Playoff Game Thread: New York V. Boston
April 22nd, 2011 by Thomas B. | Comments | Permalink |
Anthony says this is “a must win game.” I agree. The boys have their work cut out for them. Billups will sit this one out. Stoudemire is a game time decision.
Your in game thoughts here.
@Don't bother; I don't tweet
Firsties, need more of this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGk9aD6Ine4
All hands on deck! Let’s get this one!
go ny go ny go!!!
We could be looking at the second to last “firsties” post of the season. As much as I hate firsties posts, I’d tolerate them to see the Knicks play a few more games.
Well I didn’t post them in the first two games because people politely asked prior bc they were worried about jinxing the game. But today I was nervous about not giving it a shot. I know it’s stupid, but it couldn’t hurt right?
Hate to be melo-dramatic, but if knicks can somehow win tonight, the Celtics are in real trouble…but if knicks lose tonight they are DONE…
Exactly the way I feel about the game…
Absolutely agree with the afore-mentioned….this game makes or breaks teh series…knicks lose…probably sweep in 4….win and I think they ride momentum to at least extending this one 6 or 7 games.
we need this kind of energy in the garden tonight to carry us through:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0RwVBgIfew
If they win tonight, Sunday you better be the first poster on the game thread. In fact, I’ll email you the moment the thread goes up just to get you ready. ;-)
TD is the key!!!
lmao, done and done
What we NEED is to not shoot 36% from the field again. Again, magic numbers should be 45% from field, 33% from three or a close variation. We’ll win the foul shots at home. And we can out-rebound them. “We don’t need shooters, we need makers.”
Firsties is the key!
I’m picking Landry as the key tonight. We need cheap baskets, and he was our king of them this season.
Apparently Billups said even if the series goes 7 games he doubts he will be available by then.
Yes anything from Landry, would be great. That rookie wall looking China sized.
Let the luck of the firsties carry on. 48 minutes of focus, even handed refereeing, some shotmaking by TD, E and perish the thought Landry and it’s series on! Go Knicks!
We have to be due for a late-game miracle after all the tough losses to this team in the final seconds this season (even the preseason for crying out loud)!!!
For those who have the option do you prefer MSG or TNT? I tend to drift to TNT for variety after the half.
Our best chance is a game that doesnt come down to the last possession.
Agree TD is the key.
It would be great to have a blistering 3 PT night. Like the Chicago game back on Nov. 4th, we can put a good team to bed early if the threes fall. It’s been a while since we’ve had a game like that. Then, games 4 – 7 can go back to being a grind. Too much to ask? To not only live by the 3 pointer, but live large?
absolutely jkhar…probably our ONLY chance to win this one…but it WOULD be nice to see the knicks win a close game for their confidence and finally get over the hump against beantown in the clutch!
Moot question since this is on ESPN. Doh
Bully Walker to finally get that dunk tonight to electrify the Garden.
TD needs to channel his inner memphis game shooting struck! Heck, let him be the only one wearing the green st patty’s day jersey and green sneaks if he wants!!! anything to make a few big 3s
I actually had a vision of a big bully walker dunk in this one as well….but I’ll settle for a non O-fer from him at this point!
Pressure is on the Garden crowd to bring it tonight. Its been a long time since MSG has seen a NBA playoff game…
I respectfully disagree. The key to this game is fourth quarter execution particularly in terms of defensive rebounding. We let Boston get crucial buckets by failing to secure the defensive rebound. That is something the team must do better tonight. After that, I’d say any semblance of a contribution from the bench would be of great help.
To quote Clyde: Knicks need to play at a “vascilating pace” tonight
Shit, was hoping ESPN showed the player intros. Guess not.
Damn Mullin and Rose pick the Knicks to win tonight…now Im worried
I’m hoping the celtics circa 2008 against the hawks on the road show up tonight!
Celtics shooting 45% from 3pt range (Allen 7 for 9) so far in the series, hopefully they are due for a bad shooting night.
Stat says his back feels even better than he hoped it would be.
UH GOOD START
Great start.
Not the start i envisioned
well, at least we got off to a good start!
They seem a bit jittery is not quite it but off offensively. At least the effort is there on D. Fields puts them on the board.
wtf are they doing
What is with all the needless chippiness?
taking the crowd right out of it in the 1st quarter, beautiful stuff, oh well, they knicks always choked the lead away, maybe this time we come from behind
if we are going to win this one, I hate to say it, but it looks like it will ONLY come in the last few seconds…..I hope not.
At this point, KG has probably already thrown 10 elbows. The chippiness is necessary when playing that s—.
Are you kidding me?
OY
Embarrassing.
Can we at least make this a game? Shit.
Can’t believe this is happening
D’Antoni’s offensive genius on full display right now
We got down 0-6 and just absolutely panicked.
I see the season slipping away….ah, well
Why sit fields? He has the only remotely nba-like line in the Knicks boxscore.
That’s more like it. A fluid possession and a basket. And another
I wish injury upon Garnett. What a putz.
Dang. I hate to say it but the Knicks look so much better when Carmelo is out there without Amare.
Sorry those only get called on Carmelo…and in the last minute of a close game
That call on Walker earlier was just atrocious. What did he get called for, hand holding away from the ball? Just terrible
Melo is getting beat up. Wouldnt be surprised to see him get a tech soon for retaliation.
I want some makeup calls and I want them now. That Walker foul was total BS and it was a four point swing in what could end up being a close game. You’d think these guys know they already robbed the Knicks in gm1
will you take foul trouble?
