On the back-end of a home-and-home with the Raptors, the Knicks took care of business starting after a Mike Woodson timeout with 2 minutes and ten seconds left in the first half. Until then the Knicks let the Raptors hang in there 50-45. Their defense left a lot to be desired, letting the Raptors shoot nearly 50 percent in a shootout. After that time-out the Knicks went on a 9-2 run to finish the half and never looked back, holding the Raps to 37 points in the second half.
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- Iman Shumpert was back! And I don't mean the rapper:
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I am speaking of Shumpert the ballhawk. The one who seems to have his hands everywhere. In addition to a good chunk of deflections, Shumpert finished the game with four steals in his roughly 20 minutes of playing time.
- The determination after halftime, never letting the Raptors get back in the game.
- Kenyon Martin keeps on to impress on both sides off the ball. In the over-30 club he looks like the one with the freshest legs - no wonder as a late pick-up, but still IMPRESSIVE! The way he plays, we could be in good shape once Tyson returns and could've a great bigmen rotation if at least one of Thomas, Wallace or Stoudemire returns in time for the playoffs. (Knock on wood)
- The Pacers, Nets and Celtics lost -> we are back in 2nd place, having one loss less than the Pacers.
- Melo looks like a different beast since his knee got drained.
- All offensive weapons were working on route to a 52 percent shooting night for the Knicks: Melo (9/19 - 28 points), Smith (9/16 - 25), Copeland (5/7 - 12) and Martin (7/11 - 18) for a second consecutive night scored highly efficient in double figures.
- Melo shoving Fields (though the refs called a shitty game early in that match-up): opponents still get easily under Melo's skin.
- Smith making a lay-up at the buzzer when he showed the "I'll run the clock off"-card. Unnecessary.
- Age: Camby is 39 since friday, Kidd 40 since yesterday.
- Copeland can't sing.
- Injuries: At one point in the first half Woodson had Copeland and Novak at the four and five. Who should play center? Pick your choice.
A week against weak competition equaled four wins and the outlooked changed back from doomed to hopeful. What will it be worth?
Next up is a match-up with the Boston Celtics, a possible first round match-up. To back that "hopeful" outlook up, the Knicks have to win a big game after a long stretch of losses against the upper echelon, so let's see if they are up for that task. Will Tyson Chandler be ready to contribute?
