W2W4: Sacramento Kings vs. New York Knicks; February 12th, 2014

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Wednesday, February 12^th, 2014

Sacramento Kings vs. New York Knicks

Pre-Game News and Notes

The Knicks and Kings will be tipping off Wednesday night for the last time before the All-Star break and ending what has been disappointing first halves for each team. The Knicks came into the season with high expectations after making it into the second round of the playoffs last season. The Kings came into the season with a new coach and outlook and made moves all throughout the first season to try improving their team, but they look to be heading for the lottery for an eighth season in a row. This is an important game for the Knicks as the hot seat for Mike Woodson is on fire and after the All-Star break the schedule is not easy as they will play four games in four different cities in five nights. Here are some things to look for in the game tonight.

-Player News and Notes

Kenyon Martin will be out of the lineup again for the Knicks, meaning more playing time for Amar’e Stoudemire and Jeremy Tyler again. The two have played extremely well recently with the extended minutes and are two of the brighter spots currently on the Knicks.

For the Kings, starting point guard Isaiah Thomas is dealing with and playing through a sprained wrist so it is something to keep an eye on. You would think that would help the Knicks slow down the undersized yet dynamic point guard, but you wouldn’t have known from the stats he has put up in the games since that was announced.

Rob Carr/Getty Images

-Opposite of Road Warriors

The Kings, who are one of eight teams currently with a worse record in the NBA than the Knicks, struggle mightily on the road. The Knicks need to take advantage and take them out of the game early on from the start. The Kings are on a seven game losing streak on the road and shooting only 41 percent from the field over that time. This is a game the Knicks need and should win.

A big problem over that span is Rudy Gay, who has struggled since returning from his Achilles injury. He has scored only 19 points on 6-23 shooting in his two games back. Gay also struggled in his last appearance at Madison Square Garden, going 4-21 from the field last February as a member of the Toronto Raptors.

-Melo Bounce Back

The Knicks were ultimately done in Sunday afternoon against the Thunder because of an uncharacteristic scoring output from Carmelo Anthony, who shot 5-19 for only 15 points. The Knicks will need more out of their leading man to top upper echelon teams such as the Thunder and even the lower tiered teams like the Kings. Anthony had been on fire before facing off against the Thunder and will look to get back on track tonight.

The fourth quarter is the point to keep an eye on Anthony. He is playing heavy minutes this season, leading the NBA at 38.6 per game. This could be having an effect on him down the stretch of games, as he struggles shooting in the fourth quarter with a career low 36.7 percent. He is 0-8 in his last two fourth quarters; both losses to top Western Conference teams in the Thunder and Portland Trail Blazers. 

-Man behind the Mask

J.R. Smith suffered a small fracture in his left cheek bone Sunday afternoon when he fell and was kneed in the face by Kevin Durant. He was able to return to that game but looked like a boxer who had just gone a few rounds. Smith will not let that keep him off the court, as he has been fitted for a mask and is expected to suit up Wednesday night.

Smith, like many of his teammates, struggled to shoot the ball Sunday as Anthony faltered the rest of the team followed suit. But like Anthony, Smith had been playing some of the best basketball of the season prior to that, averaging 18.2 points per game on 46 percent shooting in his last 11 contests. He will also look to get back on track against a soft Kings defense that surrenders 103.6 points per game.

**Update: J.R. Smith will actually not be playing tonight. The mask he was supposed to wear came in late and he was uncomfortable playing with it so he will be out tonight. Tim Hardaway Jr. is expected to see an increase in minutes and Iman Shumpert will be more relied upon as well.**

Match up of the Game: Tyson Chandler vs. DeMarcus Cousins

Chandler will have his hands full tonight with Cousins, quite possibly the best overall Center in the NBA and easily the most talented offensively. Cousins is the main cog in the Kings plans and they go as he goes, evident from the 0-9 record they have in games he did not play in or finish. On the season he is averaging 22.6 points, 11.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.2 blocks and 1.6 steals per game, all above his career averages and career highs at this point.

Chandler will need to be on top of his game tonight for the Knicks to pull out the victory. He has struggled at times this season, seeming to lack the emotion and toughness that the Knicks expected from him game in and game out as their defensive anchor. Tonight his defense on Cousins will be important but the Knicks would be smart to get him a little involved offensively. Cousins is foul prone and if they allow Chandler to go at him a little with occasional post ups or constant coverage in the pick-and-roll they could frustrate him and take the Kings most important player out of the game completely.

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W2W4: Portland Trail Blazers vs. New York Knicks; February 5th, 2014

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Portland Trail Blazers vs. New York Knicks

Pre-Game News and Notes

Bruce Ely/The Oregonian

The Knicks and Trail Blazers will go up against each other for the second time this season tonight at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks will be looking to exact some revenge on the Blazers, who beat the Knicks earlier in the season 102-91 at the Rose Garden in Portland. The Knicks are currently riding a two game losing streak and could use a win in the worst of ways. With things starting to look bleaker and bleaker for Head Coach Mike Woodson after yet another player called him out this past week changes could be on the horizon for the Knicks. If Woodson wants to save his job putting forth the necessary changes tonight to get a victory over a strong Blazers team would be a good start. Here are some things keys to the game tonight between the Knicks and Blazers.

