YES Nets analyst Greg Anthony breaks down Brooklyn’s recent run of success, the player that’s critical to the Knicks’ postseason chances and more with The Post’s Justin Terranova.
Q: How much of this Nets’ turnaround is because of the coaching change?
A: P.J. Carlesimo’s personality has just matched up better with this group. And now they know who they are, how they win games. … I would also factor in that Deron Williams is playing exponentially better than he was at the start of the season for whatever reason: Injuries, not on the same page with Avery (Johnson).
Q: Is Mikhail Prokhorov’s goal of reaching the conference final attainable?
A: A lot of things have to go right, but they absolutely can. They are more built for the postseason than they are the regular season. They are a big team, but not an overly athletic team. They will go up in transition from time to time, but they’re at their best when they are playing five-on-five. The postseason is played that way.
Q: Is Raymond Felton’s injury the biggest reason for the Knicks’ recent struggles?
A: When he’s on the floor, it puts everyone in a position of comfort. When you put him out there with the caliber of talent the Knicks have it’s going to make him effective and more importantly it’s going to make everyone else more effective. The first couple of months of the season I thought they were the best passing team in the league and that was all predicated on Felton being at the head of that pick-and-roll.
Q: Have you been impressed with Amar’e Stoudemire’s play thus far?
A: I think he’s progressed nicely. His speed and explosiveness is coming, and I think he’s going to benefit a lot with Felton coming back. He’s going to be critical toward the success once they get to the postseason. As good as the Knicks have been without him. I don’t think they can win the East without him. He gives them something on the front line that they don’t have.
Q: Will the Lakers make it into the playoffs?
A: You can’t force a square peg into a round hole. They are not a team that can play up-tempo. You have to play to the strengths of your personnel, not the weaknesses which is what they have done. … That psyche has to be a bit fragile and when that happens the chemistry and trust starts to wane. … It’s going to be a monumental task to make the postseason. I don’t see that happening.