Amar'e Debuts, Mavs down Hornets 92-81

The Dallas Mavericks tend to take care of business when they play Charlotte, winning 24 of the last 26 in the matchup. After being bought out from the New York Knicks, veteran forward Amar'e Stoudemire joined Dallas in hopes of playing for a title contender. In his debut, he clocked only 11 minutes, but made the most of his time, dropping 14 points, going 4-4 from the line, and grabbing 3 rebounds.

The Hornets kept within striking distance for the majority of the game, but the Mavericks out paced them. As the game dwindled down, Monta Ellis came through and did his usual 4th quarter take over to give Dallas the win. He went for 23 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists.

Richardson Jefferson got the start in place of the injured Chandler Parsons, who will miss the next 2 games. He got his 2nd double double of the season, going for 10 points and 10 rebounds, along with a vintage slam dunk that you would probably see all over SportsCenter, if he weren't called for an offensive foul.

A stat that might go unnoticed is the Mav's point guard Rajon Rondo and his shooting percentage, he went 4-8 from the field, and if you know anything about Rondo and his shooting, that is the weakest part of the game. He worked with Dirk's shooting coach, and maybe his recent games are a sign of things to come.


 

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ICYMI: Amar'e joins Dallas

In the midst of the final year of a $99.7 million contract, the New York Knicks chose to buyout the contract of former All-Star Amar'e Stoudemire.  After his superb start in 2010 with the Knicks, his production fell off partly due to injury. He often stated he lost motivation while in New York.

After Stoudemire cleared waivers, he joined the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavs were in dire need for a reliable big to back up Tyson Chandler.  The Mavericks had been linked to free agent Jermaine O'Neal who recently decided against returning to the NBA at this time.  Dallas hopes that Amar'e is the answer as the Western Conference race gets tighter down the stretch.  The risk was worth taking due to Stoudemire only earning $500,000 from the franchise.  

“I’m excited to be a part of a first-class organization,” Stoudemire said. “To play alongside Dirk Nowitzki, Tyson Chandler and other great players, I think it’s a tremendous opportunity for me to compete for a championship.”

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New York Knicks Need To Remain Calm, Cool and Collected in Stoudemire, Bargnani Trade Negotiations

Written by Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Tom Szczerbowski - USA TODAY Sports

With Carmelo Anthony’s free agency still looming over the head of the New York Knicks, Phil Jackson has been busy at work attempting to clear more cap space for this summer. The quickest way to do so is moving big contracts, which he has done once with Tyson Chandler being shipped out to the Dallas Mavericks. Even more cap space could be had if he finds a taker for Amar’e Stoudemire and or Andrea Bargnani. But Jackson needs to continue being savvy in negotiations with both, just as he was with the Chandler trade with the Mavericks.

Like Chandler, Stoudemire and Bargnani both come off the books next season, so it is not of the utmost importance for either player to be moved this offseason. Both will be unrestricted free agents in the summer of 2015, giving the Knicks a ton of cap space to woo free agents next summer.

If Jackson does indeed intend of moving one, if not both of the power forwards, he needs to tread lightly. Like mentioned earlier, both are free agents next season so mortgaging future assets just to get them off the books this season would not be a smart decision.

Those future assets that have been mentioned most are shooting guards Iman Shumpert and Tim Hardaway Jr. Moving either player just to get cap space for this summer for the likes of Pau Gasol or someone of that nature would be short-sighted. Shumpert and Hardaway Jr. have two of the brightest outlooks of any player on the Knicks. If you were able to combine the two like something out of Dragon Ball Z, you would have the perfect basketball player. Shumpert’s tenacious defense has yet to be caught up to by his offense, while the explosive Hardaway Jr.’s offense is light years ahead of his defense.

Photo Credit: Shumpert - Paul J. Bereswill; Hardaway Jr. - Ray Stubblebine

The most recent rumor has the Knicks shipping Stoudemire and Shumpert to the Philadelphia 76ers for an unspecified package. The package would more than likely be some sort of draft pick compensation, as the end game for the Knicks in any deal involving Stoudemire or Bargnani would be to clear cap space. Including one of their young shooting guards would be more of a step backwards than forwards for Jackson and the Knicks.

The only scenario in which Shumpert or Hardaway Jr. should be included in a cap clearing move is if there is a deal in place that the Knicks are bringing in another superstar level player, such as LeBron James, with Anthony this season. Even then it would be a move Jackson and the Knicks hesitate to make, as they are confident right now they can move one of the high-priced forwards without sweetening the pot more than they need to.

The one move they have already made with the Mavericks should be enough to push the Knicks back into the playoffs this season as well. Jose Calderon running the point guard will be an immense upgrade, and Samuel Dalembert should bring the same production Chandler did, just more frequently as durability is better than Chandler’s. If the Knicks younger players can take that next step forward, this would definitely push them back into the postseason.

The Knicks have already learned the hard way what happens when you clear young assets to bring in a superstar level player, as they cleared the cupboard to get Anthony in town in the first place. That is a mistake the Knicks do not intend to make again, as Jackson’s steadying influence should help keep their heads on straight with an eye on the future, not just the present.

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Knicks Defeat Raptors to End Season on High Note

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Wednesday, April 16^th, 2014

Toronto Raptors vs. New York Knicks

Post Game Recap

In the last game of the season for each team, the New York Knicks were able to end the season on a high note, defeating the Toronto Raptors 95-92. It was a strong finish to a disappointing season for the Knicks, who won four straight to end the season, even though they had been eliminated from the playoffs prior to the last three. It was nice to see the Knicks play with some heart and pride, as all four games they won to end the season came against playoff teams that were still playing for seeding. Here are some takeaways from the last game of the season for the Knicks, who will be watching the playoffs from home like the fans.

