Short-Handed Knicks Fall in Charlotte

AP Photo/Chuck Burton

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Monday, April 15^th, 2013

Post Game Recap

Final Score: New York Knicks: 95 Charlotte Bobcats: 106

The Knicks went into the game tonight with nothing to play for and it showed with who actually took the court tonight as the Knicks fell to the Bobcats to end the season 23-18 on the road, their best road record in 16 seasons.  Only six Knicks saw the court today, one of them being Rasheed Wallace who played for only four minutes and Jason Kidd who played only 21.  The starting lineup of Chris Copeland, Steve Novak, James White, Pablo Prigioni and Iman Shumpert all logging at least 41 minutes played.  Expect much of the same Wednesday night when the Knicks return home for the last regular game of the season before starting the playoffs this weekend.

-Positives

• The Knicks were able to get most of their main rotation players some much needed rest tonight, especially Carmelo Anthony, J.R. Smith and Raymond Felton.  Smith was the only player on the Knicks to not miss a game this season, so getting him some rest was not a bad thing.  Anthony had not yet rested since having his knee drained and has been logging heavy minutes with the Knicks big men all getting injured and the Knicks needing Anthony to step up and play so much.  Felton injured his knee Thursday against Chicago and played through it but could definitely use a rest to make sure he is rested for the playoff run.

• Copeland put on his best Carmelo Anthony impersonation tonight as the go-to man on the offensive side for the Knicks with Anthony himself and J.R. Smith both home in New York resting.  Copeland went 12 of 25 on the night, scoring 32 points with four three pointers and a perfect four of four from the foul line. Copeland also tied for the team lead in rebounds with seven in the game, adding two assists as well.  Copeland has definitely showed a knack to put the ball in the basket, the only question left for him in reference to playing time is if he can step up and show the same effort on the defensive end and on the glass.

• Novak showed tonight like he has since joining the Knicks how dangerous of a shooter he is.  The Knicks can definitely benefit greatly from having him play spot minutes in the playoffs.  Tonight Novak lit it up from deep, going five of seven en route to a 17 point night.  Novak was one of the players to tie Copeland for the team high in rebounding tonight, grabbing seven of his own.

• For a bunch of players that have not gotten a lot of playing time the offense did not look terrible tonight.  There were a lot of three pointers attempted, as the Knicks attempted 37 tonight, knocking down 14 of them.  Even more impressive was that they turned the ball over only eight times, quite impressive as the Knicks were without their starting point guard and main ball handlers tonight.

-Negatives

• Being so shorthanded tonight the intensity was not there on defense.  The Bobcats had little resistance from the Knicks in doing whatever they wanted to on offense, scoring over 100 points for the first time in two weeks.  The Bobcats shot 58.1 percent from the field tonight, blowing the game open in the third quarter.

• These last few games of the season for the Knicks mean absolutely nothing, so the main priority is getting through them without players getting injured.  The Knicks did not lose any new players to injury tonight, but Rasheed Wallace looked to re-injure himself.  He played only four minutes in the first half but was ruled out for the second half and was seen limping after the game and did not talk to reporters.  Wallace getting on the court and being productive is something to keep an eye on because it is one thing for him to get out there and play but it is another for him to actually provide a boost to the Knicks lineups.