Depleted Mavs fall to Clippers 115-98

Right out of the gate, the Dallas Mavericks were dealt a bad hand.

If Mavs fans thought Rajon Rondo being injured was bad, having big man Tyson Chandler and shooting guard Monta Ellis sidelined is a nightmare. In Monday night's game against the Los Angeles Clippers, both Ellis and Chandler went down in the opening minutes of the first quarter. Ellis with an apparent hip injury, Chandler with an ankle injury.

DeAndre Jordan took full advantage of the lack of Tyson Chandler down low and grabbed 27 rebounds while adding 22 points in the win. Chris Paul also cooked against the already depleted point guard line up for the Mavs, adding 21 points and 13 assists.

A positive for the Mavericks is backup forward, Charlie Villanueva, who dropped a season high 26 points.

Trying to overcome having three starters out was deemed too tall of a task for the Mavericks, who still hung around at times and shooting 40% from the floor to the Clippers 44%

The All-Star break can not come soon enough for Dallas. They need to get healthy and regroup to get into gear to make a push down the stretch.  It's possible that the Mavs can add pieces to the bench like Jermaine O'Neal and Amar'e Stoudemire who can add much needed size down low to help out Chandler on the boards.

This loss drops the Mavs to 2-11 against Western Conference playoff teams. Funny thing is, when the Mavs went on that 2011 championship run, they were 2-15 after New Years day against Western Conference playoff teams. Does history repeat itself? Only time will tell.

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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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New York Knicks Trade Tyson Chandler, Raymond Felton To Dallas Mavericks For 4 Players, 2 Draft Picks

Written by Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Photo Via ESPN

Since taking over as President of the New York Knicks, Phil Jackson has been biding his time for the right move. That move came Wednesday afternoon, as Jackson executed his first big move as lead man for the Knicks, executing a trade with the Dallas Mavericks. The trade, just waiting NBA approval, will send Tyson Chandler and Raymond Felton to the Mavericks for Samuel Dalembert, Jose Calderon, Shane Larkin Wayne Ellington, and the 34^th and 51^st picks in the draft Thursday night.

It is quite a haul for Jackson and the Knicks, as Felton was looked at as a player that would be tough to move after struggling mightily last season with injuries and off-court issues. But the Mavericks coveted Chandler after losing this season in the first round to eventual NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs, and were willing to take on what is becoming an albatross contract in Felton. Chandler will be reunited with the team that he helped to defeat the Miami Heat in 2011 NBA Finals in the first season of the ‘Big 3” era.

For the Knicks this is something new to see. Usually they are on the end of a trade with the less attractive pieces coming aboard, but for once it can be argued they won this trade and handedly.

Seeing the Knicks receiving draft picks is one of the rarest sights in recent NBA memory. Prior to Jackson coming aboard, the Knicks treated draft picks like candy on Halloween, just handing them out to whoever asked. But Jackson seems to be changing that philosophy, and seemed hell-bent on getting into this draft. The Mavericks gave the Knicks that opportunity, sending the 34^th and 51^st picks. They are only second rounders, but a pick that high in the second round could net the Knicks a valuable player. One person being mentioned is Florida big man Patric Young, whom the Knicks had in for a workout. He would bring plenty of toughness to a Knicks frontcourt that is lacking in that department to put it nicely with the likes of Andrea Bargnani (When he isn’t facing off against Kevin Garnett and the Brooklyn Nets).

Jerome Miron - USA TODAY Sports

For starters, Calderon and Dalembert are an upgrade over Felton and Chandler. Calderon is an outstanding fit in the triangle offense with his deadly accuracy from the perimeter and limited turnover rates. The triangle offense makes the need for a top flight PG less important, but a player like Calderon should thrive there as a spot up three-point shooter.

People will point out that Calderon actually has a contract longer than Felton did, but depending on what direction the Knicks take from here that should not be much of a problem. Flipping Calderon at a later date, if the need arises, should not be tough for the Knicks. He is more than serviceable point guard that a team would be willing to take on if the need for a point guard is apparent.