Player of the Game: J.R. Smith

Jim O'Connor-USA TODAY Sports

With absolutely nothing to play for but stats, this is the type of game you would expect Smith to take an absurd amount of shots. Instead, he showed a lot of leadership in not only playing, but playing within the flow of the game. Smith knocked down 13-19 from the field, including 2-5 from deep and 2-4 from the foul line, en route to a game-high 30 points. Smith was a terror on the defensive end, getting five steals in the game as well to go with four rebounds and one assist. It was encouraging to see Smith finally get going for the Knicks the last quarter of the season, but it was too late for the team to turn it into a playoff appearance.

-Positives

The fact the Knicks had nothing to play for, while the Raptors did speaks volumes to just how hard they played. The Raptors led by as many as 19-points in the first half, yet the Knicks kept at it, keeping the energy level high. In a surprise, the Knicks actually dominated the third quarter, winning 30-17 to tie the game heading into the fourth quarter. The defense in the second half was outstanding, as the Raptors were held to 35 points. It speaks volume to the character of the players the Knicks used tonight that they were able to battle back in the fashion they did.

Jim O'Connor-USA TODAY Sports

Amar’e Stoudemire was able to play and make it through the game unscathed. It was encouraging to see Stoudemire choose to play, showing leadership that even he, king of the knee injury, could go out there and suit up for the fans in a meaningless game. Stoudemire was a bright spot for the Knicks this season, and looks to be a piece that can help them next season.

Cole Aldrich played heavy minutes with so many players sitting this one out, and he put together a monster game. In 40 minutes, Aldrich recorded his second consecutive double-double, scoring 13 points with 16 rebounds. He was a presence on the defensive end all night, accumulating two steals and five blocks. Aldrich has shown time and time again this season he is a competent rim protector and can grab rebounds in bunches. He should be given every opportunity to be the backup big next season for the Knicks.

Toure’ Murry was given extended minutes once again, and looked much more comfortable than he did against the Brooklyn Nets the previous night. Against the Raptors, Murry scored 15 points, making 6-12 from the field and knocking down both his three point attempts. He also added two rebounds and two assists. Whenever Murry is on the court he has shown the ability to be a lockdown defender, and with consistent minutes useful offensively. He is something the Knicks should keep around and continue to develop as his defensive prowess is a weapon they can use to their advantage.

Jim O'Connor-USA TODAY Sports

-Negative

Iman Shumpert’s final game of the season epitomized his whole season. He finished the game 1-10 from the field, showing the maddening inconsistency he has had throughout the whole 2013-2014 campaign. He was able to help out in other areas, as he grabbed four rebounds, handed out two assists, swiped two steals and had one block. It is nice that Shumpert can impact the game in other ways, but his inconsistent play on the offensive end hurt the Knicks.

This is the last time we will see the Knicks this season. It is disappointing that is coming to an end, especially with how well they finished out the season. It makes you think what could have been, as the Knicks ended the game with a four game winning streak, and all the wins coming against playoff teams. The Knicks were never able to shake their poor play from the beginning of the season, and in the end have no one to blame but themselves for missing the post season.

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W2W4: Toronto Raptors vs. New York Knicks; April 16th, 2014

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Wednesday, April 16^th, 2014

Toronto Raptors vs. New York Knicks

Pre-Game News and Notes

The New York Knicks will play their regular season finale Wednesday night against the surprising Atlantic Division champion Toronto Raptors. There is a good chance this one, like last night against the Brooklyn Nets, will resemble something closer to a preseason game as the Knicks prepare for the offseason and the Raptors get ready for the playoffs. Here are some things to keep an eye on for the game tonight.

Photo Credit N/A

-How Bench Players React

The Knicks are sure to use plenty of their deeper reserves and young players tonight, as they do not have anything to play for. Carmelo Anthony will not dress with his partially torn labrum, and there is a good chance Amar’e Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler will also sit this one out. If that happens, there will be a lot of minutes to soak up for other players.

One player who stands to receive a ton of playing time is Cole Aldrich. Aldrich played 26 minutes last night, and will more than likely top that tonight. He performed well last night, and has throughout the season in spot duty, raising the question of should he have been playing all season.

Another player to keep an eye on is Toure’ Murry. The Knicks like the intangibles he brings defensively, but he has not been given constant minutes all season. He should be given the opportunity to shine tonight with Raymond Felton and Pablo Prigioni’s minutes being held to a minimum.

The last player to keep an eye on is Jeremy Tyler. He should be in line behind Aldrich for minutes tonight. He had been in the rotation for parts of the season, but fell out of favor for some reason, even with Andrea Bargnani and Kenyon Martin missing big chunks of the season. Like Aldrich and Murry, he has a good chance tonight to make a lasting impression on new President Phil Jackson.

-Raptors Seeding

Unlike the Knicks, the Raptors do have something to play for tonight. Currently, they are sitting in the third seed, tied with the Chicago Bulls. If they win tonight, they will hold onto the third seed and more than likely face the Washington Wizards. If they lose, they will more than likely play against the Nets.

That means the Raptors will most likely be using their regulars full time tonight. Head coach Dwane Casey has said that his players would be monitored tonight, but they will play if need be. The Raptors are not as talented, or experienced, enough to turn the switch on and off nightly. They need to keep their foot on the gas and stay sharp for the playoffs.

-Woodson’s Last Game

This could very well be Mike Woodson’s last game as head coach of the Knicks. He had a successful tenure as coach before this season, but he seems to have worn out his welcome. Jackson very likely will name a new head coach this offseason to go with a new general manager, as he will bring his people into the organization. It has been a quick turn on Woodson, who the fans were behind just a season ago.

