What happened in November?

November in Review

By: Malcolm Merritt

Email: mjmerritt23@gmail.com

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Twitter: @nykerrday &@mjmerritt323

A year ago, we weren’t having this conversation. A year ago things were looking bright, everything was on a crash course with an NBA Finals appearance. After their last game in November, the Knicks (3-12) defeated the Washington Wizards by 21, were 11-4 overall, and 6-0 at home. The ball was moving and the three point shot was falling. Players could be seen smiling on the bench in games. Oh how things have changed.

Right now Knicks fans are looking in the mirror trying to figure out what’s wrong. They are trying to find a remedy to their losses that seem to be stringing together. This last month was punctuated by a grueling road trip out West as MSG hosted its own festivities. They did not win a game at home either during this stretch.

Knicks fans have been sorely disappointed as their squad hasn't been able to win a game at home in the last month. 

Their last home win was the season opener against the lowly Milwaukee Bucks (2-13) who happen to be one of only two teams with a record worst than New York’s. The losing has created discord and drama in the locker room as players are pointing fingers and making slick remarks towards one another.

The worst thing to do in a situation like this is to fall apart. What most fans aren’t noticing at the moment is that the East is EXTREMELY weak this year. Only 3 teams in the conference are above .500 right now and the Knicks are only 2.5 games out from a top 8 spot. Only 2.5, that is absolutely nothing with 68 games left in the season.

So what this means is that New York needs to do its job against these sub-par teams. It could once look down on these teams and destroy them in the previous seasons. Now, they are right with them and need to pull themselves out of it. Losses on this road trip were expected due to all their communication problems that have haunted them since the start of the season as well as the injuries that have drastically adjusted the line up. But New York needs to win easy games. This month started with a five-point loss to the Charlotte Bobcats (8-9) at home, and finished with a 2-point loss to the Nuggets (9-6).

Frustrated and annoyed, New York has nowhere else to look but up in this time of strife and blown expectations. 

The Bright spots will come along as the year goes along. The Knickerbockers seem like they are playing a waiting game for center Tyson Chandler, who was the unspoken leader of this team as well as the only player that truly valued defensive intensity besides slumping Iman Shumpert. With those two players playing their best ball and Carmelo Anthony continuing to play hard despite missed calls and heckling from around the league, New York can turn their season around. But they have to remember not to rush him. Yes Amar’e Stoudemire has not been playing well, but Kenyon Martin and Andrea Bargnani have. They can hold you down if everyone plays their best for a short amount of time. Rushing Tyson Chandler could force him to re-injure his leg, which would make the situation 10000x times worse than it already is.

It’s like a broken puzzle, they have all the pieces, and they simply don’t know how to put it together. That’s November in a nutshell and I can’t wait to see what December is bringing (besides the ugly Christmas uniforms).

Check out the review of the Denver Nuggets Game here!

Game 15: New York Knicks v Denver Nuggets (Review)

Game 15: New York Knicks v Denver Nuggets 

Predicted Score:  82-104
Actual Score: 96-97

By: Malcolm Merritt

Email: mjmerritt23@gmail.com

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Instagram: @mjdaddy323 

Twitter: @nykerrday &@mjmerritt323

With 19 seconds left on the game clock and the Knicks down by 2, 97-95, Carmelo Anthony had the ball on the right side of court. He walked up and was isolated with the ball in his right. He stared down 6’4” Guard Randy Foye and put him into the post. The clock was winding, and there was no double team on its way. One shot, and the New York Knicks (3-12) would go to overtime against the Denver Nuggets (9-6). It didn’t happen. Carmelo took the shot he had taken so many times, the turnaround jumper towards the baseline. Then Mike Breen, Knicks’ MSG play-by-play sports commentator yelled, “BLOCK!” and the clock expired, with New York finishing a winless road trip and continuing their now, 8-game losing streak.

Wilson Chandler (21) is shown doing what he did throughout the entire night, defend Carmelo Anthony (7).  

