t suit up and with Marcus Camby dealing with plantar fasciitis.

-Come with Intensity

Tonight is a nationally televised game so you know the Heat and their fans will come into the game fired up and ready to go; it is imperative the Knicks match that intensity and fire right from the start.

The Heat have undoubtedly had this game circled on their calendars since the Knicks gave them a whooping on opening night at the Garden.  They will come out ready to play and with revenge on their minds to show the world that they are still the beasts of the east and what happened opening night was a fluke.

Anthony would be huge, as he has exploded in the starts of games, but if he is unable to go someone will need to pick up the slack.  I would look for J.R. Smith to pick up the slack if Anthony sits.  He has struggled with his shot recently, even with knocking down the game winner Wednesday night, but has a never back down mentality and always gives his all. 

Tonight will be a great game for basketball fans even with no team affiliation in the game.  The Knicks and Heat both have something to prove tonight and will put on a show for the audience. 

J.R Goes from Goat to Hero

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Post Game Recap

Final Score: New York Knicks: 100 Charlotte Bobcats: 98

J.R. Smith Goes From Goat to Hero

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If there was a game all season the Knicks were not meant to win, tonight was the night.  The Knicks struggled mightily throughout the game, looking to be distracted by the big matchup with the Heat looming Thursday night; but they were able to pull out a victory from someone who struggled as much as anyone on the night.

J.R. Smith struggled throughout the game, having a rough shooting night going one for nine from three point range and five of 15 overall.  That was all erased with one shot, as Smith nailed a game winning 18-foot step back jumper over rookie Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.  Smith struggled throughout the game but never had his confidence waver, as he took it upon himself to take the big shot with Carmelo Anthony injured.

Anthony injured his hand, getting a laceration on his left middle finger that required five stitches with two minutes remaining in the game.  Anthony was on fire in the first half, scoring 20 points and being unstoppable; no matter whom the Bobcats threw at him he scored on them.  The good play would end for Anthony at halftime, as the second half was a real struggle.

Anthony started the second half zero for 10 and making only one free throw before making a tough shot in the paint towards the end of the fourth quarter.  Anthony was not the only Knicks who struggled in the second half, as they missed 11 straight shots at one point in the third quarter and missing 14 of their last 16 shots in the period. 

One person who didn’t struggle in the second half was Raymond Felton, who was making a homecoming in his return to Charlotte.  Felton struggled in the first half in front of friends and family with a wrap on his left hand, shooting two of nine.  Once that wrap came off, Felton got going in the second half.

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Felton was responsible for the first seven points right of the gate in the second half for the Knick and was a driving force in the five second violation called against the Bobcats with 1:10 remaining in the game.  He also tied the game with a driving layup with 56.3 seconds left, finishing the game with 17 points, nine assists, two rebounds and no assists. 

Jason Kidd returned from his back spasms and his impact was evident right from the first time he stepped on the court.  Kidd came off the bench for the first time tonight since 2004 and made plays all night.

Kidd packed the stat sheet, scoring seven points with two rebounds, one assists, two steals and three blocks.  He also was instrumental in the five second violation and made the timeout call when the Knicks were in disarray after stealing the ball on the game winning possession.  Kidd’s presence on the court was a driving force behind the Knicks winning tonight. 

One person who gave consistent effort tonight for the Knicks was Tyson Chandler.  Chandler had the highest +/- for the Knicks with a +10 and made his presence felt right from the opening tip.

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Chandler finished the game with 18 points and a season high 17 rebounds, scoring eight of those points and grabbing nine of those rebounds in the first quarter alone.  Without Chandler, the rebounding numbers would have been more abysmal for the Knicks, as even with Chandler’s effort they were outrebounded 50-36.

Defense at times was non-existent for the Knicks, as two New York Natives torched them tonight.  Kemba 

Walker and Ben Gordon beat the Knicks from all over the court as no guard was able to slow them down.  Walker scored 25 points and handed out 11 assists, while Gordon added 17 of his own off the bench; this is a game that Iman Shumpert was sorely missed as no Knicks guard was quick enough to stay in front of either Walker or Gordon.