-Player News and Notes

The Knicks are relatively healthy right now, something that hasn’t happened much this season. But they will still be without a key piece tonight in Kenyon Martin. Martin returned from his ankle injury Saturday but will not be able to get on the court tonight against the Blazers. Martin hasn’t stayed healthy all season and the soreness that keeps popping up will continue to put him in suits on the bench.

Beno Udrih has already missed five straight games with what the Knicks are calling an ‘illness’ and his status has not been updated since. It is likely that he will miss a sixth consecutive game but it is looking more and more like a coach’s decision than an illness.

The Blazers have no reported player injuries and will have their full allotment of players to use Wednesday night.

-Woody’s Last Stand?

With Amar’e Stoudemire joining the list of players to call out Woodson about how he makes decisions coaching, this may be the last chance Woodson has to save his job. Stoudemire has voiced his displeasure with how he is being used recently, saying its Woodson, not doctors, that are keeping him from seeing the court. Stoudemire is currently playing a career-low in minutes per game at 18.9 aside from his injury riddled 2005-2006 campaign when he got in only three games. Stoudemire says he feels great and wants more minutes. It is up to Woodson if he feels Stoudemire can help this team out; at this point Woodson needs to break his character and start using the players that produce results not that are paid the most.

If the Knicks lose tonight to the Blazers it would give them a three-game losing streak following a four-game winning streak. That kind of inconsistent consistency is something that gets a coach canned. With a lose tonight look for the hot seat to get even warmer for Woodson, if that is even possible.

-Perimeter Defense

The Knicks were torched Monday night by an underwhelming group of perimeter players the Bucks employ; if they come out with the same defensive intensity against this group the Blazers have the game will be over before halftime. The Blazers are the highest scoring team in the NBA, which could spell trouble for the ever-giving Knicks defense. The Knicks should make it a priority to lock down the three-point line where Wesley Matthews and Nicolas Batum can hurt them.

Reigning Rookie of the Year Damian Lillard will also cause a problem for the Knicks.  Raymond Felton has to put on a good performance on both ends of the court, more so on the defensive end. Throughout the season Felton has been a revolving door at the point of attack for opposing teams and he has done little to act as resistance. Teams are game planning to attack Felton because they know that is the weakest part of the Knicks defense and they are exploiting it. Felton needs to show improvement starting tonight or it will be a long night at Madison Square Garden.

-Battle on the Boards

The Blazers are not only the best scoring team in the NBA, they happen to be the best rebounding one as well. The Blazers average 46.4 rebounds per game, compared to only 40.5 for the Knicks. It will be imperative for the Knicks to gang rebound tonight to try and control the paint as much as they can. Tyson Chandler and Carmelo Anthony will have their hands full throughout the night trying to slow down All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge and Robin Lopez but we have seen each of them capable of dominating the rebounding department. It would be nice to see J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert get in on the rebounding action; both rebound well for guards and will help offset the strong all-around games Matthews and Batum are capable of putting together.

Matchup of the Game: Raymond Felton vs. Damian Lillard

Another game, another day the Knicks are outclassed at the point guard position. The Knicks have struggled mightily all season because of poor point guard play and Felton being exposed nightly as a poor defensive player. Tonight Felton will once again have his hands full as Lillard has been solid against the Knicks in his short career, averaging 23.3 points on 50.9 percent shooting.

Felton and the Knicks may be catching Lillard and the Blazers at a good time though. The Blazers have lost five of eight, averaging 100 points per game and shooting 28.8 from the three point line, well below their season average of 38.2 percent. The Blazers are playing better than anyone expected them to be playing and could be coming back down to earth or could just be hitting a lull in a long season. Whatever the reason may be the Knicks need to take advantage and get back on track against a team in a little bit of a tail slide.

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Knicks Cant Hang With Heat, Ending Four Game Winning Streak

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Saturday, February 1^st, 2014

Miami Heat vs. New York Knicks

Post Game Recap

The Knicks were unable to end their home stand on a high note and continue their strong play against the Miami Saturday night as the Heat handled them rather easily, winning 106-91. After an embarrassing loss at Madison Square Garden three weeks ago the Heat were able to exact some revenge tonight. The Knicks played sloppy, unnerved basketball tonight as the Heat came ready to play. Some of the younger players looked overwhelmed against the two-time defending champion Heat and the veterans were unable to right the ship outside of a few short lived runs. Inconsistent play on both ends of the court eventually doomed the Knicks. On a night that biggest and brightest stars were at the Garden for Super Bowl weekend, the Knicks fell flat and their winning streak ended at four games. They will get back on the court Monday night in Milwaukee against the Bucks.

