Knicks · Game Thread: Knicks vs Celtics @ 1pm. Without JR, the Knicks try to win their first playoff series since the Van Gundy era. (page 37)

GustavBahler wrote:
I was disappointed in Melo's performance as well. The missed free throws were killers. I'm upset that J.R got pulled, but considering the season he's had I'm not as upset as I would have been if it happened last season. Smith didn't regularly make the same head scratching decisions on the floor this season that he's been known for since coming into the league. Just have to hope he learned his lesson and will keep his head in the game. I'm confident J.R will in part because he respects Woodson like maybe no other coach he's had in the past.

Felton's play was responsible for holding the team together last night. Hell of a performance.

I agree it feels weird to be in this situation again. I was watching the game last night and it felt almost foreign to be in a big playoff game like this, and we're actually expected to advance! Its been so long, too long.

In Melo's defense, he did do a good job of driving to the basketball and drawing fouls. Think that was definitely Woody's strategy there- to try and get them all in foul trouble.

However, there's no excuse for missing both FT's at crunch time. Plus while he sat out in the 3rd, Felton went on a tear and we closed in on the Celtics. Then Melo checked in, and rather than realize "hey, I don't need to score- Felton has the hot hand", he just went straight back to chucking up panicked bricks.

Melo's won us a lot more games than he's lost, but if he'd just done a few things differently yesterday we'd have swept the Celtics.

I'd say the biggest thing I take from this game is how much better the Knicks are than the Celtics. The game was in Boston, we were without JR, and Melo had 7 turnovers and 25 missed shots. Yet it was tied at the end of regulation!

ChuckBuck wrote:Totally agree with Supreme, Sealy, and Gustav.

In the past, this would've been an issue, but this team has shown resilience to claw their way back into games.

Winning in the playoffs on the road is always tough no matter the circumstances.

My only bone to pick is we should've never been down 19-20 points to begin with. I think we had 11 or 12 turnovers in the 1st half alone(our reg season avg). Melo couldn't play any worse. But thankfully the 3 point guard lineup jump started an amazing run spearheaded by Felton, that made the game exciting even in an overtime loss.

Phucking JR...I hate letting winnable games slip away.

This is new territory for Knicks fans of now. Usually we're never in this position. When was the last time we won a series, 2000? To be favored and everyone now expecting your team to win a series feels wierd.

Winning a series 4-1 is actually damn good in the playoffs. I think I'm just bitter at the Celtics for sweeping us in 2011.

You can see it this way:

When they swept us, they swept an upstart team. If we beat them in this series on 5 games, we will be ending their contending era and send them to rebuilding.

Again, no team deserves to be swept more than the Celtics, but simply taking them out of the playoffs this early is good. The city of Boston can consider Game 4 our gift.

Wednesday 8:30 PM is too far away.

playa2 wrote:When we blow out the Celtic on Wednesday_________________________________________
fill in the blank

Tkf,3g4g and the other "fans" will not post in the game thread.

AnubisADL wrote:LOL. Blaming Melo?

Dude came through with some clutch buckets to get to OT.

ActionJackson wrote:

holfresh wrote:Horrible game by Melo...He lost it...

I have no words for a person who can say something like this other than please go root for the Bklyn Nets

For me, Melo had the ball in his hands at the end of the game, exactly where he likes it and wants it and knows he is gonna get it. Missing 2 FTs (turns out those points could have won the game) and going something like 0-3 or 1-4 in the last 3 minutes is playing horribly (regardless of the other parts of the game, which he really didn't shine BTW). Don't care what the other guys on the court were doing at that point, missing shots, making shots. Melo has the ball and is one of the league's best closers. It's where high level all stars turn and show why they are elite players.

IMHO Melo played horribly and should shoulder blame for the loss.

MSG3 wrote:Wednesday 8:30 PM is too far away.

Was trying to dig around, but only see the TBD status for game-time. Is 8:30 officially set?

On a side note, over the last 22 games, we've only lost 1 in regulation.

I think it's too much too put all the blame on Melo for the loss. Admittedly, his shooting was atrocious and those free throws and close shots were heartbreak. But Melo is a scorer and a scorer will shoot the ball. But I think Woody bears some of the blame. He could have asked the team to set up another play, recognizing that Melo just didn't have the hand the night and knowing that the Celtics would pressure him. In a sense, be less predictable every once in while. (I know this is all hindsight, but the Knicks should have at least 2 or 3 alternative plays even if JR isn't there).

