The Knicks played their best game of the season yesterday (or their best one since the victory over Denver back in early November), beating the defending Eastern Conference Champs.  We have detailed notes for you, as we try to figure out what, if anything, changed for the Knicks.

Also, we are introducing the Eddy Curry Tracker in our next post.

The Significance of this Game:
This is important, considering that there was a protest in front of the Garden yesterday afternoon (we saw it; from our point of view, there was more media coverage and media people there than actual "protesters"; it would be better served if the "protest" had more anticipation, and took place on a weekend instead of a workday afternoon.  Expect a better turnout for the December 30th protest, unless the Knicks continue to play well).  The Daily News had a free "Fire Isiah" poster in their newspaper yesterday.  The coach had called out the team as "not having enough heart" (always a hurtful thing to hear, no matter how true it is).  In other words, the Knicks team need to play well yesterday.  They did that.

Q-Rich versus LeBron
Richardson always steps up his play when he's up against LeBron.  The Knicks, in fact, couldn't have asked for a better opponent than the Cavs.  The Cavs are a good team, so the Knicks can't "play down to their level".  Despite being a tough defensive team, they play right into the Knicks' strength - they lack a shot-blocking center with any quickness (a Jeff Foster, Samuel Dalembert type); they guard great man to man, but that's the Knicks' best matchup.   The Knicks team is built for breaking down man to man teams, but struggles against zone-like defenses, which requires teams to "pass out of the zone" to beat the zone. 

Maybe because Isiah never played against a zone in his NBA career (it was outlawed until a few years ago) he hasn't yet adapted to building/coaching his team to beat the zone.

Q-Rich drops an open 3.  8-7 Knicks.
After Gooden hits a jumper, Richardson again from downtown.  11-9.
Soon after, Richardson hits another open three to make it 16-11. 

Three straight threes from a guy shooting 28% from downtown?  That's an anomaly. 

LeBron James makes the coolest move of the night - a fake behind the back dribble that goes through his legs instead, and leaves his man (Randolph) froze, like heroin in your nose...

But, throughout the game, Richardson and later Jeffries, did a good job of slowing LeBron down, except for a brief explosion in the third quarter.  More on that later.

Sitbury?
Marbury sits the entire game, sick with flu-like symptons.

The Crowd:
The Crowd was kept from getting on the Knicks, because of Richardson's early threes, and the Knicks run in the second that put the Knicks comfortably ahead in the game.   At halftime the crowd applauded loudly for what was the best first half the Knicks had played all season.  They also applauded loudly at the end of the game, though there were some chants of "Fire Isiah" mixed in, too. 

The New Offense?
How did the Knicks, who missed 20 straight FGs against the Pacers (2nd worst defense in the league), shoot around 60% against the Cavs?!?  Was it this new motion offense they are using now?  Was it the officiating?  I did think the Knicks were handcuffed against the Pacers a bit... the officials did not call fouls very much (the Knicks team is used to drawing contact inside and getting to the line), and let the Pacers get away with tough defense on the Knicks interior, creating a problem for them to score.  It'll be interesting to see if that's an anomaly, or if yesterday's offensive explosion was an anomaly.  Remember what I said about the Blazers yesterday?  Does the 8-game winning streak mean they are good, or does their 4-12 start make them a poor team that just got hot for a bit?  Or is it a team chemistry thing?  The same applies to the Knicks when they do well... is it a sign of the team gelling a bit more, or is it just an anomaly?

You Gotta Have Heart:
How did the Knicks respond to Isiah's comments about their heart?  At first, in the media, they took exception.  Take a look at Seth from Posting and Toasting's notes on this topic (bottom of post).  They sounded a little ticked at being called out, right?

Then, yesterday, they kind of nodded and agreed that Isiah was right to call them out.  In the pregame interviews, all the players sort of acknowledged that Isiah was the coach, and that he can say that if he wants to.

Clyde Frazier:
Clyde is rocking a red pinstripe suit.  Check that, he's rocking a red suit with black pinstripes.  There's a difference, and the difference is style.  Also note the black shirt with silver tie, and silver pocket handkerchief (picking up Isiah's habit).  Very sharp.

1st quarter:
My Indian GF thinks Drew Gooden needs to wear a turban with that Sikh-like beard.  She then adds that some Sikhs carry a dagger or knife in their turban (this is true: it is called a "kirpan", is a symbol of their faith, and is usually worn around the belt,  but anywhere else in the body is fine, too).

After Richardson's big three threes, it's David Lee's time to carry the Knicks:

David Lee got a nice feed from Fred Jones for a dunk
David Lee misses a 9 foot jumper; offensive rebound Randolph.
Crawford great move, feeds Lee... he misses the "chippy", but it would be his only other real miss of the night.
LeBron rips off 4 straight points to make it 24-20 Cavs. 

Jared Jeffries to the rescue:
Jeffries checks in, to help guard LeBron.  Good call, Isiah.
After a Varejeo turnaround hook, the Knicks go to Randolph next time up, who makes it 26-22.  Crawford is the point right now.  
Richardson nails a long two to make it 26-24.  11 points (4/4) for Richardson.  Richardson went one on one with Hughes next time down, and missed a (contested) three. 
Lebron tries to dribble through double team (Randolph help), loses ball... on fast break Lee gets a nice feed, and puts it in, plus one.  28-27 Cavs.
Jeffries contests a three by LeBron, who misses it.  Good defense, good stop (the rare first quarter stop).  

