Raymond Felton

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The state of the N.Y. Knicks-1/3 into the season…

Posted by fantasyfurnace on December 20, 2013
Posted in: NBA. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . 8 Comments

Politicians give State of the Union addresses to it’s masses as a way of reporting on the condition of it’s City, State or Country. What will follow will be our state of the state of the N.Y. Knicks as we try to make sense of their profound regression from last season.

As this report is being published, the NBA season is approaching the 1/3 mark already-a fair enough sampling of what we might expect from this bunch as the next two-thirds unfold. We can say with conviction, right at the outset, that the state of the Knicks is not very good. We should have realized that this was going to be a long season from the get-go as we saw how they struggled to beat the Milwaukee Bucks, arguably one of the worst teams in the league, on opening night. They blew a 25 point lead and were losing with less than three minutes remaining in the game before pulling away.

It was as ugly a win as their ‘victory’ over these same Bucks on Wednesday, December 18th, a game that the Knicks didn’t deserve to win as they needed to go into double OT to beat a team who didn’t even have their two best players on the floor. A game that saw a gaffe by Andrea Bargnani attempting a 3-pointer with 13 seconds left on the game clock, on a kick-out with a fresh 24 second clock , and with the Knicks in the lead . If he holds onto the ball and kills some clock while waiting for a foul, the Knicks don’t go into a 2nd overtime, and Carmelo Anthony doesn’t break his career mark for minutes played in a game-55:27.

We’re also here to report on a game that was perhaps the Knicks most poorly played all season; the 41 point blowout at the Garden at the hands of the Rondo-less Boston Celtics. 10 points in the first quarter? 25.6 % shooting from the field in the first half? It just doesn’t get much worse than that. The Knicks threw up more bricks that afternoon than it took to construct the first 20 floors of the Empire State Building! If you haven’t had a meal in the last 4 hours and would like to see some of the “lowlights” of that game, here they are:

Lastly, how can we leave out the debacle against the Wizards on December 16th, 2013, when Mike Woodson had a brain freeze for not calling a timeout with 6.9 seconds to go in the game and down by just one point. Instead, the beleagured headcoach decided to take his three remaining timeouts home with him…

Coach Mike Woodson shoulders much of the blame for the loss to the Wizards on Dec. 17, 2013 for not calling a 'timely' time-out with 6.9 seconds remaining in the game. Photo Getty Images

Coach Mike Woodson shoulders much of the blame for the loss to the Wizards on Dec. 16, 2013 for not calling a ‘timely’ time-out with 6.9 seconds remaining in the game. Photo Getty Images

Knick players as well as some fans can sugar-coat their horrific season by saying that they’re only three games out of first place but the facts are this: The Knicks play in one of the worst divisions in all of sports and they do not have a very good team. With the exception of Carmelo Anthony, the team is devoid of another consistent scorer. Melo is also being worked way too hard as his minutes, at some point in the season, will catch up to him.

J.R. Smith worked hard to get that new contract but now that he has it he has regressed into an 11 PPG player. Of course ever since his elbow was introduced to Celtic Jason Terry’s jaw last season, J.R. has not been the same. His shooting percentage dropped like a ton of bricks and he was no where to be found in the playoffs last year. Couple that with knee surgery in the off-season and J.R. is no longer J.R.

Will things change for the better once some of the injured Knicks return? Why should they? Raymond Felton when he is totally healthy, is at best, an average point guard. He never was one of the elite guards in the league because of his inconsistency. Defensively, Pablo Prigioni is a decent facilitator but not a scorer. Iman Shumpert is half the player he was last season and part of that probably has to do with all the trade rumors that have been circulating around the league and the press since the season got underway.

If Andrea Bargnani was THAT good, Toronto would never have let him “Escape to New York”. The former 1st rounder, as Knick fans have seen, comes to this team replete with flaws. A seven footer should average more than 5 rebounds a game-period! If the Knicks wanted a center who could shoot threes and not rebound, they would have never gotten rid of Channing Frye!

#77 Andrea Bargnani goes up for one of his 82 3-point attempts this seaon making just 24 of them for an anemic 29.6 % average. Photo:

#77 Andrea Bargnani goes up for one of his 82 3-point attempts this season making just 24 of them for an anemic 29.6 % average. Photo: Getty Images

So how was this team able to win 54 games last season? Several ways… Those hundreds of threes they were unloading were going in-they’re not this season. Rasheed Wallace, together with his defensive prowess and leadership skills, helped the Knicks get off to a 16-4 season a year ago while Jason Kidd (for a part of the season) and his basketball savvy, chipped in his talents as well. J.R. was shooting lights out, averaging around 18 points a game, and lastly, the Knicks were one of the stingiest in the league at turning the ball over.

