The Knicks travel to Oakland later tonight to take on the best team in the league, the Golden State Warriors.
Derrick Rose and Carmelo Anthony will both be out tonight, so it would take a Christmas miracle for the Knicks to win, but hey, the Memphis Grizzlies actually kicked the Warriors’ ass recently while playing without Mike Conley so, as they would say in Dumb and Dumber, “so you’re saying there’s a chance?”
Hopefully Porzingis will not be run into the ground tonight. At the very least, we’ll likely see some excellent play by the Warriors. That’s something.
RIP to Craig Sager. TNT did a wonderful tribute video to him. They have it up on their Twitter account here.
Every game up to (and including) the Christmas Day game against Boston, I’ll be featuring a video from an old school TV Christmas Special.
Here’s a musical number from an Andy Williams Christmas Special…
Let’s go, Knicks!
Long time lurker, first time poster. Just excited to join the board. Maybe I post some questions from time to time, you guys know so many things…
If the Knicks beat the Warriors, I’ll accept your “thanks”. If we lose, the jynx is on Brian, you know.
hey KBrazilian…nice to see you here…knickerblogger seems to have acquired a whole bunch of first timers this season…
which out you old timers – us “kids” are fitting to keep you on your toes this year :-)
Regardless of the fact that Hornacek is making a wise move by resting Melo & Rose tonight, the broadcast is gonna be hard to watch. The basketball world is gonna miss Craig Sager tremendously. I knew it was coming but it’s still a wow moment for me.
In any case…Go Knicks! I hope the team plays Sager Strong, but at the same time I don’t wanna see KP get more than 28-32 minutes tonight since Rose and Melo are resting. I’d love to get an extended look at Ndour, Hernangomez, Kuzminskas, & Baker tonight. It’d be nice if Plumlee gets some burn too
What’s our record since Cronin started posting Christmas videos?
I wonder if KD would have joined GSW if OKC could have offered him a 6-year deal per new CBA?
Anyone else excited to see a game without ball hogs ?
I remember telling people Jabari Parker would be better than Andrew Wiggins. They all laughed and now Jabari is ballin. He reminds me so much of Carmelo Anthony.
So basically, Paul and Curry more than ever are staying on their current teams. It was probably less than a 1% chance they were leaving anyway but now Curry can get $207m over 5yrs.
I didn’t really like either one of them, but yes, of the two, I liked Parker better.
Is KP sitting out too? : )
I don’t get it?
KP likes to get the ball a lot, as well. His usage is right behind Rose (25.5 to 24.6).
I’m excited to see how we look with KP as the #1 option. I think he will have a great game…
He didn’t play well last year when melo was out.
So kp is a ball hog I guess
Draymond played KP tough last time. Staying up for this game will be tough. I hope i don’t have nightmares.
KP is not a ball hog but I would call him a ball piglet. He rarely passes the ball but its allowed because he is young and is a finisher. However, you would like to see him develop his passing ability like Julius Randle or a big like Mile Plumlee has. He not only needs to look to score when he drives but pass to the open man or look to draw a double team when he is matched up against a smaller player.
I still say the Knicks will when by double digits.
I’ve seen KP pass, but he gets ISO’s like Melo does. He may be as tough to guard as Melo is 1-on-1.
Taking a few liberties at work this afternoon and putting on the game in the office boardroom. Suffice to say it will be an unproductive afternoon but fuck it, it’s Friday. Just hoping the gang can put together a competitive game. That KP/Draymond matchup should be a treat. Would love to see KP school Draymond.
i really wish kp would work on a post game instead of inefficient crossover step backs…
The rims are winning this game.
We’ve missed like 7 layups
Supposedly GS is vulnerable at the rim, and Noah did have numerous opportunities, but he couldn’t finish at all.
How many dunks is OQ going to allow?
I like Kyle, but he has trouble defending in space.
Baker man !
I believe we have them right where we want them
Whoa, did Ron Baker just penetrate and get to the rim? I thought the Knicks couldn’t penetrate without Derrick Rose or Carmelo creating space?
Well, they’re honestly probably doing better than expected so far.
Baker’s way better at defense than he has a right to be
They’re hanging in there despite missing lots of good, close looks.
Ron Baker the basket maker!
Did Ron Baker just score a three without having Carmelo or Derrick Rose to draw the defense away? What the fuck is this?
GS is up 10 and theyve missed a fair amount of makeable shots. Nice start for Baker though
This us the Ron baker show
Baker looking like Hornacek out there
Anyone have any idea what that little exchange of smiles and banter between Baker and Durant was?
Ron fucking Baker!
Dude Baker is everywhere at the moment!