Player of the Game: J.R. Smith

Howard Simmons/New York Daily News

Smith was tasked with the biggest challenge of the night; slowing down the human freight train LeBron James. Smith tried admirably throughout the game to slow James down but was barely a speed jump for King James, who is two inches taller and listed at least 30 pounds heavier. With Iman Shumpert sidelined Smith drew the toughest defensive assignment. Even thought James was taking it to Smith on the defensive end, Smith was able to hold his own offensively. Smith shot the ball efficiently, going 6-11 from the field (4-7 3pt, 4-8 FT) for 20 points. He added two rebounds and one steal as well, as he played James as well as he possibly could and still delivered offensively even with all of the effort he was putting forth on the defensive end.

-Positive

When given the chance, the Knicks did shoot the ball relatively well tonight. As a team they shot 33-67 from the field (49.3 percent) and a strong 11-26 (42.3 percent) from the three point line. That makes it six games in a row that the Knicks have made at least 11 three pointers in, going 4-2 over that span. When the Knicks knock down three pointers they usually win; just tonight they were unable to get everything on the same page.

Kenyon Martin was able to get back on the court tonight and once again the Knicks were at their best while he was playing. Martin was the only Knicks player to get double-digit minutes to finish with a positive +/- ratio. Martin was able to control the paint while he was in the game and brought the confidence and intensity to the defensive end to get the Knicks back into the game. Martin’s stats won’t blow you away, as he scored four points, grabbed two rebounds, and had one assist and two blocks, but the Knicks always seem to play better when Martin is in the fold.

Tim Hardaway Jr. once again put on a show offensively with Shumpert sidelined. Hardaway Jr. made the most of the extended minutes once again, pouring in 17 points on 7-14 from the field (3-7 3pt). Hardaway Jr. once again did not produce much more in the stat sheet, grabbing only one rebound, handing out one assist and getting one steal. Hardaway Jr. can score with the best of them and once he improves other areas of the game he will continue garnering more playing time.

-Negatives

On the brightest of stages playing at MSG James has dominated and he did the same Saturday night. James put on a show for the Garden faithful, scoring 30 points, pulling down eight rebounds, hanging out seven assists and getting six steals. James did whatever he wanted to the Knicks tonight, much like he has done throughout his career as he teases Knicks fans every time he visits about what could have been. James continued his dominance over the Knicks in his career as he has the third highest scoring average of any player against the Knicks behind only Michael Jordan.

Howard Simmons/New York Daily News

Dwyane Wade has struggled with injuries throughout the season and many people think that his career is close to ending. Tonight he may have changed some people’s minds. Wade looked every bit like the Wade of old tonight, scoring 22 points on 10-15 shooting from the field. He also grabbed four rebounds, had four assists and two steals on the night to round out his stat line. It may be a coincidence but the best games that Wade has put together this season have come against the Knicks and Pacers, two of the more high profile match ups Wade and the Heat will have throughout the season.

The Knicks defense gave more than Santa Clause on Christmas tonight as they did nothing to slow the Heat down. The Heat got whatever shot they wanted and plenty of open shots around the perimeter. On the night the Heat shot 53.9 percent (41-76) and destroyed the Knicks in the paint. On the night the Heat scored 48 points in the paint, continuously getting easy baskets to keep the Knicks at bay. In the second half they outscored the Knicks 24-8 and started the half with a 14-2 edge in the paint. The Heat got easy baskets while the Knicks fell in love with jump shots with nothing coming easy.

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Knicks Exact Some Revenge and Blowout Celtics

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Tuesday, January 28^th, 2014

Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks

Post Game Recap

The Knicks were able to exact some revenge on the rival Celtics tonight, blowing them out 114-88; the score does not even do justice to just how much the Knicks outplayed the Celtics tonight. The Celtics came into Madison Square Garden December 8^th and gave the Knicks their third worst defeat in franchise history so tonight put a smile on their faces. It was a solid team effort as everyone did their part tonight to get the victory, the third in a row for the Knicks. The win also evens their win and lose record at 3-3 during the eight game home stand. The Knicks will get back at it Thursday night again at Madison Square Garden against the Cleveland Cavaliers at 8 PM ET.

Player of the Game: Carmelo Anthony

NBA.com

The Knicks for once did not need Anthony to carry the offensive load himself, as the blowout victory enabled him to get some rest for once. But he was still a catalyst in the blowout victory, as he helped with a little bit of everything. Anthony fueled the blowout with 24 points, nine rebounds, four assists and four steals in only 28 minutes. Anthony got some much needed rest as the Knicks are extremely shorthanded currently in the front court. Anthony scored efficiently and kept his teammates involved, a potent combination for the Knicks this season as they improved their record to 13-3 when Anthony registers four or more assists in a game.

-Positives

The offense was clicking for the Knicks tonight, as they shot an impressive 53.7 percent (44-82) on the night, knocking down half their three pointers (10-20) in the process. Four other Knicks including Anthony scored in double figures, including a career high 17 points from Jeremy Tyler. Tyler has performed well in his limited minutes this season and looks to be a viable option for head coach Mike Woodson with all of the injuries ravaging the front court currently. Chandler added 12 to go along with 13 rebounds to give him his third double-double in his last four games as he continues to round into shape. J.R. Smith and Tim Hardaway Jr. were the other Knicks in double figures, as the two are becoming a potent backcourt combination off the bench, scoring 17 and 16 points respectively. This was the second game in a row that the Knicks had five players score in double figures.