I dunno… 1st quarter leads are notoriously difficult to protect. Stoudemire looks terrible though. Hopefully he gets some sort of rhythm going at some point in the game.
E and AC in 6-0 run Boston timeout. YES
looks like the calls are going our way now that we are home…NOT!!!
Certainly with the current Amar’e. Ill still take Melo and a 100% Amar’e out there together :-)
there is something to be said about the NYC crowd, while being energizing…also handicapping a young team that has never seen playoff action….added pressure, I don’t know…they looked WAY too geeeeeeked up at the start….need to settle down.
Why isn’t that a traveling?
So apparently you can roll over on the floor and it’s not a travel? F this
Clear path!
Walker got his dunk. After the whistle. :-(
There’s the walker dunk you all asked for…too bad it won’t count
What are they chanting?
Well, they’ve averted disaster…
Was the crowd chanting: “These refs suck!” or was that just what I wanted them to be chanting?
decent recovery
Good comeback effort.
That’s what I heard. And wanted to hear.
Good end to the quarter. Props to the Knicks bench.
How is the Jeffries, Carter, Walker, Williams lineup our best offensive unit??
these refs suck!!!! GREAT CHANT!
I GUESS this Thor movie looks cool.
27-20 and garnett and pierce both with 2 fouls….could be MUCH worse considering the start!
Damn it!
jared jeffries has really been our second best player. Putting him on Rondo and allowing him to freelance is just killing the Celtics’ offense.
Walker and Williams making a big difference out there.
Natalie Portman in it helps lol.
What NOW?
true about natalie portman AND about jeffries…he looked terrible in regular season but defensively has really taken his game up a notch on that end, at least…maybe he was rusty from not having played for so long with houston.
Landry’s going to have a huge game tonight. I feel it.
Like I said…
Damn it douglas, when will you realize that we can’t afford to have you in foul trouble? We need your offense. damn
holy shit landry, jeezus christ, how does dave berrri explain this
Krstic’s hairline really makes me nauseous.
I don’t care what you all say…fields looks TERRIBLE! deer in headlights
Where is Melo? I think he has to play 44 minutes or something like that for them to have a chance!
Where is Melo? I’m getting the shakes…
Allen now 9 for 11 from 3pt range in the series.
I take back what I said about Landry. Yeesh.
Landry keeps flinching at open threes and dribbling into long, rushed twos.
Fields seriously needs to be DNP-CD soon.
Fields just has a slow release on the three, and boston is so good at closing out.
I think one positive of this season that has largely been missed or at least not given enough attention is the development of Walker and Williams. They came in as unproven (Walker) and practically unknown (Williams). They started the year very one dimensional as well, with Walker being the high flyer and Williams being the surprisingly good spot up shooter.
But watching this game, I’m proud of where they are at and wonder if they have a future on this team. Walker’s defense has been much improved and his shooting is MUCH better. Williams can still knock down the tres, but he also seems to be moving much better. He’s more confident off the dribble and on defense. I’m loving it.
Did Bill Walker steal that ball while being seated?
I hear you Michael, but they both sort of stink.
what happened to fields tho, i mean simple dribbling he can’t even do, he looks so fucking bad
Otherwise they’re ALL gonna be DNP soon…
Jeffries, you woman.
I’m not saying they are starters on this team, or any other in the NBA. But stink? I just disagree.
that is NOT a foul.
But still… damn Douglas…screw you
Foul on TD??
Relative to the rest of the Knicks roster, they’re pretty good.
yeah he’s got 3 already…AGAIN
Why can’t Jeffries dunk a basketball?
dunk it jj!
At least Jeffries made that wide open layup
I kinda like what they are doing with jeffries, finding a way to make them pay for not defending him. I think theres something there.
solid half by amare, why isn’t shelden williams in the game
There’s the makeup call — tough one on Amare, and then a quick 3 seconds on Garnett
JVG defending D’Antoni.
That was an up-and-down.
Grab a fuckin defensive rebound.
some solid turnovers there, lol wtf, this is like a joke, they play better in boston
Im trying to be optimistic but right now I see no chance in hell the Knicks win this game.
“bad foul by mason”
I say any foul that smashes the celtics to the floor is a good foul. we’re probably not winning the series, so let’s knock them out
TD only 1 shot btw, 100% for the game
I hate to agree with you, but I do
shawne williams kept us in the game, amare is playing horrible, melo not a great shooting night so far, and that last turnover is lol
Earl Monroe and Bernard King really look like a pair of muppets at this point.
I don’t see how they win it either, unfortunately…..TD not giving the big game i was hoping for…really no one has stood out whatsoever.
Someone said 10 points
i just want us to win one fucking playoff game, just one, so we can at least end the drought
OMG Allen missed a 3pter!!!!
Great sequence.
Rebounds and loose balls are KILLING the Knicks.
They can’t keep leaving Allen open for 3.
Is there something about MSG that brings out the absolute worst in the Knicks defense and rebounding? I don’t get it….it was much better in the first two games in boston
JVG right about the knick stars playing not good enough to win
Jeffries is a clown on offense.
I get the strategy (they are not guarding Jeffries, so give him the ball), but it is not working. Please stop it, D’Anton. You don’t fully appreciate how inept Jeffries is on offense.
Jeffries is like the nerdy kid who is always left wide open during football games in gym class, so wide open that they give it to him occasionally, only he’s so nervous he drops it.
But Jesus Christ he is getting the ball 5 feet from the freaking rim every time!!!
On the bright side, they’ve been horrible this half and they’re only down 8.
going down 17 in the first quarter does not help
Terrible job by Pierce not getting a shot off. You know the game isn’t over, right, Paul? You still need to score points. But great for the Knicks!