RoyBatty wrote:I think it's too much too put all the blame on Melo for the loss. Admittedly, his shooting was atrocious and those free throws and close shots were heartbreak. But Melo is a scorer and a scorer will shoot the ball. But I think Woody bears some of the blame. He could have asked the team to set up another play, recognizing that Melo just didn't have the hand the night and knowing that the Celtics would pressure him. In a sense, be less predictable every once in while. (I know this is all hindsight, but the Knicks should have at least 2 or 3 alternative plays even if JR isn't there).

Melo was huge at keeping the C's front line in foul trouble all game. We'll go as far as Melo can take us, but yesterday was definitely Ray's game. I was hoping to see him with a few more shots down the stretch, after hitting so many key baskets already.

RoyBatty wrote:I think it's too much too put all the blame on Melo for the loss. Admittedly, his shooting was atrocious and those free throws and close shots were heartbreak. But Melo is a scorer and a scorer will shoot the ball. But I think Woody bears some of the blame. He could have asked the team to set up another play, recognizing that Melo just didn't have the hand the night and knowing that the Celtics would pressure him. In a sense, be less predictable every once in while. (I know this is all hindsight, but the Knicks should have at least 2 or 3 alternative plays even if JR isn't there).

0-2 from FT line with game on line. For me, that's the deciding factor.

Coach def could have called different plays, to perhaps free Melo up... but if ball ends up in someone else's hands and other player misses, everyone calls for coaches head for NOT going to one of the best closers in the game, and you know that would happen.

martin wrote:

AnubisADL wrote:LOL. Blaming Melo?

Dude came through with some clutch buckets to get to OT.

ActionJackson wrote:

holfresh wrote:Horrible game by Melo...He lost it...

I have no words for a person who can say something like this other than please go root for the Bklyn Nets

For me, Melo had the ball in his hands at the end of the game, exactly where he likes it and wants it and knows he is gonna get it. Missing 2 FTs (turns out those points could have won the game) and going something like 0-3 or 1-4 in the last 3 minutes is playing horribly (regardless of the other parts of the game, which he really didn't shine BTW). Don't care what the other guys on the court were doing at that point, missing shots, making shots. Melo has the ball and is one of the league's best closers. It's where high level all stars turn and show why they are elite players.

IMHO Melo played horribly and should shoulder blame for the loss.

i agree, and i am a huge supporter if melo.

regardless, things like this happen. next game i expect a better performance.

martin wrote:

AnubisADL wrote:LOL. Blaming Melo?

Dude came through with some clutch buckets to get to OT.

ActionJackson wrote:

holfresh wrote:Horrible game by Melo...He lost it...

I have no words for a person who can say something like this other than please go root for the Bklyn Nets

For me, Melo had the ball in his hands at the end of the game, exactly where he likes it and wants it and knows he is gonna get it. Missing 2 FTs (turns out those points could have won the game) and going something like 0-3 or 1-4 in the last 3 minutes is playing horribly (regardless of the other parts of the game, which he really didn't shine BTW). Don't care what the other guys on the court were doing at that point, missing shots, making shots. Melo has the ball and is one of the league's best closers. It's where high level all stars turn and show why they are elite players.

IMHO Melo played horribly and should shoulder blame for the loss.

Did you not see how hard Melo had to work to get those buckets and get to the line. When you take a physical beating like that is takes it's toll. Celtics made him work extra hard throughout the game and it worked.

Sorry but other guys have to step up.

         
         FGs
Shumpert 5-13
Kidd     0-3
Felton   10-21
Prigioni 1-6
Melo     10-35

Melo jacked alot of shots but I didnt see anyone else making shots either. Also he went 16-20 from the Free Throw line. But yea its was all Melo's fault.

AnubisADL wrote:

martin wrote:

AnubisADL wrote:LOL. Blaming Melo?

Dude came through with some clutch buckets to get to OT.

ActionJackson wrote:

holfresh wrote:Horrible game by Melo...He lost it...

I have no words for a person who can say something like this other than please go root for the Bklyn Nets

For me, Melo had the ball in his hands at the end of the game, exactly where he likes it and wants it and knows he is gonna get it. Missing 2 FTs (turns out those points could have won the game) and going something like 0-3 or 1-4 in the last 3 minutes is playing horribly (regardless of the other parts of the game, which he really didn't shine BTW). Don't care what the other guys on the court were doing at that point, missing shots, making shots. Melo has the ball and is one of the league's best closers. It's where high level all stars turn and show why they are elite players.

