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!!!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8