Knicks Bounce Back Against Cavs Behind Melo and J.R.

AP Photo/Mark Duncan

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Friday, April 12^th, 2013

Post Game Recap

Final Score: New York Knicks: 101 Cleveland Cavaliers: 91

The Knicks had a great bounce back game against the Cavaliers tonight after a hard fought game in Chicago Thursday night.  The Knicks were able to get their main players some rest tonight, something that are very important as the playoffs approach and the Knicks cannot afford to suffer anymore injuries in the last three games before the playoffs start.  With the win tonight coupled with the Pacers loss to the Nets, the Knicks magic number for the second seed in the Eastern Conference sits at one game.  Ironically enough, the Knicks can clinch the second seed Sunday afternoon against the same Pacers team chasing them for it.

-Positives

• The Knicks were able to get their main players some rest tonight after a tough game last night against Chicago and quick turnaround tonight.  Raymond Felton, who said his knee felt a little weak but went out there tonight, played only 24 minutes tonight and got some much needed rest for his knee injury.  Carmelo Anthony only had to play 30 minutes and J.R. Smith only had 29 as Mike Woodson was able to get them some good rest in the second half.

• Anthony once again was a monster on the offensive end, scoring 31 points on 12 of 24 shooting from the field, two of five from the three point line and five of eight from the foul line.  Anthony made his presence felt on the boards again, as the short-handed Knicks needed another great effort in the rebounding department from Anthony and he delivered, grabbing 14 total rebounds.  He again made a living on the offensive glass, as half of his rebounds tonight were of the offensive variety.  The third quarter Anthony put on a show as well, when he scored 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds, four of which were offensive ones.

• Anthony had some help in the scoring department tonight from Smith, who got off to a slow start making only one of his first four shots, but finished the night on fire.  Smith proceeded to make his last 12 shots of the game, finishing 13 of 16 from the field for 31 points, including two of three from the three point line and three of five from the foul line. Smith added five rebounds, an assist, two steals and a block in a nice bounce back game, registering a +21 tonight after registering an ugly -32 last night.

• Iman Shumpert did not shoot the ball well tonight, going three of 11 from the field, but he helped out in other ways tonight.  One way was on the glass, as he grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds.  He also added three assists and good defense, spearheading a defensive rotation that was able to make it a difficult shooting night on Cavalier star Kyrie Irving, who scored 31 points but needed 27 shots to make it there.  On the night the Knicks held the Cavaliers to 43 percent shooting and only 27.3 percent from the three point line.

-Negatives

• The free throw shooting cannot be this poor for the Knicks heading into the playoffs.  Free throws will be an important part of the game come playoff time as the pace slows down and games become tighter contests.  If the Knicks do not make their free throws they will let opposing teams off the hook by not capitalizing on an opportunity to get free points.

• Steve Novak had an opportunity tonight in extended minutes to show Woodson he deserves playing time in the playoffs and put up an egg of a game.  Novak went one of seven from the field, one of six from deep.  If Novak is not making his three point shots he has no reason to be on the court for the Knicks as he does not offer the offensive versatility of Chris Copeland, the player he may be losing his minutes to come the playoffs.