New York Knicks, Carmelo Anthony Both Winners With New Contract

Written by Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Photo Credit: Reuters

It took longer than some people had hoped, but the New York Knicks and Carmelo Anthony finally were able to come to an agreement on a contract, as he will play out the remainder of his prime years in orange and blue. The exact numbers of the contract are not known, but what is known is that it will be for five years and between $122-123 million. It is not for the maximum that the Knicks were allowed under the CBA to offer Anthony, which makes both the player and organizations winners in this pact.

Heading into free agency, the biggest advantage the Knicks had over any other team courting Anthony was money. They could offer an extra year and anywhere between $30 and almost $50 million dollars depending on who the contract was coming from. While the extra money would be hard to pass up for Anthony, President Phil Jackson and the Knicks still needed to make sure the flexibility would still be there. $6-7 million does not sound like much of a discount, but given the circumstances the Knicks are in and cap situation, that is a big help.

Under the current CBA, Anthony is eligible for 7.5 percent increases in salary every season of the deal starting at $22.5 million. If reports are right and Anthony takes a flat salary in Year 2, the numbers will go as follows:

2014-15: $22.5 million

2015-16: $22.5 million

2016-2017: $24.2 million

2017-2018: $25.9 million

2018-2019: 27.6 million

Where the Knicks save in this deal is the second year of the contract, where they needed it most. The summer of 2015 is where the Knicks will have immense cap space, the first real chance Jackson and new head coach Derek Fisher have to really shape this roster. With Anthony firmly in place, they have the cornerstone, now it is time to augment the roster and add to the centerpiece they have in place. It does not seem like a lot on the outside, but that $2 million dollars could be the difference between the regular midlevel exception and the mini. 

The idea behind this is that Anthony gets his money, but later on so that the Knicks can take advantage of the massive cap space they are projected to have earlier on in the Anthony pact. Teams will more often than not try getting players to take less at the end of their contracts, but with this one the Knicks are agreeing to make sure Anthony gets his money over time as long as he gives them the flexibility earlier on to help get talent around him.

Jackson was very happy with how things progressed as well, saying, “He [Carmelo] did exactly what we kind of asked him to do. Give us a break in the early part of his contract so that when we have some wiggle room next year, which is hopefully big enough wiggle room, we can exploit it.” Jackson continued that saying, “I want to be fiscally responsible. We’ve been a taxpayer team for a little bit and we want to limit that.”

The Knicks have the taxpayer’s mini midlevel exception available to them, but they may not put that to use this season. The Knicks, admitted by Jackson, have some holes on the roster, but said, “We’re not just going to foolishly throw money away because it’s available to us.”

The hard part now is done for the Knicks, as they finally have their guy in Anthony locked up and on board. The next step for the Knicks will be evening out the roster. As currently situated, the Knicks are over-loaded in the backcourt with a log jam at the shooting guard position and a plethora of guards. On the flipside, they are thin up front and could use some help up front in the center and big man departments. How they go about filling those holes will be interesting to watch, as the goal is to keep the salary cap in 2015 and beyond as open as possible.

During his time on the television broadcast Jackson mentioned some holdovers from last season that he expected to see improvements from this season. That may be the strategy the Knicks take, hoping players such as Iman Shumpert and Andrea Bargnani fit more into the new scheme than the old one. Whatever the decision must be, it is now up to Jackson and Fisher to continue shaping this organization into the contender the fans and city are desperate to have.

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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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The Future For Carmelo Anthony

Written by Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

ESPN.GO.COM

Carmelo Anthony has come out and said that he will not be traded at the NBA Trade Deadline next week and that he also wants to remain with the New York Knicks. He went as far as even saying that he will take a pay cut to stay with the Knicks if it meant getting some more talent around him. That is quite possibly the best thing that has happened for Knicks fans this season, as the Knicks already have more losses this season before the All-Star break than they had all of last season.

Even with what Anthony has said, the Knicks will be hard pressed to make changes to the roster. The Knicks are not holding a strong hand from the asset position, having no draft picks to trade until 2018 and not many players other teams want. For this season the Knicks will need a turnaround from the players they currently have to sneak into the post season.

The Knicks can shop Iman Shumpert around again, but his stock is at an all-time low currently; the Knicks have already had trades with the Denver Nuggets for Kenneth Faried and Timberwolves for Derrick Williams, who was traded to the Sacramento Kings, declined. At this point it may be best just to keep Shumpert and hope he can rekindle some of the magic he had during last season’s playoffs. There are no other players on the roster currently that would bring back much in the way of trades, as players like Beno Udrih and Metta World Peace would just bring back filler or maybe a second round draft pick.

