The Answer Man Was at the game in Baltimore
The Baltimore Arena where Earl Monroe made his highlights is 50 years old. It is a funky basketball place with tiny scoreboards lining the facade of the upper deck. There are some great old school sightlines from section 328. the fries were hot. Mike Riordan was there.
Some observations: we played without JR Smith, Amar'e, Kenyon Martin, Jeremy Tyler and Ron World Peace. That is a lot of height. Ergo, Woody auditioned some interesting shifts. Staring Udrih and Murry together in the second half was a nice touch. Murry has excellent court poise and moves without the ball. He should stay.
It was a Carmelo Homecoming. The crowd responded to his moves more than any player on the court, on either team. It was a pro-Knicks crowd and the amount of blue and orange being worn was dominant. Carmelo cannot be handled inside. Period. Woodson gave Anthony creative license to freelance. After Carmelo missed a long shot at the (third quarter) buzzer, Woodson said to Melo, "that's enough." Evening over.
Andrea Bargnani will get a lot of open looks. He did not settle for jumpers and drove to the rack with evil intentions. The Answer Man dug that about him. Not many seven footers can put the ball on the floor and either pull up for a baseline fadeaway.. or drive the paint with confidence. He will get a lot of foul calls because of that versatility.
Ike Diogu is a poor mans Zach Randolph. He snatched a few fierce rebounds in traffic and seems to take his shot when it is there. Undersized perhaps, he plays taller because he enjoys contact and has hands like Spider Man.
Jr Hardaway does not play like a rookie. Certainly, he will make freshman mistakes, but the interplay between he and Woodson during a stoppage in play was cool to watch. Woodson lectured Hardaway on a offensive switch, Hardaway promptly goes downcourt and drains a jumper without blinking, or looking to the bench.
Beno Udrih will be come a Garden favorite. Warm up the Bee-NO chants.
Chris Smith should be immediately put of of the misery of his brick laying.
The Knicks Nation is everywhere.