NBA.com

The defense was as effective as the offense through the first three quarters when the regulars were in. The Celtics were as cold shooting the ball as the temperatures outside, missing 12 of their first 15 three point attempts. On the night they shot 39 percent overall and an unsightly 27.3 (6-22) from the three point line. This looked nothing like the Celtics that routed the Knicks in December, as no one was able to really get going for Boston. Jeff Green led the way with 14 points.

-Negatives

It wasn’t all positive for the Knicks Tuesday night, as the injury bug reared its ugly head again. Kenyon Martin was returning from a five game absence and was barely able to make it through a half as he had a reoccurrence of his left ankle pain. Martin returned to the bench and was said to be able to return, but with the game in hand Woodson did not risk it, but the fact he had to leave the court at all is not good. Iman Shumpert was also injured in the game with a right shoulder injury. The Knicks could be without Shumpert for an extender period of time as the severity of the injury is not yet known, but he was not able to return to the court tonight.

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Pacers Run Knicks Out Of Indiana In Blowout

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Thursday, January 17^th, 2014

New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers

Post Game Recap

The Knicks were embarrassed Thursday night in Indiana as the Pacers blew them out 117-89. The Knicks were a disaster after a strong first quarter as the Pacers eventually forced their will upon the Knicks. It was the second consecutive poor performance for the Knicks who had looked to have finally turned the corner after a strong Texas Triangle road trip. The Knicks were awful Thursday night but will have a chance to get things back together as they will be right back at it Friday night at Madison Square Garden to take on the Los Angeles Clippers.

Player of the Game: Carmelo Anthony

Brian Spurlock/USA TODAY Sports

Anthony looked to be the only Knick who showed up to Indiana ready to play a basketball game. Like plenty of times this season Anthony attempted to put the team on his back and carry them; against lesser teams he is capable but not against a team as strong as the Pacers. On the night Anthony scored 28 points (8-17 FG, 3-3 3pt, 9-9 FT), grabbed eight rebounds and one assist. The Knicks need to offer Anthony more help if they ever expect to beat or even at least keep pace with the Pacers.

Match-Up of the Game Recap

Lance Stephenson came out and treated the Knicks like an overmatched kid at Rucker Park; he hot dogged around the court and embarrassed the Knicks thoroughly with his play. Stephenson scored a team high 28 points (10-17 FG, 3-7 3pt, 5-5 FT), adding four rebounds and four assists. He had the highest +/- in the game with +30 and dominated the match up with Iman Shumpert, who was virtually a ghost the whole night. Shumpert only took four shots, making one and missing all three of his three point attempts. He grabbed five rebounds and handed out two assists as he had no positive impact on the game.

-Positives

The first quarter, at least on the offensive end. The Knicks led 31-30 at the end of the first quarter and looked like they would give a challenge to the Pacers as the offense hummed behind Anthony. The challenge from the Knicks was short lived as the offense sputtered and the Pacers continued to pour it on.

-Negatives

The Knicks have battled injuries all season and it didn’t stop in Indiana. The Knicks lost Kenyon Martin and Amar’e Stoudemire to left ankle sprains and Tim Hardaway Jr. re-injured his surgically repaired left wrist. Add those three to Pablo Prigioni and Metta World Peace as Knicks that we may not see on the court for the foreseeable future.

The defensive effort was putrid. The Knicks showed no heart on the defensive end, seemingly giving up on multiple plays and just not playing hard. The Pacers poured it on as the Knicks did not look to care very much about what was going on in the game. The Pacers shot 50 percent in the game (43-86 FG, 10-23 3pt, 21-23 FT) and embarrassed the Knicks. Whatever the Pacers wanted to do on offense they were able to do as the Knicks did not offer any resistance.

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Bobcats Snap Sluggish Knicks 5-Game Winning Streak

Tuesday, January 14^th, 2014

New York Knicks vs. Charlotte Bobcats

Post Game Recap

When your best player’s reaction to having a game the following night after an overtime victory is “Oh Sh*t,” it does not paint a good picture. Tonight the worst happened for the Knicks as the Bobcats were able to run them off the floor, 108-98. The Knicks were gassed from an overtime victory last night against the Phoenix Suns and it showed tonight as they looked to be facing an uphill battle right from the opening tip. The Knicks were unable to get any flow going and had no answer for what the Bobcats were doing throughout the game. Being tired is not an excuse as every team plays back-to-backs; the problem was the Knicks seemed to be looking ahead to the big match up Thursday night against the Pacers. Another thing to watch for heading into Thursday night is J.R. Smith's standing with the team. He registered his second DNP-Coach's Decision in the last four games.