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Knicks Blow Out Nets To Reach 8th Seed in East

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Wednesday, April 2^nd, 2014

Brooklyn Nets vs. New York Knicks

Post Game Recap

In what is a stretch of important games to finish the season that the New York Knicks need to win, they came out with the effort and passion of team fighting for a playoff spot, blowing out the Brooklyn Nets 110-81. It was a decisive win for the Knicks, who moved into eighth place in the Eastern Conference with the victory over the Atlanta Hawks, who lost to the Chicago Bulls. The Knicks will look to continue their winning ways Friday night, when they take on the Washington Wizards at Madison Square Garden.

Player of the Game: J.R. Smith

William Perlman-The Star-Ledger

Since calling out the team for the lack of heart and urgency that a playoff team shows, Smith has turned things on. His game has improved immensely, and he continued that strong play Wednesday against the Nets. Smith was on fire shooting the ball, making 9-16 shots overall and 6-12 from the three point line. He stuffed the stat sheet everywhere else as well, grabbing eight rebounds and handing out six assists. Smith is dynamic with the ball in his hands when his head is on straight, and is a capable distributor when he wants to be. With Smith playing this way the Knicks are a dangerous team not only finish out the season but possibly in the playoffs as well.

Match-Up of the Game Recap:

Much like the final score, this match-up was a blowout. Carmelo Anthony outplayed Paul Pierce throughout the night. They weren’t matched up as often throughout the night with the Nets playing so small, but overall production went the way of Anthony. Anthony finished the game with 23 points on 8-16 shooting from the field, including 7-8 from the free throw line. He also grabbed 10 rebounds, recording his 22^nd double-double of the season. He also added three assists, two steals and one block. On the other hand, Pierce finished with eight points, four rebounds, one assist and one steal on the night.

-Positives

William Perlman-The Star-Ledger

It was a pretty light night for most of the Knicks players, but they were still able to produce in their shortened minutes. Amar’e Stoudemire played only 21 minutes, but still gave the Nets problems, scoring 13 points and grabbing six rebounds. The Nets had no one capable of slowing down Stoudemire, as he took it to the Nets on the interior with ease.

Tim Hardaway Jr. was questionable coming into the game, but he showed no signs of a sprained ankle. Hardaway Jr. lit the Nets up in transition and from the perimeter en route to 17 points off the bench. Hardaway Jr. looked explosive and gave the Knicks exactly what they needed off the bench.

Iman Shumpert gave the Knicks an outstanding effort off the bench. He gave them a great all-around game, scoring and playing defense as exactly as they had hoped he would coming into the season. Shumpert’s defensive pressure resulted in easy baskets for himself in transition, raising his confidence as the game went on. He recorded five steals on the night, hounding Nets opposing guards with tenacity, making them look uncomfortable all night.

The Knicks dominated the inside, just as they needed to get an easy win. They outscored the Nets in the paint 38-26, and dominated the rebounding battle 41-23. The size advantage that the Knicks possessed came into play right from the start. They were able to get easy baskets and disrupt the Nets offensively.

-Negative

William Perlman-The Star-Ledger

The only negative to an otherwise successful night was the injury Raymond Felton suffered. He bruised his ribs and back, and was seen with a big wrap on the bench during the game. He vows that he will play Friday, which is a good thing for the Knicks. He has had his struggles throughout the season, but has finally started to turn things around recently and is a reason the Knicks have begun turning things around.

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Knicks End West Coast Trip On High Note, Defeat Jazz

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Monday, March 31^st, 2014

New York Knicks vs. Utah Jazz

Post Game Recap

The New York Knicks were able to handle business Monday night, beating the Utah Jazz 92-83. The Knicks knew before halftime that they needed a victory tonight to keep pace with the Atlanta Hawks, who defeated the Philadelphia 76ers earlier in the night. The Knicks were able to do so, and will head back home with a 3-2 west coast trip and one game behind the Hawks for eighth place in the Eastern Conference. It was also only the second time this season the Knicks picked up a victory after trailing at halftime. Things will get difficult from here on out for the Knicks, as the remaining opponents on their schedule all hold records above .500. They will get back on the court Wednesday night to take on the cross town rival Brooklyn Nets.

Player of the Game: Carmelo Anthony

Rick Bowmer/AP Photo

Amar’e Stoudemire was unable to go tonight because of a scheduled day off, so Anthony knew he had to carry the scoring load. Carry the load he did, as he poured in 34 points on 11-19 from the field. Anthony had his jump shot going throughout the evening, knocking down 4-7 from beyond the three point line and sinking all eight of his free throw attempts. Anthony also grabbed eight rebounds to go with three assists, three steals and one block.

-Positives

For the second consecutive night, the Knicks defense is what drove them to victory. Last night they were able to hold the high-scoring Golden State Warriors to only 18 points in the fourth quarter, tonight they one upped that, giving up only 14 to the Jazz. On the night the Jazz shot only 38.8 percent from the field, and 33.3 from the three point line. The scoring output for the Jazz declined in every quarter from the first on.

Without Stoudemire in the lineup, other players had to step up scoring tonight for the Knicks and that is exactly what they did. In addition to Anthony, the Knicks had four other players score in double-figures; Tyson Chandler had 15, Raymond Felton had 12, J.R. Smith had 13 and Tim Hardaway Jr. had 10 off the bench.

