Knicks · Playoff Preview - Big Time Players Rise To Big Time Occasions (page 1)

Enough of the second-guessing over what Mike "you know who" coulda woulda shoulda done. It is time to look forward, not backwards. It is time to feel good again because, for one of the rare moments in franchise history, we finally have a General Manager and Head Coach tandem in sync.

The best part? We have leaders on the court who have been there - done that - AND got the t-shirt. How can anyone not love this?

After the Knicks’ 113-112 victory over the Hawks on Sunday, a tough victory over a playoff team, Iman Shumpert said, “I think this is how [the] playoffs are going to feel.”

Tyson Chandler chipped in, “No, not even close.”

The best thing about Carmelo Anthony, that no one mentions, is that he is fearless. Melo gave every ounce of effort in the Boston series last season and almost pulled out two wins by himself. Imagine if Landry Fields made a jumper. Add to that the fact Amar'e was hurting more than he was willing to admit. the point being, the real season starts next week and our veterans understand what is at stake.

Tyson Chandler will wear his championship ring into a film session and no one will doubt his words.

Carmelo, with the trust of his coach, will embrace the added responsibility on both ends. "Amare was phenomenal. The way we played off each other - when he had it, he had it. When I had it, I had it."

Amar'e will dig deep into his soul, dedicate the playoffs to his brother, and find a gear that puts to rest any notion of incompatibility.

Landry Fields will not back down and get into his first NBA fight with Udonis Haslem. He is suspended for one game but the tone is set.

Iman Shumpert will make a game changing steal under two minutes, dunk on the breakaway, and The Garden will explode.

Baron Davis will find 15 good minutes. It's the other 3 minutes we need to worry about.

JR Smith will feed off the intensity. If Smith can find a groove, watch out.

Steve Novak needs to sprint to his spot.

Of the above mentioned, outside of Shumpert and Fields, all are seasoned veterans. In NBA years, Fields is still a baby. The other six have a minimum of 6 years NBA experience. Davis, Carmelo, Amar'e and Chandler have acquired exposure to playoff intensity and that is a good thing.

Time to make the donuts.

JVG always used to quote the phrase "mental tougness"

Lets see it

fishmike wrote:just win. Go grind it out and win. Thats it. Every night. Knicks of the 90s played like stubborn children. When they lost to the Bulls by one bucket they did the same thing in the game before that they lost. Only hard.

JVG always used to quote the phrase "mental tougness"

Lets see it

fish.mike - a team quality that few have mentioned - the ability of this Knicks edition to absorb runs by an opponent, without buckling. The Atlanta game is the most recent example, especially on the road against a better quality (record) opponent. The Hawks made their run, got the crowd pumped, and the Knicks did not budge. During this 16-6 run we have won games in a variety of ways. We have fought hard in all of them. The Cleveland game can be excused as a game where the roster exhaled for a moment.

The Knicks have won grind-it-out wrestling matches based on defense. The Milwaukee game was another must win, on the road.

The best quality of the Woodson Knicks is resilience. Lose. Bounce back.

Field goal percentages will run hot and cold. Defense is forever.

misterearl wrote:Look Again

fishmike wrote:just win. Go grind it out and win. Thats it. Every night. Knicks of the 90s played like stubborn children. When they lost to the Bulls by one bucket they did the same thing in the game before that they lost. Only hard.

JVG always used to quote the phrase "mental tougness"

Lets see it

fish.mike - a team quality that few have mentioned - the ability of this Knicks edition to absorb runs by an opponent, without buckling. The Atlanta game is the most recent example, especially on the road against a better quality (record) opponent. The Hawks made their run, got the crowd pumped, and the Knicks did not budge. During this 16-6 run we have won games in a variety of ways. We have fought hard in all of them. The Cleveland game can be excused as a game where the roster exhaled for a moment.

The Knicks have won grind-it-out wrestling matches based on defense. The Milwaukee game was another must win, on the road.

The best quality of the Woodson Knicks is resilience. Lose. Bounce back.

Field goal percentages will run hot and cold. Defense is forever.

Great tag line. Maybe you should put it under your sig for awhile.

Moonangie wrote:Great tag line. Maybe you should put it under your sig for awhile.

Good call moonangie.

Beat the Clippers.

misterearl wrote:It is a new day.