Mike Woodson has taken a lot of the heat for the team’s demise and rightfully so. For those that would argue that point, why is it that when the Knicks were playing wining basketball last season, Woodson was called a defensive genious and team savior, but now that the team has gone in the opposite direction, we’re not allowed to put any blame on him…

As for the Knicks owner, Jim Dolan, his incompetency is only exceeded by his ineptitude. Do not look for the “rich one” to spend large chunks of money by the Feb. 15th deadline. Remember, he  just got through spending a small fortune on the reconstruction of Madison Square Garden and we’re not expecting him to be making any trades because there is no one to offer of any real value anyway.

And so the state of the state of the N.Y. Knicks is not good and neither, we think, is their future this season. Additionally, we are not all convinced that Mike Woodson will be on the Knicks sideline by the time the season comes to a merciful conclusion.  In the meantime, as long-time Knick fans often do, we’ll be watching and hoping that we won’t see games like the few we described above.  We hope that they will find new ways to win and not old ways to lose…

Knick fans are growing impatient as the weeks go by.

Knick fans are growing impatient as the weeks go by. Most would like to see a return to team defense, pride, and competitiveness but question if that can happen with this team as currently comprised and with this coach.

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Game #1: Knicks vs Celtics- Our take & notable stats after being at the game…

Posted by fantasyfurnace on April 21, 2013
Posted in: NBA. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , . 2 Comments

The Furnace scored some tickets to see the Knicks take on the Celtics, a heated rivalry to be sure,  and was fortunate enough to witness not only a Knicks win on Saturday, but a Garden revival-  full of the ‘Pomp and Cirumstance’ that has helped to make Madison Square Garden “The World’s Most Famous Arena.” It brought back many memories of when the Garden was the hottest ticket in New York!

The Madison Square Garden marquis. Photo: Fantasy Furnace

The world famous Madison Square Garden marquis prior to game-time. Photo: fantasyfurnace.com

Stephen A. Smith, broadcasting for ESPN just prior to the game at Knicks legend Walt Frazier’s restaurant, Clyde’s Wine & Dine, was heard urging Knick fans to be at the game early, before the intros, and to show the team that the time is NOW! He begged his listeners not to be like the fans in South Beach who traditionally don’t show up for a Heat game until a half hour after it’s started. By game time Saturday, about a third of the seats were still empty but shortly thereafter, the sellout crowd of 19,763 was there in full force and all in attendance, save for a small smattering of Celtic diehard fans, were urging their team to “Play for Now!” The Knicks ‘theme’ for the 2012-2013 season.

Photo: fantasyfurnace.com

Photo: fantasyfurnace.com

To say that the Garden was rockin’ would be an understatement. It helped re-defined the words “Playoff atmosphere.” However, there was the awkward moment before the game began when Carmelo Anthony and Paul Pierce were introduced before they made a couple of  short comments on the Boston tragedy. They came out from opposite sides of the court and never looked at each other nor shook hands.

The body language between Carmelo Anthony & Paul Pierce says it all... Photo: fantasyfurnace.com

The body language between Carmelo Anthony & Paul Pierce says it all… Photo: fantasyfurnace.com

During the game the fans outdid themselves with chants and expletives. They roared when John McEnroe was given a screen shot. Same for newly Hall of Fame inductee Bernard King, and likewise Larry “Mr. 4-point play” Johnson. However the loudest ‘boos’ of the evening came when a shot of Jets QB Mark Sanchez sitting court side appeared on the live big board screen. It was so loud that all Sanchez could do was put on an embarrassing half-smile.

And then there were the throngs of fans who were totally disenchanted with many of the refs calls & miscalls which prompted a hearty rendition of “These refs $#@&!” “These refs &%$@!” These refs @#$&!” It must have worked because in the fourth quarter there were hardly any calls made to speak of on either side.

The last 2:30 of the game found most of the 19,763 on their feet roaring their approval for a win that was imminent and then when the last few seconds ticked away, the big Garden board look like this:

The Madison Square Garden Bid Board showing the final score in Game 1 of the 2013 playoffs. Phoro: fantasyfurnace.com

The Madison Square Garden Big Board showing the final score in Game 1 of the 2013 playoffs. Photo: fantasyfurnace.com

Then came something New York Knicks fans haven’t seen in quite some time. As soon as the game ended, the Garden floor began filling  with players, photographers and fans swelling in droves from all angles as if it were a game seven victory in the NBA Finals. It was a welcome sight for the much beleaguered team that hasn’t had much to cheer about in many post-seasons over the past decade.

Swarms of players and fans burst onto the Garden floor following the KNicks game 1 victory. Photo: fantasyfurnace.com

Swarms of players and fans burst onto the Garden floor following the Knicks game 1 victory. Photo: fantasyfurnace.com

We took away some interesting and random observations as well as some stats that you might enjoy reading. Here are a few of them…

1. Raymond Felton missed four lay-ups. If he makes them the Knicks probably win by 15!

2. A rusty Tyson Chandler,playing in just his 4th game in the last 21, could only muster up 5 boards & 0 points in 20 minutes.

3. Iman Shumpert stayed in foul trouble throughout most of the game.

4. A nervous Chris Copeland, playing in his first playoff game, looked tentative shooting 0-3 from the floor with one steal.