Next up for the Knicks is a huge matchup against the Heat in Miami Thursday night.  The Heat have been waiting to exact some revenge on the Knicks from opening night, so the Knicks have to be ready and come out with some intensity.  Anthony is not sure if he will suit up tomorrow, but I have a feeling that there is no way he misses this one. 

What to Watch For: New York Knicks vs. Charlotte Bobcats

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

What to Watch For

New York Knicks vs. Charlotte Bobcats

The Knicks are riding a three game win streak as they enter Charlotte to take on the Bobcats Wednesday night.  This is the first game of a three game road trip so winning tonight would set a positive tone for the remainder of the trip.  These Bobcats are much improved from last season and cannot be overlooked, as they already tied their win amount from last season in the first month of the season.  Here are some things to look for tonight in the game:

-Players Returning From Injury

The Knicks will be getting a boost tonight, as Raymond Felton is expected to play even after bruising his hand Sunday afternoon and Jason Kidd is expected to return after missing the last four games with back spasms.

Felton will wear added padding on his left hand to protect his thumb and wrist; it might affect his ability to catch the ball a little he said but his catch-and-shoot ability should not be affected. 

Kidd will be taking the court for the first time in 10 days and how he responds will be something to look at.  How good will his conditioning be and how many minutes can he give the Knicks tonight?  They have an important game against the heat Thursday night in which they will need Kidd more than against the Bobcats.

Point guard play as been a driving force behind the Knicks strong 12-4 start, as the Knicks turn the ball over the least in the NBA.  Having capable point guards on the court at all times is very beneficial, as the Knicks have struggled at times with Kidd off the court.

-Avoid a Let Down

The Knicks have to avoid a letdown against what is assumed to be an inferior opponent.  The Knicks have a huge game against the Heat Thursday night but they cannot look past their opponent tonight.

The Knicks have plenty of reason to get up for this game, as they watched the Heat lose to the worst team in the NBA, the Washington Wizards, Wednesday night. 

The Knicks have lost three of their last four road games but if they put forth the necessary effort they should get back on track tonight.  The Knicks rank first in offensive efficiency and 10^th in defensive efficiency compared to 27^th and 22^nd for the Bobcats respectively. 

The rebounding rates are also similar between the teams, so this is a night the Knicks should look to take advantage of, getting ahead early and resting their main pieces for the showdown with the Heat Thursday.

-Slow Down Kemba Walker

Much like the Knicks with Carmelo Anthony, the Bobcats go on offense as Kemba Walker goes.  In wins, Walker has been dynamic scoring 20.7 points per game this season compared to 13.4 points per game in losses.

His shooting percentages are also different from wins and losses, as he shoots 43.0 percent in wins and 37.2 percent in losses.

If the Knicks can slow down Walker, it will drastically affect the Bobcats offense and should lead to an easy victory.  

Knicks Stay Perfect at MSG

Sunday, December 02, 2012

Post Game Recap

Final Score: Phoenix Suns: 99 New York Knicks: 106

Knicks Continue Home Dominance with Victory over Suns

The Knicks continued their win streak at home, running their home record to 7-0 on the reason with a victory over the Phoenix Suns Sunday afternoon.  This was the first home victory this season for the Knicks that was not of the double-digit variety and the best start at Madison Square Garden since 1992-1993.  The Knicks moved to 12-4 on the season, sitting at second place in the Eastern Conference behind the 12-3 Miami Heat.

Once again the Knicks offense was led by Carmelo Anthony.  Anthony got off to a good start from the beginning, scoring eight points in the opening frame and having 30 heading into the fourth quarter. 

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Head coach Mike Woodson had hoped Anthony’s afternoon would end there, but the Suns made a run in the fourth quarter and Anthony was reinserted, ending the game with 34 points on 11 of 27 shooting.  He also added six rebounds, two assists, one steal and two blocks. 

Raymond Felton seems to have the rough game against the Nets permanently behind him, as he put in yet another great effort Sunday.  Felton scored 23 points, handed out seven assists and added three rebounds.  He didn’t turn the ball over once in the game, a great stat for any point guard to have.