Rick Bowmer/AP Photo

The balanced scoring was huge for the Knicks tonight, as they were playing in the second night of a back-to-back. They were able to play efficiently on the offensive end, making 47.1 percent of their shots. They also turned the ball over only nine times, not allowing the Jazz to get into transition. The Knicks tonight looked like a team that wants to make the playoffs. With less than four minutes remaining in the third quarter, the game was tied at 67. From there, the Knicks took over, outscoring the Jazz 25-16 the remainder of the game.

-Negative

Hardaway Jr. appeared to injure his ankle in the waning seconds of the game. With the outcome already decided, he looked to land awkwardly and be in real pain. He was helped to the locker room by Anthony as he was unable to put any pressure on it. He will be taken for x-rays and tests, but was seen being taken out of the arena in a wheelchair. If Hardaway Jr. is unable to go Wednesday, it will be a big blow for the Knicks. Hardaway Jr. has emerged as the only scoring option off the bench with Smith and Stoudemire being inserted into the starting lineup. 

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Knicks Pull Off Big Upset In Golden State Over Warriors

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Sunday, March 30^th, 2014

New York Knicks vs. Golden State Warriors

Post Game Recap

Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Knicks were able to grind out a tough, hard earned victory Sunday night against the Golden State Warriors. The Knicks finally looked like a team fighting for their playoff lives as they put the effort and energy in to beat a superior team. The Knicks were able to take control of the game in the second quarter, and would not relinquish it throughout the second half. They bended but did not break as the Knicks were able to pull out the victory. With the win, the Knicks are now one game behind the Atlanta Hawks for eighth place in the Eastern Conference. The Knicks will look to finish the road trip 3-2 Monday night against the Utah Jazz before heading back home.

Player of the Game: The Bench

The bench has been much maligned for the Knicks recently, but tonight they were the catalysts to get the lead in the second quarter. Pablo Prigioni was inserted into the game and brought a different mentality to the team on both ends of the court. He was extremely aggressive and showed leadership by getting into his teammates when they were not in the correct positions. Prigioni wasn’t alone, as Tim Hardaway Jr. delivered a much needed scoring punch off the bench with 15 points. Iman Shumpert may not have shot the ball well, but he was able to stymie the Warriors explosive backcourt when he was in the game. Shannon Brown even gave the Knicks something without playing much in the game, getting the game sealing steal and knocking down two free throws after a clear path foul was called.

-Positives

EPA/John G. Mabanglo Corbis Out

Amar’e Stoudemire has remained positive no matter how bleak the situation, and tonight he backed up his talk. Stoudemire was a monster on the boards tonight, grabbing a game-high 13 rebounds, six of which were offensive. Stoudemire also delivered some timely baskets, scoring 15 points and knocking down two clutch free throws to give the Knicks a two point lead late in the fourth quarter.

With Carmelo Anthony in foul trouble throughout the first half, the Knicks needed someone to step up and that person was J.R. Smith. Smith poured in 19 points in the first half, carrying the Knicks with Anthony on the sidelines. Smith and Hardaway Jr. combined to score the last 15 points of the first half for the Knicks as they got in transition for easy baskets and knocked down perimeter jump shots.

Raymond Felton is picked apart nightly because of how poor his defense is, but credit needs to be given to him for forcing a turnover on the last possession of the game. Felton forced Stephen Curry to make a tough pass, which was stolen by Brown. Felton denied Curry the ball extremely well the final couple of possessions, and should be lauded for the defensive effort he put in tonight to seal the victory.

The Knicks struggles defensively have been well known, and where they struggle most nights is defending the perimeter. Teams have torched the Knicks from the three-point line, but tonight they defended it rather well. They lost Curry a couple of times, as he went 6-12 from deep but the rest of the Warriors combined for only 4-19. One player the Knicks held in check well was the other Splash Brother, Klay Thompson. Thompson struggled with his shot all night, making 3-11 from beyond the arc and 6-18 overall.

EPA/John G. Mabanglo Corbis Out

After allowing 32 points in the first quarter and looking to be well on their way to another blowout loss, the Knicks defense really stepped up. The remaining three quarters the Warriors scored only 52 points. This is a team that averages 103.4 points per game on the season, being held to what they normally would score in a half, the final three quarters of the game tonight.

-Negative

It was announced after the game that Anthony had x-rays on his left hand. There is no particular time announced of when he got hurt, but it something the Knicks cannot afford at this point in the season. The x-rays came back negative, but it is something to definitely keep an eye on for tomorrow as the Knicks will get right back at it against the Jazz.

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Knicks Routed By Suns in Phoenix

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Friday, March 28^th, 2014

New York Knicks vs. Phoenix Suns

Post Game Recap

For the second time on this west coast trip, the New York Knicks inexplicably no showed. This time it was against a team that had something to play for still in the Phoenix Suns, and the end result was a 112-88 massacre. The game was never really close, as the Suns got off to a scorching start and never let up on a Knicks team who just didn’t have it tonight on either end of the court. The Knicks once again lost out on a golden opportunity to close the gap between them and the Atlanta Hawks, now sitting two games behind them for eighth place in the Eastern Conference once again. The Knicks will be back on the court Sunday night against the Golden State Warriors.

Player of the Game: None

It is becoming a troubling trend that the Knicks are playing so poorly there is no player worth naming as the player of the game. It was a rough game for everyone on both ends of the court.

AP Photo/Matt York

-Positive

Carmelo Anthony, Amar’e Stoudemire and Iman Shumpert shot 50-plus percent from the field. The game was that bad that the only positive that can be taken from it was that three players made at least half their shots. Anthony scored 21, Stoudemire scored 19 in his return to the first place he called home in his NBA career, and Shumpert scored seven. Shannon Brown was able to knock down three of his five shots in garbage time as well, scoring six points.

