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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Nets Hold on to Victory in Philadelphia

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 5^th, 2014

Brooklyn Nets vs Philadelphia 76ers Post Game Recap

Final Score: Nets 105 76ers 101

The Brooklyn Nets were able to win the second half of a back to back against the horrible Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night, and with the win moved the Nets to (42-34) on the season. The victory keeps the Nets 2.5 games behind the Toronto Raptors in the Atlantic Division with six games left on the schedule.

Player of the Game: Deron Williams

In the win on Saturday, it was Deron Williams who helped lead the Nets to the road victory against the woeful 76ers. Williams scored a team-high 19 points on six for 11 shooting with nine assists and four rebounds. Williams also tied a Nets franchise record, as he was able to swipe a steal in his 26^th consecutive game. In the fourth quarter with the lead falling apart, Williams had a big four-point play to help the Nets hold on to the win.

Positives:

On Saturday night the biggest positive for the Nets was the return of their Center Kevin Garnett, who had been out with back spasms for the previous 19 games. In his return, Garnett played very good against the 76ers, which was probably the best opponent for anyone to get rid of rust against. He finished with 10 points on five for six shooting with four rebounds, one steal, and one block in 13 minutes. With his 10 points, Garnett also passed Alex English for 14^th place on the NBA's all-time scoring list. Biggest thing for the Nets and Garnett moving forward will be how many minutes the medical staff thinks he can play for the rest of the regular season, and eventually the playoffs.

espn.go.com

Due to the return of Garnett, it moved Mason Plumlee back to the bench, but Plumlee still saw a good amount of court time, and played well in his new role. Plumlee finished with 16 points on eight for 10 shooting, to go along with seven rebounds in 23 minutes. The combination of Garnett and Plumlee makes the Nets Center situation look a lot better heading into the playoff then it did with just Plumlee as the starter.

Scoring wise the Nets were pretty well balanced with six players in double-digits, as besides Williams Garnett and Plumlee, Paul Pierce, Joe Johnson and Andray Blatche also had 10 or more points. Pierce finished with 11 points on five for 10 shooting in addition to his five rebounds and four assists. Johnson added 12 points on four for nine shooting, and Blatche scored 10 on four for eight shooting in just 11 minutes.

Negatives:

the second half wasn’t very good for Brooklyn after they heading into halftime with a 15-point lead, as the 76ers outscored them in the third quarter by three points, and the in the fourth by eight points. Jason Kidd decided to never bring Garnett, Pierce or Johnson back into the game, which was a questionable decision with the 76ers mounting a comeback, but Williams and the bench got it done to hold on to the win.

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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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W2W4: New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers; March 21st, 2014

Written By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Friday, March 21^st, 2014

New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers

Pre-Game News and Notes

The New York Knicks are in the midst of playing their best basketball of the season, reeling off seven straight wins. They will look to continue the good play and winning streak tonight against the Philadelphia 76ers, owners of their own lengthy streak. The 76ers are currently riding a franchise long 22-game losing streak and do not look like they will be ending it any time soon. The Knicks have to come in and handle business against a team that is more concerned with getting a top draft pick than winning games at the end of the season. Here are some news and notes to help get the Knicks the victory tonight.

Match-Up of the Game: Carmelo Anthony vs. Thaddeus Young

http://www.morningpickup.com/76ers-drop-pair-games-weekend/

When the 76ers started moving players at the trade deadline, Thaddeus Young was one expected to go. The versatile forward would have fit nicely in almost any front court in the NBA, but he was the one player the 76ers decided to keep. Even though the expectations for the team were rock bottom right from the start of the season, Young has played well, averaging career-highs in points, rebounds, assists and steals. He will be matched up throughout the night with Anthony, being tasked with slowing down the Knicks best player.

Carmelo Anthony has played well all season and has continued it throughout the winning streak. He will give Young everything he can handle tonight. Look for Anthony to come out aggressive early and often as the Knicks will try and put the 76ers away early and cruise to a victory.