5. Jason Kidd, the Knicks’ future Hall of Fame point guard, has played more postseason games (147) than any other player in the Eastern Conference. In the whole NBA, only Derek Fisher, Tim Duncan and Tony Parker have seen more postseason action. His playoff smarts during game one helped the Knicks from letting the game get too much out of hand by his contributions which included eight points, five rebounds, three assists, and three steals.

#5 Jason Kidd was a key factor in Saturday's game one Knicks win over the Celtics. Photo: Jim McIsaac

#5 Jason Kidd’s experience was a key factor in Saturday’s game one Knicks win over the Celtics. Photo: Jim McIsaac

6. Kenyon Martin’s near double-double (10 points -9 rebounds) plus his tenacity & experience, helped the Knicks hold the Celtics to just 25 second half points and only 8 in the final quarter.

7. The last time the Knicks lead in a playoff series was April 29, 2001 vs Toronto with players like Othella Harrington & Felton Spencer on the club.

Apparently the Knicks are indeed “Playing for Now!”

Our Mid-Season “State Of The Knicks” Address

Posted by fantasyfurnace on February 13, 2013
Posted in: NBA. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . 6 Comments

So what is the state of the Knicks as we get ready for All-Star weekend? Well, clearly it’s a lot different than it was during the first month of the season. Their dynamic has changed and sometimes change is not always for the good…New_York_Knicks_Logo9

For openers, and because the trade deadline (Feb. 21st) is rapidly approaching, it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world if somehow the Knicks can pull off a trade.  What they need is a a guard. The faster PG’s in the league have run circles around their tandem of Felton, Prigioni, and Kidd. Felton has already missed a dozen games this season and is prone to injuries given the way in which he plays.

Kidd, turning 40 soon, has had chronic back issues and cannot keep up with the Westbrooks and the Walls when he IS on the floor. Prigioni, the 35 year old rookie, made his bones in Europe where they’re really not sure what defense even means.

The stout defense that the Knicks paraded around courts throughout the league during their first 15 to 20 games has become a distant memory. Rasheed Wallace who has missed 26 games since going down with a sore left foot injury back on December 17th, hasn’t helped. He played a huge part on the defensive end in the beginning of the season and has been sorely missed.

Marcus Camby hasn’t played much as well, and Iman Shumpert who recently returned after recovering from knee surgery, has not been the same defensive juggernaut that endeared him to the team and the fans alike last year. Amare Stoudemire has been coming along nicely on offense but has never been known for his defensive ability.

So that just leaves Tyson Chandler, last year’s defensive player of the year. He is simply not enough to keep opposing players from driving the lane. Yes, he can rebound as well as any center in the league, but he doesn’t intimidate like he did last season. On offense, he doesn’t create at all and rarely puts the ball on the floor to post up. He, instead, makes his living off of pick and rolls and alley-oops from Raymond Felton.

#^ Tyson Chandler needs to be more of a defensive threat and be able to score down low for the Knicks to improve. (Photo: Brad Penner, USA TODAY Sports)

#6 Tyson Chandler needs to be more of a defensive threat and be able to score down low for the Knicks to improve. (Photo: Brad Penner, USA TODAY Sports)

And finally, there’s the recently self-proclaimed MVP of the league, Carmelo Anthony. As fans, it’s okay that he takes a lot of shots; he currently takes more per game than any other player in the NBA…yes, including Kobe Bryant! However all these ISO’s coupled with the fact that J.R. Smith, the second leading scorer on the team who is more inconsistent than Melo, begs the question, “Where does the offense come from when Melo isn’t connecting or on the floor? ”

#& Carmelo Anthony, although one of the league's purest scorers, still needs help on offense & maybe a few less ISO's. Photo: Rich Barnes/US Presswire

#7 Carmelo Anthony, although one of the league’s purest scorers, still needs help on offense & maybe a few less ISO’s. Photo: Rich Barnes/US Presswire

The Knicks, which the league has now caught up with, is essentially a perimeter shooting team that lives and dies with the three-pointer. Any team that can defend the perimeter takes away the majority of the Knicks game. And of course, any team that can slow down or stop Carmelo,(look at the Clippers game over the weekend and what Grant Hill did), make the Knicks vulnerbale especially if J.R. is not “on”.

So what do the Knicks have to do in order to have their best opportunity to get past at least the first round in this year’s playoffs? Besides, “all of the above”, they were doing one other thing in the beginning of the year that they have gotten away from… Ball movement! It was crisp passing and making the ‘extra pass’ that helped spur them to the fast start this season. Lately it seems that all too often the ball ends up in Carmelo’s hands while four other guys just stand around and watch him create shots.

Change is not always good, but good coaches and good teams find a way to make adjustments if what they are doing needs tweaking. Mike Woodson and the Knicks need to do just that in the second half of the season if they would like this to be a successful one, and given the ages of a lot of the team’s players, there aren’t a heck of a lot of seasons left in which to do so.