Knicks vs. Raptors: Don't Look Back In Anger

Lenny sent out Stephon Marbury, Jamal Crawford, Tim Thomas, Kurt Thomas, and Nazr Mohammed to the start the game. So, it seems that Houston will be the 6th man (or 7th as foul trouble may dicate). In the early going it is clear that neither team's shot had thawed out, as everyone was missing open looks. Tim Thomas was being aggressive early on which is good (because this team becomes much more dangerous when he can score consistently) and bad (presently, he can't score consistently). By the time that Houston checked in, with a little under 2 and half minutes remaining in the 1st, Tim Thomas had already taken 8 shots (missing 7 of them). Houston's first shot is runner in the lane that he hit in a very Crawford-esque fashion after coming off a high screen. This turns out to be the last made basket of the quarter.

While I agree that Houston is not ready to play 35+ a night yet, and am aware that his defense is a liability (which seperates him from the rest of the team how?), I still have a hard time not starting him. There are just so many shots that are better off if they are taken by him. Tim Thomas does not need 10 shots in the first quarter of a game; especially if the majority are taken off balance as his body is moving away from the basket (which seems to be Tim's specialty as of late). I think that Houston needs to be on the floor as the game revs itself up because he cannot just jump in when the game is already at full speed. However, Jamal Crawford is young and spry and would create a great energy boost off the bench. I don't think that too many teams would have a better set of sparkplugs than Crawford and the JYD coming off the bench.

All of the pros and cons of Jamal Crawford’s game played themselves out over the course of a few minutes in the second quarter. He could seemingly drive to basket at will, victimizing anyone he chose with his outlandish cross-over yet he would intermittently become a black-hole sucking in every well-timed pass and churning out only awful perimeter shots. He is both mesmerizing and maddening. Now if Lenny (or whomever replaces him) could teach Crawford that he isn’t obligated to shoot the ball every time he touches it, then I think hewill eventually be able to take rightfully take the reins at the 2 spot. Likewise, a team could do much worse than to have one of the association’s deadliest perimeter shooters coming off the bench. I remember when Allan replaced Starks in the starting lineup and both players flourished in their new roles. Unfortunately (for the sake of this comparison), Crawford reminds me much more of Starks than of a young Houston.

During halftime MSG aired a promo for tonight’s game against the Rockets that began, "Friday night is a special night," and I was waiting for the Ewing highlight package to accompany the announcement that he would be back in the building. Alas, the commercial was for the most recent Hardwood Classics Night (meaning we all get another chance to buy those attrocious early 80s unis) that is sponsored by the History Channel. Adding insult to injury (or rather something to something else) was the fact that during the game, as part of the Hardwood Classic celebration, the Knicks will honor great centers of the past. Clearly, the event was scheduled to allow Patrick to participate, why don’t you at least mention his presence in the commercial? Other than Willis Reed, who would mind if Ewing got a shout, Bill Cartwright? Frederic Weiss?

Anyway, the second half started just like the first: neither team could make a shot. The only facet of this game that makes it even slightly watchable is the play of Chris Bosh. This young kid out of Georgia Tech can flat out ball. A little past the midway point of the third quarter he gets his 10th rebound which locks up his 9th straight double-double: the longest streak of double-dips in Raptors history. And this is a franchise which had a young Camby, Carter and McGrady. Bosh is explosive to the basket and has enough handle to beat just about anyone off the dribble. To top it off, the guy also has a jumpshot.

AT THIS POINT MY CABLE GOES OUT

After too many minutes spent waiting for the cable to go back on, I realize that it’s not going to happen for me. I go looking for my walkman. No batteries. Finally, I find a camping radio that is powered by either the sun (no good as it’s dark) or by turning a crank on the side. So, I cranked this pup up and tuned back into the game with 10:22 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Raptors lead 65-62. It seems (or sounds) like Jalen Rose has been heating up and is starting to will the Raptors past the Knicks. This is a bad development on two levels. First: it sucks because the game seems to be getting away from the good guys. Second: it sucks more because Isiah is undoubtedly watching this and plotting to bring Rose to New York (see Knicker-Blogger game angles).

Long story short, the Raptors, led by Marshall and Rose, hit a flury of threes to push the lead up to 95-81. I turn off my radio and sit in the dark for while with the following thoughts in my head...

Man, it sure is completely awesome and not in the least bit frustating to be a Knicks fan. At least I can look forward to the JETS playing in the AFC Championship game this weekend. Oh, wait...What? They choked and gave the game away last weekend. Whiskey anyone.....