The Nuggets were winners of 4 straight coming into this game. New York battled back after a 13-point deficit but it wasn’t enough losing 97-95. The last few minutes of the game were a series of great offensive plays followed by lackadaisical defense. Randy Foye hit a 3-pointer with 4 minutes left to extend the lead to 9-points, which served to be crucial. The Knicks were not able to close out on the shooters the entire night and it cost them in the end. But once again that wasn’t the problem. Believe it or not, New York is currently sporting the league’s 12^th ranked defense, allowing only 98.9 points per game. Their lack of offensive production once again seemed to be the issue.

Their overall performance from the field was not great. They shot 41% from the hardwood but only 27.3% from beyond the arc, making 6 of their 22 attempts.

Anthony played 40 minutes as he shot 36% from the field, finishing with a game-high 27 points. J.R. Smith had a cold shooting night, shooting 1-7 from behind the arc. His three-pointer came late in the fourth quarter in a game where it could have been used much earlier. Amar’e Stoudemire continued his bad play from the game against the Clippers. He finished the game with 4 points and 4 rebounds shooting 2 for 7 from the field. New York wasn’t able to move the ball around too well either, with the exception of their point guard Raymond Felton. They finished with 16 total assists, Felton having 7 of them.

Felton (2) has passed the ball well recently for the Knicks, but his play has to be contagious if they want success. 

Tim Hardaway Jr. and Andrea Bargnani did well. Hardaway Jr. contributed well off the bench with two big three pointers and Bargnani shot 7-11 finishing with 22 points to add to his five rebounds and 2 assists. He was thriving off of the pick and roll game with Felton that seemed to be nonexistent up to this point in the losing streak. Their contributions were bright spots in a game that seemed dull in a sold out Pepsi Center.

Ty Lawson took advantage of New York’s miscues. A common problem with the Knicks’ defense is that they switch on pick and rolls regularly, creating mismatches for themselves, often having Bargnani or Martin defending a guard. Lawson was yet another point guard to play well against them. He tallied 22 points to accompany his 8 assists. Former Knick, Nate Robinson, who scored 16 points in 18 minutes, backed him up. 

New York's problems with switching on defense have been around for over a year now... 

5 Nuggets players scored in double figures as they tried to hold the Knicks off. 

The Knicks need to look at each game as a new slate. The effort was shown Friday night but it wasn’t enough, once again. Looking at each game with fresh eyes and a revitalized energy may be the hardest thing to do but is completely necessary. Mike Woodson said on the Mike Woodson Show, “We need to make the simple plays. Yes I made a play designed for Carmelo, but J.R. Smith was open driving towards the paint. That’s where Shumpert should’ve taken the opportunity because it was ultimately the win… But I understand, it was a stressful situation.. With the clock winding down and the game on the line.” He was referring to Knicks loss to the Indiana Pacers at home, earlier this month, when they had a chance to win the game in regulation. Right now every game is becoming more stressful for New York as the losses pile up. If they take deep breaths, move and take care of the ball and played solid defense, their clear minds will let them win games.

Check out the prediction and compare it to this article here!

Game 15: New York Knicks v Denver Nuggets

Game 15: New York Knicks v Denver Nuggets 

 Score: 82-104

By: Malcolm Merritt

Email: mjmerritt23@gmail.com

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Instagram: @mjdaddy323 

Twitter: @nykerrday &@mjmerritt323

The Knicks finish up their difficult road trip against the Denver Nuggets. 

The Knicks (3-11) grueling road trip is coming to an end in a familiar place for the Knicks superstar, Carmelo Anthony. Just three years ago, Anthony was demanding a trade out of the Mile High city in order to hit the Big Apple. He got what he wanted as the Knicks have done well in his presence, going deeper into the playoffs than they have in the last 13 years. The issue is, the Knicks are struggling now. Injured and void of any charisma, the Knicks aren’t showing any tenacity or excitement when they step on the hardwood. Carmelo Anthony said recently, “Right now, the game is not fun for nobody… The easiest thing is for us to go separate ways. We’ve got to be here for one another right now. The hardest thing to do right now is remain positive. It’s tough, but we have to do it.”