Player of the Game: Amar’e Stoudemire

With the Knicks struggling to score with Carmelo Anthony not being able to get going, Stoudemire came in and got it going off the bench. Stoudemire scored 17 points on a very efficient 6-10 from the field and 5-5 from the foul line. Stoudemire scored in a variety of ways, knocking down jumpers and throwing down thunderous dunks. He also grabbed four rebounds and had two assists. It was encouraging to see Stoudemire perform so well on the second night of the back-to-back. Coming into the season it was thought that Stoudemire would be getting rest in games like tonight but he is giving the Knicks everything his body is able right now. Stoudemire is one of the hardest workers in the NBA and to see him having some success again is quite a sight.

Chuck Burton/AP Photo

-Positives

With the Knicks offense reeling in the first half, the bench was able to produce a spark and some score. In addition to Stoudemire, Tim Hardaway Jr. gave the Knicks good minutes off the bench. Hardaway Jr. scored 12 points and had a nice pass for an alley-oop to Tyson Chandler. Hardaway Jr. played so well in the first half that assistant coach Herb Williams said his play was the reason J.R. Smith was relegated to the bench for the first half. That cannot be the whole story for Smith being benched for the second time in four games but could have played a part.

The offense tonight, albeit stagnant at times, was not the reason for the loss. The Knicks shot the ball relatively well, shooting 48.1 percent on the night. They made 39 baskets and assisted on 21 percent of them, a good ratio. They also turned the ball over only nine times; fatigue was the Knicks biggest problem tonight on the offensive end no the Bobcats.

-Negatives

Chuck Burton/AP Photo

The Knicks overall offensive numbers were solid but it was a struggle throughout the night for them to score. The Knicks were visibly tired as they struggled to knock down jump shots, going 6-17 from the three point line. The Bobcats let the Knicks fire away from deep as the Knicks settled for the lazier shots instead of getting into good position to score. The lack of aggressiveness on the offensive end resulted in a 33-18 free throw differential in favor of the Bobcats.

The Knicks were unable to slow down the Bobcats top guns in Al Jefferson and Kemba Walker. Jefferson dominated the first half as the Knicks had no answer inside for the versatile big man. Jefferson finished with a season-high 35 points and eight rebounds. The second half, specifically the fourth quarter, Walker took over. Walker scored 12 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, going 4/4 overall and 2/2 from the three point line in the last 12 minutes with two assists. On the night he finished with 25 points, seven rebounds and five assists as he routinely torched Raymond Felton throughout the night.

As a whole the Knicks starting unit gave them nothing throughout the game; Iman Shumpert was the only one of the group to not finish with a negative +/-. Andrea Bargnani looked lost in the shuffle with Chandler returning to the lineup and Felton was unable to make up for his porous defense on the offensive end like last night against the Suns. Mike Woodson needs to figure out a formula to get these guys clicking on the same page. There are a lot of parts right now that need to be meshed together and the Knicks need to figure out it sooner than later.

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Knicks Slip Past Suns in OT For 5th Straight Win

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Monday, January 13^th, 2014

Phoenix Suns vs. New York Knicks

Post Game Recap

The Knicks were able to hold off a feisty Suns squad in the last game of their road trip 98-96 in overtime. The Knicks effort was inconsistent throughout the night, never putting away a tough Suns team. The Suns are the Cinderella of the NBA season thus far and they showed why tonight against the Knicks; there are no superstars on the roster but they play hard and stick to what they do best. This is a game the Knicks would have lost just two weeks ago. It is amazing what a little practice time and a New Year can do for a team as the Knicks look like they have righted the ship. The win tonight gives the Knicks five straight and pushed them into a tie for 8^th place in the Eastern Conference with the Brooklyn Nets. The Knicks will look to continue their winning streak tomorrow night against the Charlotte Bobcats.

Player of the Game: Kenyon Martin

Jim McIsaac

Never in his wildest dreams would Martin have thought he would be giving the Knicks this much at any point in the season. It is hard to believe that Mike Woodson would have thought he would need Martin this much either but Martin has delivered. Tonight Martin was outstanding for the Knicks once again on the boards, grabbing nine rebounds and adding tough, hard nosed defense. Martin played 35 minutes, which is impressive because at the beginning of the season it was thought that he and Amar’e Stoudemire would be splitting time. Martin also added timely baskets for the Knicks tonight with two tip-back slam dunks to swing momentum and get the crowd into frenzy.

-Positives

Carmelo Anthony was a little fatigued down the stretch but he was able to score when the Knicks needed him most. Anthony scored four of the six Knicks points in overtime to get them the victory. On the night Anthony scored 29 points on 9-24 shooting (3-6 3pt, 8-9 FT). Once again he was a monster on the boards, pulling down game high 16 rebounds. Anthony also added four assists, raising the Knicks record in games that Anthony records four assists to 11-2. The biggest of the four came with 53 seconds left as Anthony found Felton standing in the corner for a three pointer to give the Knicks the lead back.

Frank Franklin III/AP Photo

Felton didn’t have the gaudy assist totals he had in the last two games but he was able to carve up the Suns defense by attacking and knocking down jump shots. Felton shot 8-16 from the field (2-6 3pt, 1-2 FT) for 19 points as he offset the damage done by Suns starting point guard Goran Dragic. Felton looked like he was going to be a scapegoat for a loss tonight but played a big role in getting the victory instead.