This is why I really like this team. We actually have good role players. If Rose and Melo just play to the back of their card we could have something here
The issue with Baker is that Livingston is just way too tall for Baker to play decent D on.
KD said to Baker dude I love your game. Seriously.
Baker cookin’ up a nice souffle so far. Will it collapse?
Warriors could really use Noah
From ESPN, on Twitter:
“Warriors FG: 21
Warriors Assists: 21
0 unassisted FG thus far.
Unreal”.
I’m thinking the GS scorer is a little liberal with assists for the home team. That Livingston turnaround was catch two dribbles post and turnaround and they called that an assisted basket?
Thomas can’t make a shot tonight.
Was Noah always this bad of a finisher?
Noah makes Shumpert look like Dr. J at the rim.
@47 he probably gets paid under the table to do so lol
But ya gotta love Noah’s rim protection. Not.
Thomas is filling in admirably for Melo. He can’t make a shot either.
The gsw will be a sure champ if they have Noah.
Whatever Jennings gives us on offense, his turnstile defense gives up on the other end. Warriors guards barely even have to make a move to get by him.
Noah doesn’t shoot, he pushes the ball in the general direction of the rim.
Yes GSW and Noah are perfect together
@55
So true. I like him, but man is he an atrocious defender. Like Calderon level.
TWolves are off tonight. Hope Thibs isn’t watching this game.
Lance Thomas needs to be traded before it becomes even more obvious that he doesn’t belong in the NBA
Every time Lance gets the ball, he takes an instant shot fake, even if he’s literally facing away from the basket. It’s like a nervous tic
Our best player of the first half……
Ron Baker
I really can’t believe the lead is only 14.
If we had made half of the easy shots we’ve misses we’d be up by 14
The Warriors are gonna get bored in the 2nd half and start doing some Harlem Globetrotter shit.
Baker attended the Kevin Durant Skills Academy so maybe that’s the connection
@64
If the Warriors had made half the easy shots they’ve missed we’d be down 24.
Both teams are shooting like crap.
It’s nice to see Monix get called up to the NBA level. He was putting in work out there.
Can they play the 2nd half without commercial interruption for those of us who are sleep deprived?
Rose should really be practicing his towel waving this game since I have a feeling that might be his chief contribution in the future.
Draymond really gives Zingis the business
Jowles you are so wrong about Javale McGee, he’s a tremendous basketball player.
I wasn’t confident that Noah made that dunk until the ball came completely out the other end
Well hole-ee shit. Noah made a layup.
Apparently Noah’s layups are better when using two hands…
Noah has resorted to trying to pump himself up by grunting like Monica Seles every time he grabs a board
Also, need to sit KP before Draymond injures him…
If Noah grunts loud enough maybe he can attract trade attention?
Our defense is not good
@ 8
So his salary would be (puts Lacob mask) light-years ahead.
Noah’s contract is going to be the worst in the NBA isn’t it
@81
Depends what you think a guy getting stomped by the “shaqtin a fool” posterboy should be making per year.
Time to sit KP
Knicks are spending 62 million on Rose, Melo and Noah. Have any of them been above average this year?
@81 Not if the Knicks max Derrick Rose.
kp goes after put back dunks harder than defensive rebounds…
Only Ron Baker can save us now
Wait DRed are you not for getting the 5-8 seed and a first round playoff exit for the next four years?
Does Lance Thomas play good enough D to justify playing him over Kuz or nah?
Good catch.
Rose has been excellent for a good stretch until he stretched his back
LOL
Baker to the hole!
I consider this game a success just in resting Melo and Rose, and getting an extended, mostly positive, look at Baker. This was always going to be a loss.
Kevin Pelton, on Twitter: “How clearly not an assist would a Warriors field goal have to be for the scorekeeper to end the streak at this point?”
I don’t think Lance Thomas even plays good D period. He is just really active out there, so it looks like he’s a good defender.
We can only dream of ball movement like that. Good lord.
Then Kuz should have his minutes.
@97 Thy shalt not covet thy neighbor’s team.
I hope they sit KP the entire forth and let Willy play the entire qtr.
It’s frustrating to watch golden state due to the fact that we’ll never have a team like that because we refuse to rebuild the right way
We want some Plumlee!
I’d like to see Ron Baker keep getting minutes. It’s nice to have a PG who can his those spot ups a la Charlie Ward plus also he looks decent off the dribble.
Green, Durant, and Curry are shooting a combined 10-38 and we are down by 22 at the end of Q3
@101 Please stop.
Don’t worry, we’re just 2 amnesties away from greatness
We’re adding good young players every week. No Sixers rebuilds.