New York’s resurgence last year makes this stretch that much harder. With such lofty expectations coming in to this season, their play has the entire league wondering what is going on. This has begun to cause a crisis behind closed doors. Players have called several meetings and have called each other out on the floor in the middle of games. The discord is obvious as the team’s confidence slowly decreases with each loss that they pile up. It would be better if the Knicks had at least one place of comfort, but with their home losing streak and their injuries (specifically Tyson Chandler), they simply have to play a waiting game.

Tyson Chandler's (6) energy and leadership has been sorely missed as he recovers from his broken leg. 

Carmelo Anthony has been trying to support his team on his own, truly embracing his position as one of the bigger players on the team. He leads the team in points (26.5 ppg), rebounds (10.1 rpg) and assists (2.6).  But his assist numbers show exactly the kind of game New York has been playing. Amar’e Stoudemire made a comment that was assumed to be pointed at Melo. He talked about New York’s lack of ball movement and that’s what was crippling their offense. Anthony responded to the media of course, creating more of a hostile environment.

With so much swirling around the Knicks in this hectic losing streak, they look to try and make a push and end this trip on a high note against the Denver Nuggets (8-6). The Nuggets have always been strong offensively and this year is no exception. In their 117-110 win against the Timberwolves, they had eight players score in double figures. They are currently being led in scoring and assist by their Point Guard, Ty Lawson. They have played well as of recent, considering the loss of their center, JaVale McGee. The seven footer has been out with a stress fracture in his left tibia and will be out indefinitely. This has dramatically decreased their paint defense but not much of anything else.

The last time these two teams played, the Nuggets came away with a 117-94 win at home. The Knicks were hurt by injury as well as the fully healthy Nuggets took full advantage of the situation. The Knicks went 1-1 against them last year, averaging around 20 points against them.

Carmelo Anthony's great play might come to a screeching halt tonight against his former club. 

New York will get blown out this game, 104-82. The offensive power will be too much for the frail Knicks team and they won’t stand a chance. Being behind the entire game, their stagnant offense will show from the start as they finish with only 15 assists. They will be outshot, out-rebounded, out-blocked, they will lose in every facet of the game. Not saying that the Knicks are going to lie down and simply take the beating, but they wont be able to hang, at all.

Carmelo Anthony will have an off night, his shooting being spotty and sporadic, similar to J.R. Smith’s. The Knicks will not shoot well from the floor as a team either but shooting decently from beyond the arc, knocking down 9+ three pointers.

New York will be looking for their next win at home against the New Orleans Pelicans (6-8). There isn’t much to look up to otherwise in this season of downs.

Emotions are running rampant in the Knicks’ locker room, fan base and front office. In order to get out of this slump, they need to put this emotion into the game rather than beating each other down and pointing fingers. “It’s the easiest thing to do [pointing fingers]” said Carmelo Anthony. The game is in the hands of the Knicks and if they can find it in themselves to come together, then maybe change can come into the Knickerbockers’ territory. But until then, expect the worst.

So in the meantime, New York, take these tips, they may help... 

Bold Prediction: New York will not shoot above 40% from the field.

Tune into the game at 9:00 PM ET on MSG Network.

Game 14: New York Knicks v Los Angeles Clippers

Game 14: New York Knicks v Portland Trailblazers 

 Score: 96-107

By: Malcolm Merritt

Email: mjmerritt23@gmail.com

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Instagram: @mjdaddy323 

Twitter: @nykerrday &@mjmerritt323

The Knicks once again try to end their losing streak against the Los Angeles Clippers. 

New York’s (3-10) lack of offense has been an issue. But they might be able to get a break against the Los Angeles Clippers (10-5). New York averages 93.2 points per game, 25^th in the NBA. The Clippers allow 103.3 points per game, 27^th in the league. If the Knicks were able to move the ball efficiently and effectively, it would give them plenty of opportunities to score.

But that won’t happen. On the other side of things, LA ranks #1 in assists and #2 in Points per game. Led by Chris Paul (an MVP candidate), when fully functional, they are one of the most effective and explosive teams in the entire association. My prediction? The Knicks will lose by double digits. Again. While Carmelo Anthony will once again lead New York with 30+ points on +50% shooting, no one else will truly produce from the field for them. Amar’e Stoudemire will continue to steadily improve with another game scoring in double figures and grabbing more rebounds than the previous game. Raymond Felton will return but won’t contribute too much, still shaking off the rust from his pinched nerve. 