Calderon could also help the Knicks in recruiting, as Marc Gasol becomes a free agent next summer. Calderon and Gasol are close from their time playing with the Spain National Team, and his presence on the Knicks should entice him to come to New York to play alongside Calderon.

Dalembert may be a downgrade according to some people, but he should be able to hold his own in the middle of the defense. Like Chandler, he does not possess much of a face-up offensive game, which hurts his value in the triangle offense, but he is a better offensive rebounder at this point than Chandler, and is also a more efficient finisher. But it is worth repeating, Dalembert will not be playing for his offensive prowess, if he even makes it to the court at all as a Knick.

Rocky Widner/Getty Images

Dalembert’s contract for the upcoming season is actually not fully guaranteed, meaning the Knicks could just cut him and save even more money. As it currently sits, the Knicks should save about $3 million but that could reach as much as $5 million depending on what is done with Dalembert and because he has a 15 percent trade kicker. It is also worth noting, if he does play, that he actually had better per 36 minute stats last season than Chandler, averaging 11.8 points, 12.1 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks compared to 10.4 points, 11.5 rebounds and 1.4 blocks for Chandler.

The other pieces the Knicks made could also come in handy. Ellington offers another contract the Knicks could offer up if other moves are to be made, but on the court he will help in an area the Knicks had a severe drop off last season; perimeter shooting. In his career, Ellington is a 38.6 percent shooter from behind the arc, shooting 42.4 percent last season and 39.6 percent in 2013. He should be able to carve out a role similar to what Steve Novak thrived in during the Knicks successful 2013 season.

The big piece and x-factor in this trade is Larkin. The 18^th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, Larkin was a player the Knicks had actually had on their radar. He is undersized at 5’11” and 176 pounds, but he has great athleticism, holding the highest vertical jump for a point guard at the NBA Combine with a 44” leap last season. He did struggle last season as a rookie, like plenty of people in that draft class, but SCHOENE projections has Larkin pegged for being a very good backup at the very least by the time his rookie contract comes to an end.

Ronald Martinez - USA TODAY Sports

The Knicks may not be the team that sees that jump in production though, as rumors already have been swirling that they were looking to flip Dalembert and Larkin to another team barely after this trade became official. No one is sure yet what this trade means in the big picture for the Knicks other than Jackson himself, but you can be assured this will be a much more active summer for New York than people originally thought. Jackson fired off his first move today, but smart money would be on this not being the last.

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New York Knicks' Raymond Felton Avoids Jail Time, What Is His Future With Team?

Written by Kenneth Teape (@teapester725) 

AP Photo/John Minchillo

New York Knicks point guard Raymond Felton received some good news Monday morning, as he will avoid jail time after reaching a plea agreement on two felony gun charges he had been facing since late February.

Per the agreement made, Felton has to plead guilty to one of the two charges, which were third degree criminal possession of a weapon or criminal possession of a firearm. In addition, he has to complete 500 hours of community service, pay a $5,000 fine, register as a gun offender and he cannot appeal the case, waiving that right.

Felton did not talk at the hearing Monday morning, and did not take questions from reporters either once out of the courtroom. He did issue a statement for all to hear once outside.

“I just want to say that I want to thank the DA for being fair to me in this whole situation. I want to thank all my friends, my family especially, my fans, everybody just for supporting me and understanding the person I am.”

It has been a tumultuous time for Felton, who has had these charges hanging over his head since February 25^th when he turned himself in. His wife, Ariane Raymundo-Felton, alleged that he threatened her with a firearm. She also filed for divorce from Felton just a week prior to this incident.

Felton is fortunate to receive the decision that he did, because it could have been much worse. New York sports fans remember Plaxico Burress having to deal with gun charges in 2008, derailing the New York Giants season when they looked poised to challenge for another Super Bowl. Burress received a two year jail sentence; Felton’s charges carried a maximum of seven years in prison. He should consider himself lucky to receive the sentence that he did.