Still not confident Knicks will win this game, but down 8 at half-time isnt that bad.
Totally, and a lot of the stupid stuff was bad luck.
It could be worse, but it sure ain’t GOOD!
Might as well be 50 feet when it is Jeffries.
agreed but while I can conceive of ways they can win there have been no signs of them.
Wasn’t jj a scoring camp in college?
Did we go to high school together?
Why can they not SECURE a rebound….everything is tipped, tapped, deflected…also the number of times the opposition gets the ball off of a deflection out of bounds (this season, not just this game), is truly unbelievable!
btw, did anyone notice how long the knicks went playing that second quarter WITHOUT a point guard? looks like d’antoni really lost confidence in TD but I think they had a lineup of Stat, jeffries, melo, walker and shawne williams for a while….am I wrong?
We need to have Carter in the game when TD is on the bench. Mason is just not the option. Walker and Williams should get run, and leave Landry on the bench at this point.
TD was injured, knicks came back with walker, anthony carter, and shawne williams, goes to show u don’t need so-called superstars to win it for you. they need amare to not fuck up, at least secure rebounds and play tough D, he can’t score right now.
Is this really the way Chris Mullen talks?
sorry TD in foul trouble not injured
He didn’t even have a POINT GUARD in the game for half the second quarter I believe….wow…not saying it is a bad move…just shows you how he really doesn’t trust TD to run the offense…can’t say I blame him, though…..as much as I want them to drop billups after this season and sign gasol or dandre jordan, they will have a MASSIVE hole at PG that i don’t think douglas can fill.
He is awful on ESPN.
I think there is a mood to go down 3-0 and come back – never been done in NBA history. Sure hurts though.
also JJ making 2 FREE THROWS, c’mon no props for that
TD picked up his 3rd foul with 7 mins left in the half.
jesus…this really smacks of knicks from late 90s…..major injuries come playoff time….really is amazing….only seems to happen to knicks…
TD was in foul trouble…
they actually played better in boston than they have tonight so who knows? maybe they win a game 5
Yeah, good point, I must say I was surprised that he hit both, so props to him for that.
As for the point guard thing, yeah, I would prefer Carter to Mason. Melo just isn’t good at entry passes.
They’re outplaying the Knicks in every asset.
ok, thanks…didn’t realize TD had 3 fouls….
I guess it is better that he stay aggressive rather than let rondo waltz into the lane like in game 2….but not really sure….they can’t afford to be without a viable PG….then again, how about he doesn’t commit stupid fouls in the first place!
did you mean “in every asPECT” rather than every asset….I agree they probably have more assets….allen, pierce, garnett, rondo vs. melo, 20% of STAT and no one else basically
I think AC has played solid so far, and definitely doesn’t flinch like Landry seems to be doing. And mason just looks awkward out there..
I don’t understand how a player goes through half the season playing like a champ in NYC, the media capital of the wall, and then loses his confidence like Fields has….how is that possible? I don’t think it is a rookie wall issue so much as it is just looking unsure of himself….he completely looks like he doesn’t know what to do with the ball…I assume it is just not getting the same open looks he gotten during the regular season against a boston team that is amazing defensively.
The floor looks totally different on offense with Carmelo out there.
the knicks have a conundrum in that jeffries is going to be open pretty much every other possession inside….boston is willing to cede that….it is just a matter of him finishing around the rim…I think it is probably the right call by boston not to guard him as they can collapse at the last minute and probably alter his shot 75% of the time and maybe give up a layup every now and then, but also discourage melo from passing to him and force him and STAT to take contested outside shots…..if he could finish we would be set….but then again, the entire boston defensive scheme would be completely different.
they need to start with shawne and bill walker instead
Yes aspect but asset if it is theirs to gather. TD is holding ball too long – this is not regular season and TD doesn’t go to basket like most pgs. I’d rather have mason and have more passing and running. Wow the Knicks played Terrible. Pass the ball make some motion – what is up ??? Wow how upsetting …. Anyway …. Boston is not that good people.
Well it could be worse I guess. At least Bill and Shawne are hitting. Maybe we can rain threes in the 2nd half?
God Fields looks like crap.
lol landry why
DAMN TAKE FIELDS OFF OF THE PLAYOFF ROSTER ALREADY
Jj dunk if you have to.
Seriously, no one can get a defensive rebound?
Jeez we could really use a point guard out there.
Someone will get hurt in this game if they let them bang like that down low. It’s fun to watch, but mark my words, someone will throw an elbow and it will get ugly
Game Over
Jesus
THere is just no possible way Fields can chase Ray Allen off of screens. Please Dantoni, wake up
Not that we have anyone that will do any better…not sure anyone in the league can chase Allen around those screens
I don’t know what to say. This is bad.
Getting mad. They look straight up LAZY on defense. Especially Landry Fields. If he’s not going to keep up with Ray Allen, get him out of there. Ray looks like the 22-year-old the way he’s wearing out Landry.
well, I guess we can go 0-30 against boston this season including preseason
Boston shot 45% from 3pt range first 2 games of the series and are 8 for 13 from 3pt range this game.
Maybe, just maybe, the Knicks should cover the 3pt line.
Yeah, they flat look like they’ve given up.
Knicks had more fight and hustle in Boston than they have tonight. Makes no sense whatsoever.
the worst about this is I bet allen has one of those 3-15 games against miami where he can’t buy a bucket like he always has against OTHER teams (but never hte knicks)….last finals he hit 8 3s in one game and the next against LA I think he was 2-14 or something like that
Come on orange, white and blue
wtf is Fields on the floor?
