New York Knicks: The Losing Streak Finally Ends
By Owen Sanborn
In the word(s) of the great Johnny Drama: VICTORY!
Jarrett Jack can’t believe it:
Maybe Carmelo should fake ask for a trade before every game.
On a day that fans and media alike were speculating about the future of Carmelo Anthony, the Knicks finally put an end to their dreadful, three-week long losing streak that had reached 10 games. Because that is exactly how things are supposed to go in Knick land.
Just as everything is crumbling around them, they finally pull through (I’m hoping you can sense my sarcasm.).
Maybe they won because J.R. Smith didn’t play. Maybe they won because of the excellence of the triangle offense (ha, jokes). Maybe they won because they were playing the Boston Celtics and they knew they actually had a shot at a victory. Who knows why they won, it just about time that they went out there and did it.
Melo shockingly decided to pass the ball to Tim Hardaway Jr. despite their alleged beef after Wednesday night’s loss in San Antonio. I even recall seeing a few assorted high fives from Melo to Hardaway from time to time. Although I think we were all hoping for an in-game mutiny to form between the two players, it was still a nice sight to see.
More from Hoops Habit
- The 5 most dominant NBA players who never won a championship
- 7 Players the Miami Heat might replace Herro with by the trade deadline
- Meet Cooper Flagg: The best American prospect since LeBron James
- Are the Miami Heat laying the groundwork for their next super team?
- Sophomore Jump: 5 second-year NBA players bound to breakout
Amar’e Stoudemire continues to turn back the clock with his recent play (cough cough, he’s in a contract year), pouring in 20 points in only 26 minutes played. He has been showing a great combination of post presence and veteran patience in the low block and that has lead to some easy buckets for him.
STAT isn’t the explosive player he once was, but he is starting to figure out how to play an old man’s game on the low block.
Now, as for his defense … Tyler Zeller routinely cooked Amar’e early in the game, finishing with 19 points. Zeller is having a surprise year for the Celtics so far, but he isn’t going to score 19 points all that often. That was purely because of Stoudemire’s lack of defense.
Derek Fisher continued to exhibit his calm, stoic nature on the sidelines. I sometimes wonder what could be going through his head whenever the Knicks broadcast does a close up on him.
"“I should have stayed with the Thunder.”“Pablo Prigioni still playing in the league and I’m not? Smh.”“What the hell is a Swaggy P?”“Maybe I should have Phil teach everyone the triangle again.”"
"“Give me the Warriors roster and I could be doing exactly what Steve Kerr is doing.”“Nahh, just kidding.”"
Man, fake Derek Fisher’s mind went a little dark there.
Friday night’s victory is definitely a step in the right direction for the Knicks, but I wouldn’t recommend banking on it lasting. Their lack of chemistry and offensive and defensive ineptitude still remains, plus Iman Shumpert suffered a dislocated shoulder early on in the game.
Melo looks out of whack still because of his knee and Stoudemire can’t be relied on for twenty points a night anymore.
At this point, one usually chooses to watch a Knicks game for comedic pleasure nowadays rather than the pure enjoyment of the game.
At least for one night they remembered what it feels like to be victorious.