Enough of the second-guessing over what Mike "you know who" coulda woulda shoulda done. It is time to look forward, not backwards. It is time to feel good again because, for one of the rare moments in franchise history, we finally have a General Manager and Head Coach tandem in sync.

The best part? We have leaders on the court who have been there - done that - AND got the t-shirt. How can anyone not love this?

After the Knicks’ 113-112 victory over the Hawks on Sunday, a tough victory over a playoff team, Iman Shumpert said, “I think this is how [the] playoffs are going to feel.”

Tyson Chandler chipped in, “No, not even close.”

The best thing about Carmelo Anthony, that no one mentions, is that he is fearless. Melo gave every ounce of effort in the Boston series last season and almost pulled out two wins by himself. Imagine if Landry Fields made a jumper. Add to that the fact Amar'e was hurting more than he was willing to admit. the point being, the real season starts next week and our veterans understand what is at stake.

Tyson Chandler will wear his championship ring into a film session and no one will doubt his words.

Carmelo, with the trust of his coach, will embrace the added responsibility on both ends. "Amare was phenomenal. The way we played off each other - when he had it, he had it. When I had it, I had it."

Amar'e will dig deep into his soul, dedicate the playoffs to his brother, and find a gear that puts to rest any notion of incompatibility.

Landry Fields will not back down and get into his first NBA fight with Udonis Haslem. He is suspended for one game but the tone is set.

Iman Shumpert will make a game changing steal under two minutes, dunk on the breakaway, and The Garden will explode.

Baron Davis will find 15 good minutes. It's the other 3 minutes we need to worry about.

JR Smith will feed off the intensity. If Smith can find a groove, watch out.

Steve Novak needs to sprint to his spot.

Of the above mentioned, outside of Shumpert and Fields, all are seasoned veterans. In NBA years, Fields is still a baby. The other six have a minimum of 6 years NBA experience. Davis, Carmelo, Amar'e and Chandler have acquired exposure to playoff intensity and that is a good thing.

Time to make the donuts.

You spin it well!

Good take.

Nalod wrote:

misterearl wrote:It is a new day.

Enough of the second-guessing over what Mike "you know who" coulda woulda shoulda done. It is time to look forward, not backwards. It is time to feel good again because, for one of the rare moments in franchise history, we finally have a General Manager and Head Coach tandem in sync.

The best part? We have leaders on the court who have been there - done that - AND got the t-shirt. How can anyone not love this?

After the Knicks’ 113-112 victory over the Hawks on Sunday, a tough victory over a playoff team, Iman Shumpert said, “I think this is how [the] playoffs are going to feel.”

Tyson Chandler chipped in, “No, not even close.”

The best thing about Carmelo Anthony, that no one mentions, is that he is fearless. Melo gave every ounce of effort in the Boston series last season and almost pulled out two wins by himself. Imagine if Landry Fields made a jumper. Add to that the fact Amar'e was hurting more than he was willing to admit. the point being, the real season starts next week and our veterans understand what is at stake.

Tyson Chandler will wear his championship ring into a film session and no one will doubt his words.

Carmelo, with the trust of his coach, will embrace the added responsibility on both ends. "Amare was phenomenal. The way we played off each other - when he had it, he had it. When I had it, I had it."

Amar'e will dig deep into his soul, dedicate the playoffs to his brother, and find a gear that puts to rest any notion of incompatibility.

Landry Fields will not back down and get into his first NBA fight with Udonis Haslem. He is suspended for one game but the tone is set.

Iman Shumpert will make a game changing steal under two minutes, dunk on the breakaway, and The Garden will explode.

Baron Davis will find 15 good minutes. It's the other 3 minutes we need to worry about.

JR Smith will feed off the intensity. If Smith can find a groove, watch out.

Steve Novak needs to sprint to his spot.

Of the above mentioned, outside of Shumpert and Fields, all are seasoned veterans. In NBA years, Fields is still a baby. The other six have a minimum of 6 years NBA experience. Davis, Carmelo, Amar'e and Chandler have acquired exposure to playoff intensity and that is a good thing.

Time to make the donuts.

You spin it well!

Good take.

What, no Lin coming out of the tunnel scene? Blasphemy!

+1 misterearl

jrodmc wrote:
What, no Lin coming out of the tunnel scene? Blasphemy!