-Negatives

Raymond Felton was lit up once again without much effort being put towards it. It is has been such a regular throughout the season it is almost a waste giving him a section of the article every post game. Goran Dragic torched him, shooting 11-17 from the field en route to a game-high 32 points. His eyes lit up whenever Felton was across from him, scoring in a number of ways including transition and from beyond the three-point line.

How the Knicks played so poorly offensively against a team that doesn’t really want to play defense is unexplainable. The Suns defend the three-point line well, but they are easily attacked in the paint without a real rim protector. The Knicks must not have gotten that memo, scoring only 24 points in the paint for the game. Overall, they shot 40.2 percent and 32 percent from the three point line.

It was double-trouble for the Knicks tonight, as the Morris twins, Markieff and Marcus, destroyed them throughout the night. They took it to the Knicks, combining for 25 points, 13 rebounds, two assists, one steal and two blocks. They dominated the Knicks big men, namely Tyson Chandler. Chandler got into with them during the game, which has become his MO when the Knicks get blown out. Chandler finished the game with one point and seven rebounds.

The Suns put on an aerial assault from the three point line and in transition, putting on a show for their fans. They knocked down 14 three pointers in the game, and 26 points in transition. The Suns also took advantage of the Knicks turnovers, scoring 25 points off of 13 turnovers. The Suns made the most of the opportunities given to them, while the Knicks watched as bystanders and were run off the court. 

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Knicks Have Solid Bounce Back Effort to Defeat Kings

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Wednesday, March 26^th, 2014

New York Knicks vs. Sacramento Kings

Post Game Recap

Kelly L. Cox-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Knicks made it a lot more difficult than it had to be Wednesday night, but they were still able to pull out a much needed victory over the Sacramento Kings by the score of 107-99. The Knicks and Kings have a history of roller coaster games in Sacramento and tonight was no different. The Knicks led by as many as 24 points but the Kings were able to get it as close as three in the fourth quarter. Nonetheless it was a nice, and necessary, bounce back win as the win puts the Knicks three back in the loss column and two in the standings with 10 to play. The Knicks will continue their west coast trip Friday with a visit to the Phoenix Suns.

Player of the Game: J.R. Smith

Smith was huge for the Knicks tonight, as he caught fire right from the beginning and never slowed down. Smith tied the Knicks franchise record for three-pointers made in a game, draining nine of his 12 attempts from deep en route to 29 points. Smith made timely basket after timely basket in the fourth quarter for the Knicks to help them bring home the victory. When the Kings cut the lead to six with about 9:30 remaining Smith nailed a three pointer to get the lead back to nine. After they got it to four with about seven minutes remaining Smith knocked down yet another three. Finally, with just over four minutes remaining and the Kings on another run knocking the Knicks lead to just two, Smith knocked down his ninth and final three of the game to put the Knicks up five. Smith was very vocal after the Los Angeles Lakers game last night, and he came up big time for the Knicks, backing up everything he said. He also added four rebounds, four assists and a block to round out his stat line.

Erza Shaw/Getty Images

Match-up of the Game Recap:

The center match-up highlighted before the game was dominated tonight by DeMarcus Cousins. Cousins was unstoppable tonight as the Knicks had little answer to slowing him down. With Tyson Chandler dealing with foul trouble Cousins had his way offensively, dominating in the paint and showing off an impressive jump shot. Cousins finished the game with a monster stat line of 32 points, 15 rebounds, a season-high eight assists, two steals and two blocks. Chandler was hampered with foul trouble, but still managed to put up a respectable line with 10 points, eight rebounds and one block in only 29 minutes.

-Positives

Carmelo Anthony put up a solid effort tonight to help get the Knicks a victory. Anthony finished the game with a game-high 36 points on 12-21 from the field, knocking down 5-8 from three point range and all seven of his free throw attempts. Anthony added five rebounds in the process, to go along with two assists, one steal and one block. Anthony had a monster third quarter, scoring 12 points to make sure the Knicks did not have a repeat of the last two games to start the second half.

Seemingly every game this season the Knicks have been at a disadvantage at the point guard position, but tonight they caught a break with Isaiah Thomas being injured, and they were able to take advantage. Rookie and second round pick Ray McCallum got the start for the Kings tonight and the Knicks were able to rattle him early on. He got it going a bit in the second half, but it was too little too late for the Kings. On the other hand, Raymond Felton put together a strong game, handing out 10 assists with zero turnovers and pulling down seven rebounds.

The Knicks got much better results from their bench tonight. They were still outscored by the Kings bench, but they got positive contributions from the players who came into the game. Pablo Prigioni delivered seven assists in 16 minutes, while Iman Shumpert provided some solid defense and Tim Hardaway Jr. provided a dagger basket on the last possession. Cole Aldrich should also be applauded for being ready to play once Amar’e Stoudemire and Chandler got into foul trouble.

Erza Shaw/Getty Images

-Negative

While the Knicks were able to pull the victory out tonight, they made it much more difficult than it had to be. Once again this team lacked the killer instinct to put away a team, as the Kings bounced back from a 24-point deficit they faced halfway through the third quarter. If not for the sharp shooting of Smith and timely baskets from players like Anthony and Hardaway Jr. this would have once again been an embarrassing and disaster of a loss for the Knicks.

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W2W4: New York Knicks vs. Sacramento Kings; March 26th, 2014

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Wednesday, March 26^th, 2014

New York Knicks vs. Sacramento Kings

Pre-Game News and Notes

The New York Knicks will look to bounce back from possibly their most embarrassing performance of the season Tuesday against the Sacramento Kings tonight. The Knicks were handled with ease by the Los Angeles Lakers, and will look to get back on track with only 11 games remaining on the season and their playoff hopes on life support. The Knicks will have revenge on their mind tonight as well to help add fuel to the fire, as the Kings won the first meeting this season at Madison Square Garden. Here are some keys to the game tonight.