You don’t have to TRIPLE team Jermain O’ Neal!!! WTF
Bad luck with the injuries. Next year I think we can challenge the Hawks/Magic for the 5 and maybe 4 spots.
I can’t believe I’m saying this: Bring in Jeffries.
I have never seen a play go from sugar to shit as fast as Landry Fields. He looks like a 2nd round pick rookie out there.
wow..this is really sad
Game Over. this pathetic. thanks Knicks for opening up the Garden in this fashion.
unbelievable horseshit from our guys.
He looks like an undrafted rookie out there.
Come on guys, it’s simple, without Billups, with Stoudamire playing hurt, we’re playing with heart, but the talent’s not enough to stay with the Celtics…
You are down by 17 Melo, shoot the ball! You shoot with two guys all over you when the game is tied, but you don’t take that? I just don’t understand this team
On the plus side…boston OR Miami at least has to lose in the next round….we have that going for us!
How is that outstanding coaching? Do these guys really need to be told to play hard?
I’m not asking for miraculous talent to appear, I’m asking for the thing you claim we are playing with — HEART. We had it in Boston, but if you think we are playing with it tonight, I think we must just be watching different games
Ok, I’m turning it off. Garnett clearly traveled. I’ve had enough
That could be a new low.
True. So sad.
MSG sounds like a library.
it’s over
this went from being a good series to being completely embarrassing
If Jeffries is on this team next year, I might have to decline.
Knicks game out with too much adrenaline and played disorganized and never were able to reocover
Each possession gets more and more embarrassing!
D’Antoni will get fired.
Melo gets doubled, he gives it up, yet nobody is open.
Here is what I just don’t get. JJ struggles on offense, doesn’t rebound all that well, and doesn’t block shots, Yet MDA plays him. Randolph had some offensive struggles (not to the JJ level), blocked shots, rebounded very well, but MDA would not play him much at all. Wouldn’t Randolph have been a great asset in this series?
Look, I’ve seen enough Knicks playoff games to know what they need to do now:
Once the Celtics Big Four sits, start a fight and hope that the bench clears.
Maybe Calipari will be an improvement. He’s also a giant asshole, so he’ll fit in well with the rest of the organization.
@221
Usually that ends up worse for us.
i am among the group (very small) that thinks d’antoni deserves one more season to prove himself…..but if they are swept by boston, I really feel that walsh and d’antoni will be shown the door…sadly…
I am not htat attached to d’antoni…but I think they need to hang onto walsh for the sake of the franchise.
Thomas B. +1
@221: Thank you for making me laugh during these dark times
Sheesh. Pretty much no one in white has done anything right this quarter.
Sooooo. Who do we like in the draft?
as much as the NY media built this series up, if they are swept this series will be as unforgettable as the nets series in 2004.
wtf happened to them? from the effort in Boston to this?
Roger Mason Jr. sounds like an investment banker from Greenwich, CT.
Lets face it, if the Celtics played their “A” game like they are tonight this undermanned Knick team has no chance in hell of beating them or even staying close with them.
And really, TD isn’t playing D?
Send Balkman in and put Ray Allen on his ass.
what is d’antoni good at? This proves that we could use a new coach, they have been running isolations nearly every time the floor since the trade. Seems like he would’ve thought of something better than that by now.
I think we can all agree that no one should ever evereverever post firsties again. :-)
and what did Sheldon Williams do to deserve this random benching?
Why shoot the ball at this point…
if I squint my eyes, it looks like the score is 86-83
It’s one tiny terrible thing amidst a sea of terrible things but… really? Couldn’t even get a shot off to end the quarter? Did the Celtics pay them off?
Um guys in white? Yeah, this “He’ll regress to the mean” approach to defense. Yeah, that isn’t working. So maybe we can go back to a hand in the face or you know staying near the shooter. Anyway, just a thought.
With our luck we will go on a 20-0 run and get within 1 point, only to lose on a last second play….
all i can say, great to be a knicks fan, real great, why wasn’t i from ok city or something, at least there’s hope for something.
If I squint my eyes, JJ looks like Allan Houston.
I never realized how good we had it in games 1 and 2.
Yup, will remind me of that, you might as well be the Starbury team. We are not even close to being relevant again, we can’t even get a win. I don’t care how close we came, this is a joke. This team was a borderline playoff team post-trade. We don’t have any freaking depth, and we had to revamp the whole offense around Anthony. If he doesnt’ ahve a 40 point night then we have no chance. And how often does he have 40 point nights?
Bill Walker is secretly a horrendous foul shooter.
I totally agree… We did great staying close in the first two games (the first could go in the books as “the robbery”) and I still hope we could win one, but tonight… By the way, is Landry Fields the player that we “choose” to keep in the Melo trade? :-)
Donnie Walsh is to blame for this fracking mess. As much as he has done, this still is on him. He refused to get any f’n depth at center or the point all f’n season! Instead he kept Extra E and some castoff from Jordan’s team! He needs to go.
JVG says the Knicks are in a zone. I say, how can you tell? It’s not like there have Knick defenders anywhere near the Celtic shooters.
Yeah, please dont use tonight’s game as a referendum for the future.
Cheer up. The last time the Celtics gave up a 19 point lead in the 4th quarter was um, er, never mind.
Don’t despair XMan. They’ll be better next year. Pinky swear.
Amen. No excuse for Derrick Brown over Earl Barron.
Safe to say the Celtics are already looking past us.
Don’t forget… He wen’t to JARED’S!