Joe Camporeale/USA TODAY Sports

On the basketball side of things, Felton has two years remaining on the four-year $15 million contract he signed prior to the 2012-2013 season, with a player option on the end.

He had arguably the worst season of his career last year, averaging a career-low 9.7 points per game on 39.5 percent shooting and only 5.6 assists per game. Stats like that will make it hard for Felton to be moved, but the Knicks will certainly try.

Earlier in the offseason, it was reported that Jackson planned on moving on from Felton, essentially telling him during his exit interview that his chances of staying with the team were slim to none. With Felton avoiding jail time, the chances of Jackson being able to move Felton increased. The only thing Felton and whatever team he plays on next season has to worry about is a suspension from the NBA.

Where Felton will be moved is a whole different animal. It is hard to imagine a team taking on Felton willingly, so a more realistic option would be him being added into a bigger trade. For example, a team wanting Tyson Chandler, it is conceivable the Knicks try to convince them to take on Felton as well. It is the type of trade that would have only been a pipedream in recent seasons, as the Knicks were usually the ones taking on poor contracts.

Another option is being packaged with Iman Shumpert. The Knicks were close to trading Shumpert at the 2014 trade deadline, but the deals were off after they insisted on including Felton in the deal. The bartering back and forth between taking back a first round draft pick and moving Felton stalled all of the deals. With the offseason now on our hands and the draft right around the corner, the Knicks are again shopping Shumpert in hopes of getting into the first round of what is a loaded draft.

There is interest in Shumpert, and the Knicks should take advantage and try pawning Felton off on another team. Felton’s days as a serviceable starting point guard look to be behind him, but he would easily be a top reserve guard with the capabilities of spot starting when necessary. A team like the Thunder could have a use for Felton with Derek Fisher retiring and coaching the Knicks now, and previously having interest in Shumpert.

While it may be tough moving Felton, the Knicks do not have many other options replacing him. They have already been linked to liking Patty Mills, but being armed with only the mini-mid level exception he may not be in their price range. While many people will see it as a disappointment if Felton is still the starting point guard for the Knicks next season, it is the most likely scenario. The Knicks just have to hope the veteran point guard can bounce back after a tough 2013-2014 season.

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W2W4: Brooklyn Nets vs. New York Knicks; April 2nd, 2014

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Wednesday, April 2^nd, 2014

Brooklyn Nets vs. New York Knicks

Pre-Game News and Notes

The New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets will be facing off in a big game Wednesday night, as the Knick are fighting to get into the playoffs and the Nets are looking to move up in the standings. The Knicks are coming off their most successful west coast trip since 1999-2000 and will look to ride that momentum tonight against their cross-town rivals. For the Nets, they played last night and handled the Houston Rockets rather easily. Here are some things to look for tonight in the Battle of the Boroughs.

-Player News and Notes

The Knicks are staring at a big problem tonight, as Tim Hardaway Jr. is questionable with an ankle injury. Hardaway Jr. injured the ankle in the waning moments of the Knicks win Monday night over the Utah Jazz. If he is unable to go, Iman Shumpert will be in line for an increase in minutes and big role in the game plan. Amar’e Stoudemire should be back in the lineup for the Knicks tonight after sitting out Monday with a planned day of rest.

For the Nets, they will still be without Kevin Garnett. Garnett is not expected to make a return to the lineup until next week at the earliest. Andrei Kirilenko was not able to play last night for the Nets and his status is up in the air for the game tonight. Same goes for Marcus Thornton, who missed Tuesday’s game with back problems.

-Match-Up Of the Game: Carmelo Anthony vs. Paul Pierce

Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE/Getty Images

These two have matched up together since Anthony was traded to the Knicks from the Denver Nuggets and will continue to be the match-up to watch tonight as well. The Nets have begun using a smaller lineup with Garnett sidelined, with Pierce filling the role Anthony does with the Knicks in a smaller lineup. No matter what position they lineup at tonight, the two of them should be matched up together a majority of the night.

-Who Replaces Hardaway Jr.?