Instead the Knicks should just hope their players can get it back on track this season. Injuries have decimated the Knicks throughout the first half so getting healthy through the All-Star break would be a big plus. The Knicks can then start shaping the roster to appease Anthony. The Knicks need to stop making short-sighted moves and hold onto the young assets they have like Tim Hardaway Jr.; trading him for a rental such as Kyle Lowry, a free agent after the season, would deplete the Knicks assets further and could dig into the cap space they are saving for 2015. The fact the Knicks could have had Lowry earlier in the season before he got on a roll and the Raptors started winning makes trading for him now that much worse of an idea; the Raptors are now dealing from a position of strength and will once again take advantage of the Knicks short-sighted decision making and quick trigger.

Jesse D. Garrabrant/Getty Images

This summer the Knicks can be big players in the trade market. They will be armed with massive expiring deals when Tyson Chandler, Andrea Bargnani and Amar’e Stoudemire all come off the books after the 2014-2015 season for a total of more than $48 million. Contracts of that size could be attractive for teams looking to get anything for players who may leave for free agency, such as Rajon Rondo or Kevin Love.

It would not be a problem and could even be the smartest move for the Knicks to just hold onto the players and let them expire off their salary cap. It would give the Knicks loads of cap space and the ability to hold onto players such as Hardaway Jr. and building around the players they have, instead of stripping down the roster again and taking on bad contracts. There have been too many examples of the Knicks giving away expiring contracts to bring back bad ones, a practice that has not worked well for them. Letting the contracts expire also gives the Knicks the best chance to put the kind of players around Anthony necessary to elevate the team to the next level.

Signing the younger players they have now to team-friendly contracts would be a smart idea as well. Jeremy Tyler looks like he can be a solid big man off the bench, providing energy, scoring and a presence in the rebounding department. He is only 22 years old, so locking him up as soon as possible would be smart before he out-performs what the Knicks’ budget is. Toure’ Murry is another player that would be worth a look as a third or fourth guard. He is still learning the point guard position but is already a strong defender with the capability of becoming lockdown once he gets more experience.

But what if Anthony ends up not staying? Nothing is official until he signs on the dotted line so there is still a chance that he leaves the Knicks and if he does it would be a big blow to the franchise.

Howard Simmons/New York Daily News

With how the New York Knicks have been playing this season it is fair to think that Carmelo Anthony will bolt from the Knicks. They have been underachieving all season and with each passing loss the possibility of missing the playoffs becomes more and more of a reality. Who could blame him for leaving the Knicks as a free agent this offseason when he opts-out of his contract? He has stated that the main goal for the remainder of his career is to win a championship (shouldn’t have been that from the very beginning?).

If Anthony would leave the Knicks this team would be on a fast track to the top of the lottery. They are losing with him having quite possibly the best season of his career, imagine the team without him? If he walked as a free agent it would be catastrophic for the Knicks. They would lose their best player with little to no chance of replacing him. Being cash strapped already above the salary cap and with no draft picks not much would be able to be done to replace Anthony leaving as a free agent. Depending on where he decided to sign the Knicks could attempt working out a sign-and-trade but there is no guarantee that would happen. Walking as a free agent would be the worst outcome for the Knicks because of how limited their resources would be to even make the feeblest attempt at filling his shoes.

The only way the Knicks would be able to field a competitive team for next season without Anthony would be trading him. They would be able to add some pieces to help kick-start the rebuild process, but who would be willing to trade major assets away for Anthony without the guarantee that he will stay with the team long term? The landing spots for Anthony are far and few between as teams with the combination of cap space to re-sign him and assets the Knicks would want are slim. Add in the fact that there seemingly so few places Anthony even wants to play makes it that much more difficult. It would not be easy trading Anthony, but if it is something the Knicks decide needs to happen they could pull it off. More than likely the Knicks will have to take back less than what Anthony is truly worth.

Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE/Getty Images

One landing spot that has been mentioned that Anthony wants to play is the Los Angeles Clippers. Infamously at Anthony’s wedding it was proclaimed that Chris Paul would be joining him in New York with Amar’e Stoudemire to make their version of a ‘Big 3’. Because of decisions made by the Knicks that was never able to happen, so why not unite in Los Angeles together? The idea of a trade centered on Anthony and Blake Griffin sounds good but has little chance of happening. Griffin is 24 years old and coming into his own while Anthony is about to hit 30 and is pretty much set in his ways. The other landing spot that has been mentioned for Anthony is the Chicago Bulls. They have plenty of assets the Knicks would be glad to take back, such as up and coming wing Jimmy Butler and 2013 first round draft pick Tony Snell. The Knicks would have to be willing to take on a contract such as Carlos Boozer to make the money work, but that should not be a hindrance.

