While it is hard not to dwell on what could have been, what should have been, or what was, Tuesday night brings a new game and a clean slate. KnicksTweets’ super-intern Netta, breaks down the seemingly new matchup that will take place at TD Garden in game 2 of 7.
What Worked:
Big Baby Davis is Just That
After making a comment prior to Game 1 that STAT was easy to guard, Amar’e obliterated Davis and his team. Amar’e under the basket was perhaps the biggest reason that the Knicks were able to establish a lead and stay in the game. Davis is slow. In reality he is just a more finely tuned version of Eddy Curry: A big body with soft hands. Essentially Big Baby deserves his nickname, he is just that a big ol’ cry baby. Amar’e needs to keep proving Davis wrong.
Rookie On Ray
Landry Fields did a lot of things wrong in Sunday’s loss, but the one thing he did really well (in the 19 minutes and 2 seconds he was on the floor) was turn Ray Allen into a non-factor. Ray was quiet for most of the game (with the exception, of course, of his dagger from three that ended the game) and this was in large part due to the aggressive defense that Landry (or as I like to call him, Lance – watch Friday Night Lights for that reference) played against the veteran all-star. So next time you doubt D’Antoni’s choice to play the rookie, remember that he can prevent Déjà Vu.
What Needs to Change:
Energy and Attitude
The Knicks, and most importantly ‘Melo, need to realize that this is it. This city has been waiting for the post-season for seven long years and expects nothing less than wins. So in the spirit of Charlie Sheen, they need to start thinking they are WINNING. While ‘Melo obviously needs to crackdown on this and Amar’e clearly had this mindset in Game 1, it was apparent in the bench as well. While Ronny Turiaf, who started, played the game like it was his last, Landry Fields continued to get lost and forgot how to play scrappy. It was his ability to put his heart on the floor and do the intangibles that got him playing time and notice this season, if he can do it in the post-season too the sky is the limit. Toney Douglas looked like the class clown in Game 1. He did not appear to be taking the game seriously. He looked more like a fool getting schooled on the blacktop than an NBA guard in the post-season.
Pace and Momentum
Since the big Carmelo blockbuster trade, the Knicks have seemingly strayed from Mike D’Antoni’s “7 Seconds or Less” philosophy. This in part has to do with Chanuncy Billups command of the offensive flow without a need to push the ball up the court. But with Billups likely sidelined for at least Game 2, the Knicks need to return to their fast paced roots and make the Celtics play their type of ball game.
extensive vocabulary is a product of late nights spent on the road defying his party persona and reading the dictionary in the team hotel. While “Clyde” may have struggled in the classroom (Go read Garden of Eden it is good for your health) his IQ on the court was never really a question. With the same style and intellectual suave that he transmits over the airwaves, Frazier was able to run the smooth offensive flow of Red Holzman’s squad. Like every great point guard he had superior court vision, quick moves and his own scoring ability. What sets Frazier apart was his ability to adapt regardless of the pressure or the situation. Frazier had nothing to prove to anyone, he knew he was good. Willis Reed might have emerged from the tunnel to cheers from the crowd, but it was Frazier who carried the Knicks on his back that night. (more…)
