Quick notes from today’s blowout of the Raptors:

The third quarter is obviously what everyone will remark upon.  The Knicks trailed 42-40 after a slow first half in which neither team exhibited much funk, no "pep" in their step.  There was Chris Bosh (16 pts in the first half) and little else for the Raptors.

Eddy Curry picked up a fourth foul two minutes into the third, and the Knicks decided to go small.  As seems to be the case whenever they lose someone, they got better.  They put Balkman in at the three, moved Jeffries over to the five, and went small for the rest of the third (with Francis, Marbury and Frye).  That worked beautifully versus the Raptors, who were unable to get the ball into the paint against the quick and active hands of Jeffries, Frye (3 steals) and especially Balkman.  The Knicks caused the turnovers (6 in the 3rd, plus 2 blocked shots by Balkman), and were able to run on the other end.  They ended up outscoring Toronto 35-13 in the 3rd.  

 

Renaldo finished with 15 points (7-7 shooting), with 12 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 blocks.  He missed 5 of 6 free throws (from more than five feet away he shoots as well as the older brother in Babel), but his presence was felt defensively and on the boards.  Oddly, the Knicks lost the board battle, but that’s what happens when you go small.  They reversed the Raptors strengths and weakness – the Raptors are a poor rebounding team, but rarely turnover the ball.  The Knicks are normally the opposite, but today they won the TOs (19-10).

Al Trautwig called Balkman “a disturber” on the post-game show.  I would have preferred “molester on defense”, but it’ll have to do.  The Disturber!  In español: Renaldo El Disturbo es muy molesto.

The post-game interview with Renaldo (who got a nice ovation when he checked out in the fourth) was great.  Al Trautwig asked six questions, and the response to all six by Balkman started out with “Oh, man…”.  Classic stoner response.  

The Knicks benefited from Curry’s foul trouble today.  He showed last week against the Raptors that he isn’t able to get out to the 3PT line and defend the outside shooting of the Raptors big men.  Having the swifter Jeffries covering Bargnini worked out great.  Also, Marbury did a great job keeping T.J. Ford out of the paint (where he was killing the Knicks last week with his 16 assists), and not having Robinson guard him was a good move.  Robinson guarded the Raptors two instead.  The stud known as Anthony Parker is arguably the worst starting SG in the NBA.  You know he sucks if nobody in your fantasy basketball league even has him on their roster!

Last note: Channing Frye dropped another 20 point game (on 10-15 shooting), his second 20 point game in a row.  He’s rediscovering his shooting stroke, though we would like him to drive and get to the line a little more often.  Still, his job is not to post (that’s Curry’s role), but to be an outlet for Curry if he gets doubled, and today in the first half he was that.  In the second half he was running and getting up the court along with Balkman and the guards.  Good job by FryeS.

Bonus Spurious Prediction: The Knicks will go into the last game of the season needing a win to make the playoffs.  Eddy Curry and the starters will come down with a case of food poisoning due to poisoned pizza.  With no other options, Isiah will have to start Collins, Robinson, Balkman, Rose and Jerome James.  The Knicks will win thanks to Jerome James, who will threaten to eat the refs unless they call everything the Knicks' way.

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