The Clippers will run amuck. They will turn New York’s defense inside out as the game wears on. Blake Griffin will have a major impact on the floor with a huge double-double while Chris Paul will record a triple-double as well. Also, DeAndre Jordan will contribute with his own double-double. Tyson Chandler’s absence will once again show as the Clippers lob in the paint all night.

The Knicks will keep the game somewhat competitive in the beginning, even going into the half with a lead. But the third quarter curse will put them in a hole. With the offense stalling late in the game, the Clippers take full advantage and by the end of the fourth, hold off another comeback attempt from New York.

Chris Paul has dominated the Knicks, averaging 18.6 points and 10.1 assists against them in his 8-year career. 

New York’s issues aren’t going to change anytime soon. They simply don’t have the resources to do so. Trade rumors are circulating about a possible Dion Waiters – Iman Shumpert trade. Waiters is a former 1^st round pick, number 4 overall from Syracuse. In just his sophomore season, he is open to leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers because of his relationship with his teammates. The trade would make a difference on the offensive end, as Waiters is a confident second year player who has even been compared to Heat shooting guard Dwayne Wade.

If the trade were to go through, New York would lose a premier perimeter defender in the process. All slumps can be dug out of and all they have to do is wait on Shumpert to wake up and get back into his game. It’s that simple: Wait for Shump to get out of the slump. The problem is, New York is not a patient city. They’ve always had a  “win now” mentality, and as soon as they tasted a little bit of success with Amar’e Stoudemire’s arrival, they want nothing less. Right now it’s looking like less and if you don’t contribute, the fans want you out.

Would a trade from Dion Waiters really help the Knicks?

New York is not an easy place to play and it will become harder and harder for New York to play at home and on the road if their fan base begins to turn against them.

Bold Prediction: Kenyon Martin will have double-digit rebounds.

Tune into the game at 10:30 PM ET on NBA TV and MSG Network! Also, see the review of the Knicks last game against the Portland Trailblazers here.

Game 13: New York Knicks v Portland Trailblazers

Game 13: New York Knicks v Portland Trailblazers 

Predicted Score: 98-86

Actual Score: 102-91

By: Malcolm Merritt

Email: mjmerritt23@gmail.com

Follow on:

Instagram: @mjdaddy323 

Twitter: @nykerrday &@mjmerritt323

To Compare the Prediction to the Post-Game, Click Here.

Another loss, and now they seem to be piling up. The New York Knicks (3-10) have now lost 6 straight as the Portland Trailblazers (13-2) has won 11. It seems like the Knicks are tanking, as they lost yet another, this time by 12. The problem with that is, after their trade for Carmelo Anthony, they have no draft picks. New York is not at all in situation they want to be in right now. In the middle of a grueling road trip, the Knicks can’t look back to going home only because they haven’t been able win at home either going 1-6 so far and losing their last 5 in the Garden.

With the Knicks competing against a stacked Western Conference, things aren't looking too bright for them. 

As predicted, Damian Lillard had a great game. New York hasn’t been able to defend strong point guard play and this game wasn’t any different. After getting burned on Saturday by John Wall for 31 points, they let up 23 points, 6 assists and 4 rebounds on 45% shooting to the second year guard out of Weber State. He only committed 1 turnover in 36 minutes of play. He’s also scored +19 points in his last 5 contests. LaMarcus Aldridge continued to make his presence known by recording his seventh double-double of the season, 18 points and 14 rebounds. Nick Batum led them with 23 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists.

The Trailblazers led for basically the entire night, getting off to a 16-point lead in the first quarter. By the half it was 56-39. New York tried to make a second half run. With 10 minutes left, Andrea Bargnani hit a 3 pointer to bring the game to 7 points, but that is the closest they got as the ‘Blazers closed out the game on a strong note, with the final score being 102-91.

