Sunday, April 24, 2011

Just one game



The Knicks are down 3-0 against the Boston Celtics in the first round of the 2011 NBA playoffs. Who saw the Knicks reaching this point on July 1st, the start of last years off season? Alot has transpired since then. Being totally honest, since Carmelo was traded for at the February trade deadline the Knicks were never allowed to settle into an identity. The crew before him had several months to figure it out. They weren't perfect and they started out slow but they eventually developed an identity. Guys knew where the ball was going and knew their role. The group facing the Celtics now just started to figure out the spacing and how to at least function as a team. Then Amar'e and Chancey go down. They never had that much experience playing without that much fire power at once. How do you adjust really? Then you have the rookie Landry looking spooked to the point where you have to call on Roger Mason to play a key role when he hasn't played all year. Its tough but after all of that I still believe the Knicks can win just one game.

Knicks arent playing for their playoff lives right now. They are playing for their pride. Pierce and Ray Allen went Xbox 360 on the Knicks. Jared Jefferies was the second leading scorer behind Melo in game 3. They can't go out like that. They gotta take this personal. They gotta take game 4.

To win game 4 the Knicks have got to forget structure. They have to play their games. Right now the Knicks are a drive and dish, isolation and spot up shooting team. They can't look to match up with the Celtics. They have to think D'antoni basketball and shoot the best shot and shoot it often. First off Carmelo needs to be the power forward. He's the Knicks best rebounder. He's averaging a double double in the series. Shawne Williams should be the small forward spotting up and moving the ball. Amar'e at half strength is the best center in this series if he can go. He doesn't need to drop 40pts as much as he needs to simply be a threat to score, especially with his jumpshot. Landry Fields needs to be taken out of his misery. Roger Mason should start in Landry's place and keep the bulk of the minutes. Forget Chancey for this series and roll with Toney and Anthony Carter. Douglas needs to look for his shot when ever he has it. There's no sense in restricting him to finding the open man when he's basically the 2nd option at this point. Allow Landry to play forward off the bench to loosen him up a bit. Regardless of what the Celtics do, the Knicks should be able to compete by keeping it simple. Defense shouldn't be as hard as the Knicks are making it. The Celtics have no post presence. How hard is it to not leave Ray Allen open? I mean he's gonna get his looks but not put on a clinic. Face guard him and don't help off of him! That's pretty much it. Rondo is loosey goosey but the brother can't shoot! If nobody doubles him he can't make passes. Bottom line stop doubling on defense. Its blatantly retarded.

I still believe in our Knicks. We booed our guys in game 3 and they earned that. We need to get behind them in game 4. Pride is at stake here. Make no mistake, this knicks team is not a complete team. The knicks need another scorer that can create their own shot. They also need a serviceable center. Regardless of that fact, the Celtics arent as good as the knicks are making them look. Injuries or not....

Knicks in 7!!!

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Saturday, April 23, 2011

We must protect this Garden!!!



"When us become we!" You saw those ads on msg, cable tv, and the train stations. I dunno where the ad teams head was at, but that's how New Yorkers talk when it comes to their home teams. At least that's what they used to do. I say "used to" often in my blog because that's what it is. New York used to go hard for or teams. You wanna blame it on Dolan, Layden, Isiah? Fine. Wanna get deeper and blame Bloomberg and gentrification? I can dig that too. Bottom line is somewhere along the course of the last decade, New York fans lost their pride. Not just in their teams but in their city. The garden used to be the big stage. The stage didn't start and end at the court, ring, and well...stage. The extension of the performance has always been the goonies that filled those seats. At the same time if you suck we will boo your ass. Why? Because the team we follow are like extended family. True new York sports fans would boo their own kids if they didn't put fourth the effort in their respective sport. For instance, if I miss a couple shots in a row when I'm shooting around the basketball with my son, he will not hesitate to tell me I suck. I will then have to drain the next 10 straight in his face just to let him know his daddy can shoot. Its vice versa. Im never gonna let little man off easy. That's just how we roll. That's the heart of the city.

What happened in game 3 against Boston was horrific. No fan or hater could have predicted what transpired especially after the Knicks almost won 2 games in Boston. They came into our house and had their way. They didn't just come into msg and do this. They might as well walked into every knick fans living room and copped a squat then dragged their butts all over the carpet. You gotta understand, John Starks went to war for New York. If that Guy needed a place to stay at any point in his life in ny... He is welcome to sleep on anybodies coach. I'm not exaggerating. Patrick and Anthony Mason jr can walk freely anywhere in the city. Those are our boys. Their fathers rock with us. If they get caught out their doing the wrong thing we'll straighten them out. You think im exaggerating still?.... Just think about how you feel about Dwight gooden and strawberry in baseball. How do you feel about Mike Tyson and Zab Judah in boxing? I could go on. The feeling is real.