If the Knicks are in fact going to trade Anthony before next week’s trade deadline it would not be surprising to see them then unload virtually everyone on the roster. Next in line would most likely be Chandler, who off his reputation alone could fetch the Knicks a first round draft pick from a team looking to get over the hump as a contender; possibly the Oklahoma City Thunder or Portland Trail Blazers. It would be smart for the Knicks to also attempt including albatross contracts they no longer want, such as Raymond Felton and J.R. Smith in any moves they make.

If they do end up going down the path of trading Anthony, it would be a successful trade deadline if they can get back some picks to replenish the ones they have traded away and move the contracts of players that no longer would fit into the rebuilding process. This would be a forced rebuild for the Knicks, something they have avoided doing with quick patch work trades to take on veterans on bloated contracts and disregarding draft picks. It would also mean that Dolan admitted it was a mistake to move so many pieces for Anthony, so the chances of that happening are minuscule at best. With or without Anthony the 2015 offseason will be when the Knicks can truly start remaking this roster, hopefully into a title contender.

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Knicks Lose to Lowly 76ers As Skid Hits 5 Games

Wednesday, January 22^nd, 2014

Philadelphia 76ers vs. New York Knicks

Post Game Recap

Jim O'Connor/USA TODAY Sports

The Knicks have hit an all-time low for the second time this season, this time because of a home loss to the 76ers, losing 110-106. The Knicks are full of turmoil and the problems they are having behind the scenes off the court are beginning to rear their ugly head on the court. Mike Woodson cannot find workable combinations as the five players he employs on the court look like they all speak different languages and are not on the same page; they look constantly lost and play scared because of the tension surrounding the team currently. With how things are looking it seems that there is no turn around on the horizon. With the loss tonight the losing streak is ran up to five games and 0-3 thus far on the home stand. The Knicks will get back at it Friday night against the Charlotte Bobcats.

Player of the Game: Andrea Bargnani

Bargnani played only 28 minutes on the night but he played a solid game, finishing as the only Knick with a positive +/- in the starting lineup. Bargnani was aggressive throughout the game, scoring 20 points as he did not settle for as many deep jump shots tonight as normal; he attacked the paint and was able to get to the foul line for six free throw attempts, making five of them. He also added four rebounds and some good one-on-one defense again. He got switched onto smaller player on a very occasions but he was able to hold his own, getting four blocks on the night. The thing Bargnani has to do is get more consistent; if the Knicks knew what they were going to get from him game in and game out things would be much better.

Match-up of the Game Recap:

Frank Franklin III/AP Photo

Raymond Felton wasn’t as embarrassed as he could have been Wednesday night by Michael Carter-Williams but he was still thoroughly outplayed. Felton and Carter-Williams both struggled from the court but MCW was able to do other things to help his team out tonight; he grabbed 12 rebounds in addition to the seven assists he handed out. Unlike Felton, MCW was also able to hold his own when switched onto bigger players, never giving up an easy basket, showing just how nice it is to have the size advantage that he has over other point guards.

-Positives

On a freezing night in New York, the Knicks were able to warm things up with a scorching 15-33 from the three point line. Carmelo Anthony, Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith all knocked down multiple shots from deep as it was the only thing really keeping the Knicks in the game tonight.

The bench gave the Knicks a much needed boost tonight. Without Amar’e Stoudemire and Kenyon Martin the Knicks do not have much size coming off the bench but there is plenty of athleticism. Tim Hardaway Jr. always gets the crowd in a frenzy when he enters the game and when Smith is on the crowd goes nuts as he knocks down three pointers. Tonight, coupled with Pablo Prigioni and Bargnani, they were able to get the Knicks back into the game and give them a five point lead in the fourth quarter.

Smith did not have a strong shooting night, going 5-16 but he looks to be getting his confidence back. He was not forcing the action as much tonight and looked to shoot every shot with confidence tonight. Shumpert looked to be in the zone as well, something the Knicks desperately have been waiting for from their wing players. The Knicks suffer when Smith and Shumpert are not on top of their games as they are two of the most athletic players on the team that are capable of getting easy shots.

-Negatives

Jim O'Connor/USA TODAY Sports

The 76ers came into the game as the second worst three-point shooting team in the NBA; you wouldn’t have known it tonight. On the night they went 9-14 from behind the arc, good for 64.3 percent. The constant switching left 76er players open on multiple occasions from the perimeter and they took advantage. On the night the 76ers shot extremely well, going 42-88 (47.7 percent). It seems every night the Knicks are allowing an opposing player to score either a season or career high. Tonight was no different, as Evan Turner scored a career high 34 points. He shot 13-22 from the field (3-3 3pt, 5-5 FT) as he lit the Knicks up from all over the court. Turner was not alone, as Young scored 19, MWC scored 19 and journeyman James Anderson hurt the Knicks with 18 on 8-11 shooting.