The Knicks as a whole protected the ball very well, turning the ball over only seven times as a team.  Anthony and Pablo Prigioni were the only two players to actually accumulate any turnovers, as Anthony accounted for four and Prigioni three. 

Tyson Chandler picked up right where he left November in the efficiency department.  Chandler ended November shooting 71 percent from the field and continued with it in his first game in December.  Chandler shot six of eight from the field, finishing with 15 points and season high tying 13 rebounds. 

The Knicks defense suffered some in the second half, as they gave up 57 second half points but they pressured the Suns consistently, forcing 17 turnovers and scoring 23 points off of them. 

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Anyone watching the game also got to see Rasheed Wallace in prime Portland Trail Blazer form, getting ejected after accruing two technical fouls after a whopping one minute and 25 seconds of playing time. 

Wallace got the first technical after arguing a foul called on him.  After Goran Dragic missed his first attempted, Wallace yelled, “Ball don’t lie,” and was handed his second technical.

With Marcus Camby sidelined with a sore foot, Chris Copeland was called on to pick up the slack and that is exactly what he did.

In 10 minutes of playing time, Copeland packed the stat line with eight points, three rebounds, two assists, one steal and block. 

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Steve Novak continued his hot shooting from deep, going four of nine from the three point line for 12 points in the game.  He also added two rebounds, an assist and two steals.  Novak getting hot and scoring some helps off-set how poorly J.R. Smith has been playing recently.

Smith went one of 11 in the game, scoring only 4 points.  This is the third time in the last four games Smith has scored five or less points in a game.  At least he is helping out in other areas of the game, as Smith grabbed five rebounds and handed out four assists. 

Next up for the Knicks is another road trip, as they will take the day off Monday before returning to practice Tuesday in preparation for the Charlotte Bobcats Wednesday.  After Charlotte, the Knicks will head to Miami to play the Heat then Saturday to play the Bulls in Chicago. 

What to Watch For: Washington Wizards vs. New York Knicks November 30th

Friday, November 30^th, 2012

Pre-Game News and Notes

Washington Wizards vs. New York Knicks

Wednesday night the Knicks had an impressive victory over the Central Division leading Bucks even without veteran guard Jason Kidd.  Kidd will again be sitting out Friday night because of back spasms, meaning the Knicks will go with the same starting lineup in Raymond Felton, Ronnie Brewer, Carmelo Anthony, Kurt Thomas and Tyson Chandler.  Here are some things to keep an eye on for the game tonight:

-Avoid a Letdown

The Wizards come into tonight’s game sporting the worst record in the NBA at 1-12 and 0-6 on the road.  The Knicks need to avoid complacency against them, coming out strong and setting the tone from the opening tip.

One way for this to happen is Anthony continuing his hot start in the first quarter.  Anthony leads the NBA in first quarter scoring around 11 points per and he usually dominates the Wizards, scoring 27.1 points per game against them in his career, his third highest mark against any team. 

Anthony is in the midst of one of the hottest stretches of his career and definitely hottest since coming to New York and it should continue against the Wizards; they are an average team at best when they have their best player in John Wall, but with him sidelined the Wizards are one of the worst teams in the NBA.

-Battle on the Boards

The Wizards are not a good team, but one thing they do well is rebound.  They are 10^th in the NBA at rebounding with 43.2 per game led by Emeka Okafor with 6.1 per game.  The return of Nene gives the Wizards another big body capable of grabbing rebounds as well.

It will come down to Tyson Chandler battling those big bodies once again with Anthony hopefully chipping in again.  Chandler and Anthony have been battling on the boards the last two games, giving the Knicks their two best rebounding games of the season.

They should have some more help tonight, as head coach Mike Woodson has hinted at the possibility of seeing Rasheed Wallace and Marcus Camby on the court together, giving the Knicks two big men on the court more than capable of rebounding.

-Bench Play

The Knicks are far superior to the Wizards on the bench and they will have to make that known when given the chance.  Giving the starters some rest will only be possible if the second unit plays well; if they come out like they did Wednesday in Milwaukee that will be no problem.

