Reviewing early 2009 -- the Knick Rollercoaster
Sorry I got blitzed to start the new year, so I haven't provided
recaps. Here are a few bullets on the spate of games the Knicks have
had to start 2009 prior to this week's home and home against the Wizards.
* Highlights: obviously the wins over the Celtics and the Hornets. The Knicks did not shoot especially well in either game, interestingly, but their commitment to defense and ball movement played a huge role in their ability to take both games. Admittedly, both opponents seemed to take the Knicks lightly which didn't hurt, but you had to love the energy the Knicks brought in both games. The Hornets game was especially notable because 1) it was on the road 2) Duhon wasn't the only one to create plays for a change -- everyone got in the act in terms of passing and ball movement, including Richardson and Jeffries.
* Lowlights: Um, every other game besides the two games against the toughest teams on the schedule this year? Actually, the effort against the Mavericks was decent, but the Mavericks have not been playing especially distinguished ball in 2009 either, and though I noted in my preview to that game that the Mavs were a bad matchup, the Knicks managed OK but demonstrated their frequent inability to finish at the end of close games. The loss to the Thunder is one that everyone points to as an example of the Knicks' maddening and inexcusable inconsistency -- I'd agree in the sense that the Knicks spotting the Thunder a 23 point lead was pretty heinous. But the Thunder are an improving team and have played well at home recently, so I wasn't as put off by the loss as I thought I would be.
The worst recent loss was probably the loss to the Rockets, because the Knicks seemed to give up in that one once things went south in the second half -- this was the first Knicks game where I fell asleep in the 3rd quarter and woke up to find the team down by 20. When the opponent doesn't even play their best player and toughest matchup for most of the fourth quarter, you know you're playing poorly. This game felt a lot like the losses to the 76ers on Halloween, and the Bucks (right after the trades of Crawford and Randolph) -- anemic exercises where the other team gradually pulls away without even playing particularly exceptional basketball, and the Knicks seem to shuffle along with slumped shoulders.
* Nice developments: David Lee making more use of his perimeter jumpshot and continuing to play hard and consistently well. Wilson Chandler taking it to the basket (every other game or so, anyway). Say what you will about Quentin Richardson (and there's plenty to tear your hair out about), but he freqently comes across as one of the most engaged Knicks on the court every night -- even Duhon has had moments where he seems to disappear, though in fairness to him, the league-leading minutes may have something to do with that.
* Not so great/flat out maddening: The erratic offense of the offensive catalysts off the bench, Al and Nate. Nate's slump has been well documented and discussed, but Al's inconsistency has been almost as troubling. He has significant streaks (Celtics first half, Thunder second half) where he takes over, but he's also had many spells where he holds the ball for too long and then commits a turnover going to the basket, as well as being unable to finish inside against bigger or more physical players. Al had a decent game against the Thunder, but was 6 for 47 against the Mavs, Rockets and Hornets -- yikes. Nate meanwhile, was 18 for 59 in 2009 prior to the Wizards series, and has seen his playing time fluctuate dramatically between 20 and 35 minutes as D'Antoni has tinkered with more defensively oriented lineups.
More observations coming up with a recap of the two Wizards games in the next day or so. Some excellent NBA action tonight with four of the best teams on tap in high def -- but I'll still be watching my Knicks, low def and all, against one of the worst teams on the road (in a game unlikely to feature as much offensive polish as the 128-122 shootout the other night).
* Highlights: obviously the wins over the Celtics and the Hornets. The Knicks did not shoot especially well in either game, interestingly, but their commitment to defense and ball movement played a huge role in their ability to take both games. Admittedly, both opponents seemed to take the Knicks lightly which didn't hurt, but you had to love the energy the Knicks brought in both games. The Hornets game was especially notable because 1) it was on the road 2) Duhon wasn't the only one to create plays for a change -- everyone got in the act in terms of passing and ball movement, including Richardson and Jeffries.
* Lowlights: Um, every other game besides the two games against the toughest teams on the schedule this year? Actually, the effort against the Mavericks was decent, but the Mavericks have not been playing especially distinguished ball in 2009 either, and though I noted in my preview to that game that the Mavs were a bad matchup, the Knicks managed OK but demonstrated their frequent inability to finish at the end of close games. The loss to the Thunder is one that everyone points to as an example of the Knicks' maddening and inexcusable inconsistency -- I'd agree in the sense that the Knicks spotting the Thunder a 23 point lead was pretty heinous. But the Thunder are an improving team and have played well at home recently, so I wasn't as put off by the loss as I thought I would be.
The worst recent loss was probably the loss to the Rockets, because the Knicks seemed to give up in that one once things went south in the second half -- this was the first Knicks game where I fell asleep in the 3rd quarter and woke up to find the team down by 20. When the opponent doesn't even play their best player and toughest matchup for most of the fourth quarter, you know you're playing poorly. This game felt a lot like the losses to the 76ers on Halloween, and the Bucks (right after the trades of Crawford and Randolph) -- anemic exercises where the other team gradually pulls away without even playing particularly exceptional basketball, and the Knicks seem to shuffle along with slumped shoulders.
* Nice developments: David Lee making more use of his perimeter jumpshot and continuing to play hard and consistently well. Wilson Chandler taking it to the basket (every other game or so, anyway). Say what you will about Quentin Richardson (and there's plenty to tear your hair out about), but he freqently comes across as one of the most engaged Knicks on the court every night -- even Duhon has had moments where he seems to disappear, though in fairness to him, the league-leading minutes may have something to do with that.
* Not so great/flat out maddening: The erratic offense of the offensive catalysts off the bench, Al and Nate. Nate's slump has been well documented and discussed, but Al's inconsistency has been almost as troubling. He has significant streaks (Celtics first half, Thunder second half) where he takes over, but he's also had many spells where he holds the ball for too long and then commits a turnover going to the basket, as well as being unable to finish inside against bigger or more physical players. Al had a decent game against the Thunder, but was 6 for 47 against the Mavs, Rockets and Hornets -- yikes. Nate meanwhile, was 18 for 59 in 2009 prior to the Wizards series, and has seen his playing time fluctuate dramatically between 20 and 35 minutes as D'Antoni has tinkered with more defensively oriented lineups.
More observations coming up with a recap of the two Wizards games in the next day or so. Some excellent NBA action tonight with four of the best teams on tap in high def -- but I'll still be watching my Knicks, low def and all, against one of the worst teams on the road (in a game unlikely to feature as much offensive polish as the 128-122 shootout the other night).
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