The rebounding department tonight was not visited by the Knicks as they were manhandled on the boards by the 76ers 54-39. It is disturbing that the Knicks were beaten so handedly in rebounding tonight as the 76ers starting center Spencer Hawes grabbed only one on the night; Turner and MCW grabbed 11 and 12 respectively to pace the 76ers. Chandler led the way with 14 for the Knicks as Shumpert added eight.

The post game interviews the Knicks have had recently have been very telling and tonight was no different. Smith and Chandler each had some eyebrow raising quotes tonight, as they spoke on the difficulties they are having on the defensive end. Smith says the 76ers could get any shot they wanted tonight and Chandler followed that up with saying they knew what play was coming on the Thaddeus Young back breaking three-pointer in the fourth quarter and still couldn’t stop it. The Knicks right now are a team on the ropes as close to being knocked out as they have been all season and the quotes and emotions they show during and after games are not ones of a team that looks ready to get back to playing good basketball.

One thing Chandler was critical of was the constant switching the Knicks do on the defensive end. Chandler believes that should be a last resort playing defense; tonight the Knicks continued their switching and it hurt them. The culprit more times than once were Anthony and Shumpert; they were just not on the same page and their breakdowns were crushing in the final minutes of the game. On back-to-back possessions Anthony and Shumpert messed up defensive assignments, leading to an Anderson lay-up and Young three-pointer on the next possession.

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W2W4: New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers; January 16th, 2014

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Thursday, January 16^th, 2014

New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers

Pre-Game News and Notes

The Knicks will look to get back into the win column Thursday night against the Indiana Pacers after a lackluster performance Tuesday against the Charlotte Bobcats. The Knicks will have their hands full against the top seeded team in the Eastern Conference, as the Pacers currently hold a 30-7 record. The Knicks looked tired against the Bobcats and cannot afford to come out with the same energy against the Pacers or they will be blown out of the gym. The Knicks usually get up for games against top teams, evident by the start to 2014 they have had. Here are some things to keep an eye on during the game.

-Player News and Notes

Tyson Chandler was limited to only 16 minutes in Tuesday night’s loss in his first game back from an upper respiratory infection. He will have to give the Knicks more tonight against a very talented and deep front line the Pacers deploy. Pablo Prigioni still is in street clothes and his return is unknown. The Pacers have no reported injuries and will have their full compliment of players tonight.

-What’s Up with J.R.?

Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images

Will Smith have a chance to help the Knicks out tonight? Smith was benched for the second time in four games Tuesday against the Bobcats after a verbal altercation with Mike Woodson about his playing time and being late for a team meeting. Smith had played better in the two games after his first benching, so it was peculiar timing for another benching, especially because it was on the second night of a back-to-back and the first game went into overtime.

Will Smith see the court tonight? It is one of the things to keep an eye on as his situation has dwarfed the talk in New York over the importance of a big game against the Pacers. After talking to Woodson tonight the indication is that Smith will play and the Knicks will need him. The Pacers have an outstanding sixth man in former leading scorer Danny Granger. It would be nice to see Smith go against him and out perform him tonight.

-Front Line Battles

Last season the Knicks struggled to contain the Pacers in the paint; Roy Hibbert was able to control the paint because Chandler was no threat on the offensive end. This season it could be different with Chandler showing confidence in his jump shot and the Knicks now having Andrea Bargnani.

This is the exact game that Bargnani was brought into New York for. He can cause problems as one of either Hibbert or David West will be dragged away from the basket or Bargnani will be having target practice from the perimeter. Bargnani will be a big x-factor in the game tonight; if he is on offensively he can single handedly swing momentum to the Knicks side.

Match up of the Game:  Iman Shumpert vs. Lance Stephenson

All eyes will be on the Carmelo Anthony and Paul George; they are the two biggest stars on their respective teams but you also know what you are going to get from each of them. The match up of Shumpert vs. Stephenson could be the deciding factor in who pulls out the victory.

We have seen in 2014 that when Shumpert plays well the Knicks win. The same could be said for Stephenson and the Pacers; when he is playing well they are tough to stop. They will most likely be matched up throughout the game and it will be a fun match up. Both are very spirited players that play with a lot of emotion and energy. Stephenson has three triple-doubles this season already and has given the Knicks problem in the past but Shumpert is not playing his best basketball of the season.

