Basketball is a team sport. Cleveland's no-name blue collar dudes simply played more like a team than the Knicks stars. Especially up front. Luke Harangody, JJ Hickson and Samardo Samuels played with passion and never caved down the stretch.

Cleveland also had balance with seven guys in double figures. The star-heavy Knicks had only 4 players in double figures. More specifically, one thing stands out on the Knicks offense. We had more turnovers (16) that assists (13).

Despite shooting a ridiculous 55 per cent, our Knicks allow 119 to the Cavs because the defensive frontcourt is non-existent. You cannot play without a center. Jeffries is a defensive small forward who happens to be 6'11. Without Turiaf, the Knicks were vulnerable inside AND outside as the Cavs were 12-21 from three.

So what does it all mean?

1. Toney Douglas plays rugged defense but cannot run an offense. D'Antoni pulls him in the fourth, Cavs go on a run.

2. Jeffries is an offensive non-factor. You run him and you're running an offense 4 on 5.

3. Everyone knew Carmelo was getting the ball. Including Oakley...I mean... Samuels, who gave up his body all night.

4. You cannot play without a defensive center on the roster. Mr. Flop (Jeffries) is a forward. Turiaf is a brittle forward.

5. Chauncey Billups is missed. Toney Douglas is more allergic to handling the ball inside the arc than Charlie Ward.

6. Isolation plays suck. Especially with three defenders hovering in the vicinity.

7. I miss Mozgov.

He's the only guy who tried on defense yesterday.

misterearl wrote:Help Wanted

Minimum height 6'11, minimum weight 245 pounds, ability to catch a basketball in heavy traffic, excellent lateral quickness, 27" vertical, 77" wingspan, one signature offensive move, 12-15 rebounds on a consistent basis, loves contact.

Now accepting applications.

Childs2Dudley - Shelden Williams gave a respectable effort but he is not, repeat, NOT a center.

Maybe so, but he's the only one we got until the summer. He should get a shot over anorexic Jeffries and Glass Turiaf.

babyKnicks - I just described a clone of Marcus Camby.

I'd settle for Eric Chenowith or Chris Dudley

Douglas seems to be a one-outta-four games microwave offense from the bench. Nothing more, nothing else. The fact that we have to play him at PG with Billups out speaks volumes of our PG depth.
Why do we have Rautins for? The Andy and Landry show?

misterearl wrote:Every game is different. The matchups are different. Which is exactly why predictions of win totals and playoff runs are comical.

Basketball is a team sport. Cleveland's no-name blue collar dudes simply played more like a team than the Knicks stars. Especially up front. Luke Harangody, JJ Hickson and Samardo Samuels played with passion and never caved down the stretch.

Cleveland also had balance with seven guys in double figures. The star-heavy Knicks had only 4 players in double figures. More specifically, one thing stands out on the Knicks offense. We had more turnovers (16) that assists (13).

Despite shooting a ridiculous 55 per cent, our Knicks allow 119 to the Cavs because the defensive frontcourt is non-existent. You cannot play without a center. Jeffries is a defensive small forward who happens to be 6'11. Without Turiaf, the Knicks were vulnerable inside AND outside as the Cavs were 12-21 from three.

So what does it all mean?

1. Toney Douglas plays rugged defense but cannot run an offense. D'Antoni pulls him in the fourth, Cavs go on a run.

2. Jeffries is an offensive non-factor. You run him and you're running an offense 4 on 5.

3. Everyone knew Carmelo was getting the ball. Including Oakley...I mean... Samuels, who gave up his body all night.

4. You cannot play without a defensive center on the roster. Mr. Flop (Jeffries) is a forward. Turiaf is a brittle forward.

5. Chauncey Billups is missed. Toney Douglas is more allergic to handling the ball inside the arc than Charlie Ward.

6. Isolation plays suck. Especially with three defenders hovering in the vicinity.

7. I miss Mozgov.

Doesn't it answer your question in part? Can Cleveland's no name blue collar bunch even smell the playoffs? But why do our fans overreact to every loss? Who said getting Melo means winning every game left in this season, or that we would suddenly become elite defensive eam?

Two of our staters were out of the game, did you factor that in?

We all know we need a Center but we ain't getting one till summer.

How about a little patience?

Childs2Dudley wrote:

misterearl wrote:Help Wanted

Minimum height 6'11, minimum weight 245 pounds, ability to catch a basketball in heavy traffic, excellent lateral quickness, 27" vertical, 77" wingspan, one signature offensive move, 12-15 rebounds on a consistent basis, loves contact.

Now accepting applications.

Childs2Dudley - Shelden Williams gave a respectable effort but he is not, repeat, NOT a center.

Maybe so, but he's the only one we got until the summer. He should get a shot over anorexic Jeffries and Glass Turiaf.

JDark - you are on it. When the Cleveland Cavaliers recognize they only need to guard four guys when Jeffries is on the court, it makes NYK running iso's strategically silly.

Subtract a few of Stoudemire's outrageous 41 points and it is a Cavs blowout.

You are indeed Jedi.

misterearl wrote:Two Dimensional

JDark - you are on it. When the Cleveland Cavaliers recognize they only need to guard four guys when Jeffries is on the court, it makes NYK running iso's strategically silly.

Subtract a few of Stoudemire's outrageous 41 points and it is a Cavs blowout.

And did we blow out New Orleans the game before? Did we? With Jeffries playing?

misterearl wrote:Q. toodarkmark - "And did we blow out New Orleans the game before?"

A. NYTimes - "The Knicks are 3-3 since the big trade. They played stout fourth-quarter defense last Sunday in a 91-88 victory over Miami. But Orlando ran past them in the fourth quarter Tuesday, and D’Antoni said New Orleans, which fell, 107-88, Wednesday, might have been a little tired."

Q: Did we blow out New Orleans the game before? With Jeffries playing?

A: Yes. Oh and it's ok to make excuses for New Orleans, but not for the fact we lost to one of the best teams in the East on their home floor, and twice to the worst team in the NBA because we have a weird mental block with them. We also lost to them right before they lost 25 in a row. But no, we lost to them because we suck post trade, and Jeffries played.