2016-17 Game Thread: Knicks vs. Rockets

James Harden and the Houston Rockets come into the Garden to face the Knicks tonight in a game that should be very interesting to watch. Former Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni has a team that actually embraces his coaching philosophy, which means that they run – a lot. And shoot threes – a lot. However, like D’Antoni’s other famous teams, they also do not play much defense, although part of that is the fact that their starting backcourt is James Harden and Eric Gordon and their starting power forward is Ryan Anderson. All three players are poor defenders at this point in their respective careers.

The Rockets played (and lost) last night to the Cavaliers and Harden is playing on a bad ankle and Trevor Ariza (one of the few Rockets known for his defense) was injured via a head-to-head collision with Tristan Thompson, so we can only hope that the Rockets are a bit fatigued tonight. Sadly, Jeff Hornaceck thought that the Knicks looked fatigued last night, which makes no sense since their previous game was on Saturday and they made a point of reducing Joakim Noah’s minutes with the back-to-back in mind (always good to be managing a player’s minutes in year one of a four year deal). So I don’t know what’s up with that.

The Rockets’ defense is so bad that I’d like to believe that the Knicks would have a chance of winning this one by scoring a lot of points. Hopefully the Rockets don’t score a lot more than the Knicks.

Let’s go, Knicks!

2017 Recap: Pistons 102, Knicks 89: Optimist Friendly Version

Carmelo Anthony 24pts, 18fga, 2reb, 1ast, 2to, 4stl, 0blk,
A++
Melo was so vintage, he switched into a Orangemen jersey midway through the third. After 24 points on 17 shots and a quadruple of steals, I’m shocked they didn’t play the national anthem after the game and give ‘Melo another gold medallion.


Kristaps Porzingis 18pts, 18fga, 6reb, 1ast, 0to, 0stl, 1blk,
A

While the stats say Porzingis had an mediocre night, and my eyes said he looked labored out there, my heart says he is a golden god sent to us from the heavens to fulfill the prophesy.


Joakim Noah 2pts, 4fga, 12reb, 8ast, 1to, 0stl, 2blk,
A++

Van Gogh was just giving it away (ha!) with 8 assists on the night. Imagine how many triple-doubles Noah will drop once both cauliflowers are healthy?


Derrick Rose 19pts, 17fga, 5reb, 2ast, 2to, 0stl, 1blk,
A++++++

Rose had a beautiful layup against two Pistons, one being Drummond (1.9 blk/36), in the first quarter. He showed world class athleticism, leaping ability, and touch on that play. On the next possession he grabbed the offensive rebound and sent an overhand pass halfway across the court for an open Melo three. A few plays later, he stuffed a driving Ish Smith.

I don’t care what else Rose does, this one series shows he will lead us in the Finals when the time comes. The only question left to answer is: Rose or Clyde?


Courtney Lee 7pts, 7fga, 2reb, 2ast, 2to, 0stl, 0blk,
A

Often I look at the screen and have a tough time figuring out which is Lee and which is Rose. If you google image search Courtney Lee, and I’m not kidding, pictures of Derrick Rose show up in the results. So I’m not the only one.


Lance Thomas 2pts, 6fga, 4reb, 0ast, 2to, 0stl, 0blk,
A

Do you open a bottle of fine wine and immediately start drinking from it? Of course not. You have to wait for aeration. Lance Thomas is our New York Cabernet Sauvignon. You can’t expect much right away, it’s not something you want in large quantities, and it’s much easier to swallow after you’ve already had 6 glasses of wine.


Brandon Jennings 12pts, 10fga, 2reb, 3ast, 0to, 0stl, 0blk,
A++

Jennings’ drive to the hoop & dump to Porzingis in the 2Q had me so pumped, I instantly dropped and went for my personal record in push-ups. Unfortunately I was so psyched I lost count after 6, and have no clue how many I actually accomplished. Let’s just assume I did 46.


Maurice Ndour 3pts, 2fga, 2reb, 0ast, 0to, 1stl, 1blk
A+

On Ndour’s first possession, he pulled a Balkman cutting on the baseline without the ball, and flushed home a perfect pass from Jennings. On his first defensive possession, he grabbed a defensive board. If you judge Ndour by stats, you’re missing the whole picture.


Justin Holiday 0pts, 1fga, 3reb, 0ast, 0to, 0stl, 1blk
A++

If there was one basketball feat I would like to accomplish before I die, it’s block a shot and pin it on the backboard like Holiday did.


Willy Hernangomez 0pts, 0fga, 1reb, 0ast, 1to, 1stl, 0blk,
A++

There were a few times I had to chase the kids around the house. Willy’s 5 minutes must have been one of those times. So he gets an A++ by default.


Kyle O’Quinn 0pts, 1fga, 2reb, 0ast, 1to, 0stl, 4blk,
A++

With four blocked shots, including a pair in the fourth quarter. KOQ is showing he’s a defensive force, and anyone who thinks otherwise obviously doesn’t know what the hell they’re talking about.


Sasha Vujacic 2pts, 2fga, 2reb, 1ast, 0to, 0stl, 0blk,
A++

What can you say about Sasha? The gift that keeps on giving.