Pre-Game News and Notes:

The Knicks still have no timetable set for the return of Kenyon Martin or Andrea Bargnani. Martin seems to be closer and more likely to return of the two. He would have be a seamless addition to the rotation as his main job would be playing defense and rebounding while Bargnani was a big part of the Knicks offensive plans and had trouble fitting in with some players. Cole Aldrich should continue seeing time as the reserve big man with the positive results he has produced recently.

For the 76ers, James Anderson will be a game-time decision. If he is unable to go, expect to see a lot more of Tony Wroten. Wroten, who gave the Knicks problems in their last meeting, is an athletic wing who likes to get to the basket. He is far more explosive and aggressive than Anderson and would give the Knicks a lot more problems; Anderson is more of a three-point specialist.

-Control From the Start

It is imperative for the Knicks to get off to a strong start. If they are able to take the lead early on and build on it they can take the 76ers out of the game right away. The 76ers are a young team that cannot be given hope; the longer they are in the game the more dangerous they will be. It would be best for the Knicks to take them out early and not let them build any confidence. On a 22-game losing streak they will grab onto the faintest of hopes and try to ride that to a victory.

-Strong Guard Play Continuing

The Knicks guard play improving has coincided with the winning streak. Since J.R. Smith has been inserted into the starting lineup everything seems to be clicking. He has begun shooting the ball better and everyone now knows their roles. Tim Hardaway Jr. looks much more comfortable as the only scoring guard off the bench and the intangibles that Iman Shumpert brings fits in better with the second unit.

Also playing better throughout the streak is Raymond Felton. He will have his hands full tonight against potential NBA Rookie of the Year Michael Carter-Williams. Carter-Williams is having a solid season for the 76ers, but is turnover prone and struggles to shoot the ball at times. If Felton and the rest of the guards can slow him down they will have a much easier time taking down the 76ers.

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Why The Sixers Can Make The Playoffs Next Season

The Philadelphia 76ers are two days removed from a loss to the Indiana Pacers, which set a franchise record of 21 consecutive losses. It is no secret that their plan was to tank this season, but the manner in which they have been losing has surprised people.

Things may look gloomy for basketball fans in Philadelphia in the present, but the future could see a quick turnaround if the players that they do have can tap in to their potential, and if the Front Office is able to make the right moves for the organization during the upcoming offseason. If the correct decisions are made, it could even be possible for the Sixers to make a quicker than expected return to the playoffs. Here are a few reasons why:

2014 Draft:

As things stand at this moment in time, the Sixers have the second-worst record in the league, with the Milwaukee Bucks just two games behind. The Sixers have been planning to land the top pick in this year’s draft all year long, made evident by the moves they have made in order to tank, trading good players for nothing more than draft picks and a player ruled out for the season through injury.

The Sixers potential 2014 draft pick:
Andrew Wiggins

A report has surfaced over the last few days that, should Philadelphia land the first pick, their primary target is Andrew Wiggins, the 6’8” small forward currently playing in college for Kansas. Wiggins would be a perfect fit for the Sixers, especially as their current small forward position is completely lacking in talent at the present time. Wiggins could immediately slot into the starting position and add to what is already a young and athletic team.

Also, we must not forget that the Sixers have the Pelicans’ first round pick in this year’s draft as well, providing that it does not fall in the top five. As things stand, the Pelicans’ pick would currently sit in 7th place in the draft, providing the lottery does not throw out any surprises, so the 76ers can almost certainly expect to get another good player in what has been tipped as a strong draft class.

The 76ers have struggles despite MCW's
excellent start to his NBA career

A young, talented core:

At an average age of just 27.3 years old, the 76ers have the youngest roster in the league. Despite this youthfulness, there is plenty of talent for the Sixers to build around next season.

Michael Carter-Williams has been one of the few bright sparks for Philadelphia this season, and could well be on his way to winning the NBA's Rookie of the Year Award, with his averages of 16.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 6.2 assists through 67 games, with a couple of triple-double performances already under his belt.