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Knicks Knock Off Defending Champion Heat

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Thursday, January 9^th, 2014

Miami Heat vs. New York Knicks

Post Game Recap

The Knicks look to finally be getting back on track as they pulled off an impressive victory against the Miami Heat Thursday, winning 102-92. This is the biggest win of the season for the Knicks as they were able to knock off the reigning champs in Madison Square Garden. The Knicks roster has been dealing with the flu bug as only four players were healthy enough to practice yesterday but the whole team came out ready to play today. With the victory the Knicks have won three in a row and four of their last five in the regular season against the Heat. They will look to continue their winning streak Saturday night against the Philadelphia 76ers at 7:30 PM ET in Philadelphia.

Player of the Game: Carmelo Anthony

Jim McIsaac

Against his biggest rival and good friend LeBron James, Anthony showed up once again to help the Knicks get a huge win tonight. Anthony matched up with James throughout the night and was able to limit him because of the great team effort that was put forth by everyone on the court. James was forced into six turnovers as the Knicks made life as difficult as they could for him throughout the night. Anthony led the Knicks with 29 points (12-24 FG, 3-8 3pt, 2-3 FT), eight rebounds, five assists and two steals. Anthony’s efficiency on the offensive end is important when the Knicks play tougher opponents like the Heat and he did a good job getting into great positions to score tonight.

-Positives

Elsa/Getty Images

The guard play had been lacking throughout the early part of the season with Raymond Felton struggling through injuries and Iman Shumpert struggling with his shot. Tonight both were exceptional. Felton, in his second game back from his hamstring injury, scored 13 points and handed out a season-high 14 assists. Felton got into the paint at will against the Heat and was left open multiple times on the perimeter, taking advantage by knocking down jump shots. Shumpert continued his torrid perimeter shooting, knocking down 4-7 from the three point line, all of which that came in the third quarter. He also added nine rebounds and three assists to go with his 12 points. Tim Hardaway Jr. and Toure’ Murry gave the Knicks some energy and exciting minutes off the bench, punctuated by a put-back dunk by Hardaway Jr. over Ray Allen.

Amar’e Stoudemire gave the Knicks quite possibly his best effort of the season; he played so well Mike Woodson stuck with him down the final stretch of his game, leaving Kenyon Martin on the bench. Tonight Stoudemire dominated the glass, pulling down 11 rebounds and shooting extremely efficiently from the field, going 7-12 for 14 points. Stoudemire held down the scoring for the second unit tonight with J.R. Smith essentially being benched by Woodson.

Andrea Bargnani was able to score when given the opportunity which helped the Knicks immensely. With so much attention being given to Anthony, having Bargnani knock down shots early in the game helps immensely. Bargnani scored 10 points in the first quarter to set the tone and finished with 19 on 9-13 shooting from the field. He stuck to what was working tonight as he attempted no three pointers, the first time in his career he didn’t attempt at least one playing 35+ minutes. He also added five rebounds and some good defense on former teammate Chris Bosh, who was held to 3-10 shooting for the night.

The offense was pretty sluggish for the Knicks in the first half but they got it going in the final two quarters. The Knicks were able to outscore the Heat 59-44 in the second half as they got it going from the three point line. The Knicks started the game 1-11 from the three point line but knocked down eight of their last 13 attempts and shot 63 percent overall in the second half. Also, for a team that usually lives and dies by the perimeter shot, the Knicks dominated a good Heat defense in the paint. The Knicks were able to get easy scoring opportunities en route to 52 points in the paint.

Mike Woodson catches a lot of heat in these post game recaps but you have to give credit when credit is due. Tonight Woodson thoroughly out-coached Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra. It was an admirable job by Woodson to get this team ready tonight as he was unable to even have a half hearted practice yesterday as the Knicks only had four healthy players able to take part in practice. A lot of the Knicks players are ill because of the same upper respiratory Tyson Chandler is suffering from. The biggest surprise and best decision Woodson made was benching J.R. Smith. Smith was fined $50,000 for his shoe untying tactics and Woodson finally made a stand by benching Smith tonight. Woodson would not comment on the matter but it looks to have been a clear message being sent to Smith that if he doesn’t straight up his act he will not be a part of this as the Knicks showed tonight they can and will play well without him.

Elsa/Getty Images

-Negatives

For the first time all season it could be argued nothing should go here. The Knicks put together their best all-around game of the season as everyone stepped up and did their job. Only one Knick, Hardaway Jr., had a negative +/- and the Heat only had one player, James, finish positive with a +1. The only negative from the game is how often Bargnani was switched onto James, but he did an admirable job whenever put into the tough situation. The big thing the Knicks need to concentrate on is how they come out Saturday against the 76ers. It is easy to get up and come out to play against one of the top NBA teams but that cannot be said when facing lower tiered teams. The Knicks win tonight against the Heat would mean nothing if they come out and lay an egg against the 76ers Saturday.

