Yeah, so Mitch Lawrence in today's Daily News has a piece about how the Knicks get favorable calls from the referees when playing at home.  It's not really shocking news (apparently there is even a name for this phenomenon: "home court advantage"), but Lawrence sorta frames it as a NBA conspiracy or incredibly lucky break - for example: "The Knicks have been getting gifts from the refs all season on their home floor."  He also later cites the "phantom foul" against Andrew Bogut and a "highly questionable reach-in foul" yesterday as examples.

Um, okay.  Maybe.  And maybe they draw fouls (the Knicks are in the top three in Free Throws Attempted as a team) because they have players that draw fouls.  Like Eddy Curry.  In fact, later on in that article Lawrence points out that "the Sonics' strategy against Eddy Curry was to foul him and make him score his points at the line."  Yeah, sounds like that might lead Curry to getting calls from the referees. 

Some teams utilize that thinking, and alot of teams just foul Curry because he's too big to stop when he gets the ball that close to the basket.  Which is why Curry is #5 in FTAs by a player this season.  Other Knicks on that list?  Stephon Marbury (#26) and Jamal Crawford (#41), both whom draw fouls because they attack the paint alot.  So does Steve Francis, who, since his, um, surprising recovery from a season-ending knee injury, has gone to the line 26 times in the last three games (about 8.7 per game average).  And even Q-Rich gets to the line, when he's playing the 2, and posting up smaller guards.

Here are some interesting stats, courtesy of 82games:  56% of the Knicks attempts this year have been jumpers.  36% have been "close", 5% dunks, and 3% tips.  Compare that to the rest of the league to understand what it means.  The only other team even close to the Knicks in that category is the Magic (58% jumpers); no other team is below 60%.  In fact, most teams average around 64-66%, with some even higher (highest: The Mavs at 72%, one reason SML feels strongly that they can't win a championship - they rely too much on outside shots).

The Knicks get to the basket, so they should be drawing fouls.  I don't think its fair to call them "gift" calls.  

Some more stats for ya: Eddy Curry is top-10 in dunks; unlike most of the other top-10 dunkers - Howard, Shaq, Marion, Anthony, and Iggy - he is not in the top-10 in alley-oop dunks.  Conclusion: the other players are aided by enormous vertical leap skills, obviously, but also by guards that can get them the ball in a way to take advantage of their abilities near the rim.  Andre Miller, Iverson and the Diaw/Nash tandem are all among the leaders in alley-oop assists.  Among the Knicks only Crawford makes the top-10, with 18 alley-oops on the year (as opposed to 81 by Miller, ranked #1).  Curry makes his dunks by using his size around the basket, as oppose to rising above everyone else.  Personally, we don't have a preference over here at SML, though it is more fun to see Melo sky for an alley-oop.  A bucket is a bucket.

But it goes to a large point: Curry is top-5 in the NBA in FG%.  Here's your top players: Chandler, David Lee, Biedrins, Howard, then Amare Stoudemire tied with Eddy Curry.  The top three are all tip-in, follow-up dunk masters; they aren't post-up players.  Howard, Amare and Curry are.  Howard and Amare are superior athletics. Curry isn't in their class.  However, Curry is a monster in his own way - he hits a high % of shots, especially from close range.  He draws fouls (as do Howard and Amare).  Yet Curry is often criticized for being a bad passer.  Depressedfan has written to me about this several times.

First off, Howard averages 1.7 apg, Amare 1.0, and Curry 0.8.  Small differences.  Of the three, Amare's is the "true" lowest one, because Amare has talented players all around him who can score, from all over.  He isn't necessarily the highest percent shot, especially if he's doubled.  He should get an assist per game just passing to Marion, not to mention passing out to Raja for an open three on occasion.  But it doesn't matter, as his team is one of the best in the league.  Howard and Curry are both passing (when passing) to inferior teammates who aren't as likely to hit a field goal at the clip that Curry hits them, nor that are all that great at finishing passes anyway.  SML sees no reason why Curry should ever pass the ball, unless he's triple-teamed; he is the Knicks best scoring option, and should have the rock delivered his way as much as possible until either the other team shows it can stop him without fouling or until he gets exhausted (a.k.a. the second quarter)....  

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