It's 31-30 after the first.
I'm not sure if I'm suppose to be happy about the Knicks performance in the first; they scored  31 points (57%), but the Cavs get 60% and 30 points.  Only the Cavs sloppy play (turning the ball over more than the Knicks) has them behind.

2nd Quarter:

• Nate Robinson is back.  I guess with Marbury not "able" to play tonight, Robinson is going to get some burn.

• Randolph opens up the 2nd with a layup, and then draws a foul the next time down, on the much slower Ilgaukas.  Mismatch.

• Ilgaukas exploits the shorter, equally slow, David Lee.

David Lee reciprocates by taking Ilgaukas off the dribble and dunking.

David Lee quick, Ilgaukas slow:

• The Knicks double (Nate) on Ilgaukas next time down the court, when he tries to exploit David Lee.  Good call, Nate.  Ilgaukas gives it up, and it results in a Sasha miss.

• Fred Jones hits a three with the Cavs in the zone (to protect Ilgaukas), making it 41-36.

• After a brick on the other side, Randolph gets fouled. He hits both, making it 43-36.  That's a rare big lead for the Knicks this season.
  

After a Brown jumper and a LeBron three, it's 43-41.
Crawford with a big jumper off the dribble, making it 45-41.

David Lee Again:

• Q-Rich is matched up with LeBron.  Lee drives on Newble, hits the layup.  He has 9 points, and three rebounds just this period.  47-41.  

• David Lee gets a nice alley oop from Crawford (like the one he throws Curry every game), to make it 49-42.  

• Crawford fouls Boobie behind the line, but he hits only one of three FTAs. 49-43.

• David Lee again - nice drive on Gooden, spin move, for the layup.  Very nice move, Lee.  

• Lee grabs the rebound on the other end.  They try to go inside to him again, but Newble breaks it up.

• LeBron misses a stepback jumper with Richardson on him; Lee with the rebound.

• Malik Rose gets fouled.  52-43.  

• Great defense from Richardson, with excellent help from Jones, traps LeBron in the corner, forcing a time out.  With the clock running down, Sasha tries to dunk, but gets blocked by... Malik Rose?!?

• Again an inside pass to Lee is intercepted, but the Knicks get the lucky bounce.  Richardson misses, but Rose gets fouled.  One more FT = 53-43, Knicks.  A double-digit lead, praise the lord!

This little run was brought to you by David Lee's rebounding and inside game, Richardson's defense, and Malik Rose's surprise cameo.

• Newble hits the three from the corner. 53-46.  
  

• Crawford to the cutting Rose (draws two Cavs) to Lee under the basket for a dunk.  57-48 Knicks.

• Lee has like 6 rebounds this quarter, getting every Cavs miss.  Nice work.  Fans are happy, applauding.  A three on one break (after a brick from LeBron that goes long quickly, making for a good fast break opportunity) ends with Jones throwing it to Crawford to cutting Lee for the dunk. 63-48.  The half ends at 63-50.

3rd quarter (from close game to blowout):
Cavs open up with a steal and transition bucket.  63-52.  Curry is back.

• Curry gets doubled, across the court to the Crawford for a three pointer.  It's good. 66-52.
• Jones to Curry, another double, out to Crawford to Richardson.. for three.  Wow. 69-52
• After Crawford hits another big three, it's 72-52. (8/13 from three point line).
• Richardson to Curry, takes Ilgaukas off the dribble... for 2 points.  4 points, 2 assists in 5 minutes for Curry.  74-52.
• Crawford's jumper makes it 76-52, the Knicks biggest lead... of the year?
  

LeBron heats up:
LeBrons' six straight points (part of an 8-0 run by the Cavs) makes it 78-63 in a hurry.  Knicks TO.

Randolph Takes Over (For A Bit):

• Randolph inside to Curry... he goes up, gets fouled. 1/2 FTs.  79-63.
• James off a pick... 79-65.  Garden is a little anxious.
• Richardson inside to Curry, backs down Anderson... for the two.  Nice job.  81-65.
• Randolph's hook makes it 83-67. 
  
• Randolph then grabs a defensive rebound, throws it up ahead to richardson, who couldn't finish the play.  Good look from Zach, though.
• Randolph attempts a three on the next possession.  Ugh?  Ugh.  I don't like Randolph shooting threes.  On the other hand, up until this game, I felt better about him doing it than Richardson.  So go figure.
• Crawford beautiful pass to Randolph for an easy deuce.  85-68.
  

Hughes turnaround jumper makes it 85-70.
Jones nice drive, misses, but Jeffries with a putback dunk.  87-70.
LeBron on Jeffries, pullback three.  Miss.  Again, he's scared to drive on Jeffries.
LeBron uses a pick to get some space from Jeffries, but still shoots a long rushed jumper.  It's a miss.
Jeffries gets fouled on the other end.  One FT ends in an air ball, the other in a brick.  Ugh.  Still 87-70.

4th Quarter:
Curry is back again.
Crawford to the basket, last second to Lee, for a layup plus one!  Nice job.  Lee has 20 points now.  90-70.
Immediately Robinson with a nice steal and dunk on the inbounds pass.  92-70.
Game over.  We end our notes here.

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