The Sixers will also be able to welcome Nerlens Noel into the line-up next season, after a horrible ACL injury he suffered while playing for Kentucky has forced him to miss his entire rookie season thus far. Noel had hoped to return this season, sending out a tweet which read “04-04-14”, however, his coaching staff was quick to reject any notion of Noel playing this season.

Thaddeus Young had seen himself talked about in trade rumors constantly throughout the season, but remained in a Sixers uniform as the trade deadline came and went, as his consistent and impressive performances have proved him to be a valuable asset going forward.

Even if Philadelphia were to eventually trade him next season, they could command a good player in return, but if they do keep him, he would be an excellent on-court leader for a young team, even though he will only turn 26 years of age himself this summer.

Nerlens Noel was traded for Jrue Holiday
on draft night

Cap space:

Having traded away Jrue Holliday, Spencer Hawes, Lavoy Allen and Evan Turner this season, while only receiving draft picks and Danny Granger, who they later bought out of his contract, the 76ers have been able to clear around $26.3 million from their payroll, leaving the Sixers with the following contracts on their books for next season:

Guaranteed contracts:

Thaddeus Young: $9.4 million

Jason Richardson: $6.6 million

Nerlens Noel: $3.3 million

Michael Carter-Williams: $2.3 million

Tony Wroten: $1.2 million

Arnett Moultrie: $1.1 million

Player options:

Byron Mullens: $1.0 million

Total: $26.8 million

Assuming that Mullens picks up his option and factoring in how much the Sixers will have to pay their future draft picks, Philadelphia will have around $30 million to spend during free agency.

With a number of All-Stars and other high quality players potentially becoming available via free agency this summer, the Sixers have a lot of financial flexibility to splash the cash on a top player, or if they prefer they could spread the money to buy a number of players.

Weak Eastern Conference:

This season’s Eastern Conference has been the weakest in recent memory. Before the All-Star break, there were only four teams in the East who had a record above .500. As well as this, the three teams with the worst records in the league are all situated in the East, while the Atlanta Hawks, who occupy the final playoff spot with a 31-35 record at the time of writing, would be sat in 11th if they were a Western Conference team.

If Eastern Conference teams are not able to strengthen for next season, either via trade, free agency or the draft, this will give Philadelphia a huge window of opportunity to soar up the standings and contend for a playoff place. This would be nothing more than the loyal fans of Philadelphia as well as the current players deserve for what has been a very tough season.  With that being said, if the upcoming offseason goes as planned, the toil of the 2013-2014 season will have all been worth it to bring the 76ers back in to the playoffs, and in to the headlines for the right reasons too.

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Dion Waiters: Destined To Be A Career 6th Man?

Written By Clevis Murray 

The Cleveland Cavaliers drafted Dion Waiters with the 4th pick in the 2012 NBA draft.  The franchise hoped that they had found their shooting guard of the future by pairing him up with the Rookie of the Year and the 1st overall pick of the 2011 draft Kyrie Irving. Dion Waiters being drafted so high in the 2012 NBA draft was a bit of a surprise since he only played 71 career games at Syracuse University under Jim Boeheim and never started however he was considered the best sixth man in college basketball, being named the Big East's sixth man of the year. During his rookie season in the NBA (2012-13) Waiters came off of the bench 13 times in the 61 games he played.  Due to the averages in his rookie campaign 14.7 points, 3 rebounds and 2.4 assists he became known as a scorer......nothing more and nothing less.

As Dion Waiters second NBA season began many believed he was poised for a breakout but new Head Coach Mike Brown wanted to try something different and put Waiters on the bench stating that "The one thing Dion gives us is a nice punch off the bench with the ability to play pick and roll and create shots not only for himself, but for his teammates." With the statement being said former 6th Men of the Year James Harden, Manu Ginobili, J.R. Smith and Jamal Crawford all come to mind.  All four had previously ran the pick and roll the most when coming off the bench and were obviously the best at creating their own when coming off the bench with the exception of James Harden who is now a starter with Houston.  For the most part, the players are combo guards who can handle the ball and can get their teammates involved.

