If it weren’t for Carmelo Anthony’s brain drain at the end of Game 1, Tuesday’s command playoff performance would’ve compelled a retraction today of my stance that the Knicks gave up too much for him, if not the part about his arrival demoting Amar’e Stoudemire from MVP consideration and messing with his co-star’s mind and game.
That’s how awed I was by Anthony’s magnificence in the absence of Chauncey Billups and Stoudemire. Against ridiculous odds, he demonstrated the rarely spotted ultimate parlay of testosterone and talent while amassing 42 points, 17 rebounds and six assists with barely a breather.
Kobe Bryant doesn’t haphazardly brand a competitor a “bad ass” without having formed that opinion from personal experience. All it took was one confrontation when Carmelo was a rookie, one forearm to his chest that didn’t elicit a flinch or a whimper for Kobe to get the message and sketch the above picture.
Some guys have that air about them; without being told you just know not to mess with them, not to rile ’em up, on the court or off. Carmelo carries himself that way between the lines, serene and smiling, before and after the adroit assassination.
I always knew the Knicks’ coldblooded hitman was Stringer-Avon tough. But not until watching Anthony & The Immaterials practically bump off Boston did I realize he’s Marlow-Snoop tough.
How many other players could’ve carried players with such fringe faculties and placed the Knicks in position to win an unattainable game?
We all knew Carmelo made the Knicks better. Now we know he’s also capable of making lesser teammates better. Therefore, it shouldn’t be as difficult as initially believed to surround the two stars with complementary pieces. It remains to be seen how Anthony’s collaboration with a fully functional Stoudemire works out.
So, after two days of deliberation, I’m disregarding what happened in Game 1. I’m back-pedaling faster than Toney Douglas with Rajon Rondo motoring toward paydirt (didn’t any Knick ever learn you’re supposed to “stop the ball”?) on my original position.
In retrospect, James Dolan should’ve allowed the Nuggets to talk him into including Landry Fields in the deal.
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With apologies to Tom Thibodeau, Monty Williams, Lionel Hollins, Larry Drew and Frank Vogel, Doc Rivers‘ late-game coaching is making Mike D’Antoni look like a playoff rookie.
Unable to resist the temptation to hit Mike D’Antoni when he’s down or withstand readers’ pressure to “back up, he’s still crawling,” I can’t help but note every critical move by Doc (88 games) has caught Mike (53) by surprise.
Many have been identified and documented. Others occurred under the radar. But one thing is awfully clear; every time there’s a timeout, D’Antoni is at a great disadvantage.
The lone time Mike probably won’t be surprised is when Doc calls a one-season timeout at the conclusion of this one and returns in 2012-13 to take D’Antoni’s job, if it’s still his. I suspect Mike sees that coming. I think we all do.
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We’re always being told about the process of learning how to win playoff games. Developing solid habits like smart shot selection, boxing out, coming up with loose balls, knowing the clock, knowing times out (yours and theirs), knowing if you have a foul to give or if they do, whom to foul, when to foul, throwing the safe pass instead of the spectacular, talking, helping out and rotating on defense, knowing you can throw the ball in the backcourt from the front in the last two minutes.
All these nuances and necessities must become routine to give your team a chance to become a champion. The core of these Celtics figured it out through the pain of loss before its almighty assembly in Boston. Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen won one championship and legitimately contended for two others prior to these playoffs.
Despite being unable to sweat an afflicted opponent, much less dominate one exhibiting two counterfeit starters before the series even commenced, the Celtics, nonetheless, demonstrated once, then twice, their know-how — the play calling and the execution — for winning when all looked lost.
No matter how many times players have been through this process, regardless of how skilled and erudite, their coach still is supposed to guide and prepare them for every eventuality.
I wonder how many times Isiah Thomas has called Dolan or certain members of the news media to point out how the Knicks are lacking in this regard?
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If Game 1 wasn’t depressing enough for Knicks president Donnie Walsh, look who helped ruin his weekend.
Jamal Crawford, traded by the Knicks president Nov. 21, 2008, went for 23 points and five assists off the bench for the Hawks. Zach Randolph, dealt the very same day by Walsh, amassed 25 points and 14 rebounds. But the coup de grace was executed by Jermaine O’Neal, maxed out by Walsh in 2002. Manning the middle, never his pet position, he hit six field goals without a miss, grabbed four rebounds and voided four shots. Who woulda thought?
I dare so much as one person to claim support of Danny Ainge’s offseason decision to sign O’Neal to a 2-year guarantee worth $5.775 million and $6,226,200 when a veteran’s minimum offer would’ve been more than fair.
The investment by the Celtics’ president defies comprehension. Jermaine had battled injuries big time since ’04, hence, the decision by the Raptors and Heat, who desperately needed a center, to kiss him off.
Who exactly was Ainge bidding against, Isiah?
Bottom line: Jermaine might’ve earned his keep with Sunday’s impeccable recital.