Each time the Knicks were on the floor in the first quarter, it seemed like they were out of energy. As the ball hit the rim and bounced into the defender’s hands, the Knicks would move sluggishly on defense as the Trailblazers took full advantage. New York was looking more and more like a team that was losing confidence and Carmelo Anthony looked like a player who was struggling to get his teammates to follow his lead. He led the team with 34 points and 15 rebounds on 52% shooting.

Anthony has tried to lead this so far this season but no one is following his lead.

Anthony talked to reporters post game, “When you're losing, it's not fun. Are we having fun on the basketball court? No. The game is not fun right now. When you start pressing, pressing, pressing, it makes everything that much worse. So no, we're not having fun playing basketball right now. We got to get back to that.” This attitude is one that needs to be contagious.  No one likes losing but the Knicks aren’t showing the strength to pull themselves out of this hole.

A bright spot in the game was Amar’e Stoudemire playing minutes. Substantial minutes. He played 25 minutes on Monday, scoring 10 points and grabbing 6 rebounds along with a block. His improvement is slowly and surely becoming evident as he tries to regain his from his All Star days.

On the opposite side of things, Iman Shumpert was completely lost. He finished with absolutely nothing besides 1 steal, 3 fouls, and 2 turnovers in 23 minutes. He may be affected by the trade rumors, but his trade value is declining rapidly from game to game as his performance and playing time are both slipping.

 

With Shumpert struggling, things are difficult on the court and off the court for the Knicks.

With Brooklyn (4-10) defeated the Toronto Raptors (6-8) which moves the Knicks to 5^th place in the Atlantic Division and 14^th in the Eastern Conference, only ahead of the Milwaukee Bucks (2-11), who happen to be one of New York’s three wins this season. At this point last season, they were leading the East and the Atlantic Division.

It doesn’t look like the turn around that the Knicks are looking for will appear on this road trip, and the road looks rocky ahead. They went winless at home for the month of November and this was supposed to be one of the lighter parts of their schedule.  They play the Clippers (10-5) in LA on Wednesday night at 10:30 PM ET on MSG Network. Make sure you tune in to see if the Knicks can pull off the upset.

Game 13 of 82: New York Knicks v Portland Trailblazers

Game 13 of 82: New York Knicks v Portland Trailblazers

Score: 98-86

By Malcolm Merritt

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Twitter: @nykerrday &@mjmerritt323

The injury-riddled Knicks look to turn their fortune around against the Portland Trailblazers. 

It looks like it’s time to panic for New York. Mike Woodson says different, but if it starts to establish itself in the locker room, changes need to be made and quickly. Negativity is infectious and it should be avoided at all costs. New York (3-9) is half a game ahead of Brooklyn (3-10) in the Atlantic Division and ranked 13^th in an Eastern Conference that only boasts 3 teams above .500. As each game goes by, their problems are highlighted, lack of offense and inability to defend the point guard position. This constantly brings up their inconsistent point guard play. Raymond Felton has been out the last 3 games due to a pinched nerve in his hip, leaving the responsibilities of Floor General to Beno Udrih and Pablo Prigioni. It’s not working; neither of them are able to keep up with the young point guards in the league. This causes issues, as the Knicks were just torched by John Wall, and are slated to play Damian Lillard, Chris Paul and Ty Lawson in their next three games. They move the ball somewhat but when they aren’t on the floor (because they don’t play that many minutes), the ball becomes stagnant.

A lot of pressure is being put on the Knicks’ offensive leaders to produce, but Carmelo Anthony is the only person that seems to be putting his all into every facet of the game. In his last 10 games, he has been averaging 26.9 points per game and 10.1 rebounds and 1.3 steals. The numbers are not stellar, but they show grit and tenacity and that is the way he has been playing. Whether it is in the post or from three-point range, Carmelo Anthony is trying to lead this team in a way that would hold them up until their injured starters can return.

Carmelo Anthony has led this team in almost every way so far this year, but right now it doesn't seem like it's enough.

The Knicks continue their road trip Monday night against the hot Portland Trailblazers (12-2). The Trailblazers are surging right now, coming off an unexpected start and continuing that as the season begins to pick up its regular groove. Led by Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge, the play from newcomer Robin Lopez and Wesley Matthews has propelled this team into the upper-echelon of the NBA. They’ve won 10 straight and are the San Antonio Spurs sole loss. They are top ten in the league in Points (6th), Rebounds (8^th), Assists (9^th), and Points Allowed (10^th). At the moment, the Northwest-leading Blazers consider themselves contenders.