Thus far this season Waiters has played his best when coming off the bench rather than starting.  One can say that he has to a point been hindered by teammates.  During his brief stint with the Cavaliers, center Andrew Bynum would demand the ball in the post. Kyrie Irving is known for dominating the ball as well which limits the amount of possessions that Waiters can potentially have.  The situation reportedly grew toxic and there were rumors of fighting.  Waiters reportedly wanted to be traded to the Philadelphia 76ers "because he thinks he'd be the best player on the team." Andrew Bynum was suspended for "conduct detrimental to the team" and eventually traded to and released by the Bulls.

Waiters is putting up season averages which make him look like a role player but scoring and shooting like a 6th man.  He is averaging 13.5 shot attempts per game, 14.8 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.7 rebounds along with 41% FG & 38% from the 3-point line. Comparing his sophomore season to his rookie season shows that there is no improvement at all and he is basically the same player and doesn't follow the motto "Getting better over the summer." But to be fair he is a young player in his 2nd season and will most likely get better over time especially on defense as Mike Brown recently said "defensively he has the capabilities of being a great defender. He’s in the process of learning and growing on that end."

A Bad Reflection?

Dion Waiters has been compared to many players for example Dwyane Wade but he doesn't have the size Wade had when he was younger but does have similar quickness and is truly skilled when heading to the basket but one would be wise not to compare Waiters to a future Basketball Hall of Famers like Wade.  A more accurate comparison for Dion Waiters is Vinnie "The Microwave" Johnson or to keep it more current it would be Rodney Stuckey but the most accurate comparison at this time would be J.R. Smith.  The career path of Dion Waiters is becoming very similar to Smith's.  Despite Waiters career still being young, it's still growing similar to Smith's. The perception of Waiters is that he takes bad shots but that’s not the reality, Waiters doesn’t take bad shots but his low shooting percentage is what fuels the perception.

Both J.R. Smith & Dion Waiters have are both two immature NBA players with tons of talent. Remember when people thought J.R. Smith was a future All-Star when he was with the Denver Nuggets but all that changed when he didn't develop, listen and had too many off the court problems which have led to suspensions and hefty fines. His coach Mike Woodson recently said "[He] has got to grow up and do the right things." J.R doesn't listen and was recently fined $50K for untying shoes and his value around the league is continuing to decrease.

In similar fashion to Smith, Waiters usually starts sulking on the court and on the bench when things don't go his way and like Smith he thinks people are after him and nobody is on his side.Waiters has also gotten into an argument with Cavs guard Kyrie Irving and Head Coach Mike Brown. Waiters defensive effort decreases whenever he's not effective on the offensive end displaying his immaturity and like Smith, his teammates can't deal with it on and off the court but thankfully he isn't as immature as Smith off the court with the smoking of marijuana and uncalled for antics.

Dion will hopefully mature as a player and more importantly a person and exceed the expectations that were placed onto him but as of now he's a future sixth man who makes some bad decisions and his teammates are starting to grow tired of it.  There's usually a growth period of about five NBA seasons to see how a player develops as they should have carved out their niche by then, but let's see if Dion Waiters is really a future sixth man. With the way Dion is progressing he is showcasing a limited work ethic but for a young player with a huge upside and it shall be interesting to see how things will turnout down the line.

Twitter: NBAFLASHNEWS 
Facebook: NBA Flash News

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Strong 4th Quarter Pushes Knicks Past 76ers

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Monday, March 10^th, 2014

Philadelphia 76ers vs. New York Knicks

Post Game Recap

The Knicks were able to run their winning streak to four games Monday night with a 123-110 victory. It was a total team effort for the Knicks, who got a little something from all the players who stepped on the court tonight to help get the win. The Knicks are now sole owners of ninth place in the Eastern Conference, percentage points ahead of the Detroit Pistons. They now sit 3 ½ games behind the Atlanta Hawks, who were able to hold on and defeat the Utah Jazz tonight. The Knicks will look to continue their strong play Wednesday against another divisional foe in the Boston Celtics.