Stay tuned homeslice. In this roller coaster ride of a season anything is possible. Reports that Lin is back on the court in Greenburgh, even if it is just for individual drills, are encouraging. For the long term, unselfishly, we should want what is best for Lin's future. If he returns for a playoff game, cool. If not, The Answer Man has no problem waiting until Summer for Jeremy to get his groove back.

Then again, the drama is setting up too perfect for mid-May.

Who does drama better than us?

Big Time Coaches Understand How To Put Big Time Players In The Best Position To Thrive

(especially at home)

These Knicks are not rattled on the road. Miami will be loud during the pre game hyperbole and the artificial noise, but once the game starts, it will be a game of fierce exchanges. Like two boxers throwing haymakers, the Knicks and Heat veterans will be throwing punches not simply to win a game - but to define their careers.

The Heat big three have a huge IOU stamped on their backs. Chandler, Stoudemire and Carmelo have a debt to each other. In order to get past the Heat, egos will need to be secondary to the team. That does not mean that Carmelo shoots any less. It DOES mean that Amar'e absolutely, positively must bring an extra effort on defense. He is the problem child that Woodson must monitor for any breakdown.

AS Mike Woodson is a Holzman disciple, do not be shocked to see Gadzuric cameo with Chandler up front.

Landry Fields has some bounce to his step on the second shift. If JR Smith stays low on defense, our minute men could be the primary weapon for Woodson to deploy to confront Miami's second unit.

One thing is certain. Woodson (and Chandler) will have them prepared.

fishmike wrote:hey... Knicks can be in the finals... they can do that. The talent and pieces are there

fish.mike - Let's win a game IN Miami first.

The longer this series goes, the more the Heat will sweat. When the Heat sweat, the louder Knicks fans will be in their house. When Knicks fans get loud in your house you wish you were watching at home on cable. When you watch at home on cable, the Dolan family makes more money.

Don't subscribe to cable.

Beat Miami.

I'd be satisfied to take Miami 6 even in defeat.

Im not saying I'd be "Happy".

at the very least give them a hard time and perhaps some good body blows to weaken them against a future foe.

A-B-M: "anybody but Miami"!

After the Knicks I'd like to see perhaps the Spurs win it as I like Manu-Duncan-Parker and the job Pop has done. Maybe OK for reward of going the way of youth and restore a faith that a small market team can win! Maybe the Lakers to solidify Kobes greatness and time him with 6 rings.

Of course, the Knuggs would be a fun run for them and us!

There you go, a Knicks-Knuggs finals! one for the ages!

But we can scare the bejeesus out of them. The moment the Knicks make that first 12-2 run, keyed by a Shumpert steal and a ferocious Tyson Chandler blocked shot, the equation shifts and the native Floridians will get very restless.

That is exactly why we watch.

Expect the unexpected.

We have a 6'10 sniper who is the best long distance shooter in the entire NBA.

If Steve Novak wants to cement his reputation on the world's brightest stage, (the one with the dark shooting background) let him blow up in any of the first three playoff games.

The place will go nuts.

fishmike wrote:hey... Knicks can be in the finals... they can do that. The talent and pieces are there

They can, Last year everyone was deadset on a Heat-Lakers or Thunder final. Tyson Chandler and Dallas then emerged. The rest is history

misterearl wrote:One More Thing

We have a 6'10 sniper who is the best long distance shooter in the entire NBA.

If Steve Novak wants to cement his reputation on the world's brightest stage, (the one with the dark shooting background) let him blow up in any of the first three playoff games.

The place will go nuts.

Yeah, Novak and JR Smith are huge factors in the Miami series.

They seemed a little shook in that last game against Miami, frankly. I think Miami is better at perimeter defense than interior defense.

I think Amar'e will be really important in this series - he needs to get inside. So does Tyson. And Melo. I think the way to break Miami's D is inside first and have that create open shots outside. I know that's true of a lot of teams, but for Miami it seems particularly true. They have lockdown perimeter defenders like Wade, Battier and Bron and are a little softer inside with Joel Anthony and Bosh. When they have to double inside, their rotations get a little slow on the outside.

Miami is a tall tall order. I have faith in this Knicks team to play hard, but beating Miami 4 times is gonna be tough. I agree - win one in Miami first and go from there.

As much as we dug Shawne Williams, nobody moves the crowd like Steve Novak.

ChuckBuck has it right - Steal one game on the road.