The Knicks perimeter defense was outstanding again tonight. The Knicks have been defending the three point line much better and is one reason for the current winning streak. The Knicks continued their streak of allowing under 100 points, running that to five as well. Tonight the Suns shot 7-30 from the three point line and 33-93 overall for the game.

Once again credit needs to be given to Woodson. The Knicks had a penchant to butcher end of game situations earlier in the season but have really tightened things up down the stretch. Tonight Woodson made sure the team knew the current situation and what the correct thing to do. With three seconds left the Suns were in-bounding in the front court down three points. Felton fouled Channing Frye when his back was towards the basket with 2.5 seconds left, sending him to the line. Frye would miss the first and make the second as the Knicks would subsequently run the clock out. Woodson once again had his team prepared mentally, something that could not be said for most of the season. He was also able to keep the Knicks poised as the Suns were able to take a five point lead in the fourth quarter after climbing out of 14-point deficit in the first half.

-Negatives

Frank Franklin III/AP Photo

The perimeter defense was outstanding for the Knicks but the perimeter players torched them. Dragic made Felton and anyone guarding him look silly throughout the night, scoring 28 points, grabbing eight rebounds and handing out four assists. Off the bench Leandro Barbosa looked like the Brazilian Blur from his earlier Suns days as he picked the Knicks apart. Barbosa hurt the Knicks scoring 21 points.

The Knicks were sloppy at times during the game as they did not keep the energy level up at all times. They never put the Suns away as they did not seem as focused as they could have been. They also looked a little tired, which is disheartening as they had a day off and they have a game tomorrow night in Charlotte against the Bobcats. The lackluster focus caused the Knicks to not get into a rhythm for the better part of the game, resulting in 18 turnovers. The frequent turnovers kept the Suns in the game as they turned the ball over only 10 times.

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Knicks Knock Off 76ers for 4th Straight Win

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Saturday, January 12^th, 2014

New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers

Post Game Recap

The Knicks were able to keep up the solid play by picking up a victory in Philadelphia Saturday night, winning 102-92. The Knicks put forth yet another great team effort as they were able to pick up their fourth straight win. The Knicks came out lackluster in the first quarter, ending the period down 28-20 but were able to pick it up in the second quarter, going into halftime with a 52-40 lead. They extended the lead to 16 going into the fourth quarter but were able to keep the 76ers at bay in the final quarter to take home the win. The Knicks will look to continue their strong play Monday night as the surprise team of the NBA thus far, the Phoenix Suns, come to Madison Square Garden for their lone visit of the season Monday night.

Player of the Game: Amar’e Stoudemire

Chris Szagola/AP Photo

Stoudemire is beginning to look like the STAT of old recently as he dominated the offensive side of the ball once again. Stoudemire made his first eight shots of the game and finished the night with 21 points on 8-10 from the field (5-5 FT) and five rebounds in only 22 minutes. With more consistent practice time and minutes in the game Stoudemire has begun to flourish once again and give the Knicks a nice boost off the bench. Stoudemire is by far the Knicks most efficient scorer when given the opportunity and is an asset to the Knicks going forward if he can continue playing like this offensively.

-Positives

Chris Szagola/AP Photo

Carmelo Anthony neared a triple-double tonight and finished with a complete stat line. Anthony finished with 19 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. Anthony struggled a little bit from the field but he received a lot help on the offensive end from his teammates tonight as they picked him up. With Anthony on the court tonight the Knicks were +19, the second best on the team.

Stoudemire brings the offensive punch for the Knicks and Kenyon Martin brings the defensive intensity. Martin once again buoyed the Knicks in the middle and helped them not miss a beat in the third straight game without Tyson Chandler. Martin grabbed eight rebounds and scored eight points to keep his defender honest and to open things up for his teammates. He also had three assists as he makes great decisions from the top of the key, hitting Anthony routinely for alley-oops. He also added two blocks anchoring the Knicks defense.

Stoudemire was the leading scorer for the game but he was not the only Knick to give productive minutes off the bench. Toure’ Murry and Tim Hardaway Jr. the youthful energy they have lacked in the past combining for 15 points and have earned minutes once the regulars come back if they falter. The biggest performance off the bench may have come from J.R. Smith. Smith bounced back with a solid performance after a one game suspension, spearheading a Knicks passing attack with six assists. He also scored 14 points on 5-8 shooting from the field and had the highest +/- on the team with +20.

Chris Szagola/AP Photo

The Knicks were a well oiled machine on offense, assisting on 26 of their 39 made baskets. Raymond Felton led the team with seven as Anthony and Smith added six of their own. They also locked in defensively again after the first quarter. The 76ers scored 64 points the final three quarters and shot 46 percent for the game. The Knicks contested the three point line well tonight as well as the 76ers shot an unsightly 5-19 (26.3 percent).

-Negatives

The Knicks almost did it again. They came out flat again against a lower tiered team, falling behind by eight points by the end of the first quarter. The Knicks cannot afford to come out slow in any games after the poor start they had to the season; these are the games they need to come out strong in and take control from the beginning. They were able to get control by halftime but coming out flat like that against a team that doesn’t have top pick aspirations in the 2014 draft may end with a different result.