Match-Up of the Game: Tyson Chandler vs. DeMarcus Cousins

cowbellkingdom.com

Chandler was non-existent in the game Tuesday night and will have to step his game up against the Kings and Cousins or else he will get embarrassed. Cousins is one of, if not the most, talented center in the NBA. He leads the Kings in points, rebounds, steals and blocks on the season, showing how great he is on both ends of the court. In the first match-up this season Cousins went for 19 points and 14 rebounds, even though he was unable to finish the game because of injury. Chandler had a strong game as well, going for 17 and 11. Cousins is prone to fouling, so if the Knicks can get Chandler involved in the offense through the pick-and-roll it could frustrate Cousins and get him in foul trouble.

-Player News and Notes

It may have looked like some players were injured last night with how they played, but the Knicks will have the same players at their disposal to use tonight. Iman Shumpert had been battling a virus but was able to suit up last night and should be out there again tonight.

For the Kings, Quincy Acy could return tonight after missing the last two games with an ankle injury. Starting point guard Isaiah Thomas is questionable with a right quad contusion after not practicing Tuesday. Thomas has been dealing with sprained ligaments in his shooting wrist, and it has been hinted that head coach Mike Malone may look to start resting Thomas.

-Give Effort

Last night the Knicks looked defeated, playing frighteningly poor against quite possibly the worst Lakers team in franchise history. The Knicks embarrassed themselves with the loss Tuesday and made an appearance in the playoffs extremely unlikely. The Knicks need to come out with more effort tonight or the Kings will run them off the court. The Knicks already suffered a loss to the Kings this season, so it would be common sense to think they will try, but as we have seen throughout the season nothing is certain with this Knicks team.

-Small Forward Battle

This could have easily been the match-up of the game as well, as Carmelo Anthony will be facing off against Rudy Gay. Both players are dynamic scorers and will be matched up together throughout the night. Anthony started slow last night, missing his first six shots, but he finished the game making his next 10-15 and ending with 29 points. He needs to get off to a better start tonight as the Knicks go only as far as Anthony will take them.

Gay is a talented scorer and has looked much better as a second option behind Cousins on the Kings than as the go-to guy. Gay can knock down jumpers and is athletic enough to get to the rim, qualities that can give above average defenders fits. The match-up between the two small forwards will be worth keeping an eye on as well as the center match-up.

-Bench Play

With J.R. Smith and Amar’e Stoudemire being inserted into the starting lineup, the bench has been unable to pickup the slack. Tim Hardaway Jr. has become the go-to option off the bench and teams are focusing on him more defensively, making his life difficult on the offensive end. Where the real problem arises is defensively for the Knicks bench. Hardaway Jr. has become a player opponents gameplan to attack; when he is in the game whoever he is guarding is getting the ball. The bench has become a weak point for the Knicks, and it was never more evident than when they were unable to hold onto a 15 point lead against the Philadelphia 76ers in the fourth quarter last weekend.

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Knicks Playoff Hopes Delivered Big Blow With Embarrassing Home Loss to Cavaliers

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks

Post Game Recap

AFP Photo/Don Emmert

The New York Knicks playoff hopes suffered a big blow Sunday night, as they suffered an embarrassing loss at home to the Cleveland Cavaliers, 106-100. A 15-point halftime lead was not enough for the Knicks, as they imploded in the second half and reverted back to playing how they did prior to their eight-game winning streak. It was a heart breaking loss for the Knicks as the Atlanta Hawks had lost earlier in the day to the Toronto Raptors, presenting an outstanding opportunity for the Knicks to climb closer to the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. The loss tonight ends the Knicks winning streak at eight, with their next game being the start of their west coast trip Tuesday against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center.

Player of the Game: None

Throughout the game there were a couple Knicks that had some positive plays, but nothing sustained through all four quarters.

Match-up of the Game Recap:

Tyson Chandler was a no show for the Knicks tonight. He didn’t have an impact on either end of the court, finishing with only four points, six rebounds and four turnovers; if anything he was hurting more than helping. On the other hand, Spencer Hawes did not have much of an impact either, but he did have a nice highlight with a left-handed floater driving baseline. Hawes finished the night with seven points, five rebounds, one assist and one steal. Hawes wins the match-up tonight because his team not only got the victory, but also finished +7 while Chandler registered a -17.

-Positives

Amar’e Stoudemire continued his strong play for the Knicks tonight. He finished the game with 12 points on 6-10 shooting from the field, adding six rebounds and one assist as well. Stoudemire has been on fire since being inserted into the starting lineup, showcasing improved defense and continuing to be the Knicks most efficient scoring option.

Offensively, the Knicks guards had a strong game. Raymond Felton scored 14 points to go with eight assists, while J.R. Smith added 18 in the starting lineup as well. Off the bench, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Pablo Prigioni had strong games as well. Hardaway Jr. scored 12 points, while Prigioni made both his three point attempts and handed out three assists as well.

AFP Photo/Don Emmert

At the start of the game, Carmelo Anthony was on fire for the Knicks. He started the game off knocking down 6-7 shots, as the Cavaliers had no answers for him defensively. Anthony’s success early on was a big reason why the Knicks built a 15-point lead going into halftime.

-Negatives

Anthony after those first seven shots struggled mightily. He finished the game making only two of his last 13 attempts, going 8-20 overall for the night. The Cavaliers ramped up their effort in the second half and took Anthony out of the game offensively. The Knicks offense also became stagnant as they became over reliant on Anthony, putting him into isolation situations he was unable to take advantage of.