Player of the Game: Amar’e Stoudemire

Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

Stoudemire has found his groove and is dominating for the Knicks. This is as close he has looked to the Stoudemire of his Phoenix Suns and first season with the Knicks days. Tonight he scored 23 points to go with six rebounds and one block. The impressive thing about his scoring output is that he did it on only 10 shots, making nine and connecting on five of eight free throws. Stoudemire is the most efficient scorer the Knicks have and he has shown time and time again when given the minutes he can still produce offensively. Recently Stoudemire has been playing better on the defensive end as well, enabling Mike Woodson to use him more minutes during the game.

-Positives

Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

Tim Hardaway Jr. looked to be hitting the rookie wall recently, shooting 27.7 percent from the field and 25 percent from three point range in March. Hardaway Jr. has not let that stop him from shooting as he continues to show confidence. Tonight it paid off, as he scored a team high 28 points on 9-13 from the field and 5-7 from the three point line. His scoring off the bench is much needed with J.R. Smith and Stoudemire being moved into the starting lineup.

Carmelo Anthony struggled with his shot, going 0-7 from the three point line, but was able to help in more ways tonight. He still scored 23 points, going 9-24 overall but made a big impact on the boards. Anthony grabbed a team-high nine rebounds and kept the ball moving offensively with five assists. When on the court Anthony is the center of attention for opposing defenses, so when he moves the ball and finds the open man it makes his stats look better and produces good things for the Knicks.

The Knicks offense was clicking all night. They shot 44-81 (54.3 percent) overall and 13-32 (40.6 percent) from the three point line. Of the 44 makes, 20 were assisted on. They were also able to get easy baskets in transition, scoring 21 fast break points. The offensive cohesion was on display as five Knicks scored in double-figures; Hardaway Jr, Stoudemire, Anthony and Smith, each scored over 20 points. Four players had at least three assists as well as the Knicks kept the ball moving and found good opportunities for each other to score.

The 76ers were able to score a lot of points, but the Knicks were able to cause some problems for them defensively, which helped them build their big lead in the second half. The Knicks forced 18 turnovers, 10 of which came on steals and also added six blocks as well. They were able to do just enough defensively to slow the 76ers down and get a much needed victory.

-Negatives

Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

The 76ers came into tonight with a 16 game losing streak but you wouldn’t have known it in the first half. The game was tied at halftime and the Knicks did not open it up until the fourth quarter. Throughout the first half they allowed players such as Tony Wroten to build too much confidence and it resulted in a close game throughout the first three quarters. The Knicks cannot afford any losses to teams with records worse than them if they want to stay in the playoff race. Tonight would have been a much easier night for the Knicks had they shown the same effort through the first three quarters that they did in the fourth.

It didn’t hurt them as much tonight, but the Knicks need to improve their free throw shooting. Tonight they went 22-34, equaling an unsightly 64.7 percent. If the game was closer this would have been more of a problem. The Knicks cannot close out games if they struggle so mightily from the foul line.

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Danny Granger: The Departure Of A Fan Favorite

Written By Clevis Murray 

The NBA trade deadline has come and gone and Thursday after 3pm most thought they were safe and  that all trades were complete but there were still some trades that weren't yet announced. The last trade of the evening was a blockbuster and a bit surprising since there were no rumors about it at all until it was completed, the deal I'm speaking of involved the Indiana Pacers and Philadelphia 76ers with Danny Granger heading to Philly and Evan Turner along with Lavoy Allen going up north to Indiana. 

Granger was the longest tenured Pacer on the team before his surprising exit and was with the franchise through thick and thin since 2005 and made it to the playoffs four out of his eight complete seasons with the team but he wasn't a part of the "Blue Collar" team's amazing run to the Eastern Conference Finals due to injury last NBA season but he did support them on the bench.