IMHO Melo played horribly and should shoulder blame for the loss.

Did you not see how hard Melo had to work to get those buckets and get to the line. When you take a physical beating like that is takes it's toll. Celtics made him work extra hard throughout the game and it worked.

Sorry but other guys have to step up.

         
         FGs
Shumpert 5-13
Kidd     0-3
Felton   10-21
Prigioni 1-6
Melo     10-35

Melo jacked alot of shots but I didnt see anyone else making shots either. Also he went 16-20 from the Free Throw line. But yea its was all Melo's fault.

I see you didn't address my 0-3 or 0-2 from the FT line with game on line. Nor my comments about why my focus was at the end of the game.

Also, you didn't see Shump or Felton making shots? What game were you watching? BTW, Felton had a TS% near 60%, which is SKY HIGH.

what martin said

0-2 from the free throw line is inexcusable.

Missing one is human.

Missing both is lack of focus.

Action, your comments about not seeing anyone else make any shots is more laughable when you look at the boxscore. Besides Melo, who shot fucking horribly, what other guy on the court did you see make or take more shots than Felton on either team that would lead you to make your comment that "I didnt see anyone else making shots either"?

Green? Pierce? KG? who?

martin wrote:I see you didn't address my 0-3 or 0-2 from the FT line with game on line. Nor my comments about why my focus was at the end of the game.

Also, you didn't see Shump or Felton making shots? What game were you watching? BTW, Felton had a TS% near 60%, which is SKY HIGH.

I did address it. The guy was spent by the time OT came around.

Felton making prayer shots is not what I like to see. I suggest you take a look at Ray Felton and Shumperts shot charts for the game. They made some layups and bricked alot of shots.

Source: http://espn.go.com/nba/shotchart?gameId=...

Kudos for felton leading the charge making Melos 0-2 at the line relevant.

Melo was ok and made some real nice shots down the stretch but looks the dunk gassed him and he starting taking those fatigue dumb shots!

Ok, nobody got hurt and the ball movement was great! Shump played up too!

Knicks came back early and I thought they had the game!

KG came up clutch. It was a gritty performance of a old warrior standing his ground! Hate the phucher but respect the career. Paul Pierce just to ugly to even compliment!

Here Endeth The Intelligent Discussion

Felton making prayer shots is not what I like to see.

Prayer shots?

Sheesh

AnubisADL wrote:

martin wrote:

AnubisADL wrote:LOL. Blaming Melo?

Dude came through with some clutch buckets to get to OT.

ActionJackson wrote:

holfresh wrote:Horrible game by Melo...He lost it...

I have no words for a person who can say something like this other than please go root for the Bklyn Nets

For me, Melo had the ball in his hands at the end of the game, exactly where he likes it and wants it and knows he is gonna get it. Missing 2 FTs (turns out those points could have won the game) and going something like 0-3 or 1-4 in the last 3 minutes is playing horribly (regardless of the other parts of the game, which he really didn't shine BTW). Don't care what the other guys on the court were doing at that point, missing shots, making shots. Melo has the ball and is one of the league's best closers. It's where high level all stars turn and show why they are elite players.

IMHO Melo played horribly and should shoulder blame for the loss.

Did you not see how hard Melo had to work to get those buckets and get to the line. When you take a physical beating like that is takes it's toll. Celtics made him work extra hard throughout the game and it worked.

Sorry but other guys have to step up.

         
         FGs
Shumpert 5-13
Kidd     0-3
Felton   10-21
Prigioni 1-6
Melo     10-35

Melo jacked alot of shots but I didnt see anyone else making shots either. Also he went 16-20 from the Free Throw line. But yea its was all Melo's fault.

melo's usage rate was an absurd 50.9%-- his average for the season is a still quite high 34%, which is a career high for him. meanwhile, the assist rate with him on the floor was a measly 12.2%.

the reason why you "blame" melo is because, although he is paid to score, he needs to continue to work on sharing the ball so that others are involved and have their heads in the game, focussing and expecting the ball to come their way.

no excuses for jacking up 35 shots, ever. you just can't expect other guys to step up when one guy is taking that many shots.

they had 10 assists AS A TEAM.

Also, this was pretty bad...

Alan Hahn ‏@alanhahn 8h

“@JClass23: @alanhahn KG huge travel before tying game vs #Knicks - how no call?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVtW8QVtpNc&sns=tw …” #AboveTheLaw