With Amare Stoudemire and Jeremy Lin nursing injuries, the New York Knicks finally figured out a way to beat the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night (March 26). After losing the first two games to the Bucks this year, the Knicks somehow squeaked out a win while turning the ball over 23 times.
This was one of the ugliest games I have seen a Knicks team play and if not for the energy that the players were giving, this one could have turned into a blowout in favor of the Bucks. Baron Davis, who subbed in for Lin as the starting point guard, had 9 turnovers on the night. It showed that maybe all the turnovers this team is committing isn't necessarily the fault of Lin on a typical night.
Joining in on the opportunity to give the ball away, Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith each had 4 turnovers and Carmelo Anthony had 3 more of his own. Thank goodness for the good defense that held the Bucks to just 36.5 percent shooting and 80 points in the game. Maybe part of that was due to some good fortune for the Knicks as well though, because Milwaukee was missing quite a few shots in the second half.
I was really glad to see Anthony step up on the offensive end, especially without Lin or Stoudemire on the court to pick up the slack. He finished with 28 points that included a 12-for-12 clip at the free throw line. He also had 12 rebounds, a block and a steal in his 35 minutes of work. That's the stat line I would love to see from him on a nightly basis, especially if the team has to play without Stoudemire for an extended period of time.
Winning this game caused me to breathe a huge sigh of relief, not just because it gave the team a win, but because the Knicks moved a full game ahead of the Bucks in the Eastern Conference standings. The Knicks are now one and a half games up on the Bucks, giving them a stronger hold on that No. 8 slot in the playoff race. It also pulled the team within three games of the first place Philadelphia 76ers in the Atlantic division.
Things are really looking up for the Knicks and I'm excited to report that the team has taken yet another step towards challenging for that division title. The next game is an extremely tough one though, as the short-handed Knicks have to host the Orlando Magic on Wednesday (March 28). Hopefully the Knicks can keep Dwight Howard under control and rotate well on defense around that three-point line. Otherwise it could become a very long night.
More From YCN:
Knicks Crush Blazers
Tyson Chandler Holds Franchise Record
Knicks Stomp Lakers
Lin Saves Knicks
Amare Stoudemire Trade Rumors
Sources:
NBA Standings
Full Knicks Schedule
New York Knicks Website
*Ryan Christopher DeVault is a fan of the New York Knicks that has followed the team since the days John Starks, Charles Oakley, and Anthony Mason instilled their defensive will on the rest of the league.
Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.
No comments:
Post a Comment