It is not necessarily a bad thing to have depth but Mike Woodson will have a lot of tough decisions to make in the coming days. Within the next week the Knicks will have virtually everyone on their roster and will have to find a way to get everyone minutes and comfortable with a role. Will Stoudemire and Martin watch their minutes dwindle with Chandler back in the picture? Will Murry find himself stapled to the bench once again when Prigioni comes back and Udrih not too far behind him? Woodson will have his hands full and how he manages the rotations will be imperative to the Knicks success.

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Knicks Hold On Despite 4th Quarter Struggles

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Tuesday, January 7^th, 2014

Detroit Pistons vs. New York Knicks

Post Game Recap

The Knicks did not make it easy on themselves but they were able to knock off the Pistons at Madison Square Garden 89-85 Tuesday night, ending their four game home losing streak in the process. The Knicks led by 15 to start the fourth quarter and allowed the Pistons to come all the way back but were able to hold them off for the win. The win tonight marks only the second time this season the Knicks have put together consecutive wins; the first came December 5^th and 6^th against the Brooklyn Nets and Orlando Magic.  The Knicks will take the victory, albeit it ugly, as the Knicks will face some of their stiffest competition Thursday in the defending champion Miami Heat.

Player of the Game: Carmelo Anthony

Jim McIsaac

If not for Anthony the result of the game tonight easily could have been in the Pistons favor. Anthony would not let it happen as he willed the Knicks to a win tonight with a game high 34 points. Anthony shot the ball efficiently, shooting 13-24 overall from the field, including a scorching 6-7 from behind the three-point line. Anthony was the catalyst in the third quarter to get the Knicks in control of the game as he nailed three straight three pointers in the middle of a 15-0 Knicks run. He added a fast break dunk to punctuate the run. Anthony helped the Knicks ice the game playing outstanding one-on-one defense against Josh Smith on the Pistons last offensive possession and grabbed the offensive rebound off Raymond Felton’s missed free throw with seven seconds left. He added four rebounds, two assists, four steals and one block on the night to round out his stat line.

-Positives

Andrea Bargnani was faced with a tough assignment going against an outstanding rebounding team but he held his own in the game. Bargnani finished the game with a team high 11 rebounds and the highest +/- on the team with +17. The Knicks were very productive with Bargnani on the court as he also added a little scoring, putting in 13 points on 6-13 shooting. It would have been encouraging to see Bargnani score a little more but the fight he showed on the glass made up for it.

Without Kenyon Martin it is hard to imagine the Knicks even having as many wins as they have this season. The intensity and tone he brings to the game is matched by no one on this team; when he is on the court good things happen. Tonight was one of those nights once again as Martin stepped into the starting lineup for Tyson Chandler and they didn’t miss a beat. Martin scored six points, pulled down seven rebounds and handed out five assists. Any production Martin gives on the offensive end is an added bonus.

Jim O'Connor/USA TODAY Sports

Raymond Felton returned form his hamstring injury tonight and looked to be in great shape. He got into the paint and attacked the basket with ease in the opening quarter, making for easy scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates. He finished the game with 12 points (4-9 overall, 1-2 3pt, 3-4 FT), two rebounds and six assists. Felton did start to fatigue down the stretch but was able to make it through the game without re-aggravating any injuries.

Iman Shumpert didn’t have the gaudy scoring numbers or an insane scoring stretch like on the Texas road trip but he still had an impact on the game tonight. Shumpert grabbed six rebounds, dished five assists and came away with two steals. The most impressive thing he did on the night was hold Brandon Jennings in check even though he had some early foul trouble. Jennings, who has killed the Knicks throughout his career, especially at Madison Square Garden, was held to five points on 2-12 shooting. The Knicks played solid defense overall on the night, holding the Pistons to 37.2 percent shooting for the game.

-Negatives

At this point the Knicks cannot be picky about wins but this one they were lucky to come away with. Outside of Anthony the Knicks offense was abysmal, combining to score only 55 points on 35.1 percent shooting (20-57 from the field, 3-19 3pt). The Knicks will need a better performance from their supporting cast Thursday night or else the Heat will run them off the court.

Al Bello/Getty Images

It is never easy when you don’t have your starting center but the Knicks got hammered on the boards tonight. The Pistons man handled the Knicks in the rebounding department, out rebounding the Knicks 54-38. Andre Drummond and Greg Monroe has their way in the paint, grabbing 17 and 11 rebounds respectively as the Knicks had no ways of slowing them down.

The fourth quarter let down by the Knicks is unacceptable. Jennings has questioned his team before, saying they give up too easily but tonight they fought until the very end; it was the Knicks who looked to pack it in being up 15 entering the final quarter. The Knicks need to stop reverting back to bad habits as the offense stalled. The combination of isolation plays being called and Felton losing steam because his conditioning is not up to par yet resulted in a disastrous fourth quarter fort he Knicks that saw them get outscored 27-16.