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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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W2W4: New York Knicks vs. Dallas Mavericks; January 5th, 2014

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Sunday, January 5^th, 2014

New York Knicks vs. Dallas Mavericks

Pre-Game News and Notes

The Knicks will look to salvage the last game of the Texas Triangle road trip Sunday in Dallas. If not for poor decision making Friday night against the Rockets the Knicks would be going for a sweep. The Mavericks, just like the Knicks, are coming off a tough loss Friday night and will look to bounce back tonight with a strong performance to get their home stand back on track. Here are some things to watch for tonight when they tip-off.

-Players News and Notes

For the Knicks Raymond Felton is continuing to travel with the team but is unlikely to suit up. Felton is more likely to suit up Tuesday night against the Detroit Pistons. Pablo Prigioni still has no timetable for his return and Metta World Peace will be sidelined for the foreseeable future. Kenyon Martin will be a game-time call because of the ankle injury that held him out of Friday night’s game.

For the Mavericks, Devin Harris is nearing a return but has no chance of playing tonight. He is aiming for a mid-January return to even start practicing. Dirk Nowitzki was a game-time decision Friday night but was able to suit up and play so he should be out on the court again tonight.

-Can Carmelo Get Healthy?

Anthony missed three games last week because of an ankle injury but returned Thursday against the San Antonio Spurs. Anthony made it through the game without any problems until the waning seconds when he was kicked by Manu Ginobili. Anthony toughed it out and played against the Rockets Friday but grimaced multiple times throughout the game.

Anthony dealing with any lingering ankle injuries will hamper not only his performance but the team’s as well. Anthony has shown a willingness to pass the ball recently and he needs to continue doing that but if he is injured he may be too concerned with staying healthy than doing what is right for the team on the court.

-Shumpert Has Turned the Corner

Iman Shumpert has been outstanding in the two games of the New Year and has looked to finally turn a corner for the season. Shumpert struggled at the end of December, shooting 6-42 at one point but has really got it going in the last two games. In the two games against the Spurs and Rockets, Shumpert has scored 53 points and shot 12-14 from the three point line; in the 12 games prior Shumpert managed to score only 42 points.

With Shumpert scoring and his confidence raising the Knicks look like a totally different team. When your shooting guard position is giving you no production it is hard to win games. Shumpert has begun playing extremely well and the Knicks have coincidentally played two of their best games of the season.

-Perimeter Defense

The Knicks guards will once again have their hands full on the defensive end of the court. The Mavericks have a dangerous backcourt in Jose Calderon and Monta Ellis. Calderon is one of the better floor generals in the NBA and has solved a lot of the problems the Mavericks have had in recent seasons at the point guard position. Ellis has been an outstanding signing by the Mavericks as well. He has added another scoring threat to a team void of any consistent scoring outside of Nowitzki and also another playmaker. Ellis actually leads the team in assists per game at 5.9.

It will be interesting to see who the Knicks match up with. Beno Udrih and Calderon are expected to be matched up together; both players are revolving doors so each team should be able to get into their offense relatively easily. Shumpert should draw Ellis, which will be an exciting matching to watch. This will be like guarding Harden for Shumpert as Ellis is a play making scorer, he just settles for more jump shots than Harden does. Toure’ Murry will also see time again as the backup guard and should be able to make things difficult for any of the guards the Mavericks deploy.

-Matchup of the Game: Dirk Nowitzki vs. Andrea Bargnani

Dirk Nowitzki is arguably the best international basketball player to grace an NBA court. When he was drafted, Bargnani was looked at as the next Nowitzki, just more polished and further advanced upon coming into the league. Tonight they will meet again but with a lot lower expectations.

Nowitzki is putting together yet another solid season, averaging 21.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game. Nowitzki is having a renaissance of sorts this season with the addition of Ellis, who is taking some of the scoring load off Nowitzki’s shoulders. In his career Nowitzki has played very well against the Knicks, averaging 24.8 points per game against the Knicks; he averages more points per game against only three more teams.

The man who will most likely be tasked with slowing down Nowitzki is Bargnani. Bargnani has shown surprisingly strong one-on-one defense but not many big many he is matched up with have the offensive skill set of Nowitzki. Bargnani will have his hands full on defense but has a chance to make life difficult for Nowitzki as well.

Bargnani has struggled recently with his shot, sapping his confidence at points in the game. But Bargnani has shown throughout the season he can have an outstanding offensive game without any signs of it. Hopefully for the Knicks tonight is one of those games as any scoring from Bargnani will be a boost in the last game of the road trip. If he can augment the scoring Anthony and Shumpert have been doing on the trip it will help a lot.

