I don’t think the Knicks are suddenly the best team in the league (and they’re not winning 60 games lol) but I do think they have a great chance of making the ECF, and unless the Lakers get their shit together, a healthy Knicks team (with Amar’e on the bench lol) has more matchup advantages against the Heat than any other team in the league. Doesn’t mean they’ll win, they’ll need Shumpert to come back better than he was last year to realistically have a chance of that (or maybe JR will get super hot for a series lol)

jon abbey: LeBron doesn’t have the sociopathic need to win that those guys did, for better and worse. and this game was very special circumstances because of Sandy, as stated above.

I’ve watched some of this game again, and I don’t think there’s any question the Heat didn’t really bring it like they should have last night. Some of it was our doing, and some was just pure effort.

Just watch Lebron on this Felton clip – have you ever seen him so lackadaisical on defense when actually trying?

http://www.nba.com/video/games/knicks/2012/11/02/0021200020-mia-nyk-play1.nba/index.html

Even on the alley-oop dunk LBJ had, he was basically jogging down the court. It wouldn’t surprise me if he just mailed it in this game — not giving it up, just lot giving 150% like he usually does at MSG — to give NYers something to rally around.

I will say this though- our defense was really really good. Miami wasn’t sharp, and the stats for LBJ/Wade/Bosh weren’t bad, but like Harvey Araton said on twitter, those were a little misleading – they didn’t score in the ways they want to. I’ve also never seen Lebron challenged quite this much as the rim when he got there.

Other thing – Miami’s backup PG situation is a real problem for them. Chalmers went out with 2 fouls and Felton and then JR just went to work on Ray Allen. Cole is an ok defender but is a terrible offensive player. Chalmers’s ballhawking is a big part of their D (remember what he did to Lin last year, and then to Baron/Bibby etc. in the playoffs?) and without him their D definitely lost some bite. Also, it looks like Joel Anthony doesn’t play at all anymore? He was such a good PNR defender, and very good on the offensive boards at least in the games he played against us.

Still a great win.

Meanwhile, we beat them and their healthy big three with only two of ours (and with one going 10-28)

One guy I really do still like is Jeremy Lin. He’s been overshadowed by Harden but has been very good. Ray had a great game and him and Jason Kidd will give us serviceable pg play but we will miss Lin, no doubt about it. Prigioni looked overmatched.

ruruland: you’re not looking for my response. Let’s see how much Knicks success you can deal with, troll.

for someone who has endured many long seasons of mediocrity, I guess I’ll handle the success just fine, if it comes, thank you.

you’re new to the Knicks, you’ll eventually get it.

Bruno Almeida: “He’s very motivated right now,” said Tyson Chandler. “I’ve only been with him for two years but this is the most motivated I’ve seen him. He’s doing so much, and not only what you saw in display tonight. But in the film room and walk throughs. He’s changed. He’s getting in early, putting up shots from everywhere, pulling guys aside to give them advice. He’s being a great teammate.”

that’s a quote on Anthony… if he’s “changed”, that means he didn’t do those things before, right?

you’re not looking for my response. Let’s see how much Knicks success you can deal with, troll.

Juany8:
So I watched some of the Denver game and I’m starting to wonder when all the stat geeks are going to start writing excuses when they end up as the 6th seed and are a quick out in the first round again. Hint: If you can’t defend Orlando worth shit, you’re not a contender. They could score at the number 1 efficiency in the league from now on and it wouldn’t change the fact that having 1 good perimeter defender in this league isn’t enough to seriously bump up your defense. Even Dwight Howard hasn’t been able to prop up the Lakers lol, but at least he’s been out for months with an injury and could still be recovering physically. Denver was supposed to be number 2 in the west! Even the Lakers aren’t losing to mediocre teams dealing with injuries, they have injury concerns themselves…

Frank:
Obviously I feel terrible for amare but maybe this injury was the best thing that could happen to this team. As others have said here, it gives Woodson cover to move him to the 2nd unit where he wold play very well alongside either Kurt Thomas or Rasheed- both of whom can guard the more dangerous opposing PF/C and can hit a mid-long range jumper if left open. A second unit of Kidd/Prigioni, JR, Shumpert/Novak, amare, and Rasheed/Thomas would probably be the best second unit in the league.

don’t forget Camby! he could be a major impact role player, even in 12-15 minutes a night.

d-mar:
Thought it was kind of strange that LeBron was smiling and laughing after the game. I know it’s the 2nd game of their season and not a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but I can’t imagine a Jordan or a Bird with a hint of a smile after being blown out in MSG.

LeBron doesn’t have the sociopathic need to win that those guys did, for better and worse. and this game was very special circumstances because of Sandy, as stated above.