Mike Woodson still does not seem to put this team in the best position to win with the rotations and lineups he decides on. Tonight Felton was pushed to the max and it almost cost the Knicks as he had two costly turnovers while the Pistons mounted their comeback. Also J.R. Smith somehow was able to get 30 minutes of playing time again giving the Knicks almost no impact; he finished with only six points and -10. The Knicks will also fall into luls like in the fourth quarter as Woodson continues to show blind loyalties to certain players.  

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Knicks Drop Mavericks for Winning Road Trip

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Sunday, January 5^th, 2014

New York Knicks vs. Dallas Mavericks

Post Game Recap

The Knicks were able to surprise many people by winning in Dallas Sunday night, giving them a 2-1 finish to the Texas Triangle road trip. It was a pretty decisive victory for the Knicks, who won the game 92-80. They were able to overcome some demons in the process as they had lost 14 of their previous 16 games in Dallas. It was a total team effort from the Knicks tonight as they picked each other up to make the plane ride back to New York much more pleasant. It will be interesting to see if the Knicks can ride the momentum from this successful road trip and put together a winning streak to get them back into the Atlantic Division race.

-Player of the Game: Kenyon Martin

Sharon Ellman

Coming into the game Martin was a game-time decision because of an ankle injury. When it was announced that Tyson Chandler would not be able to return after only four minutes with an upper respiratory infection, Martin got a big increase in minutes and responded well.

Martin stepped up for his teammates, playing 29 minutes off the bench even with the hobbled ankle. He scored a season-high 14 points on 7-8 shooting, grabbed six rebounds, handed out two assists and added one block to the normal intimidating defense he provides. “I knew Tyson wasn’t feeling the best. I might pay for it tomorrow but I’ll take the win anytime,” Martin said following the game. That type of will to win and dedication to the team is something the Knicks have seemed to lack at times this season. It is refreshing to see Martin putting it all on the line for the team to get this thing turned around.

-Match Up of the Game Review: Andrea Bargnani vs. Dirk Nowitzki

The Knicks were able to neutralize Nowitzki pretty well throughout the night. He scored only 18 points, well below his normal average against the Knicks, on 6-11 shooting. Where he surprisingly struggled was at the foul line, where he went 5-9; he entered the game shooting 92 percent from the charity stripe. He grabbed nine rebounds and added an assist and steal as well. Bargnani had a solid, total game for the Knicks Sunday. He scored 13 points on 6-12 shooting from the field and grabbed six rebounds in only 26 minutes of play.  The Knicks ability, thanks in part to Bargnani, to keep the damage Nowitzki did to a minimum was a big help in getting the victory.

-Positives

Jerome Miron/USA TODAY Sports

The Knicks offense was efficient and crisp throughout the night. They shot 48.7 percent from the field making 37-76 shots from the field (5-13 3pt). The ball movement was on point, as the Knicks assisted on 20 of the 37 makes. Everyone stepped up and played a part tonight as well as Anthony scored only four points after the first quarter. The Knicks had four other players, Bargnani, Amar’e Stoudemire, Martin and Tim Hardaway Jr., score in double figures to join Anthony. The bench was especially strong, outscoring the Mavericks bench 47-24.

Iman Shumpert did not have the gaudy stat line he had in the first two games on the road trip but he iced the game away for the Knicks down the stretch. He made a nice reverse lay-up with 1:37 in the fourth quarter and knocked down a three pointer on the Knicks next possession. He also added two free throws with 48 seconds remaining, giving him seven of his nine points in a 49 second span. He also added six rebounds and three steals to his stat line.

Even without Chandler the final 44 minutes of the game the Knicks defense and rebounding was outstanding throughout the night. The Mavericks were held to 41 percent shooting (32-78) and an unsightly 23.1 percent (6-26) from the three point line. In addition to slowing down Nowitzki they were able to hold Monta Ellis and Jose Calderon in check as the two combined for only 25 points, nine assists and five turnovers. All the more impressive as the Mavericks entered the game as one of the most efficient offenses in the NBA. The Knicks were able to finish those defensive possessions as they rebounded well, out rebounding the Mavericks 47-34. The Knicks were able to gang rebound, as six different players had six or more rebounds; Bargnani, Anthony, Shumpert, Stoudemire, Martin and J.R. Smith.

-Negatives

The third quarter was once again a problem for the Knicks. You wouldn’t know it looking at the final score but the Mavericks were in the game until the final minutes. The Knicks let a 19 point lead diminish to as little as six points but were able to pull it out thanks to Shumpert’s heroics. The problem for the Knicks was on the offensive end, as they scored only 15 points in the quarter in large part because of Anthony’s struggles.

Chandler’s injury is something this team cannot afford. They are finally looking to get things together and to lose Chandler would be a massive blow. Martin filled in admirably tonight but it is unreasonable to ask him to be able to provide that kind of production game in and game out. Hopefully Chandler is ready to go by Tuesday or you will see a lot of Martin and Stoudemire at center and may also see Jeremy Tyler and Cole Aldrich in more than just cameos. 

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