Oh come on. Earl Barron sucks too.
Yup, Earl Barron on the Knicks wouldve meant a definite 2-0 series lead for the Knicks. Remind me again what playoff roster Barron is on right now??
What can do we do for the future? We don’t have much salary cap room, and all our young assets are gone. We have a 17th pick. If we refuse Chauncey’s contract, then we have no point guard. Landry now has no trade value. I guess we can get Gasol, yay.
At least Walker seems to sort of resemble someone who is “trying”.
I know this game is over, but where is Melo? Have we given up already?
as much as we may not want it to be a referendum for next season, it will be the last game or 2 in the memory of Jimmy dolan when he makes decisions for next season so I think it is relevant.
Producer: “Zoom in to catch D’Antoni’s face as he regrets not taking the bulls job.”
God forbid Fields hits a layup.
lol we’re playing better w/o amare and melo, we move the ball around and everyone’s getting a touch
Fields. FIELDS.
Blazers?
Too bad when Walker tries he ends up almost doing worse, with the charges and all
Just as a way of talking about anything other the game: Lisa Salters asked some tough questions there. I didn’t know sideline reporters were capable.
Misses the layup and both foul shots?
Wow.
fields will learn a lot from this series, and hopefully comes out even better next year
He is not on any playoff roster. He was with the Bucks at the roster playoff deadline. They then cut him after.
Okay yes. Earl Barron sucks but he sucks less than Brown. And since the team barely has a center, it would have been nice to have someone that could at least approximate a 5. You have Stoudemire hurt, Turiaf cant play more than 15 a game, Mosgov–who sucked too BTW–is in Denver. How does Brown help the team more than Barron? I’m not saying give him a 5 year deal, but sheesh he is a better option than Brown.
I just hope the Celtics dont even try on Sunday and the Knicks at least avoid a sweep.
it’s jsut really sad that, this is our first playoff game at MSG in 7 years, 11 years since our first win, and we didn’t have the lead once in this game. Just forever cursed in some way.
Well someone named Earl Barron earned a DNP in last night’s Mavs/Blazers game.
He probably sucks, but who knows? D’Antoni never played the guy.
What can “Brown” do for YOU? (sorry)
Shoot the f-ing ball Douglas. His decision-making is so horrendous.
lol thehy call the moving screen on JO now, they feel bad after the first game
DON’T CALL IT A COMEBACK. (sorry)
Mason Jr on fire.
from ESPN:
“Barron signed with Portland for the duration of the current season, TrailBlazers.com reports.
Spin: Barron can get rebounds with the right minutes, but chances are that he won’t secure a big role in Portland.”
Can the words “can get rebounds with the right minutes” apply to any Knicks other than Anthony during this playoff run? The Blazers have a good core of bigs yet they picked up Barron anyway. Gee, why would they do something like that? Maybe it has something to do with depth and insurance? Nah couldnt be.
amare failing to close out on ray allen, such a joke
You can stop kicking them. They’re already dead.
Breen: “Knicks showing signs of life.”
Yeah, in much the same way that Wesley from “The Princess Bride” was only “mostly dead.”
Oh nevermind. This just in: Rondo, Pierce and Allen are really really really good at basketball.
13 for 20 from 3pt range for the Celtics.
Seriously, arguing over Earl fuckin Barron. Get over it.
So what can they do with Chauncey’s expiring deal? I think this series has proven that they need to add multiple players.
Really? No one can chase this 35-year-old man off the three-point line?
What I fear the most is Amar’e's injury will become a Brandon Roy incident.
Barron is on the Blazers.
The only thing that I have left to hope for is that Boston continues to play this well and is able to knock off the heat.
That’s a funny was of saying “Sorry, guys. My mistake.”
it’s just embarsssing when you’re starting unit puts you in a 22-5 hole, they are better with their bench, anthony carter wasn’t even that bad, I think Jjefries and Turiaf together wouldn’t be bad. yeah i like amare, but he’s hurting us. His strength is scoring and he can’t score, he can’t defend either. Jeffries is actually improving every game it seems, turiaf does well in the pnr.
Nope its a way of saying you are an idiot and are arguing stupid shit for the helluva it. But you have proven in the past to be a troll so Im not surprised.
Well bully for Troy F-ing Murphy.
TD hitting shots now that they have no chance.
I think he wasn’t up to the pressure.
And he’s my favorite.
Look, nobody’s feeling very special right now. Let’s just agree that the roster needs some work.
I thought STAT played like a dog tonight. Either you can go or you can’t.
Also BBA, it’s not about Earl Barron per se, it’s about the refusal to sign someone, anyone, that stands above 6’9″ and can grab a f’n board. Earl Barron fits the bill, AND, we had the inside track on him. Instead, Walsh chose 2 additional forwards.
You started this. You won’t admit you made a mistake. You make personal attacks, and you use foul language. Yeah, I’m the troll. G’night BBA. You can have the last word on the subject.
D’Antoni should start Shawne at the 2 over Fields for game 4.
Fuck it. I’m still gonna say Knicks in 7.
These games just underscore everything we’ve written here for two months – the team has a roster problem.
I’m actually very impressed that Melo proved in game two he was everything we traded for — a go-to scorer without mercy. The problem is we traded all of our role players for him, save Landry, and we pay him $17M a year.
So we have two great players, nothing else, no GM, and no chits to trade. It will be a long summer and likely a long five years, since I don’t think Dolan is re-upping with Walsh.
