IF this is supposed to be “Dream Week,” wake me up when it’s over.
If the remaining games against the Cavaliers and Celtics are as demoralizing as last night’s 126-117 loss to the Lakers, then the Knicks’ version of “Dream Week” is going to be a nightmare.
The Knicks thought they had something going heading into last night’s game. They had won eight of their previous 11 and five straight at the Garden.
From a celebrity row that included Yankees closer Mariano Rivera to the top of the rafters, they had come excited not just about a game, but about an event. What they saw was Kobe Bryant single-handily put the Knicks in their place with a record-setting performance that will have the 19,763 fans in attendance saying, “I was there.”
For all the positive steps the Knicks have taken in the first half-season under coach Mike D’Antoni, they are nowhere in the neighborhood of Bryant and the Lakers. Bryant, who came in averaging 26.6 points per game, had 27 points midway through the second quarter. He had 34 at halftime and a record 61 points by the time he called it a night, having played just over 36 minutes.
His total, helped by 20 free throws, easily topped the double-nickel Michael Jordan erupted for in 1995, the most by an opponent at the current Garden. And it surpassed the 60 points Bernard King scored Christmas Day in 1984, the most points scored here until last night.
Except for a brief spurt early in the third quarter when they cut the Lakers’ lead to 67-65, the Knicks never had a chance even though the Lakers were without center Andrew Bynum, who will miss 8-12 weeks with a sprained right knee. His absence only seemed to inspire Bryant to attack.
“He’s got a focus and mentality that’s attacking all the time,” D’Antoni said.
With enough people shouting “MVP! . . . MVP!” to make the Knicks coach feel like it was a road game, Bryant was unstoppable in turning the Garden into his personal playground.
“I felt great,” he said. “I was in a good rhythm.”
This beat-down wasn’t supposed to happen. Not with all the excitement over how well the Knicks had played of late. The pregame atmosphere was something the Knicks had hoped to carry into the rest of the week. The Garden buzz was back – at least until Bryant began torching the place and making the Knicks look like amateurs.
“We weren’t real sharp with our game,” D’Antoni said. “We’re going to learn from this. We saw what it’s going to take to be one of the better teams.”
D’Antoni had talked about sweeping the three games this week, and though that seemed farfetched, at least no one was openly snickering. “I think we’re good enough to play with anybody,” D’Antoni said just before the game. Anybody except Kobe Bryant.
Whether this week is a step forward or a step back won’t be judged solely on the number of wins and loses.
“Whatever happens we’ll spin it the best way we can,” D’Antoni said half-jokingly. Still, you expected the Knicks to be more competitive. You expected them to have grown up enough not be in awe of Bryant. Instead of the Garden being reclaimed, it sounded more like the Staples Center.
Worst of all, Kobe’s record has given LeBron James something to shoot for tomorrow night.