On the perimeter the Knicks reverted back to how they played prior to the eight-game winning streak. Felton and Hardaway Jr. couldn’t stop a cold and got torched by whoever they matched up against. Jarrett Jack feasted off the poor defense, pouring in a season high 31 points to go along with 10 assists and 5 rebounds. They also had trouble containing Dion Waiters, who scored 22 points of his own.

Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

Mike Woodson once again hurt the Knicks and showed why he should not be retained beyond this season. Woodson, for the second consecutive game, did not put the Knicks in a position to win with poor game management. Tonight he stood idly while Jack torched Felton, and reverted back to his isolation heavy offense. Woodson made no adjustments after halftime as the Cavaliers came out in the second half determined to get back into the game and the Knicks never mounted a response. It was an embarrassing lose for the Knicks that could have been easily avoided with a little more leadership and smarts shown by their head coach.

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Mike Woodson's Poor Decision Making Almost Costs Knicks 8th Straight Win

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Friday, March 21^st, 2014

New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers

Post Game Recap

The New York Knicks almost saw their playoff hopes dashed tonight in extremely embarrassing fashion. The Philadelphia 76ers cut a 15 point Knicks lead to 2 in the last four minutes of the game, making what should have been an easy victory into a nail biter. Both teams were desperate for a win for different reasons, and it showed the last couple minutes of the game. With the victory the Knicks winning streak reaches eight games, and with the loss the 76ers are closing in on the NBA All-Time record for losses in a row 23. The Knicks also move to three games behind the Atlanta Hawks for eighth place in the Eastern Conference, as the Hawks dropped their game against the New Orleans Pelicans tonight.

Player of the Game: Amar’e Stoudemire

Matt Slocum/AP Photo

Stoudemire continued his strong play for the Knicks since being inserted into the starting lineup. Tonight he led the way offensively for the Knicks, scoring 22 points on 10-15 from the field. He was also a force on the boards, grabbing 10. Stoudemire looks like a different person since being inserted into the starting five and the Knicks have benefited greatly from it. Stoudemire may have to sit a game now and then to rest his knees but if he keeps putting forth performances like tonight it is worthwhile.

Match-Up of the Game Recap

Both Carmelo Anthony and Thaddeus Young struggled from the field tonight. Anthony shot 5-16 from the field, 2-5 from deep and Young shot 6-21, 3-9 from the three point line. Both were able to help their teams in other ways though, as Anthony added right rebounds, five assists, one steal and one block. Not to be outdone, Young grabbed seven rebounds, had two assists and four steals. The best players for each team struggled a bit tonight, but Anthony’s team came out with the victory, even though it was rough, so he wins the match-up.

-Positives

Matt Slocum/AP Photo

Tyson Chandler teamed up with Stoudemire to dominate the 76ers frontline. Chandler registered a double-double of his own, scoring 17 points to go along with 10 rebounds. Chandler also recorded one block and steal of his own. The tandem of Chandler and Stoudemire was too much for the overmatched frontline of Young and Henry Sims.

Pablo Prigioni and Iman Shumpert gave the Knicks a big spark off the bench. Prigioni led the way with nine assists, setting up his teammates numerous times for easy baskets. Also impressive, he only turned the ball over once compared to the nine assists. He also added four rebounds in only 18 minutes of play. Shumpert has looked more comfortable recently off the bench and tonight he was a big help knocking down timely jump shots. Shumpert knocked down 3-6 from behind the arc, the only Knicks player to make half his threes in the game.

-Negative

The Knicks offense struggled for the better part of the game. They struggled knocking down the long ball, making only 7-29. Tim Hardaway Jr., Raymond Felton, Prigioni and Chandler combined to miss nine attempts. J.R. Smith struggled as well, making only 2-9.

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

Mike Woodson is lucky if he is allowed to enter Madison Square Garden after the performance he put on to finish the game. He sent the end of the bench guys into the game a little early, with about four minutes remaining with the Knicks up. That wasn’t even nearly the worst decision he made, as he decided to let them stay in the game as he watched the Knicks lead disappear. Inexplicably Woodson stood idly as a 15 point lead quickly turned into a ten point lead, then a five and as low as two. At no point did he hesitate to make a substitution and get his regulars back onto the court. By the time the regulars got onto the court they were cold and not prepared. The 76ers managed to mess up enough for the Knicks to hold on, no thanks to the poor coaching decisions of Woodson.

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Knicks Blow Celtics Out For 5th Straight Win

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Wednesday, March 12^th, 2014

New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics

Post Game Recap

The Knicks were able to go into Boston and handle business Wednesday night, coming away with a 116-92 blowout victory over the Celtics. It was a total team effort tonight from the Knicks on both ends of the court overall as they took control of the game right from the start. The victory tonight moves the Knicks to three games behind the Atlanta Hawks for the final spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs and alone in ninth place. The Knicks will take their five game winning streak into a matinee with the Milwaukee Bucks Saturday night and look to inch closer to the playoffs.

-Player of the Game: Cole Aldrich

Jared Wickerham-Getty Images

With Tyson Chandler and Amar’e Stoudemire both sidelined for tonight, the Knicks needed someone to step up and try filling the void. That person tonight was Aldrich, who made his first NBA start and put together a great game in the process. Aldrich recorded a double-double, scoring a career-high tying 12 points and pulling down 10 rebounds. He also brought intensity and production to the defensive end, blocking three shots. Aldrich knows his role with the team and that he probably will not play much, if at all, when all the regulars come back, but for one night Aldrich was called upon and he showed up. This is a good thing all around as the Knicks now know what Aldrich can give them in a pinch and Aldrich now has the confidence that he can come in and produce.