In fact, the saddest moment this week for me was Johnny Hoops interviewing Walsh on ESPN radio while I was listening to game 1. JA (who I think is on the MSG payroll) didn’t even ask about the contract extension. Which means he wasn’t allowed to. Which means we are doomed.
G’night all.
everyone is to blame, no exceptions. the rot starts from Dolan on down. Melo has sucked for 2 out of 3 games, if he’d been even mediocre in game 1, this series is still only 2-1 Boston.
on the other hand, Boston has maybe four Hall of Famers (assuming Rondo keeps it up) and even Jermaine O’Neal was a legit MVP candidate at one point, and they’ve all been seemingly much more inspired by the awesome atmosphere of MSG than any of the Knicks. much like the Bird/Parish/McHale Celtics I despised while growing up, they play exceedingly smart (and a bit dirty) ball. I will be rooting for Miami hard against them.
I was at least pleasantly surprised by the intelligence/intensity of the crowd tonight, I was worried they may have dumbed down demographically since the last big games at MSG, but no such problem. NYC is still a hoops town, I hope there’s another legit contender before I die. AND I’M NOT GETTING ANY YOUNGER.
oh, now Jeffries slams. wonderful.
::Ahem:: Boooooooooo
Of course it does. But being frustrated about tonight then saying this is Walsh’s fault because they didnt sign Earl freaking Barron is just intended to piss off and rile people like me up and it worked.
Because if you really believe signing Barron wouldve made a difference tonight or in this series you are a complete moron.
Exactly. I just threw out the first name that came to mind. I’m sure there are like 50 other centers better than that, I just have not had time to do the research.
even if we had Earl Barron, let’s not forget that D’Antoni refuses to play centers even when he has them.
BBA – you and I have agreed on a lot in the past, but to refer to Thomas B. as a troll is, well, lame.
Yeah. I mean if he had just left it at “idiot” who could have argued with that? No one. :-)
lol amare -32, wow
God. Based on those terrible and lifeless performances, I have to wonder if Melo and Stat met in a dark alley, adorned with trenchcoat and fedora hat, to discuss getting their coach fired.
I would just be happy with 15 minutes of sweet, sweet Shelden.
I just said that because in the past others have called him that. I have defended him in the past saying he is not a troll. I like Thomas but he does say stupid shit at times just to rile people up and it worked tonight in regards to me at least.
On the plus side the Mets have the lead 2-1 in the bottom of the 8th.
Good point, wrong choice of words on my part :-)
I don’t even think we have 2 great players. Great players don’t go 7 points, 3 rebounds, 15 points off 4/16 shooting. I rarely see lebron (who is a great player) or dwight have nights like that. Everyone thinks we have two “great” players, we have two solid players that cannot carry us to a championship. We also do not have depth, tho our role players were not bad at all tonight.
what kind of odds would any of us have given in December against Jared Jeffries getting 11 shots for us in our first home playoff game in years? JARED FREAKING JEFFRIES. the curse of Isiah, it never ends.
So what can we do with Chauncey Billups’ carcass? Someone please distract me with a trade proposal.
I honestly was not trying to rile people up with earl Barron. He was the first 7 foot guy that can rebound that came to mind. My position–idiotic as it may be–is that the Knicks were 1 maybe 2 defensive boards away from wins in games 1 and 2. And with Stat hurt, and Turiaf not 100% it would have been nice to have a back up center on the roster. Forget Barron. Pick anyone you like. Point was we should have added a big. I had no clue that would upset you so much.
my bad.
can we do Toney Douglas and Billups for Steve Nash?
I don’t think Phoenix would do that. How about Billups and their draft pick for Augustin and Stephen Jackson’s bad contract?
I think until the new CBA is in place it is impossible to come up with different trade scenarios and stuff because whatever the new CBA is will influence alot what moves can/will be made in the future.
lol, yea we need to trade away fields for raja bell, find a way to swing boris diaw, barbosa, and maybe marion. then trade away melo for joe johnson, sounds good.
Damn you Al, I’m in no mood for basic reason. Feed me fantasy.
I dunno why I got so pissed to be honest lol. By now as usual I am calm since the game is over. During the game though I lose it like most everyone else. At least for the most part I become rational again once the game is over lol.
I’m offering Chauncey Billups and James Dolan for Chris Paul and an oyster Po Boy, dressed.
Billups/Fields/whoever they draft in the 1st round this year for Chris Paul.
Billups + whoever we draft this year for Ramon Sessions and Anderson Varejao
Al, too much. Flossy, that feels just about right. A boy can hope.
I’m feeling pissed because I showered, shaved, put on a pressed shirt, bought some flowers and chocolate, knocked on my date’s door and some other guy answered.
Can’t believe I was so optimistic today.
Tonight is what I worried about. I mentioned the other day I hope the Knicks dont get swept and killed at home because they played too good and hard in Boston and didnt deserve to get swept.
Lets hope the Celtics come out flat on Sunday and the Knicks show the same pride and effort they showed in Boston to at least avoid a sweep and win on Sunday and break the 10 year streak of not winning a playoff game.
You wanted fantasy didnt you.
Dude, I’d trade Dolan, Melo, and Amare for expirings
With a hint of reality! Otherwise the matrix feels false and my body rejects it.
the officials did us no favors in the first half either, there were 4-5 big calls that all seemed to go Boston’s way and I thought cost us about 10 points (that charge on Walker on his dishoff was especially insane). especially after the end of game 1, that seemed pretty unfair.
lol yeah new orleans can’t do better than that
sometimes i wonder what the knicks would’ve done without layden/isiah, especially isiah with all the lost draft picks from the eddy curry trade.
hahaha, Quentin Richardson of all people is now busting threes for the Magic. the basketball gods mock us endlessly.
