Game 77/82: C’s (48-28) @ Knicks (27-49)
Posted by Zach Lowe on Apr 6, 2010
Offensive Efficiency:
Boston: 107.4 points/100 possessions (15th)
New York: 106.9 points/100 possessions (18th)
Defensive Efficiency:
Boston: 103.0 points allowed/100 possessions (4th)
New York: 110.7 points allowed/100 possessions (26th)
Probable New York starters:
Danilo Gallinari, Bill Walker, David Lee, Two Other Guys Whose Identities Depend on Injuries and Mike D’Antoni’s Mood
Thumbnail: The injury to Andrew Bogut means the C’s, sitting one game behind Atlanta in the “race” for the 3rd seed, could finish 6-0 if they care to do so; they play Milwaukee twice in addition to games against New York, Washington, Toronto and the Bulls. Such a 6-0 streak would start here. Plus: A C’s win would hurt New York’s chances in their race with the Sixers for 3rd place in the Atlantic Division. Knicks basketball, baby!
WHAT THE KNICKS DO WELL:
• We’re 77 games into the season. Do I have to do this anymore? Do I have to sit here and list things this random collection of players does well? Even though this current roster is as close to irrelevant as any roster in NBA history? (Oh, sure, I suppose LeBron has to believe Gallinari is a legit player and that David Lee might come back here next season, but we’re at the end of the season and I officially no longer care about this version of the Knicks).
Ok, fine. How about this: Defend the three.
Put it this way: If you’re incapable of defending the paint because your team lacks NBA size, it better at least have NBA quickness, and that quickness better translate into moderately good defense against the three-point shot. Otherwise, you might as well enter the new 96-team March Madness tournament.
New York opponents have hit just 34.4 percent from deep this season, the 8th-lowest mark in the league and just a notch behind Boston (34.2 percent) in this category. Hooray for the Knicks.
• Not fouling. Ok, I’m reaching here. Only seven teams commit fewer fouls per opponent shot attempt than the Knicks. Avoiding fouls is often the sign of a sound defense. Over the last couple of years, you’ve seen the Cavs, Spurs and Magic around the top 10 in this category. Tim Duncan and KG have long been geniuses at contesting shots without fouling.
The Knicks? They’re just a poor defensive team often caught too far out of position to even foul, let alone contest.
• Taking care of the ball. Only 11 teams turn the ball over less often, per possession, and….I’ve reached my limit on writing nice things about the Knicks. They’ll be paying Eddy Curry more than $10 million next season, and the Jazz have their lottery pick because Isiah Thomas traded it away for Stephon Marbury, who recently played in China, and the pick ended up in Utah due to a series of events in which Tom Gugliotta played a large role.
This may be our last chance to make fun of the Knicks if the next two off-seasons go according to Donnie Walsh’s plan. So let’s enjoy it while we can. Even so: We’ll always have the Isiah Thomas Era.
WHAT THE KNICKS DO POORLY:
• Rebounding. This team just cannot rebound. At all. If it weren’t for Golden State, an epically bad rebounding team that ranks last in both offensive and defensive rebounding rate, the Knicks would be the worst rebounding team in the league. So at least Nellie is helping someone.
The Knicks rank 27th in both offensive and defensive rebounding rate. David Lee plays center for the Knicks. Wilson Chandler spent considerable time at power forward. These things are related, I think.
• Defend the paint. The Knicks are bad at protecting the rim, which is because David Lee plays center and David Lee is not a center. New York opponents have hit 62.3 percent of shots at the rim, the 8th-worst mark in the league, according to Hoopdata. New York may play Kendrick Perkins out of the game with their permanent small line-up, but Perk should be able to score easily while he’s in there. And KG will never have an easier time shooting jumpers over opposing “power forwards.”
Also of note: Opponents hit 49 percent of shots from inside 10 feet (not including lay-ups or dunks). Only Memphis allows a higher percentage.
Get the ball inside, and this team is helpless.
• Shooting the three. The Knicks have hit 34.2 percent of their threes this season. Only eight teams are worse. The Knicks have taken 1,982 three-pointers; only the Magic have taken more. Chris Duhon has taken 241 three-pointers. That number should be closer to zero.
PLAYER/S WHO MAKE ME WORRY:
• Lee. A budding star falsely perceived as the product of a fast-paced D’Antoni system that isn’t all that fast-paced anymore. He presents as many match-up problems for opposing centers such as Perk as they present for him. Watch Sheed try and guard him. Fun times.
• Al Harrington. Averaging 21.3 points per game on 52 percent shooting from three-point range in three go-rounds with Boston this year. Too quick for any of Boston’s power forwards.
• Bill Walker. He will almost certainly play more minutes than Nate Robinson, the player for whom Walker was traded.
PLAYER/S WHO DO NOT MAKE ME WORRY:
• Duhon. A terrible season coming to a merciful end.
• Eddy Curry.
WHAT WE WANT TO SEE FROM BOSTON TONIGHT:
• Continued care for the basketball. The C’s have committed 14 or fewer individual turnovers in each of their last six games, including 11 or fewer four times. This is a borderline miracle, and, should it continue into the playoffs, would make the C’s a legitimate threat to beat anyone on any given night.
• Post dominance. Self-explanatory.
• No brain farts, TA.
PREDICTION:
• This shouldn’t be a game. But the Knicks have a habit of playing Boston close. Still: C’s 110, Knicks 99.
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