2014-15 Game Thread: Knicks vs. Heat

I swear, the NBA All-Star break is waaaaaaay too long. They should fix that next season. Who needs this much time to recuperate? It was so long that I totally lost track of when the second half began, so my apologies for missing the start of this game thread.

This game tonight marks a new journey for both teams to play the rest of the season without their highest-paid player. The Knicks are going to be without Carmelo Anthony for the rest of the season and sadly, the Heat are going to be without Chris Bosh after he came down with blood clots in his lungs. That is some scary stuff. Our best wishes to Chris Bosh.

As for tonight, the Knicks miss out on new Heat point guard Goran Dragic but Dwayne Wade is back. I think the Knicks will keep this close and maybe even steal a win. Udonis Haslem will dust himself off and start at power forward. Cleanthony Early takes over Melo’s spot in the lineup.

Let’s go! Knicks?

Knicks Morning News (2015.02.20)

  • [New York Daily News] Isola: Phil Jackson must score in draft after trade failures (Fri, 20 Feb 2015 05:00:55 GMT)

    The NBA trade deadline was never going to be a banner day for Phil Jackson.

  • [New York Daily News] Phil Jackson gets show of support from old pal Charley Rosen (Fri, 20 Feb 2015 00:59:38 GMT)

    Charley Rosen said he was not “there to defend” friend and business partner Phil Jackson at the CUNYAC’s awards luncheon on Thursday.

  • [New York Times] Thunder, Heat Make Big Moves at NBA’s Trade Deadline (Fri, 20 Feb 2015 08:54:27 GMT)

    The No. 8 seeds suddenly look like more than first-round fodder.

  • [New York Times] Clippers Hang On to Beat Spurs 119-115 in Tight 4th Quarter (Fri, 20 Feb 2015 08:06:52 GMT)

    DeAndre Jordan gets tired of teams playing Hack-a-D.J. Tim Duncan doesn’t like it, either, although he knows it’s a useful strategy against a mediocre free throw shooter like Jordan.

  • [New York Times] Chargers, Raiders Plan Shared NFL Stadium in Los Angeles (Fri, 20 Feb 2015 07:39:30 GMT)

    The San Diego Chargers and the Oakland Raiders on Thursday proposed a plan that would have the teams share a new stadium in the Los Angeles area if they fail to solve their current venue dilemmas, the teams said in a joint statement.

  • [New York Times] NBA Capsules (Fri, 20 Feb 2015 07:00:42 GMT)

    DeAndre Jordan had 26 points and 18 rebounds, Jamal Crawford added 26 points and the Los Angeles Clippers beat San Antonio 119-115 Thursday night, increasing their lead over the Spurs by 1 ½ games in the West.

  • [New York Times] Westbrook Leads Thunder Past Mavericks, 104-89 (Fri, 20 Feb 2015 05:30:48 GMT)

    Russell Westbrook picked up right where he left off at the All-Star Game.

  • [New York Times] AP Source: Bosh Undergoes Tests at Hospital (Fri, 20 Feb 2015 05:27:49 GMT)

    Chris Bosh of the Miami Heat underwent testing at a hospital Thursday to assess a medical issue related to the area around his lungs, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press.

  • [New York Times] Heat Acquire Goran Dragic Amid Shock and Satisfaction at N.B.A. Trade Deadline (Fri, 20 Feb 2015 05:17:01 GMT)

    The Heat signaled their intentions by acquiring Dragic, the player widely considered the top prize, while Kevin Garnett heads back to the Timberwolves.

  • [New York Times] Russell Westbrook Leads Thunder to Victory (Fri, 20 Feb 2015 05:00:27 GMT)

    Oklahoma City defeat the Dallas Mavericks, 104-89, for the Thunder’s sixth victory in seven games.

  • [New York Times] Kevin Garnett Returns to Minnesota in Deadline Deal (Fri, 20 Feb 2015 04:07:04 GMT)

    For 12 years in Minnesota, Kevin Garnett gave the Timberwolves something they didn’t have before he arrived and haven’t had since he left — an identity.

  • [New York Times] Bucks Trade Brandon Knight to Suns, Acquire Carter-Williams (Fri, 20 Feb 2015 03:38:38 GMT)

    The Milwaukee Bucks are not standing pat at the point during their surprising season.

  • [New York Times] Jerome Kersey, Stalwart of Top Trail Blazers Teams, Dies at 52 (Fri, 20 Feb 2015 03:06:34 GMT)

    Kersey was a hard-working forward from a small college who overachieved in pro ball, spending 11 of his 17 seasons in the N.B.A. with Portland.

  • [New York Times] Goran Dragic Headed to Heat, Gets Wish to Leave Phoenix (Fri, 20 Feb 2015 02:04:13 GMT)

    Goran Dragic wanted a new home, and the Miami Heat wanted a new point guard.

  • [New York Times] Shock and Satisfaction at Trade Deadline as Heat Acquire Goran Dragic (Fri, 20 Feb 2015 02:03:37 GMT)

    The Heat signaled their intentions by acquiring Dragic, the player widely considered the top prize, while Kevin Garnett, above, heads back to the Timberwolves.

  • [New York Times] Moves Don’t Get Knicks and Nets Too Far (Fri, 20 Feb 2015 01:45:25 GMT)

    The Knicks and the Nets appeared to improve their overall states by Thursday’s trade deadline but fell short of their primary objectives.

  • [New York Times] Suns Deal 5 Players at Deadline, Including Dragic, Thomas (Fri, 20 Feb 2015 01:07:03 GMT)

    The Phoenix Suns’ three point-guard experiment is over.

  • [New York Times] Garnett Returns to Wolves During Trade Deadline Frenzy (Fri, 20 Feb 2015 01:03:48 GMT)

    A deal that has 15-time All-Star forward Kevin Garnett headed back to his original team, the Minnesota Timberwolves, headlined a late flurry of moves ahead of the NBA’s trade deadline on Thursday.

  • [New York Times] Carmelo Anthony Has Knee Surgery; Recovery May Take 4 to 6 Months (Fri, 20 Feb 2015 00:52:34 GMT)

    Anthony underwent successful surgery on his left knee on Thursday, and Knicks Coach Derek Fisher said, “Let the rehab process begin.”

  • [New York Times] Point Guards on the Move on NBA Trade Deadline Day (Fri, 20 Feb 2015 00:38:12 GMT)

    Point guards moving quickly made this trade deadline a transition game.

  • [New York Post] Carmelo’s knee surgery done (Fri, 20 Feb 2015 02:26:31 -0500)

    Carmelo Anthony underwent "successful left-knee surgery'' Thursday, according to the Knicks, but the team did not update his rehab schedule. Knicks president Phil Jackson said Anthony could be out "four-to-six…

  • [New York Post] Tim Legler explains why missing out on Dragic will hurt Knicks (Fri, 20 Feb 2015 01:29:07 -0500)

    ESPN analyst Tim Legler talks Goran Dragic, Phil Jackson and the NBA playoff picture with The Post's Justin Terranova. Q: What do you make of the Suns-Heat trade? It's a…

  • [New York Post] 3 pressing questions Knicks need answered in 2nd half (Fri, 20 Feb 2015 00:27:21 -0500)

    At 10-43, there is not much for the Knicks to play for in the second half. But there are questions that even a collapsed team can answer. 1. Was Cleanthony Early worth the…