I’m not suggesting they do this, but trading Amare for multiple pieces could be a sneaky, brilliant move.
The only solace I can find right now is that “Celtics” kind of rhymes with “Sell the Knicks”… That can probably be used in a limerick.
Jamal Crawford returns the favor with a possible 4 point play to put Atlanta back ahead, it just keeps getting better.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlQCW02Tbxc
The 2:06 mark neatly sums up the Knick fan experience.
I love that movie.
But c’mon, as bad as tonight is the future unlike what many here want to make it out to be is not bad. They may never become a 60 win title contender but they will be a perennial playoff team for the next few years and Im assuming that as long as Isiah doesnt return they will also become a regular 50 win team that will hopefully give us some decent playoff runs.
Let’s trade Fields for Corey Brewer! But for real, is there any way we can get Brendan Haywood?
Just walked in from watching the game…
When Amare came out and threw up those first two flippy, scoopy bits o’ nonsense, I thought, “whu boy–that’s not good.” That’s just the worst outcome with a player who has been injured; coming back but not at all effective.
Since the series is over, I think we should sit Amar’e on Sunday. He is near useless after all since he can’t jump properly.
The worst of it is that he complained about it at halftime. I’m with JVG. If you’re playing, shut the f up.
Man, that was ugly. Got nothing to say….
On a totally unrelated subject, anyone see that APBRmetrics got hacked and basically destroyed?
Totally bizarre….
This Hawks-Magic game is getting crazy.
Meh. I think it’s pretty obvious that he has no lift. No sense acting like it’s some state secret. It’s not like trying to disguise a broken finger so that guys don’t take whacks at it. I think sometimes JVG gets on an alpha-male kick and gets carried away with things that don’t matter.
JVG clearly exudes alpha male.
They can’t seriously fire D’Antoni over this, right?
I would hate not to be able to at least see this team with Billups running SSOL.
Love Dwight and recognize that he takes a lot of extra shots that go uncalled, but he deserved that tech. Pachulia got a LOT of ball on that foul. The elbow was completely unnecessary.
But Billups can’t run SSOL. He’s old and slow and his torso is too long for stumpy, little legs.
Since Dolan always does the opposite of what the media and fans say he should do, I assume he will let Walsh go but keep and extend D’Antoni. lol
He does get on his tough guy “that’s not a foul–these players today…” kicks, and a bit too often for my tastes.
Crawford just banked in the most bullshit three–evah!
Crawford is one lucky moron.
after watching that travesty of a game, the specter of t.s. elliot and guy fawkes come to mind with respect to the knick’s season:
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a whimper.
Holy crap, Jamal Crawford with the 30 ft off the glass 3pter to seal the game for the Hawks.
I was the only one who said Fiction to this series being Orlando’s to lose, right?
I think it’s funny that Stan Van Gundy knee jerks timeouts everytime the other team scores.
I’m sorry but I just read this an LOLed.
Every dog has his day. Some day us dogs will have ours. This blog has been the best part of the Knicks last few years. Brighter future ahead. At least we didn’t win 29 games.
Ps Amare was hurt. Whether or not that happened in an idiotic way is irrelevant. It’s nt like he just didn’t show up. But man does he look fragile for the next 5 years.
*and
Maybe Im naive but if you read above Im still excited for the next few years for the Knicks too. Maybe Im stupid for not being a championship or bust fan but Ill gladly take making the playoffs every year, winning around 50 games and hopefully going on some decent playoff runs once in awhile.
Im assuming next season he will be playing less minutes during the regular season which will help him alot I hope.
Well, I don’t want to sound crass, but…
(And re: Amar’e injury, Remember when Jordan had the flu?)
Yeah, dont compare a flu with back problems.
Still, didn’t Cock Jowles, #1 Gentleman call a sweep?
Was at the game tonight. Everyone here is talking about ramifications for the future, but this game was a complete anomoly, IMO. Team focuses on trying to get Amare involved first 5 minutes and obviously he couldnt play. Next thing you know we are down 15. Team comes back with a lot of heart, but killed by a number of bad calls which meant they are down 8 instead of tied at end of 1st half.
2nd half, same thing happens with Amare. Meanwhile, Allen and Pierce both on fire. Some of that was Knicks D, specifically TD. Him and Fields were a bit overwhelmed by the situation, but what do you expect? They are young guys with no playoff experience.
I dont care if MDA or Doc Rivers or Popovich or Thibideau is out there. If the Knicks are full strength and the Celtics dont have Ronod and Pierce, Knicks would likely win by 10. And if the Knicks happened to hit shots that night, it would look like what the Celtics did to them tonight.
There really are no conclusions to be drawn besides you cant be missing your best 2 players and hope to compete in the playoffs. Hence, despite the idiots at the Garden chanting for MDA to be fired and to bring back Van Gundy, I’d be very happy to bring Pringles back.
PS – if they do unfortunately fire him, please at least hire Rick Adelman immediately.
What happened to the Cock Jowles who was pissed the refs cost the Knicks Game 1 and was for once actually sounding like a real Knicks fan by saying the Knicks could beat the Celtics and actually saying he was hoping they beat the Celtics?? lol
Time to comfort myself by reading player profiles on draft express. Let’s get a second late pick and pick up 2 of Mirotic, Noguera and Faried. Faried’s probably the most finished product, but Mirotic would definitely spread the floor (6’10″, excellent 3 point shot, sound familiar?), while Noguera is like 7″ with a 7″6 wingspand (but super skinny and only 18). Does Faried do anything other than rebound? Never really got a chance to watch him. Anyway, 2 of these guys plus Jerome Jordan and I think we’ll have some solid depth at center next year…
Poll question: Has Landry Fields turned into a pumpkin, or is just going through rookie wall-wet feet bullshit?
it’s not irrelevant, though, it’s symptomatic of the rot and stupidity that permeates every level of this organization.
