tonytalkssports My Take on Sports, particularly the Yankees, Maple Leafs and Browns

Another Tough Knick Loss

Last night was probably one of the most courageous basketball game I've seen played by a team in a long time.  The New York Knicks, already down their point guard. lose their star power forward early in the first quarter yet still had a chance to pull out a playoff win in Boston against the fabled Celtics.  However, as what happened on Sunday, the Knicks couldn't close it out and lost 96-93.

In Game 1, Carmelo Anthony came up small and had a chance to win the game and failed.  But last night, Melo carried the Knicks on his back scoring 42 points and grabbing 17 rebounds to lead his team, a team on this night devoid of any other stars, to nearly pulling off one of the great playoff game upsets in league history.  Let's face it without Chauncey Billups and losing Amare Stoudemire early, the Knicks were left with Anthony and 4 other guys.  It kind of reminded me when I was in junior high and we played this one team who had a very good guard who could make shots from all over the place.  Second time we played them we doubled him most of the night and ended up winning 72-20.

On this night, the Celtics couldn't stop Melo until when it counted.  In the last 2 minutes or so, as soon as Anthony touched the ball Big Baby Davis collapsed on Anthony along with Paul Pierce making it impossible for Melo to take a shot. As a result,  Jared Jeffries was a recipient of two opportunities to score.  The first one he converted to put the Knicks in front.

The second one was a disaster.  After Kevin Garnett put the Celtics ahead 94-93, the Knicks still had time to set up a play to win the game.  Coach D'Antoni called timeout.  The Knicks knew Melo would be doubled and sure enough he was leaving Jeffries open.  Melo dished it off to Jeffries who, instead of going up hard to the basket, tries passing it off and Garnett steals the pass.  Game Over.  Another heartbreaker.

Can the Knicks bounce back??  In my opinion, they can provided that Amare can play Friday night.  With some luck, the Knicks could be up 2-0.  Melo showed that he can deliver in the clutch.  Can you imagine what might have happened last night if Amare was in the game in the final seconds.  Do they double Anthony which results in Amare being open for that last shot???

I don't think we can be that critical of guys like Toney Douglas, Turiaf or Jeffries.  In fact, Jeffries and Douglas were the only other Knicks in double figures besides Anthony.  The rest of the team was just non-existent.  Bill Walker was 0-11 from the field.  Landry Fields has seemed to regress since the Melo trade.  In the end, it was Melo against the Celtics Big Three.  It was a valiant effort.  One that gives you hope, along with frustration wondering if things would have been different if Stoudemire had played the whole game.  If he's back on Friday, the Knicks can still win this series.  If he's not back, this could be over on Easter Sunday.