If Hardaway Jr. is unable to go tonight because of his ankle, the first player in line to take over his minutes will be Shumpert. Shumpert's struggles have been well documented this season, but the Knicks will need to him to look more like he did on the Texas Triangle trip tonight to overcome the Nets. Shumpert had a strong game offensively in the Knicks victory over the Nets this season, scoring 17 points, but struggled mightily in the loss to the Nets scoring only five points.

Where Shumpert will help the Knicks is the defensive end. Shumpert is far and away the better defender compared to Hardaway Jr., and that will be important tonight as the Knicks and Nets are both playing good basketball right now. Whichever team can get the timely stops will be able to come out ahead tonight.

-Front Court Battle

The Knicks will have a huge edge on the interior tonight and they must take advantage of it. Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler have combined to be quite a force on the inside recently for the Knicks, resulting in much better results in the win-loss column. Tonight they have to take advantage of the opportunities that will be given to them in Miles Plumlee and Andray Blatche.

With the Nets going small, the Knicks need to pound in the paint and attack the basket. The Nets do not have any rim protectors and should be able to make a living in the interior. If they are able to do that, it will open up the perimeter for players such as J.R. Smith and Anthony to knock down three pointers. 

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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 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 Embarrassed by Lakers To Start West Coast Trip

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Tuesday, March 25^th, 2014

New York Knicks vs. Los Angeles Lakers

Post Game Recap

If fans of the New York Knicks thought that Sunday was disappointing, it hit a whole different level of low Tuesday night in Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Lakers destroyed the listless Knicks 127-96. It was a frighten sight for the Knicks, who gave no effort and did not seem to care about what was happening in the game. It was an embarrassing performance for a team still in the playoff race. The Knicks playoff hopes are on life support and fading fast as the poor performances continue to pile up. The Knicks will have a quick turnaround as they will play the Sacramento Kings tomorrow night in the second night of the back-to-back.

Player of the Game: None

For the second consecutive game the Knicks do not have a player of the game. It was a total team embarrassment from top to bottom, players and coaching staff.

Robert Hanashiro/USA TODAY Sports

Match-up of the Game Recap:

J.R. Smith and Nick Young didn’t have the match-up anticipated at the start of the game, partially because the Knicks were blown out after the first quarter. Like all of his teammates, Smith was unable to get anything going consistently in the game. Young on the other hand had to going, pouring in 20 points in only 19 minutes. Young, like the Lakers, ran away with this match-up tonight.

-Positives

After starting the game 0-6, Carmelo Anthony was able to finish stronger, ending the game 10-21 for 29 points. Anthony added nine rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block to round out his stat line for the night.

The first quarter was the only bright spot for the Knicks. Anthony struggled but they were still able to take a 22-14 lead into the second quarter. The 14 points allowed were a season low for the Knicks, as they looked to be well on their way to a much needed victory.

-Negative

The remaining three quarters were a nightmare for the Knicks. After allowing a season-low 14 points, they allowed a franchise-high 51 in the third quarter. That is also a record for points in a quarter for the Lakers, which is shocking because this is quite possibly the worst Laker team in franchise history. The Lakers poured it on after the first quarter, scoring 113 points in quarters 2-4. They really lit the Knicks up from deep, knocking down 18-28 from the three point line.

Harry How/Getty Images

The Knicks bench was pounded tonight. When they were matched up with the Lakers bench to start the second quarter things got out of hand quick and the Lakers started rolling. The Knicks bench scored 21 points combined, 17 from Tim Hardaway Jr. On the contrary, the Lakers bench poured in 82. Xavier Henry scored 22, Young had 20 and Kent Bazemore had 18 to lead the onslaught.