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W2W4: New York Knicks vs. Houston Rockets; January 3rd, 2014

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Friday, January 3, 2014

New York Knicks vs. Houston Rockets

Pre-Game News and Notes

After pulling off a surprising win last night in San Antonio, the Knicks will get right back at it tonight in Houston against the Rockets. This will be the second and final time the two teams face off against each other, with the Rockets taking the first one at Madison Square Garden in thrilling fashion. The Knicks will look to exact some revenge and get a victory tonight on the Rockets home court. Here are some things to keep an eye on during the game.

-Player News and Notes

The Knicks are expected to again be without point guards Raymond Felton and Pablo Prigioni. Felton has been accompanying the team on the trip but Prigioni has not. Neither player has a definitive return date in place but Felton is aiming for Tuesday at home against the Detroit Pistons. Metta World Peace is preparing for treatment on his knee; in the mean time check out his twitter account to keep tabs on the eccentric forward who is always keeping his followers entertained.

The Rockets are dealing with injuries of their own to point guards. Starting point guard Patrick Beverley broke his hand and had successful surgery last week. He will be out for the foreseeable future. In the meantime former Knick Jeremy Lin and Aaron Brooks will run the offense for the Rockets.

-Going Streaking

The Knicks have been dominated by the Rockets over much of the last decade. The Rockets have won 16 of the last 17 meetings between the two teams, including an impressive eight game streak at home. If the Knicks show up and play tonight like last night in San Antonio there is a very good chance those streaks could end tonight.

Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

One thing the Knicks have going for them now is Carmelo Anthony. Anthony led an impressive attack last night as he was more than willing to pass and get his teammates involved in the offense. They responded, especially Iman Shumpert, and led the Knicks to victory. Anthony should have a big game again against the Rockets tonight as he has caused problems with them in recent matchups. In the last two meetings between the teams Anthony has scored a total of 82 points, with a season high 45 in the previous meeting this season.

-Which Iman Will Show Up

Last night the Knicks got a big boost from Shumpert, who poured in a career high 27 points. He showed the confidence and swagger that he possessed prior to the first 30 games of this season when his played seemed to be affected by the trade rumors he was a part of. Shumpert also neutralized perennial All-Star and NBA Finals MVP Tony Parker on the defensive end. Shumpert’s harassing defense virtually shutout Parker down last night as he was unable to dictate the game with the pick-and-roll game he plays so well never getting started.

The Knicks will need Shumpert to keep up the defensive intensity tonight against one of the best scorers in the NBA in James Harden. Harden gets to the foul line and attacks the basket as well as any player in the NBA and Shumpert will have to play him smart to slow him down. In a game recently Harden scored over 20 points making only two shots because of how frequently he visited the charity stripe. In the first meeting this season Harden went for 36 points and nine rebounds. Against the Knicks Harden has played well over the last four games, averaging 30.3 points per game on 53.2 percent shooting from the field and 45-48 from the foul line. Shumpert will have his hands full tonight as he will attempt to put a chillin’ on Harden’s thrillin’ as Walt ‘Clyde’ Frazier would say.

-Contain the Perimeter

The Knicks will face a familiar foe in Lin at the point guard position. Lin seems to get up to play against his former team as he has scored 43 points in the last two meetings against the Knicks, the second of those coming off the bench. The Knicks have struggled guarding the perimeter all season but have looked better with Toure’ Murry finally getting some playing time. Beno Udrih will likely start again but it will be interesting to see how long until Murry gets inserted as the Knicks cannot afford to fall behind early against such an explosive offensive team.

On the perimeter the Knicks will also have to deal with up-and-coming Chandler Parsons. Parsons can shoot from the perimeter and put the ball on the floor to get to the basket. He is a willing passer and rebounds well for his position, giving the Rockets a great jack of all trades. He hurt the Knicks in November scoring 22 points so slowing him down will be important this time around.

-Matchup of the Game: Dwight Howard vs. Andrea Bargnani

EPA/Jason Szenes

The Shumpert vs. Harden matchup will be a fun one to watch with Shumpert looking to have gotten his confidence back but this matchup is the one to keep an eye on. In the matchup earlier in the season it was expected that Howard would dominate the overmatched Bargnani. That didn’t happen in the slightest as Bargnani actually dominated Howard on both ends of the floor.

Howard shot 1-5 from the field and turned the ball over five times as Bargnani played him as well as anyone could in a one-on-one situation. On offense Bargnani torched Howard, shooting 9-12 overall (3-3 3pt, 3-4 FT) for 24 points. It is fair to think that Howard will come out with a different aggression and assertiveness tonight to show that Bargnani cannot repeat the performance he put on November 14^th.

Tonight Bargnani will receive help if he needs it as Tyson Chandler will be in the lineup this time around.