Pablo Prigioni had his best game as a Knick Wednesday, leading the second unit with Kidd being hurt and doing it masterfully.  He had a career high 28 minutes played and put them to good use, tying a career high 11 points and handing out a career high seven assists.  If asked, there is no doubt Prigioni would be able to run this offense smoothly.

Steve Novak also lit up Milwaukee, playing his best game of the season.  He set career and season highs across the board, playing a career high 40 minutes while posting season highs in points, rebounds, steals and three pointers made.

J.R. Smith and Wallace struggled scoring the ball for the second consecutive game but were picked up by Prigioni and Wallace.  It is good to see the Knicks have different players pick up the slack every night, as when they all get on the same page opposing teams will have a lot to deal with. 

Keep in mind the Knicks are still without two important players in Amar’e Stoudemire and Iman Shumpert; their return will only make an already deep team that much more difficult for teams to handle.

Knicks Bounce Back, Dominate Bucks

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Post Game Recap

Final Score: New York Knicks: 102 Milwaukee Bucks: 88

Knicks Bounce Back, Dominate Bucks

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The Knicks needed to put the disappointing game against the Nets behind them and move on and that is exactly what they did.  The start was a little shaky, but the Knicks would start taking control as the second quarter went on and eventually took the game completely over right out of the gate after halftime.  Jason Kidd did not make the trip with the team because of back spasms and for at least one night they were able to overcome his absence

Playing in Milwaukee means home coming time for Steve Novak and he responded in a big way.  Novak set season highs across the board tonight in minutes played with 40, points with 19, three pointers made with five, steals with two and rebounds with four.  Novak put on a show in front of his friends and family tonight in Milwaukee, playing his best overall game on the season.

I have been critical of Novak because he is really a one dimensional player with his calling card as his three point shooting, but he has done a solid job on defense recently.  He is putting forth effort and at least trying on defense, which is better than nothing.  He knows that he isn’t the most gifted of athletes but at least looks to at least be giving his all and trying to improve his game.  He cannot be faulted if he is at least trying to improve.

Novak was not the only bench player to put on a show tonight, as Pablo Prigioni had his best game in his brief Knick career.  Prigioni brought a spark off the bench in the second quarter, scoring eight points and getting one of his patented steals and finishing for a layup.

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Prigioni has been berated by head coach Mike Woodson for not always shooting the ball when he has open looks, but tonight he was aggressive.  He knocked down two quick three pointers to start the second quarter and was aggressive attacking the paint as the Bucks do not have a strong defensive backcourt in Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis.

Prigioni filled in masterfully for the injured Kidd, finishing the game with 11 points, seven assists, three rebounds and one steal.  Prigioni is capable of running this team if need be; he is a rookie according to NBA regulations but in actuality is far from a rookie.

Chris Copeland got some significant minutes tonight as well, starting the second quarter for the Knicks.  He looked a little nervous in that time though, hesitating on some of his decisions and not going to the basket aggressively on his pick-and-rolls, instead passing it back to the perimeter after receiving an entry pass.  He finished with five points and one rebound in 11 minutes.

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J.R. Smith once again struggled for the Knicks, getting into foul trouble early picking up three fouls in his first six minutes of action.  Smith seems to be effected the most with Kidd sidelined, as this is the second consecutive poor performance as he managed to only score two points.  Smith just does not seem to have his head in the game like he had earlier in the season, something the veterans on this team will undoubtedly change and get Smith back on track; he is too important to the season to not.

The ineffectiveness was offset tonight because of the strong play by some of his bench mates and the starting five.  Raymond Felton had a nice bounce back game after a disappointing effort Monday, finishing with 12 points on five of 10 shooting, seven assists, three rebounds and four steals. 

Tyson Chandler continued his super efficient streak, making all four of his field goal attempts, running his total to 32 of his last 36 shots as makes.  He finished the game with 17 points, eight rebounds and one steal in only 27 minutes of play as he was able to get a rest with the blowout score. 

