Monthly Archives: April 2013

Busy week for the Knicks leading into the playoffs

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Locking up the 2 seed, getting a healthy roster, and a scoring title, are the accomplishments the Knicks have made the past week.

The Knicks beat the Pacers Sunday afternoon, 90-80, to clinch the 2 seed in the East. It was an important win as they were able to secure the victory with Carmelo Anthony riding the bench for most of the fourth quarter, with a sore left shoulder.

But Anthony finished the game with 25 points, which was enough for him to maintain his lead for the scoring title. Anthony hasn’t played the Knicks last two games against the Bobcats and Hawks. Kevin Durant who finished second behind Anthony for the scoring title didn’t play in the teams final game today.

Carmelo Anthony Scoring Champion

The Knicks have also been making some personnel changes as well just before playoff time. Just today Rasheed Wallace announced his retirement, after playing just a few minutes against the Bobcats, Monday night. With the retirement of Wallace the Knicks signed center Will Barron.

Earlier in the week the team also signed Quentin Richardson for his second stint with the team. The Knicks have made these adjustments to help add even more of a spark off the bench.

After clinching up the number 2 seed, the Knicks have taken the opportunity to rest their star players as much as possible to assure a healthy team for the playoffs. They square off against the Boston Celtics this Saturday in Game 1 of the series.

The Knicks won the regular season battle against the Celtics edging them 3-1.

Statement game for Carmelo and Knicks

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The Knicks entered the Chesapeake Energy Center Arena in Oklahoma City, on an 11-game win streak. The two teams are both currently in second place in the standings of each conference. But they also have the two leading scorers in the NBA, Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Durant.

Kevin Durant defending Carmelo Anthony

Durant has won the scoring title three consecutive years, with the potential for a fourth. But Anthony is putting up a late season push for the title. In the past four games he has scored 167 points, including a 36 point performance against the Thunder, Sunday.

Anthony captured the scoring lead after this performance against Durant himself. The race for the scoring title is close between the two and will likely come down to last game of the season. It would be hard to imagine Anthony not finishing strong especially with the way he has been playing in the month of April till this point.

After struggling the past couple months, Anthony and the Knicks have found their groove. They also picked a great time to find it, right before the playoffs. The Knicks have only 6 games left in the season to continue their streak. They are also one win away from winning their first Division title since 1994.

But this was an important game for the Knicks who needed to prove themselves and show that they are here to contend.

People questioned them after squeezing by a wounded Heat team that didn’t see Lebron James or Dwayne Wade take the floor. This game was crucial and showed the rest of the teams in the Eastern Conference that they are here to take care of business. The teams next game is against the Wizards on Tuesday at the Garden.

J.R. Smith earns player of the week honors

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The Knicks are in the middle of an 8-game win streak, in part behind J.R. Smith. And because of his efforts he was given Eastern Conference Player of the Week today.

This past week the Knicks have gone 4-0 beating Boston twice, Memphis, and Charlotte. During this span Smith has been averaging 29.8 points, 7 rebounds and 1.5 steals a game. He had three straight games with 30-plus points, a franchise record.

J.R. Smith

He has evolved into a solid second scoring option for the Knicks behind Carmelo Anthony. Anthony returned from an injury just before the Knicks started this win streak. Smith has taken his game to the next level this season becoming a more consistent player.

Smith has had trouble in the past with his coaches, George Karl of the Nuggets to name one. He has admitted to doing certain things back in Denver just to make Karl mad. But he doesn’t feel the same way about current coach Mike Woodson. He told Newsday,

More than anything, if I go out and do something I’m not supposed to be doing and not preparing right for the game, not only do I feel like I let my teammates down, I feel I let my coach down. It’s the first time in a long time I really care about not letting my coach down.

When he is as locked into the game and everything that comes with it as he is right now he can make these types of things happen.

With Ama’re Stoudemire currently sidelined for what looks to be the remainder of the regular season, Smith needs to keep up his play. His productive play and energy off the bench is needed for the Knicks to make any sort of noise in the playoffs.

The Knicks look to keep their momentum going full steam ahead behind Smith as they play the Heat in Miami tomorrow night. Look for Smith to continue his hot play as he’s making his way into the sixth-man of the year conversation.