Great game against a tough team that wanted to win. The offense is really working now. I love how we are not force feeding anyone. We just take what the defense gives us. Moreover, I can't recall this team ever passing as well as they did last night. Zack was making all types of passes. If he and Curry can pass out of the double team effectively, this offense cannot be stopped. Simply too many weapons even without top-notch 3 point shooters.

Orlando will be a good test because they will slow the game down. Playing uptempo like Denver did plays to our strength. Can we produce solid offense against a team that is trying to slow the game down? 3-1 would be a great start to the season.

[Edited by - thegame on 11-07-2007 09:09 AM]

Very encouraging, it only further strengthens the claim that Lee, Balkman and now NATE need to play big minutes. It also shows that with a shorter roster, everyone knows their place. Zach Randolph is currently earning his paycheck.

I voted encouraging but I was more or less between unsure and encouraging.

The reason for that is there are still a couple of alarming problems out there.

Overall a total lack of defense - yet what made it encouraging was how Balkman seemed to energize the entire team in the second half and I was almost confused as to who I was watching when the Knicks made consecutive solid defensive plays. We need more of that. We can not expect to win games where we continuously allow the opposition to score at 60% or better for that means our offense would have to be impeccable to be in any such games.

The Turnovers are driving me insane. This isn't something new. This isn't something that is easily corrected. The same guys have been doing it for a third season now. It's alarming to see so many turnovers. Even more unforced turnovers such as Crawford's seemingly endless strings of traveling violations - and also the 3 seconds have to stop as well. If we matched Denver's turnovers - WE BLOW THEM OUT!


Why was I encouraged if I'm hammering home those two points that appear to be with us for the duration? Well for one we won the game but it's more how we won it. There was pure effort for the entire fourth quarter, there was some defense, there were smarter decisions out there, there were players covering each others mistakes (The O-Boards), there was no moping around and no complaining. Just pure hard work.

There's a number of promising signs and if this team can find a way to play more consistent defense for more possessions AND limit those turnovers AND hit their FTs then we have a shot to make the playoffs.

The grocery list to being a good team is very short but those items are very very hard to find.

Now that Balkman is getting into a groove, I think he will help the team defense alot. He is a great help defender and knows how to close out on the 3 pt shooters. We are never going to be a great defensive team with our personnel, but if we can become decent, our offense will win most games.

We beat a team that came undone in the last few minutes.

Good teams play bad games and bad teams will play well.

Lets be real, we are a talented team no doubt and we got a glimpse of what could be when Marbury is not starbury and just a piece of the machine.

Isiah got the rotations right and the team played as a collective unit.

Might be hope for us yet.

I was speechless watching the game. I didn't know how to really react to what I was witnessing. I mean I couldn't believe curry was making key defensive stops and getting key rebounds. I couldn't believe guys were actually finishing off an apponent.

I think this may have been the best win by this group in 3 years. I was expecting another clevland fallout. No.....it never came.

I pull for my team but I was very shocked by what went down last night.

At the same time denver sealed their fate by not making freethrows.

I tell you what....marbury almost lost the knicks the game though. He took a shot with 11 seconds on the clock and an erratic drive bothe for no reason when iverson was smoking and carmelo feeling it. Would have been deal breakers but.......no and I can't believe it.

100% encouraging thus far...I see Isle's didn't get a chance to vote yet...

No TOs in the 4th.

Multiple rallies from 9-10 pt defecits.

A Block and an Assist from Eddy.

40/20 in our front and backcourt.

And Balkman all day long.

PURE

Very encouraging. Balkman starting is VITAL to our playoff hopes.