LOTS of interesting things going on around the league, but I’d be remiss to not begin the post with THIS!
Why, oh why, couldn’t we have had Marv Albert calling it: “OHHH, And Gallinari… with… the facial!!”
Continuing with the Marvisms: Have the Knicks ever, and I mean EVER, reached Extensive Garbage Time so early in a game?! Last night’s decimation of the Pacers was so spectacular, so ferocious, so complete that Jordan Hill, Toney Douglas, and Marcus Landry all got on the court at the beginning of the fourth quarter. D’Antoni literally could’ve pulled five random fans out of the stands to play the entire fourth quarter and the Knicks still would’ve won the game.
Quite simply, this is one of those games that gets coaches fired. Last year, the Knicks had a game in Sacramento where we steamrolled a listless Kings so embarassingly that Clyde remarked during the game, “Yeahhh, this is one of those games that gets coaches fired.” A few days later, Reggie Theus was axed. I know Larry Legend went on the record before the game to support O’Brien, stating that it’s the players not the coach who will be the first to go, but ‘yikes’…
Meanwhile, the Knicks’ team chemistry is at real high point. Lee, who I’ve always been weary of overrating, has been all-star calliber. He’s stepping into his 18 foot jump shot so confidently now, hitting at such a respectable clip, that he’s adding a nasty dribble-driving dimension to his game that I didn’t know he was capable of. Last night, he hit a turnaround J over Hibbert, where Hibbert shook his head in exasperation.
Additionally, Lee’s D has been really impressive, as has the whole team’s defensive effort galvanized by Jared Jeffries. I don’t think it can be understated how important JJ has been to the Knicks improved play this season. He’s going to get killed by guys like Hollinger for having a low PER, and by fans who can’t get over his awkward offensive game, but all I know is this: If I had the ball at the top of the key, the last thing I’d want to see is Jared Jeffries swinging his long ass arms wildly in my face. Yeah, Jared had one point last night, but it was a glorious one point along with some serious disruptive defensive effort, and smart offensive play.
Chandler has also turned around his season. Maybe his offseason surgery really set him back more than I’d recognized. All of the sudden, he’s taking it to the hoop, posting up, shooting more foul shots than three pointers. He deserves a lot of credit for the recent Knicks success, too. He and Jeffries have become quite a swat team tandem, too, double-up players in the post and making opposing teams miserable.
Is there tape of Gus Johnson calling Nate Robinson’s spectacular Atlanta game?
This has to be put on YouTube. Please. Someone. For now, this video sums it up pretty well. Favorite part of the vid — at the 1:10 mark, a shot of D’Antoni screaming for Robinson to run the offense, and Nate steps up and drains a three point dagger. Love it.
On the bell curve of NBA athleticism, Nate is clearly in the 100th percentile with Lebron James. It’s just shocking what he can do. But, just as rare is Nate’s ability to just go off — even after a 14 game layoff. I do like what Mike D had to say about Nate being ready,
“We pay these guys a lot of money to stay ready,” D’Antoni said. “It’s not like, ‘Oh boy, he stayed ready.’ ”He added, “I’m glad he did it, and he should’ve done it.”
Amen. (and, note to self, Eddy Curry). But, this was more than being ready. This was superhuman.
Will the Wizards void Arenas’ contract?
We all knew Gilbert was more than a little bit off, but this gun thing puts him into the Artest-a-sphere. WTF. Talk has it that Grunfeld is looking at ways to void Gilbert’s huge contract and I think he might be successful. Lord knows, NO ONE is trading for Gil’s 4 years and 80 mil. Really, I think this might have Sprewell choking Carlisimo ramifications. The image-conscious Stern is not likely to take this lightly.
Either way, the Bullets, er Wizards, have been such a massive disappointment this year that this had to be the final nail in the “time to blow up this team” coffin. Does Jamison land on the Cavs? Are the Heat interested in Caron Butler? There is some talent to be had on this team. All we need is for one trade before the trade dominos start to fall.
Will the Sixers waive Iverson, and official enter the John Wall sweepstakes?
Speaking of waiving players contracts, apparently the Sixers can waive Iverson soon so as not to have to pay him for the remainder of the season. Are the Sixers going to pull the plug on their season? Will they try to get rid of massive contract holding Elton Brand, at the expense of one of their better young players?
Cavs + Knicks = Rival schools, united by fate
Finally, if the Knicks manage to keep up their good play, take advantage of a weak January schedule playing 10 of 14 games against sub-.500 teams, and sneak into the playoffs, they’d potentially have a first round clash with… drumroll… The Cavs in the first round of the playoffs. Lebron has been laying some serious ass-wuppings on the Knicks the last few years. But, the prospect of Lebron playing playoff basketball at MSG leads to a LOT of interesting thoughts. Does Lebron get seduced by the awesomeness of MSG-playoff basketball? Does Lebron decimate the Knicks so badly that Lebron asks himself, “Why would I join this sorry squad?” Do the Knicks pull off an upset of major proportions against the Cavs, leading to Lebron thinking “If you can’t beat em, join em.” Lets hope the Knicks make it competitive and give Lebron something to yearn for.