The Blazers backcourt and front-court will be the reason why the Knicks will lose their 6^th straight. The Knicks inability to defend will be exploited and taken full advantage of in this matchup in the Moda Center. No one will shoot well on the Knicks as they look for offensive spark. Expect Carmelo to labor once again, most likely finishing with a double-double and 25+ points. He will once again lead the team in minutes. Amar’e Stoudemire will continue his play from last game, somewhat returning to form. Dolan’s vote of confidence in the injury-riddled forward will raise the level of his play if he gets the minutes that would allow him to make an impact. Also, he scored his career high of 50 points against the Trailblazers, just food for thought.

The final score will be 98-86 Portland. The Knicks will be killed by their lack of offensive production. This is where Raymond Felton is sorely missed. His ability to penetrate created openings on the perimeter for the plethora of Knicks shooters. But this could be fixed by making the extra pass. If the Knicks were able to trust each other, they would be able to create issues for opposing defenses with their perimeter shooters.

New York is not looking to trash this season. They still have Championship aspirations but right now they need to focus on getting to .500 and trying to make the Playoffs in a weaker-than-usual Eastern Conference.

Catch the game tonight at 10:00 PM ET on MSG Network. 

Bold Prediction: Amar'e Stoudemire will top 10 points in the game. 

Game 11 of 82: New York Knicks v Indiana Pacers

Game 11 of 82: NY Knicks v Indiana Pacers

Score: 87-97

By Malcolm Merritt

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Twitter: @nykerrday &@mjmerritt323

Paul George (left) and the Indiana Pacers (9-1) come to the Mecca looking for a road win against the struggling Knicks. 

It’s as simple as this: No matter what New York tries to do with Iman Shumpert, they’re limited cap space, and full roster, none of it will make a difference. The Knicks need to gain a presence in the front-court in order for them to move forward and upwards. The paint is the core of a successful team’s offense and defense. Teams that dominate the paint by blocking shots and making easy baskets, have a tendency to win games. An example of this is the 2012-13 Denver Nuggets. They finished 57-25 with the number one offense in the entire league. Their front line, especially center Javale McGee, created an environment where they owned the paint and they reaped the rewards. The had an inside-outside game because of their interior presence.

The Knicks (3-7) have had more than their fair share of offensive struggles thus far. That fact accompanied by tonight’s matchup makes fans cringe. New York is taking on the Eastern Conference Leading Indiana Pacers (9-1) for the first time since their exit from last season’s playoffs. It seems like Indiana is a much-improved team from last season. For starters, they had only won 4 games up to this point. They currently have the number 1 defense in the NBA allowing less than 87 points per contest. As they look to be the first 10-win team in the league, their goals have shifted from making a statement in the playoffs to dethroning the Miami Heat (8-3) as NBA Champions.

Knicks fans are growing restless as they may be looking at another loss against the Pacers. 

My prediction, Pacers win 97-87.  When looking at tonight’s matchup, it doesn’t look too good for the hometown Knicks. New York’s losing streak will continue tonight. Roy Hibbert will lead the charge for the Pacers, with a 99.99% chance of having a double-double. He is going to get eh ball early and often. This would give the Knicks a 6-game home losing streak and a 4-game losing streak overall, only continuing this nightmarish start.

Carmelo Anthony will once again lead both teams in minutes, playing at least 45 this game. He will score 25+ points against this Pacer team on a poor shooting night. New York’s ball movement will once again be non-existent and the concept of isolation will be rampant between Smith and Anthony. Bargnani will play well simply because of Hibbert’s reluctance to leave the paint, as he will shoot at least 50% from three-point range.

Bargnani has been on fire recently for New York, and it won't stop this game. 

Overall the Pacers perimeter defense will hold the Knicks to a terrible shooting percentage from beyond the arc. Their filed goal percentage won’t be much better. The Knicks need to move the ball in order to make a difference offensively in addition to their front-court struggles.

