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. 

Read More

W2W4: Phoenix Suns vs Brooklyn Nets March 17th, 2014

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

March 17th, 2014

W2W4: Phoenix Suns vs. Brooklyn Nets

Pre Game News and Notes

barclayscenter.com

The Brooklyn Nets will be back home after a tough loss to the Wizards in Washington on Saturday night, as on Monday they will be hosting one of the biggest surprises in the NBA in the Phoenix Suns, who are coming off a win against the Toronto Raptors on Sunday. The Nets head into Monday’s game with a (33-31) record, which is 3.5 games behind the Raptors in the Atlantic Division.

Match-Up of the Game: Goran Dragic vs. Deron Williams

The Suns were supposed to be NBA’s worst teams this year, but with the great play from their Point Guard Goran Dragic, they are looking like a possible playoff team. Dragic is coming into Monday’s game averaging 20.5 points, 6.1 assists, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game. For Deron Williams he will have his hands full with Dragic, as Williams has struggled a lot in the last two games besides one clutch shot in Miami. In the loss to the Wizards, who have a great Point Guard in John Wall, Williams shot just four of 14 from the field.

- Home-Court

In the Barclays Center the Nets have been very good especially of late, and with a nice opportunity to gain a half of game against the Raptors, it makes Monday an important game. The Suns proved most recently on Sunday that they can win on the East Coast, as they scored 121 points against the Raptors, but as the Nets know second half of back to backs can be tricky for a team. The Suns are sitting one game behind the Memphis Grizzlies in the ultra tough Western Conference, so every game means a lot to them if they are going to get into the eighth seed.

- Make It Nine

Kevin Garnett will be missing his ninth straight game for the Nets due to back spasms, so once again it will be Mason Plumlee in the starting lineup. Mason won’t be the only Plumlee in the game, as his brother Miles is on the Suns, and playing very well for them. Mason’s brother Miles is averaging 8.5 points, and 8.1 rebounds per game. It is likely the two brothers will be guarding each other a bit in this game, which should be fun to see who wins that battle.

Read More

Knicks Slip Past Suns in OT For 5th Straight Win

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Monday, January 13^th, 2014

Phoenix Suns vs. New York Knicks

Post Game Recap

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

Player of the Game: Kenyon Martin

Jim McIsaac

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

-Positives

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

Frank Franklin III/AP Photo

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

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

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

-Negatives

Frank Franklin III/AP Photo

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

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

Read More