Celtics had a good win for them. Came into MSG, battled tough and against the refs at times, and got a win. Still need to see if this them changing, or just showing up for big games a la Rondo on national tv. The Celtics are currently an 8 seed in the East, at 17-17. They are 2.5 games ahead of Philly, 2 back of Brooklyn and 6 backs of NY. The Knicks now have 4 home losses, not doing a good job of protecting their home court. They are 15-10 since going 8-1 to start the season. Figure that's probably the pace they remain thinking Amare gets better, getting Shump and Felton back in takes some losses but they eventually get better. Doing that for the remaining season, gets them around 51-31. That slides them to a 3-4 seed I think instead of a 2.
And while I was dismissive of Felton's injury, it has been a key injury since they don't have a PG who can penetrate. While Prig is probably a better pick and roll runner this season (not including all the floater misses Felton has that magically land in Chandler's hands) Felton can beat someone 1 vs 1 and kick out. Only Melo and Smith can do that consistently, leaving Kidd and Prigs as the shooter instead of Felton kicking to Smith and Melo. Also Kidd is better as a #2 instead of the primary ball handler most of the game. Late in games, I don't mind him getting it to run a play for his passing touch. BIG NEWS of today is that all reports say SHUMPERT is cleared for practice. He is REALLY close to coming back. And now you all saw what Bradley was able to jump start Boston, Shumpert can do the same thing to the Knicks and he is probably slightly better shooter but Avery is a better ball handler. The Shump factor changes lineups to Felton, Shump, Smith, Melo, Chandler. No way Woodson can keep Amare there late with that lineup. Also, while Shump isn't a good PG, he can run a pick and roll and create shots at times. Also means we don't need to rely on Brewer, Novak, Copeland for long stretches. They can be used as they are meant to be used ,defensively/offensively. A lineup of Chandler, Melo, Smith, Shump, Novak effectively hides Novak defensively and can open up shots for him.
Repotys Melo bum rushed celtics locker room after the game or something. Dude was ot of control tonight
Yeah he was pissed. Garnett had him fired up. It got to him and that's probably why we lost. A lot of flukey plays in that game. I feel frustrated although the loss isn't nearly as bad as the Kings and others.
The Knicks have been exposed for being brakeable in testy physical games. Remember that Bulls game? Either Melo is complaining about ref calls or he gets into a personal 1 on 1 battle with a player who trash talks. I'm sorry but I don't know if this is a strong playoff team.
At least there were no fire extinguishers around. Then again, with the exception of Chicago, the Knicks have a winning record against every contender that they've played this season. They remind me of the frustrating Jeff Van Gundy teams -- always playing to the level of their opponents.
I wouldn't say exposed. We are missing a couple key components to handle the testiness: Sheed, obviously for obvious reason. Yes he might lose his cool, but he can answer back and won't back down. Also if someone is going to rack up the techs, Sheed is the guy to take the brunt of the official's problems, not Melo or Woodson. Shump, we don't have a perimeter defender to get hyped up and lock down people right now. By the way, cleared for full contact practice! Felton, I hate how he just puts his head down and barrels into the paint with no plan, but in these types of games, definitely worth it.
Also, Chicago is a weird one. We seem to matchup better against them when Rose is there because we get Rose to play like Melo did tonight which is hijack some shots from teammates but be cold.
What? The Bulls post one of the worst match ups for the Knicks out of all the eastern teams. Last season we went 1-3 against them. 1 of those games went to OT in which Melo had to score 40+ for us to win. This season we are 0-2 against them, without Rose. Not sure where you saw Rose "hijack" shots against us, because last season he was pretty comfortable in the games he played against us. They were 2-0 with Rose vs us. As for the Celtics game. Knicks have no excuse. We can talk about us not having players, but the fact is, the Celtics were also missing a player, their best player. Ill take no felton for no rondo every game if I can. Woodson also got out coached that game. Horrible game management, especially offensive/defensive subs. They should have also brought the double team to Pierce, The Knick KILLER. In fact, he owns the Knicks. Make someone else beat us, especially since Rondo wasn't there to facilitate the ball.
Also, someone else hit it right on the button. This season, thus far, when teams are physical with the Knicks, they get rattled and pushed off their game. The Bulls did it twice, and now the Celtics. When teams play "gritty", Knicks haven't looked good.
I said we matchup better when they have Rose. 1st game of last year, I belive D'Antoni era, lost 102-105 with Rose going 12/26 for 32 points and +/- of +1. 2nd game, Rose goes 12/29 for 32 points with a +/- of +6. We lose 99-104. 3rd game, Rose goes 8/26 for 29 points with a +/- of -1. This is the Easter game. 4th game ,Rose doesn't play we lose by 98-86, our biggest loss to CHI that season. This year: No rose, we lost 85-93 and 106-110. So our worst looking game was 106-110 when we had 3 ejections and our 2 worst losses were without Rose too. While the closest games were Rose in the game shooting <50% and taking a lot of shots to score a lot of points, very inefficient. My point being, Shumpert has frustrated Rose greatly when playing them and our best games have come when Rose has played which is weird considering he is so good. Shumpert forces Rose into a high volume shooter which he has not excelled at against us like other teams. It works to our benefit. That's what I meant when we matchup better with Rose in. For some reason, we play worse against CHI when Rose is out. Who knows why, but that has been the trend the last 2 years. The Knicks biggest problem against the Celtics was switching. Whenever the Celtics needed basket, Melo ended up on KG, Chandler on Pierce, or Kidd on Pierce. They switched whenever they wanted and got what they wanted when they wanted. Switching was the biggest problem followed by ball pressure. Prig and Kidd just can't break it and while JR Smith is a good ball handler, the offense usually doesn't run through him especially when Melo is out there. Also the big coaching mistake was Woodson trying to let Melo, Amare, Chandler work down the stretch. The Celtics even went small ball but we didn't want to match them. Amare like usual needs to improve his defense and rebounding but I'll give him a couple weeks to get back in the flow of things. Because Melo could have matched up against Bass/Sullinger and it would have let us run through the 4 as we like to.