I think @101 was taking a sarcastic shot at those who think there is a rebuilding roadmap that results in a team like GS with any reasonable probability.
David West entering the Kendrick Perkins phase of his career. Unskilled brute.
@108 Nice post 101.
You just can’t go 1-on-1 against Iggy…he has a sixth sense for when to swipe at the ball
Failed poster reub trying to make people forget all his anti-Phil anti-Knicks hating earlier in the thread. Sad!
How different would the score be with healthy Melo n rose?
Is this bad for Porzingis’ morale? Or needed to take his game up a notch?
Probably.
It’s amazing how many times KP has looked of Willy in the post. He isn’t the only one though and there have been times teammates looked him off too.
DRed the Knicks called but nobody was home.
I want KP to sink or swim against this team. If he sinks he’s the type of player to use it as motivation to get better. Simultaneously, he’s one Green common-but-really-it’s-a-flagrant foul away from a season jeopardizing injury, so maybe not.
Baker 5 for 6. Thanks Phil!
Definitely closer, but the Warriors are also pretty clearly half-assing it out there, and I imagine they wouldn’t against the Knicks with Melo and rose.
Willy with a bushel of boards. Thanks Phil!
Billy has some really smooth moves in the post
Clearly Willy and Oaq should be platooning, and Noah can sit on the bench.
No reason Zing should be on the court. Get Plumblee or Ndour in there.
You just realized that DRed? First game of the season?
Healthy Melo and Rose we have more points but so does GS
Willy looking really good.
That’s why I think trading KOQ could be good.
We have some very nice bench pieces…now just roll back the clock 6 years on Melo, Noah, and Rose and we’d be cooking!
Our rookies are so good.
7 for 8 for Baker
Ndour couldn’t figure out whether the basket was clockwise or counterclockwise
We finished strong. That’s all that counts. Love our yutes!
Roshi Lol!
‘Night Gracie
just got home (rogue one has got some serious eye candy – if your definition of eye candy includes cool sci fi looking stuff)…
watching the game on the dvr now…wanna see our young mister baker in action…sounds like he may actually be able to help given a bit of an opportunity…
maybe we don’t need old ass chalmers or back home chillin in the crib DWTDD…or to trade anyone useful for whomever minny would throw our way…
rest for melo and rose and some burn for baker – a successful game…hopefully we’ll stomp denver saturday…
kinda encouraging that rose was able to sit in a chair on the bench…
Yeah except that they didn’t tank. Actually did the opposite then got lucky that Steph has shit ankles and were able to low ball him. But yeah just like that
er come on… few teams have to tank when they rebuild. Phil hasn’t tried to rebuild the team. He’s just replaced old players with other old players. Calling that rebuilding is like calling buying a new car an investment. To improve your talent base, you have to make investments in your future that outweigh the declining assets you have on hand.
The Warriors had a ton of luck and definitely aren’t the most deserving team of their success when you talk about process, but they’re way more deserving than Jackson.
I was at the game tonight. Here’s what I saw in person, FWIW:
The Knicks are horrifying defensively?—?and this was with their two worst defenders in street clothes. There was so much confusion on each pick, so many missed rotations, so much thinking on the court. Defending doesn’t feel natural for many of them. Baker, for example, not only can’t stop anyone on the ball, but gets lost constantly in a maze of cuts and it causes miscommunications. Porzingis has so much to learn on defending pick-and-rolls, and his guesses and reactions were usually wrong, especially on the perimeter. Kuz is just too slow. Granted, they’re playing against a genius offensive team, but the breakdowns were more constant and glaring as opposed to other teams who play the Dubs.
Noah had 10 rebounds in 15 minutes, I guess, but he was mostly invisible if you don’t count the missed layups and tips and slow rotations. He looks old and broken down. I hope that isn’t true, but I feel like this is going to be a long four years.
Having said that, I was impressed by O’Quinn and Hernangomez. They clearly looked like they belonged on an NBA court, and there’s so much room for growth, especially for the latter. The Knicks just operated better with them in the mix.
Small Sample Size Theater: Ron Baker made 6-of-7 shots, most of them on drives. That’s good. But he looked miscast as a drive-and-dish point creator, and he wasn’t able to find any seams for his teammates. In fact, it seemed like every pass he made was deflected away. Zero vision. Again, this was against one of the best defensive teams in the league, but still, I don’t know if he’s an NBA player, especially with his glaring defensive shortcomings.
Here’s my entire post, which admittedly is Warriors-centric: https://medium.com/@steveohville/the-view-from-section-118-all-day-dray-97559f37be7#.dytoxnf3u
McGee shot and played better than any Knicks player, that says a lot.