I don’t have the energy to look up the quote right now, but Amare was bragging after game 1 that there was no way Boston could stop him. you didn’t hear Ray Allen saying that, and he didn’t have a former defensive player of the year guarding him. it’s reminiscent of the Marbury “I’m the best PG in the league” comment, the basketball gods do not like that level of chutzpah. Amare is getting paid $20M per year to be a star in these exact games, to get hurt for at least two games practicing a move you’d only use in a dunk contest is unacceptable.
Ow. That hurt.
Turiaf, even when playing at Gonzaga, wasn’t sturdy enough to carry a full load. Walsh knew, or should have known this, but chose to ignore the obvious.
The second paragraph was not meant to be attributed to Thomas B.
i’m just curious…. exactly how is he going to play less minutes next year? are 4 rotation players being delivered by the easter bunny riding on a white unicorn crapping out golden ponies?
i mean if they re sign billups, they are at the cap for next year with zero starting center and a 2 guard that platzed the last 1/3rd of the year and doesn’t suit an iso for melo system along with a d-league bench and most of our future draft choices gone.
in these 3 playoffs you got to see the full monte from melo. he was bad in game one. he was terrific in game 2, but absolutely quit the last 4.1 seconds trailing by 1 point. how he doesn’t chase into the backcourt on the inbounds, is a mystery. at age 8 in cyo ball you learn the ball can be inbounded to the backcourt for god’s sake.
in game 3 he shot a typical 4-18 and got totally pwned by pierce without a scintilla of defensive effort.
that’s why everyone knew here he is a great scorer and not a great player.
I think not fouling West must have been a communication breakdown (Melo thinking someone else had him). Even the dumbest player in the world would have fouled West there, so it had to be that Melo thought someone else had him.
By the way, someone brought up an interesting point earlier about how Melo was asking for more support. I do agree that it is poor form for him to do that (since he directly controlled how much support he had, he could have gotten the Knicks to give up fewer players but he chose to take more money in exchange for the Knicks having less support staff), but understandable (I think about 99% of NBA players in that position would show the same poor form), but what irks me more than Melo saying that (as, again, that is standard NBA fare) is the fact that no one in the media called him on it. It’s like they all collectively forgot about the Melo-Drama before the trade.
I think in four months we will look back and think that Landry Fields had a very good first year for a 39th pick rookie.
He’s not the problem.
Has anyone else thought that the whole “flu game” was really a ruse? the more I look back at it and watch the video the more I think it may have been completely exaggerated by MJ….as it stands it is my most amazing moment for him as far as I am concerned….but the more I examine it the more I start to think he might have been milking it and really wasn’t all that flu-ridden…….maybe just a bit hung over from a hard night of hitting the black jack tabbling!!!!!!!!!1
Just read an article criticizing Melo for not taking at least 36 shots. Said even if the Celtics sent all 5 players to guard him he shouldve shot the ball. Great analysis.
Some metrics (I won’t say whose) still have him as, by far, the most productive player on the team.
mitch lawrence?
Fixed.
Very tough game to sit through. I turned it on several minutes late and it was already 9-0. The fact that I thought the Knicks would win says more about me than them. Along those lines, might as well post a few optimistic thoughts: (1) Amare’s back injury is not chronic. (2) IMO, Fields will come back with additional weapons next year. He will not sit back on his laurels. (3) Hopefully Amare and Melo will learn to play together. (4) I see TD and Shawne Williams improving, at least marginally next year. (5) The Knicks will sign/draft another big who will be more effective than the current players. (6) The Knicks will be in the hunt for CP3 and may be able to secure his services sometime during next season. Someone needs to run this team and I am not in favor of bringing back Chauncey. (7) There seems to be some stability in management, but of course this could change quickly. This is about the best I can do at this point. To add insult to injury, there was snow and ice on the ground when I woke up this metaphorical morning.
If you want them to get Paul, they need to bring back Chauncey, as he’s the only guy whose salary will match up with Paul’s.
Wow, that’s terrible.
which is another reason why we would should ignore that person’s work.
(strike the ‘would’, I’m still sleepy)
I’m trying to think of some way to get the horrible taste out of my mouth from this loss.
Wasn’t this result what we were all expecting? We were never going to look good in every loss. A superior team like Boston can very easily make the Knicks look like clowns. They can’t all be Game 2s. Not every loss can be a moral victory.
I’m just as disgusted as anyone at tonight’s abortion of a game, but it seems to me that if any other team sustained major injuries to two of their starters, they would be torpedoed as well. Rondo could have hit the deck and hurt his knee instead of Billups. Garnett could have pulled a back muscle during warmups. Miami doesn’t have the depth to cover for a Wade or Lebron injury. Look how bad the Spurs are without Ginobili.
If we were going to make any semblance of a playoffs run this year, we needed to have everyone healthy, all hands on deck. Billups got hurt and Amar’e got hurt. Without those two the Knicks have no business even being in the playoffs.
So I hope our Knicks blow the doors off in Game 4 but this result isn’t anything surprising.
Lasties.
Guys, I’ll take the blame for this bad loss. I don’t usually post during games, but I did last night…needless to say I will not on be posting Sunday.