This is what I don't think is clicking with our current team. We all rock together. Its not about what Boston did. Its what the knicks let them do to us. You mad Carmelo? You mad Amar'e? Just like I tell my son...You better stop crying before I get to you. Before we get crazy and start booing. Before the media starts crucifying you in the papers. Show them where you from. New York is on your chest you are rocking with us. Don't let anyone come in here and do what Boston did again.

Knicks in 7 you suckas!
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Monday, April 18, 2011

Game 1: Death by execution



The Knicks first half performance was too loosey goosey for a playoff game. So much emphasis is placed on swagger these days, or swag if you have teenage children. The Knicks definately out swagged the Celtics for two quarters. Shots were falling, cats were getting dunked on and Carmelo Anthony was smiling. Cheesing actually, if you don't mind my 90's slang. Someone forgot to tell our players that new York invented swag a hundred years ago and the world is just catching up. In todays terms, its Kinda played out. The reality if it all was the Knicks simply caught the Celtics of guard. Doc Rivers mentioned at the half that his team broke alot of their defensive rules and could not score the way they are capable because they couldn't crack the Knicks offensice attack. He was absolutely right on all accounts. The second half told that story.

I can talk about how the Celtics came out harder in the second half. I can talk about their guys making timely hoops/stops. Two key plays told me the Knicks were going to lose game 1. Both happening in the second half. Both starting "Chucky Cheese" Carmelo Anthony. More on that name later. The first play was early on in the second half Carmelo got the ball early in the shot clock with the knicks still holding a comfortable lead. Carmelo launches a shot 30 plus feet out that would have made Chris Duhon proud. I contemplated suicide after witnessing that shot and D'antoni looked like he could have stabbed Carmelo on the spot if he was close enough. The second play happened during crunch time if the 4th quarter. The Knicks were looking to let Carmelo do his thing. Carmelo got the ball about 22ft from the basket but gets called for an offensive foul because he felt he needed to brush the swag off his shoulders. There was no need for Melo to throw his elbows that far away from the basket. Paul Pierce was defending him and was playing tight but he wasn't trying to foul Melo that far away from the basket. The referee had no choice but to call it because the elbow swung around Pierce's neck and cleared around to the other side. The expression on Melo's face and the feeling I'm sure most of us had at that point was: "This game is over".

It was a horrible way to lose. To add insult to injury there was still great time left to get a great shot after Jesus Shuttlesworth hit that shot to wash us of our sins. Toney Douglas got the ball across half court with nearly 10 seconds left and passed it to Melo. He stood there for 2 seconds before chucking up a contested 3. There was plenty if time and a lane to drive to hopefully force overtime. I would count that as the third bad play because the game was already done by that time.... Don't think I forgot about the 2 quick fouls in the first 2 minutes of the first quarter. Not a good day for Melo.

"Chucky Cheese".... Its the chain restaurant/arcade your kids keep annoying you about taking them on your off day. I'd like to use it for Mr. Melo. #1 he hasn't seen a shot he would not take. The guy seems to have no feel for the moment or the defense. He just takes shots. That explains "chucky". The "cheese" comes from his smile that always seems to be there after he makes a couple shots. Just play ball Melo. He claims he idolized Bernard King. Bernard had the killer Ghostface when he played even when vs was dropping back to back 50pt games and countless 30/40pt games. Focus damn you. The Celtics showed in the second half that they arent playing around....

Game 2.... Show us why you are here! Bring it!
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Sunday, April 17, 2011

Quick Knicks can take the cripple C's

Quick Knicks can take the cripple C's

Knicks are in the playoffs you suckas! Its been a while. Last time the Knicks made the playoffs with any type of success the team was filled with toughness. If it wasn't physical it was definately mental. That was roughly a decade ago. David Stern changed the rules and this generation has given birth to a league of cry babies. Those teams that have enough players that live by the old code are the ones that are most successful in the playoffs. Enter the Celtics....
The Knicks have players that fit their coaches system now. Not many people believe in the system because the philosophy isn't built around defense. That's blastphamy in New York city. We know are basketball... At least I can say we used to. Just like players, we as fans live by the old code. No harm no foul, go hard or go home. "Stop the ball!", "Put a body on him!" and the nyc special "fauk otta here wit dat bullshyte son!" Again its not the same anymore. Kids are more into xbox than the black top. Its not just them because the 30-50 year old crowds that know the deal are at home on the weekend with their 47" screens and surround sound and a bucket of popeyes chicken playing xbox too. Old school is on hiatus... Enter the New York Knicks.