It was scary how poor the Knicks defense was after the first quarter. They showed no heart or effort, leading to a blowout and yet another embarrassing loss. Hardaway Jr. continues to get torched nightly, as he has failed to even pick up the basics of defense in the NBA 60+ games into his rookie season. Tyson Chandler did nothing to protect the paint, as the Lakers scored 40 in there with little to no resistance.  It was an embarrassing performance all-around for the Knicks on the defensive end. They got dominated by essentially a D-League team and players who haven’t played in a very long time. Chris Kaman, who hasn’t even talked to his coach in three weeks, was inserted into the lineup tonight with Pau Gasol out, and scored 13 points and grabbed nine rebounds.

The team should have to find their own way to Sacramento for the game tomorrow and some people should be left in California for the remainder of the season. They have had golden opportunities to move up in the standings and close the gap with the Atlanta Hawks but have squandered all of them. The Knicks have played heartless and low IQ basketball for the better part of the six quarters and do not deserve a playoff spot. It is hard to imagine this is the same team that beat the Indiana Pacers last week at Madison Square Garden, creating as positive of vibes the team has had all season, and that is all gone now.

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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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W2W4: New York Knicks vs Cleveland Cavaliers; March 23rd, 2014

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Sunday, March 23^rd, 2014

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks

Pre-Game News and Notes

The New York Knicks will look to continue their winning streak Sunday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks are coming off of a semi-disaster from Friday night, as the bench squandered a 15-point lead in less than four minutes. The Knicks have to come in and handle business tonight against a Cavaliers team that has faded from the playoff race, losing their last four games. Here are some things to keep an eye on for tonight.

Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

Player News and Notes:

The Knicks have no new injury or player news. Andrea Bargnani and Kenyon Martin still seem to be nowhere near returning to the court and are looking less and less likely to make a return to the court with every passing game.

The Cavaliers currently are being hammered by injuries. C.J. Miles was unable to get on the court last night and is a game-time decision at best for tonight. Luol Deng has missed the previous three games and looks to be doubtful at best for the game tonight as well. Kyrie Irving is also out once again, as his biceps injury could possibly keep him out the remainder of the season. There is really no reason for the Cavaliers to rush any of these players back as their playoff hopes are hanging on by a thread, so they have very little to play for.

Match-up of the Game: Tyson Chandler vs. Spencer Hawes

Suffering through so many injuries the Cavaliers are pretty thin everywhere, but one player who can still hurt the Knicks is Hawes. The Cavaliers picked Hawes up at the trade deadline from the Philadelphia 76ers and he has brought an added dimension to the Cavalier team as a big man who can step out and knock down some three pointers. Hawes gave the Knicks some problems the last time these two teams met, scoring 21 points and pulling down 10 rebounds. Chandler will have his hands full but should be able contain Hawes. Chandler is playing some really good basketball right now, and should continue to do so tonight.

-Backcourt Battle

Both the Knicks and Cavaliers have moved their prolific sixth men into their respective starting lineups and should make for a good match-up. J.R. Smith against Dion Waiters will be fun to watch throughout the game and easily could have been the match-up of the game.

Both Smith and Waiters are explosive scorers that can take over a game offensively. They both are capable playmakers as well when they want to be. This match-up will be an x-factor in the game tonight as whichever wing gets the better of the other will give their team a nice edge.

-Take Control Early

The Knicks need to continue winning as they currently sit three games behind the Atlanta Hawks for eighth place in the Eastern Conference with 13 games remaining. Playing on the road, they need to take a stranglehold right from the start and control the game the rest of the way. Getting Carmelo Anthony going early and often will help the Knicks build an early lead to build off of. If the Cavaliers are able to hang around in the game, their confidence will grow and make things much more difficult on the Knicks than they have to be.

-Mike Woodson Coaching Decisions

Woodson had a huge gaffe in the game Saturday night, inserting the bench players into the game before the win was sealed. A loss in that fashion would have been extremely embarrassing and a final blow to the Knicks playoff hopes. Woodson needs to put the team in better positions to succeed and be willing to make changes when necessary. There was no reason those reserves should have been in the game so early, or in the game that long as the lead disappeared. Woodson is lucky he is even the coach of the Knicks anymore and another gaffe like the one Saturday may be the final blow to the Knicks playoff hopes and his standing as the 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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