Indiana will win the battle on the boards and their superstar, Paul George, will have close to a humble triple-double. He won’t shoot too well, but well enough to get the job done. Also, his presence on the free throw line will be felt tonight, coming into the game shooting 86% from the stripe.

Bold Prediction: Cole Aldrich will get minutes tonight.

Check if the predictions come true tonight! Tune into the game on ESPN or MSG Network at 7:00 PM ET!

Game 10 of 82: New York Knicks v Detroit Pistons (Review)

Game 10 of 82: NY Knicks v Detroit Pistons

Predicted Score: 84-93

Actual Score: 86-92

By Malcolm Merritt

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Twitter: @nykerrday &@mjmerritt323

And the woes continue. The New York Knicks (3-7) played the Detroit Pistons (4-6) on the road Tuesday night as their losing streak was extended to three games. The final score: 92-86. Detroit was uplifted by some vintage play from Rodney Stuckey. It was evident that New York had not game planned against him as the second half started and he propelled the Pistons to a 15-point lead.  He shot 8-14 for 21 points 2 rebounds, and 5 assists off the bench. 

The first quarter of the game was an offensive onslaught from both teams, as they traded buckets and showed very little defense. The game flowed freely from one end of the court to the next.  Andrea Bargnani finished with 9 points in the first quarter, and 11 in the half, but only took 3 shots in the second half finishing with 13 points. He was able to use his agility to drive past the slower, bigger defenders such as Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond. Tied at 43 at the half, the Knicks seemed to be in a good game. Things turned in a different direction in the second half. 

Though he is one of the few consistent pieces on this Knicks team, Bargnani sputtered in the second half after a great start. 

Down 15 with 9 minutes left the Knicks of the fourth quarter, the Knicks tried to fight their way back. Behind Carmelo Anthony, the Knicks brought the lead down to 4 with a minute left. They never got any closer. The Pistons were able to stay strong on the perimeter, forcing inside shots down the stretch and wasting time on the clock. As the game winded down and the fans began to file out of the Palace of Auburn Hills, the New York seemed like there was no life. It was as if they had taken a punch to the gut and took a little longer than usual to recover. The Knicks losing streak, now three games, is based on simple issues with difficult solutions.

Two things continued to show throughout this game and have been key contributors to this losing streak. Firstly, their lack of size in the paint. Tyson Chandler is sorely missed as the Pistons front-court totaled 42 of their 92 points near the basket.  The Knicks lack of size inside also put them at a disadvantage on the boards as the Knicks lost he rebounding battle and both Drummond and Monroe had 11 rebounds along with 4 and 2 offensive boards respectively.

With sub-par point guard play and lack of a solid front line, the Knicks don't know where to turn. 

In addition their lack of size, the Knicks are lacking solid point guard play. The Knicks have issues when their offense is stagnant. The Knicks inserted Beno Udrih into the starting lineup due to the absence of Raymond Felton. In the first quarter, when everything seemed to work, they had 6 assists. They finished with 16 on the night. Brandon Jennings had 7 on his own. The stagnant offense led to poor shot selection and complete reliance on isolation by Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith. The Knicks shot 6-24 (25%) from behind the arc. Carmelo Anthony shot 8-20 from the field and finished with 25 points after an abysmal start. J.R Smith has shot 22.8% in his return to the Knicks thus far.

The Knicks struggles on the court offensively and defensively are rubbing off on the players, as they don’t have the same glow they’ve worn in years past. The game of basketball isn’t as fun for them anymore because they aren’t winning the games they should be winning. Granted, injuries have contributed to their issues on the court, as it was evident in the absence of Chandler, Felton, and World Peace. But it also could be contributed to their lack of cohesion. Players were seen yelling at each other on the court when assignments were missed on defense, and this happens. On losing teams, the trust begins to dwindle and the chemistry dissipates.

The Knicks woes cannot be attributed to Mike Woodson. 

Wednesday night, New York will play the Eastern Conference leading, Indiana Pacers (9-1) at Madison Square Garden (where they are 1-5). Tune in tomorrow night at 7:00 PM ET on ESPN and MSG Network to see the game.