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Knicks Upset Spurs Behind Shumpert's Career Night

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Thursday, January 2, 2014

New York Knicks vs. San Antonio Spurs

Post Game Recap

The Knicks were able to pull off the upset and get their best win of the season in San Antonio, defeating the Spurs 105-101. The victory gave the Knicks their second consecutive game in San Antonio and the first against the Western Conference this season. It was an entertaining game that any fan of basketball would have enjoyed taking in, especially if you are a Knicks fan. The Knicks showed comradery and came together when they needed it most tonight, finally looking like a team that wants to get back into the playoff picture legitimately in the Eastern Conference, not just because of how bad it is this season. It was a career night for two players and an outstanding game played by both teams. The Knicks took everything the Spurs gave them and responded as well as they could. This is the kind of win that could jump start a team and gets them going in the right direction. A new year looks to have brought about a new Knicks team eve if it is just only one game.

Player of the Game: Iman Shumpert

AP Photo

Shumpert had a career night offensively in a game the Knicks needed it most. He put in 27 points on 10-13 shooting from the field (6-8 3pt, 1-1 FT). Shumpert scored 10 points in the first quarter alone as he came out with confidence and aggressiveness that he has seemed to lack in the recent weeks. He provided in other areas as well, as he recorded six rebounds, one assist and three steals. Shumpert had his biggest rebound with about 24 seconds remaining as he tipped in a missed Anthony jump shot to give the Knicks a two point lead. The three steals do not do justice to just how outstanding Shumpert was tonight on the defensive end. From the get go Shumpert was able to shut and slow down Tony Parker. Parker scored only 12 points and added seven assists. He was unable to get comfortable and dictate the game on the offensive end as basketball fans have come accustomed to seeing from Parker, who is deadly in the pick-and-roll. Tonight Shumpert was able to hold him to 5-13 shooting as he put together an outstanding game on both ends of the court.

-Positives

Carmelo Anthony returned from injury tonight and picked up right where he left off prior to his ankle injury. Anthony racked up yet another double-double with 27 points and 12 rebounds. He was also very effective finding the open man when the Spurs would double team him and move the kept the ball moving. Anthony was able to do damage early on as the Knicks floor spacing was as good as it has been all season, minimizing the Spurs opportunities to double team him. He also put Kawhi Leonard in foul trouble throughout the game, rendering him mostly useless as Anthony won the matchup to watch for from pre-game.

Eric Gay/AP Photo

Anthony kept the ball moving to set the tone and the rest of his teammates followed suit. The Knicks defense was humming tonight like a well-oiled machine as everyone was involved and knocking down shots; every player to get on the court for the Knicks tonight scored at least three points. In total there were five Knicks in double figures as Andrea Bargnani, Beno Udrih and Amar’e Stoudemire joined Anthony and Shumpert. On the night the Knicks were able to shoot at a high percentage, knocking down 39-76 shot attempts (51.3 percent). They were even more impressive from beyond the arc, making 9-17 attempts (52.9 percent). They were also very effective at the foul line, making 18-20 attempts compared to 13-19 for the Spurs.

The Knicks did an outstanding job on the glass tonight and it took a team effort. Anthony led the way with 12 and got a big boost from the wings as Shumpert and JR Smith had six and five respectively and Tyson Chandler hauled in six of his own. On the night the Knicks outrebounded the Spurs 40-34.

The resiliency the Knicks showed tonight was very impressive. Early on the second quarter the Spurs were able to take control and go up by nine points. It looked like the Knicks were about to be blown out of the gym but they were able to steady the ship and get back into the game. They went on a 20-7 run of their own to get into halftime with a five point lead. They also did a good job of keeping the course late in the game when the Spurs were able to take a two point lead late after the Knicks were up by six. They reverted back to isolation for a few possessions but kept with the ball movement and the results were positive in the end.

-Negatives

Eric Gay/AP Photo

Parker may have been held in check by Shumpert but the other perimeter players dominated the Knicks. Marco Belinelli had a career game of his own, scoring a career high 32 points on 12-16 from the field (6-9 3pt, 2-2 FT). He killed the Knicks all night on the offensive end as they were unable to slow him down. Manu Ginobili came off the bench and facilitated the offense extremely well with Parker being harassed by Shumpert. Ginobili shot only 4-11 from the field for 11 points but he handed out 12 assists.

Coming into the game the Spurs were the top three-point shooting team in the NBA and they showed the Knicks why right from the get go. The Spurs had an onslaught of three pointers right from the opening tip as Belinelli was on fire and the Knicks lost Matt Bonner on multiple occasions. On the night the Spurs made 14-32 from the three-point line, killing the Knicks momentum on multiple occasions and making some runs of their own because of it.

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