Knicks Morning News (2016.11.02)

  • [NYPost] Kristaps Porzingis not thrilled he sat most of the fourth quarter
    (Tuesday, November 01, 2016 11:28:09 PM)

    AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Kristaps Porzingis said it didn’t cost the Knicks the game, but he would have preferred to get out on the court sooner in the fourth quarter when the club’s offense came to a screeching halt in a 102-89 loss to the Pistons on Tuesday night. During the Knicks’ 10-point fourth quarter,…

  • [NYPost] Thibodeau disciples Rose, Noah rip Knicks ‘D’ after ugly loss
    (Tuesday, November 01, 2016 6:07:19 PM)

    AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Joakim Noah wasn’t happy about the Knicks’ defensive posture to start the game. Neither was Derrick Rose, who even invoked the forbidden name of his former Bulls coach and defensive guru Tom Thibodeau in the locker room after a 102-89 loss to the Pistons at The Palace. The Knicks couldn’t defend…

  • [NYPost] When Brandon Jennings ‘knew it was over’ with Pistons
    (Tuesday, November 01, 2016 11:46:48 AM)

    AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Knicks new backup point guard Brandon Jennings knew he was gone from Detroit one year before he was actually gone. As Jennings rehabbed from an Achilles tendon rupture, Pistons coach and president Stan Van Gundy struck on Feb. 19, 2015, and traded for free-agent-to-be Reggie Jackson with every intention of re-signing him. Jennings didn’t…

  • [NYPost] Derrick Rose: How my game has evolved since Bulls
    (Tuesday, November 01, 2016 9:22:08 AM)

    AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Derrick Rose has been through his season opener as a Knick and his home opener as a Knick. In two days, Rose will be flying into Chicago ahead of his first game against the Bulls as a Knick. Rose said there’s “no bad blood’’ between himself and the Bulls organization. But…

  • [NY Newsday] Knicks continue to struggle on defensive end in loss to Pistons
    (Tuesday, November 01, 2016 11:40:04 PM)

    The Pistons scored 64 points in the first half and went on to beat the Knicks, 102-89, Tuesday night. The Knicks are 1-2 and have allowed at least 102 points in each game they’ve played.

  • [NY Newsday] Derrick Rose says there’s ‘no bad blood’ between him and Bulls
    (Tuesday, November 01, 2016 8:05:00 PM)

    Derrick Rose insists he has “no bad blood” toward the Bulls and said that Chicago will see a different player when the Knicks visit the United Center Friday.

  • [NY Newsday] Why Knicks’ Brandon Jennings has no hard feelings toward former team
    (Tuesday, November 01, 2016 1:41:00 PM)

    Brandon Jennings said he’s not out to show the Pistons they made a mistake for giving up on him when he faces his former team on Tuesday night.

  • [ESPN] Wednesday’s Knicks News: Poor defense key reason for loss to Pistons
    (Wednesday, November 02, 2016 5:36:05 AM)

    Wednesday’s Knicks News: Poor defense key reason for loss to Pistons

  • [ESPN] Kobe does not miss playing ‘even a little bit’
    (Tuesday, November 01, 2016 5:32:25 PM)

    Kobe does not miss playing ‘even a little bit’

  • [NYTimes] In Exile From the Knicks, but Still at Home in Cleveland
    (Tuesday, November 01, 2016 7:08:15 PM)

    In Cleveland, they recently unveiled a street sign for Charles Oakley. In New York, he has been estranged from the Knicks organization for years.

  • [NYTimes] Two Years After Last Game, Ray Allen Officially Retires From N.B.A.
    (Tuesday, November 01, 2016 3:50:22 PM)

    Allen won N.B.A. titles in Boston and Miami, and made one of the most memorable 3-pointers in N.B.A. finals history.

  • [NYDN] Knicks nonexistent on defense in 102-89 loss to Pistons
    (Tuesday, November 01, 2016 8:57:26 PM)

    Phil Jackson can break out the clipboard and the Knicks can execute the triangle like it was right out of Tex Winter’s playbook.

  • [NYDN] Byron Scott: Phil Jackson should stop coaching or fire Hornacek
    (Tuesday, November 01, 2016 5:02:05 PM)

    Byron Scott says Phil Jackson is undermining Hornacek and should sooner fire him than continue to send out potentially conflicting messages.

  • [NYDN] Brandon Jennings isn’t excited to be back in Detroit
    (Tuesday, November 01, 2016 3:51:25 PM)

    Brandon Jennings got the gist. He knew the Pistons gave up on him as soon as they traded for Reggie Jackson.

  • [NYDN] Derrick Rose won’t be out for revenge when Knicks visit Bulls
    (Tuesday, November 01, 2016 9:57:30 AM)

    Rose’s rise and fall in Chicago were about as dramatic as you can get in the NBA.

  • [SNY Knicks] Knicks stumble in fourth quarter during 102-89 loss to Pistons
    (Tuesday, November 01, 2016 9:58:16 PM)

    Tobias Harris scored 25 points and Marcus Morris added 22 to lift the Detroit Pistons to a 102-89 victory over the New York Knicks on Tuesday night.

  • [SNY Knicks] TD’s 3 keys to victory vs. the Pistons
    (Tuesday, November 01, 2016 6:00:06 PM)

    With the Knicks (1-1) traveling to Detroit to take on the Pistons (2-1), here are SNY.tv’s Tommy Dee’s three keys to victory.

  • [SNY Knicks] Shortened rotation should continue benefitting Knicks
    (Tuesday, November 01, 2016 3:55:32 PM)

    Using a shorter rotation should continue to benefit the Knicks, as the team’s top players will get extra playing time over the players at the end of the bench.

  • [SNY Knicks] Knicks take on Pistons in Detroit
    (Tuesday, November 01, 2016 3:10:31 PM)

    The Knicks travel to Detroit to take on Andre Drummond and the Pistons on Tuesday night.

  • [SNY Knicks] Hornacek, players not bothered by Jackson’s presence
    (Tuesday, November 01, 2016 10:30:56 AM)

    Jeff Hornacek and the Knicks players are not bothered by Phil Jackson’s presence around the team.