-Positives

EPA/CJ Gunther CORBIS OUT

Carmelo Anthony led the way scoring 34 points. He set the tone early on for the Knicks, scoring 13 points in the opening quarter to open up a lead that the Knicks would never relinquish. Anthony had it going from deep, knocking down 4-7 from beyond the three point line and making all eight of his free throws. He also grabbed nine rebounds, handed out two assists and getting one steal.

The bench tonight provided a lot of positives for the Knicks. With Stoudemire and J.R. Smith being inserted into the starting lineup the bench recently has lacked punch but tonight they did well. Tim Hardaway Jr. poured in 22 points as he was on fire from the field all night, knocking down 7-11 from the field, 3-5 from deep and 5-6 from the charity stripe. Pablo Prigioni provided timely baskets with his two three point makes and veteran leadership while on the court with four assists, two rebounds and three steals. Jeremy Tyler gave energy and a presence on the boards for the Knicks, grabbing seven rebounds. The biggest surprise was Earl Clark, who was inserted into the rotation tonight with all of the injuries. Like Aldrich Clark made the most of his chance, scoring six points to go with six rebounds, two blocks, an assist and steal.

The offense was clicking all night for the Knicks from the opening tip through the final whistle. It was a wire-to-wire victory for the Knicks, the second time they have accomplished such a feat during the winning streak. Tonight they lit the Celtics up from deep, shooting 11-19 from the three point line and from the field overall, going 42-80 on the night. They also made the most from their trips to the charity stripe, something that has plagued them at times but not tonight, making 21-24 free throws.

-Negatives

Jared Wickerham-Getty Images

The Knicks showed a little bit of a letdown in the third quarter. After opening up a 20 point lead going into the half, the Knicks saw that lead cut in half when the fourth quarter started. A big reason for that was Jeff Green, who scored 17 of his 27 in the third quarter. That combined with a poor shooting quarter got the Celtics back into the game going into the fourth quarter. It was a short lived comeback though, as the Knicks ended the game strong, outscoring the Celtics 31-17 in the fourth quarter to come away with the easy victory.

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W2W4: New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics; March 10th, 2014

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Wednesday, March 12^th, 2014

New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics

Pre-Game News and Notes

The Knicks and Celtics will be facing off for the fourth and final time this season in Boston. The Knicks will look to even the season series up at two, as the Celtics won the first two meetings pretty handedly and the Knicks won in blowout fashion in the most recent meeting. This is an important game for the Knicks as they continue their playoff push, as they cannot afford to lose to teams below them in the standings to move up. The Knicks will look to continue their four game winning streak and here are some news and notes for them to do so.

-Player News and Notes

The Knicks will be extremely short-handed in the front court tonight. Tyson Chandler will not be with the team for the second consecutive game as he deals with a personal problem. The Knicks will also be without his frontcourt mate in the starting lineup in Amar’e Stoudemire. Stoudemire will miss tonight’s game for precautionary reasons; he has played 56 minutes in his last two games after being on a strict minutes limit throughout the season.  One of Jeremy Tyler or Cole Aldrich will most likely find themselves in the starting lineup and both getting increased minutes tonight. Earl Clark will more likely find his way into the rotation tonight as the backup big man off the bench.

For the Celtics, Rajon Rondo will not be suiting up. Rondo played 41 minutes last night against the Indiana Pacers and will be held out. Rondo is still not playing back-to-backs for the Celtics, who have very little to play for so pushing Rondo makes little sense. The Knicks catch a break as the inexperienced Phil Pressey will take over the starting point guard duties.

-Match-Up of the Game: Carmelo Anthony vs. Jeff Green

NBA.Com

With Rondo out, Green is the best player the Celtics have and will be the vocal point of their offense. Green has had some success in guarding Anthony this season as well. Anthony struggled in the first two meetings, both Knicks losses and did well in the third meeting, a Knicks win. The Knicks fortunes tonight will hinge on the performance of Anthony and if he can take advantage of his match up with Green tonight. Anthony has struggled a little offensively recently dealing with an illness and will look to get back on track tonight.

-Who Steps Up Tonight?

With Stoudemire and Chandler out the Knicks are missing key pieces to their recent turnaround; an extremely efficient scorer who has been a presence rebounding, and the heart and soul to their defense. Who picks up the slack tonight for the Knicks will be the most intriguing thing to watch tonight. Tyler has played well in limited minutes, but is foul prone at times. Aldrich hasn’t been a constant contributor at any point in his career, but has shown the ability to rebound and play some solid defense when given a chance. Clark, who was cut from the Cavaliers, is probably the x-factor tonight in the front court. If he can give the Knicks anything tonight it will go a long way, but it is going to be a group effort to replace the production of Stoudemire and Chandler.

-No Let Down

The Celtics are coming off a hard-fought game against the Pacers last night in Indiana. The Knicks, on the other hand, are coming off a game that took them three quarters to get going, but ended up winning comfortably. Tonight they have to come out with the same intensity they did the fourth quarter Monday against the 76ers and take the Celtics out early. The Knicks have a tendency to let teams stick around far too long and it has hurt them throughout the season. Tonight, especially without 2/3 their starting front court, they need to come out early and take control. Expect a lot of Carmelo Anthony early and often as the Knicks will lean on their leading man with key pieces missing the game. If the Knicks can get on the Celtics early they can put this game away early as the Celtics will be a little fatigued and without their best player, even post ACL-injury, in Rondo. 

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