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Once again Carmelo Anthony came out on fire for the Knicks, scoring 11 of his game high 29 in the opening stanza.  Anthony finished the game going nine of 18 from the field, including three of four from deep, continuing his torrid shooting pace from three point range.  Anthony also added a team high tying eight rebounds and took care of the ball much better tonight, having only one turnover.

Next up for the Knicks is a weekend home, as they will host the one-win Washington Wizards Friday night and the Phoenix Suns Sunday afternoon.  This is a great opportunity for the Knicks to get their defense back on track and get a nice winning streak going. 

What to Watch For: New York Knicks vs. Milwaukee Bucks November 28

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Pre-Game News and Notes

New York Knicks vs. Milwaukee Bucks

The Knicks will look to bounce back against the Central Division leading Milwaukee Bucks Wednesday night after a tough overtime loss at the hands of the Brooklyn Nets Monday night.  This will be no cake walk for the Knicks, as they have struggled with the Bucks in recent seasons and they finally have some offensive firepower to go along with a suffocating defense.  

The Knicks will be without Jason Kidd for the second game, who did not make the trip because of back spasms and is said to be day-to-day by head coach Mike Woodson. Here are some things to watch for tonight:

-Ball Movement

The Knicks struggled mightily Monday without Kidd in the lineup, placing an immense amount of responsibility on the shoulders of Raymond Felton to run the offense.  Felton responded with his worst performance of the season, shooting three of 19 with only five assists.

The lack of another facilitator also saw Carmelo Anthony revert back to his old ways of hero-ball and a ton of isolation.  This made things easier on the Nets, as they just threw everything they had at Anthony knowing he was the only thing the Knicks had going for them.  That needs to change against a Bucks team that has more ammunition than the Nets did to throw at Anthony. 

The Knicks assisted on only 14 of 33 makes against the Nets, a number that has to improve as that indicates that the Knicks were not moving the ball enough and relied too heavily on tough shots going one-on-one.

-Get Back to Basics

The most basic play in basketball is the pick-and-roll; a simple play that every team uses extensively yet is one of the hardest things to defend.  The Knicks need to utilize this more tonight than they did against the Nets; meaning Felton has to put together a solid effort against a tough backcourt in Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis.

With Jennings and Ellis in the backcourt, the Bucks have a very quick and swift perimeter, helping them in allowing the least amount of three point attempts per game at 16.7.  Running the pick-and-roll will open up the lanes and create easy scoring opportunities for the Knicks.  If they can open up the middle some, it will make the Bucks’ wing defenders help off their man equaling open jump shots.

-Slow Down the Backcourt

Without Kidd, the Knicks will most likely go with a more traditional lineup with Kurt Thomas starting at the 4 and Anthony sliding back to the 3.  This means Felton and Ronnie Brewer, if he starts after dislocating his finger Monday night, will get the first shot at slowing down the dynamic combination of Jennings and Ellis.

Jennings historically has lit up the Knicks, averaging 20.3 points per game against them in his career, his highest against any Eastern Conference team.  The Knicks passed on Jennings in the 2008 NBA Draft in favor of Jordan Hill. 

Brewer or whoever starts at the 2 will be manned with the responsibility of slowing Ellis down and keeping him out of the paint.  If the Knicks can force Ellis into jump shots, it will go a long way in stopping him as his efficiency and shooting percentage drops the further away he gets from the basket.

-Bench Play

The Knicks bench struggled mightily Monday night against the Knicks, giving almost no help whatsoever to the starting lineup in the way of scoring.  The bench mustered only 13 points Monday, their lowest output of the season by 15.  J.R. Smith scored a season low five points and Rasheed Wallace shot an ugly two of 11 from the field. 

The Knicks bench will need to step up tonight with Kidd and possibly Brewer out of the lineup.  The Bucks have depth for days at virtually every position with some shuffling done, so the Knicks will have to be prepared for many different matchups and schemes from the Bucks. 

One person the Knicks will have to keep an eye on is Mike Dunleavy, who torched the Knicks last season for 25, 26 and 19 points in the last three meetings the teams had last season.