Staring at the box score
-
- November
- 27
I’m going back to bed as soon as the kids climb on the school bus this morning, so here’s a little something to get everybody started …
First of all, Utah was playing a back-to-back. Secondly, the Knicks were lucky Zach Randolph was standing in exactly the right place at exactly the right time. Calm down. I’m just kidding. There’s no way to water down this win.
It was a big deal all things considered.
“This is the Utah Jazz,” Zach Randolph said. “They’re going to be in the playoffs. They got All-Star players on that team, so it’s a good win. It’s one we gotta build on so we don’t take a step back.”
Can I get an Amen?
Stephon Marbury was living a flashback, cranking out some unbelievable RPMs on the way down the lane. He refused to draw a line between what happened two weeks ago in Phoenix and this outburst.
No surprise there.
“I just did what I normally do when I’m playing my game,” he said. “I have the ball more. That’s pretty much it. When I have the ball more I’m able to create and make plays and get into a nice flow.”
The best comment was a completely unsolicited remark from Jazz backup Jason Hart, who leaned over and spoke up with eight minutes to play.
“You have to respect him right now,” Hart said. “Every point guard in the NBA knows he’s still a (two-word expletive).”
Back later with more unless I get hot on Guitar Hero.
This entry was posted
on Tuesday, November 27th, 2007 at 12:21 am by Mike Dougherty.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Share and Enjoy: 
| 
Print This Post
| 
Email This Post
Hey Mike,
I’ve been wondering about David Lee’s health status. Is he 100%? Something seems awry as he appears at least a step slower on defense (not one of his strengths), and does not seem as aggressive on the glass.
There was that one sequence in the second half where Milsap (who looks very promising) simply out hustled Lee for a rebound, which is not something we normally associate with David’s play.
Fans on message boards have been grumbling about this as equated to anything from his being overrated as a player, to possible weight gain effects, to unhappiness over minutes/intentional efforts to get traded, to the injury that he suffered last year still lingering.
Any indication as to what the truth might actually be?
Thanks!
– (Prez) Ike
i don’t quite get Harts comments
john q
Here’s the CliffsNotes on the Hart quote … he’s saying none of Marbury’s peers believe he was in decline or slacking off … they still consider him a pain in the rear end to defend.
I thought Lee looked great v. Sacramento. It may be a matter of not getting enough extended PT to get into a flow.
Also, I would start Lee at C and bring Curry off the bench.
I feel like we’re trapped in Knicks’ Groundhog Day.
Was it last year or this year or two years ago that the Knicks were 6 games under .500 and chasing playoff dreams?
Until they get back to .500, everything needs to be taken with a grain of salt.
Oh – and I wanted to comment on the post about Isiah’s comments about winning in NY but the site was down:
Riley was a failure, no question. He failed to find someone who could spell John Starks on offense when he went 1-17, or whatever it was, in the finals. If it wasn’t Hubert Davis or Greg Anthony, then why were they on the team? All the 1994 Knicks needed was someone to make a few 3-pointers. Riley SHOULD have recognized that and done something about it.
I’m still enjoying this win. Damn it was a fun game to be at.
Another nice thing about this win is that all 5 starters had key contributions down the stretch. Eddy’s block, Q getting his hands on the ball, Zach’s rebounding, Jamal’s free throws, adn Steph’s penetration. Wonderful.
Still can’t figure out why the Knicks play zone, and why THE HELL is Zach Randolph inbounding the ball in the final seconds when all we need is to get the ball in. Zach? Guy has never passed in his life! Isn’t there someone more qualified in that spot?
Mike, I’m also still wondering about the basket switch. Is there a rule in the NBA about which basket you start on and whatnot? I know in the leagues around NYC you always warm up and start opposite your bench. Maybe it changes from arena to arena in the NBA, but the Knicks have switched mid-season. The few games I went to earlier this season they started shooting on the hoop by their bench, but then last night they started on the other side. You must notice this. Usually those annoying Snapple thunder sticks are on the other side in the second half, but last night they must have been right in your ear. Any answers?
Adam-
I think the visiting team gets to pick which basket they shoot at in the first half. Most teams pick to defend near their own basket in the second half.
That’s interesting if the teams get to pick. Never heard of that. You would think it would be more regulated then that, but I guess not.
Adam L
I found it in the rulebook for you … Marc is right … “The basket selected by the visiting team when it first enters onto the court shall be it’s basket for the first half … ”
Thanks Mike and Marc, yet another reason to love this blog.
Here’s an interesting take on fixing the Knicks just through subbing and player rotation. Was written right after the Warriors emarassed us at MSG.
http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=6138
can someone give me more info on Harts comment.
I know you probably cant say the two word expletive, but can someone allude to it.
I cant seem to figure out what he is trying to say.
Sunil,
I’m thinking Hart was saying Marbury is a “Mother Effer”, a common epithet of respect. Meaning he’s a tough so and so. A hard man to beat.
Its an important point, because the media has been on this thing of Marbury in decline for a while as part of their distaste for his game and persona. They always point to his stats being down every year etc…. But the fact is, as an athlete, he has not slipped. He is still strong as a bull and one of the fastest with the ball in the league, and has improved his shooting from range. I’m as critical and exasperated by him as anybody else when he does his “November Thing”, but it seems obvious from watching him move, he is dangerous, and top of the league dangerous. The stats are about his role and how well he plays his role – the crux of the problem with the Knicks since he came, but he has not lost a step. That’s what Hart is saying: “I don’t care what people say, he is a “blankity blank” (explitive) to defend” And this get’s shortened to just “He’s a blankity blank”
Frank Isola, the 12-year Knicks-beat veteran for the Daily News, said, “It used to be fun here. Now, there are some nights when you’re trying to talk your boss out of sending you here and maybe lie and tell him you’re sick or something.�
All this, and more, in today’s lead story in The New York Observer:
Life in Knicks Hell
http://www.observer.com/2007/life-knicks-hell
Frank Iosola is a moron. I suggest anybody on this forum not read any of his articles at the risk of becoming more dumb for it.