Danny was the main player for the Pacers before the arrival of Paul George and between the 2005-
2006 and 2008-2009 seasons his scoring averaged increased by five each season and averaged 20+ for three consecutive seasons as the franchise player during that period of time. Granger would never become a consistent 20 point scorer again due to nagging injuries each season that have included his knee, calf and heel. It's fair enough to say that Granger will never become that player again but can become a good rotation player when healthy. He missed an abundance of time at the beginning of the season and only played 29 games with Indy this season averaging 8.3 points & 3.6 rebounds with a Player Efficiency Rating of 10.44.

He's been a great sport with the Pacers through all their struggles and rebuilding as he was thought of be the franchise player in the Post - Reggie Miller era. Granger has never complained and wanted what was best for the franchise and was one of the main reasons why Paul George was drafted to the team with the 10th pick in the 2010 NBA Draft and  even before they were officially teammates the had worked out together with Granger saying "I was training with Paul before he even got drafted here, I was working out with him in LA." Fast forward a few years and he has realized the passing of torch saying 

"I think the biggest deal about it is the assumptions since I was coming back that there’d be a competition between us, when it’s actually the opposite, the way he can break defenses down, the way he can create, I can just stand, catch and shoot, drive it makes my job easier. He’s coming in at such a young age, I have no problem I’ve been in the league eight years I have no problem passing the mantle to him, My whole team I watched get drafted. I’ve watched all of them grow. So I have no problem passing the mantle. At all."

When the trade went down no one was more hurt than George who said this via Instagram

"On a serious note upset day for me losing a big brother and mentor hate to see him leave us.. You helped me so far along the way big bro! Still one of my toughest match ups.. Nothing but love for you geezy!" 

The Two became close friends over the years and have never gotten into a argument with their melancholy attitudes.

Very sad that despite the team struggling in his era and winning George's, Granger won't be able to experience the storybook ending with the Indiana Pacers. 

Barring any season-ending injuries (this season has been filled with a bunch) the Pacers and Heat will once again cross paths and meet up in the Eastern Conference Finals which would make it the third season in a row that the two teams have met in the Playoffs and second in the ECF. Granger was part of the start of this rivalry back in 2012 when both teams met in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals which the Pacers lost in six games. We all know he wanted to contribute and help the team get over that hump. That was series was the last playoff game he played and with a trade to Philadelphia his next appearance in the playoffs is unpredictable.  

Now looking at it, Granger was traded to the second worst team in the NBA in Philly as they are 15-40 but could have a bright future as they ended the day with seven draft picks for the very talented and hyped up draft this summer and $30M in cap space. With all those picks and cap space, Philadelphia will most likely have playoff team in 3-4 seasons... But then again the future moves a NBA team makes is always unpredictable. Granger must feel skeptical being sent to help out a team that is as worst as his early years in Indiana. 

Examining the trade from a Pacers perspective we can see that they are all in to dethrone the 2x
reigning champs in the Miami Heat by acquiring Evan Turrner to assist their bench as he can play the PG/SG/SF and is basically another Lance Stephenson. Turner is another point forward with his big body, passing and rebound skills and will be able to guard LeBron as he, Stephenson and George will take turns. Lets not forget Lavoy Allen who is a very good rebounder and post defender and brings more toughness to Indiana. One can make the assumption that Indiana has the best bench in the league with CJ Watson, Evan Turner, Luis Scola, Chris Copeland, Ian Mahinmi and if healthy and mature then Andrew Bynum. All the players previously listed were starters at one point in their careers. Larry Bird and Kevin Pritchard deserve a standing ovation for what they have done to improve a already dangerous team.

Danny Granger was "pissed" when he heard he was traded to Philadelphia and might not even play a game their with a buyout possibly being in the works as he will meet with GM Sam Hinkie and if bought out then Granger will gain interest from the Miami Heat, Indiana Pacers, San Antonio Spurts etc. 

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