RUMORS say KG said Melo's wife tasted like honey nut cheerios. Now when ESPN had "player x" write articles for the NBA, player X said family and kids were always out of line and not to be crossed in trash talk. Quote from article "Trash-talk can go too far fast, though, so there is a code. Off-limit topics: moms, wives, girlfriends, kids. And health." KG has crossed this line before, wishing Tim Duncan a happy mother's day when it was well known Duncan's mom passed away in his young years due to cancer. Also callng Villanueva a "cancer patient" Anyways, quotes from Melo today who did not speak to media yesterday. Barbara Barker @meanbarb More Melo: "I lost my cool yesterday. I accept that. But certain things that push certain people's buttons." #Knicks Chris Herring @HerringWSJ Asked why he waited outside the Celtics locker room & bus, Anthony said he sinply wanted to have a conversation w KG after the on-court spat Nate Taylor @ByNateTaylor Carmelo Anthony: “Last night I got out of character a little bit. I allowed some negativity to come into my circle.” Nate Taylor @ByNateTaylor More Carmelo: "The words that were being said between me & Garnett happened. But what’s already understood is not even worth speaking on." Nate Taylor @ByNateTaylor Carmelo again: "I lost my composure yesterday. I accept that. But there are certain things that push certain people’s buttons.” Nate Taylor @ByNateTaylor Carmelo: “It’s certain things that you just don’t say to men. I felt we crossed the line. But we’re both at an understanding right now." Player X article: http://www.boxingscene.com/forums/showthread.php?t=475159
Garnett is a punk. He told Melo, LaLa tasted like honey nut cheerios. We will never know what was really said, but, we have never seen Melo get that worked up. So something was definitely said. I cannot think people actually respect KG. We all know how he had to cop out for his ring, lets be honest. He couldn't take his wolves far. Also to your previous post, I don't ever see Amare learning how to play defense.
Yeah I think everyone has come to the realization KG is a punk. Supposedly the article I linked, if you tell him his ring is a fluke he gets severely pissed off. Unfortunately me either. It's his pick and roll defense. He still is jumping out position and not hedging correctly. He's having trouble. We don't need him to even learn defense, if he can just get in the way enough to give Chandler or smeone else an extra step, that can help out a lot. His rebounding, can be improved, but why he's such a poor rebounder has to be lack of effort. He rarely goes up with two hands, rarely keeps the ball high, and rarely boxes out.
Ian Begley @IanBegley Source says KG and Carmelo had a phone conversation after last night's incident. Says air has been cleared between the two. #Knicks
Straight to the point. He can't. He doesn't know how to. Hes never in the right position to box out, gets beat often. Need to sub more. Play Rasheed in clutch defensive situations. You know what really gets me fired up though. And this is just out right ridiculous. Let me just go ahead and state obvious: The NBA is a super star driven league. Much more than any other league IMO. We all know super stars get preferential treatment. They are protected, much like QB's in today's NFL. I am sure we all agree, Carmelo Anthony is a super star. Why the heck is it that this guy never gets the super star treatment many of his counter parts get? I mean there is no better offensive player in this league. Nobody gets played tougher than Melo. For god sake, this isn't even just about last nights game. This guy never gets calls. Just look at these numbers and the some of the players listed. I am going to keep this simple, we don't care about % or AVG. Just look at the totals. James Harden: 340 FTA Dwight Howard: 329 FTA Kevin Durant: 308 FTA Kobe Bryant: 281 FTA Russell Westbrook: 221 FTA Carmelo Anthony: 218 FTA James Harden is a jump shooter. Kevin Durant is a jump shooter. Dwight Howard, understandable - most teams will put him to the line on purpose. Harden and Durant have been to the line 100+ times MORE than Carmelo. Carmelo does MUCH MORE on the offensive side than both of them. He plays both inside and outside. Its just baffling to me. I wish some fan out there put together a video clip of all the non calls carmelo has gotten this year.
*ring* *ring* KG: yo, who there Melo: it's me you little bitch KG: yo what's up Black Mamba Melo: no you fag, Melo KG: ohhhhhhhhh hey dog what's up. Listen, I don't need no stalking bullshit on my bus, son. It's just a game didn't mean nothin by it Melo: so you were just trash talking? KG: yeahhhhhhh dog, it's all good Melo: ok ok, just don't do that again KG: yeah for sure for sure. Your wife doesn't taste like honey cherios at all, son. that hoe tastes like fucking nasty cheese stank, I'll send u some fuckin massengil Melo: WHAT - YOU FUCKING COC... *dial tone*
Melo has missed 6 games, meaning he played in 28. 218/28= 7.7. Lets round down to 7x6 giving him 42 more free throws putting him at 260 if he played the same amount of games. That's still well below KD and Harden though. And yes Melo seems to take more of a beating than other "super stars" when getting to the line.