Knicks guards set tone in win over Nuggets
Charley Rosen / FOXSports.com
Posted: 9 hours ago

The Knicks won their first big-time game of the young season, beating Denver 117-112 in New York on Tuesday. And the way they won was both interesting and meaningful.

OFFENSE

Overall, the Knicks were at their best when they used a few brush-screens and simply let their guards create. That meant Stephon Marbury (8-for-15, 21 points) and Jamal Crawford (8-for-19, 23 points) had license to do as they pleased. Quick-stepping drives, long-range bombs (Marbury was 2-for-3 and Crawford 3-for-5 from downtown) —whatever and whenever. The ease with which these two blew past their erstwhile defenders earned them several layups, but also numerous opportunities to demonstrate their unselfishness — Marbury had nine assists, Crawford had eight. This marks a meaningful improvement over last season when Starbury mostly looked for his own, and Crawford couldn't tell the difference between a good shot and a bad shot.

Crawford was especially electrifying because of his multiple release-points while on the run. He's certainly the most talented offensive player on the squad. It's his judgment that often gets him into needless difficulties — as evidenced by his four turnovers, most of them unforced.


The biggest beneficiary of the playmaking of the Knicks' explosive backcourt tandem was Eddy Curry — 11-for-16, nine rebounds, two blocks, 24 points. Seven of Curry's buckets were either layups or dunks, and were the direct result of slick interior passes by Marbury, Crawford and (once) Renaldo Balkman. Two of Curry's hoops were put-backs, and only two were created by dribble moves of his own.

On the other hand, Zach Randolph — 9-for-14, 17 rebounds, 22 points — was on the receiving end of only one dime-in-the-paint. The rest of his field goals were self-generated.

When both Curry and Randolph were in the game at the same time, it was Curry who was mostly stationed in the pivot. They seldom interacted well, though, with Randolph throwing away a high-low pass and a close-quarters bounce pass that were both intended for Curry. Instead of their games being integrated, Curry and Randolph mostly engaged in parallel play.

But they did stay out of each other's way, so the overall result was a nice-enough balance.

It should be noted, however, that Randolph was much more reluctant to pass (he had zero assists) than was Curry, and was always yearning to shoot. On one second-quarter play, Randolph set a typically sloppy high-screen for Marbury, then literally licked his fingers while he stayed above the foul line and waited for the incoming pass. When it came, Randolph calmly dropped a 17-footer.

In the end-game, Randolph came up with a pair of critical plays — both of them offensive rebounds of missed free throws.

It should also be noted that the Knicks offense was much more effective when Randolph was on the court and Curry was on the bench, as opposed to the court- and bench-presences being reversed.

What else?

Quentin Richardson — 3-for-8, seven points — looked so slow as to be nearly immobile. These days, he's strictly a catch-and-shoot player.

Nate Robinson shot 0-for-3, clearly hindered by a strained hamstring.

David Lee scratched, hustled, rebounded, and missed three layups — 4-for-9, four offensive rebounds, three defensive rebounds, nine points.

Balkman was extremely quick to the basket and finished 5-for-6 with 11 points.

The Knicks' free-wheeling, do-as-you-like offense was abetted by Denver's desultory defensive effort. Even so, the hometown heroes did what they had to do.


DEFENSE

For most of the game, the Knicks played no discernible defense. Curry and Randolph were the worst offenders — rarely attacking shots that were easily within reach, showing up too late (or not at all) on obvious rotation situations, and getting fried on the rare occasions when the Nuggets attacked them in the low-post (mostly by Nene). Even the low-scoring Eduardo Najera managed to register 10 interior points (his other three came on a banked home-run ball).

Not that the rest of the Knicks teammates fared any better. There was literally no pressure on the Nuggets' perimeter shooters. Allen Iverson toyed with both Marbury and Robinson, while Linas Kleiza torched Crawford and company for 18 points.

However, the Knicks' defensive intensity and effectiveness made a dramatic about-face when Balkman took the place of Richardson. It was Balkman who locked up Carmelo Anthony, blocked three shots, had one steal, snared two offensive rebounds and scored 11 "garbage" points. And it was Balkman who single-handedly turned the game in favor of the Knicks.

With the impetus supplied by Balkman, even Curry got into the act, coming up with a huge block of a lay-up attempt by Marcus Camby in the waning moments of the game.

The Knicks' scrambling, clutch-time defense was abetted by Denver's lazy offense that relied almost exclusively on a weary A.I. trying to create something out of nothing.

Smarter, better-coached teams will certainly give the Knicks fits. But the Knicks resilience, courage, relative unselfishness (except for Randolph), individualistic talents, along with the raging intensity provided by Lee and Balkman should be sufficient to overcome those ball clubs that won't play hard and smart for a full 48 minutes.

Perhaps there is a method to Zeke's madness.

I actually think Robinson stuck well with Iverson, although I've only watched the first half so far. Second half of the replay is coming up. Crawford and Marbury's defense is awful though and there's no frontcourt presence. Balkman, Lee and Nate saved us.