D'antoni is 60 years old. He's from the old school. If you don't believe that then you never heard his older brother assistant coach Dan speak. They know the right way to play. Thing is little brother Mike feels his coaching style cracks the code of the smash mouth old school. Its not just seven seconds or less just chuck up a prayer. Its a philosophy that takes advantage of the simplicity of the game. Pick and roll, pick and pop. Backdoor plays, finding the open man, shooting the ball when you are open. Simple stuff. So why are so many fans upset still because the word defense isn't first? Defense wins championships. Its a tired cliche. How about just man up and play "D"! To have preach defense to grown men is just a testament to the times we live in. You simply man up and play defense. Its not so much having to do coaching. Its about the contents of a mans heart. Anyway Knicks fans cry about defense but cried harder for Carmelo Anthony. Donnie Walsh could have gotten a true center and went with the troops we had. He was forced to get the people what they want. Quit crying about defense because that's not what you want. What you want is to win. The way things are set up the Knicks could possibly shock the world.

The Celtics have 4 all-stars and a tough bench. They have the notorious knick killer Paul piece and the shameless Kevin Garnett who curses worse than your favorite drunken homeless man on your train ride home. What died that have to do with the Knicks? They don't play defense anyway right? The Knicks have to play faster. They have to spread the floor and knock down 3's. They need their main options to take over when its crunch time. The Knicks already do that! My theory: if the Knicks play their game and not get pulled into jail ball when the Celtics get desperate... They will beat the Celtics in 6!

The Knicks have a team full of 3pt shooters. Melo is a legit threat now. Add Shawne Williams, Landry, Toney Douglas, Bill Walker and Mr. Big Shot Chancey Billups. That's a modern day bomb squad. Amar'e is better than Garnett at this stage of the game. You can expect Amar'e to dominate inside no matter who is on him. The x factor is Carmelo Anthony. If you need someone to take the last shot of any game Kobe Bryant is #1. If Kobe had to pick a player I bet he'd take Melo anyday of the week. He's basically everyones #2 big shot maker. Don't sleep on your team diehards! Everyone wants to talk about the negative. Everyone is in awe of the guys that already did it. Remember kids, only you can prevent forest fires.... Wait, what? Just believe brothers and sisters. Never estimate the power of the "6th man".

I repeat Knicks in 6!

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Friday, April 15, 2011

Live free Diehards

Bless me Diehards for I have sinned. Its been a month and 13 days since my last blog. Don't hold it against me. My blood has been boiling to the point it was starting to clot. Carmelo was saying alot of diva'esque things talking about minutes and not changing his game. He was talking about next year for the love of Spalding! Amar'e also sounded so depressed. The confidence that carried the team all year was nil. The brother looked done. I gotta admit, I had to throw my phone to prevent me from posting anything. I actually wrote 3 blogs since my last blog post. One of them you would have thought I was the bastard child of Mark Berman and Peter Vescey. I just couldn't click on the post icon and put garbage like that out there. I know this is supposed to be a spot for diehards. This is true but at the same time I don't want to be crybaby. We've cried enough. We have been crying since Ewing was traded. This is a new time in Knick history. I almost forgot what it was like to believe in your team. I "misremembered" that competitive fire that still burns every time they show John Starks, Mase, Oakley, Houston, and even Chris Dudley on tv. Clyde and the Pearl's voices on tv/radio should have kept things in perspective. The autographed picture of Bernard King I have on my fireplace should have slapped the urine out of me.

The knicks ended the season on a huge run. They clinched the playoffs. That didn't click for me until I read on the internet that the Celtics are locked in to face our Knicks in the first round. Its only right. I don't care if its basketball. I hate Boston! When I think of Boston, all I see are Red Sox! The Yankees have owned them for all eternity. With the Celtics, they have been the thorn in the Knicks side since Mr. Russell was patrolling the paint. Things feel different this time. The Knicks can actually shock the world in this series and I say that with a clear mind and a straight face. Alot of your favorite experts, even notorious knick haters have been saying the Knicks have a strong chance.

The real season starts now and I got my mojo back....BROOKLYN!!!
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