Knicks Blown Out For Second Consecutive Night

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Friday, February 28, 2014

Golden State Warriors vs. New York Knicks

Post Game Recap

It was another embarrassing loss for the Knicks at Madison Square Garden tonight as the Warriors came in and blew them out by a score of 126-103. The Knicks were out of it virtually from the start, trailing by double-digits from the midway point of the second quarter on and never really getting much closer. They fell behind by as many as 27 points and didn’t get closer than 16 in the second half. It was another uninspired effort for the Knicks who lacked the effort and urgency of a team on the outside looking in of the playoff race. The loss tonight runs the Knicks losing streak to five games and with a 2-11 record to finish February. The Knicks will be back at it again Sunday afternoon in a nationally televised game against the Chicago Bulls at 1 PM ET.

Player of the Game: Tim Hardaway Jr.

After having quite possibly his worst NBA game to date in his return home last night, Hardaway Jr. had a nice bounce back game tonight. He scored 22 points on 6-11 from the field and connected on 4-7 from deep, improving immensely upon his 2-15 and 0-8 from deep last night. It was nice to see Hardaway Jr. still trying out there tonight in a game that was seemingly over before he even stepped on the court. He showed resiliency and supreme confidence by coming out tonight with the same energy and emotion that he has brought in every game this season. His defense may need work but he is a guy the Knicks need to keep around as his offensive game has loads of potential to make him a starter in this league for many years to come.

Match up Of the Game Recap

Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images

The Knicks never really stood a chance in this match up of Stephen Curry against their backcourt. Curry, who had a season low five points Wednesday against the Bulls, came out and destroyed the Knicks tonight. Without Iman Shumpert starting Curry was able to get going from the start and lit the Knicks up throughout the night. He finished with a triple-double tonight after scoring career high 54-points in his visit last season. This one is much sweeter for Curry and the Warriors though as they left Madison Square Garden with the win in addition to Curry’s stellar night. On the contrary, Raymond Felton and Pablo Prigioni didn’t have much of an impact on the game. In 32 combined minutes the Knicks starting backcourt barely managed to provide stats you would expect from a reserve.

-Positives

Toure’ Murry was given a chance tonight with Mike Woodson deciding to sit Felton and Prigioni for long stretches and it paid off. Murry is in a tough position not receiving constant minutes but tonight he made the most of what was given to him. He provided a spark offensively, scoring eight points and added two rebounds and two assists. He also provided some defense for the Knicks at the point of attack, something Felton and Prigioni didn’t provide. Murry has shown in his limited minutes he should be a part of the rotation because he brings things to the game that Felton and Prigioni do not provide.

The three point shooting for the Knicks tonight was about the only thing that resembled an NBA offense tonight. They were able to take advantage of a Warriors team that was going through the motions at time because of the score, knocking down 10-25 attempts for 40 percent. It was not enough though to keep up with the high scoring Warriors offense.

-Negatives

Frank Franklin II

Outside of the three point shooting the Knicks offense was stuck in neutral all night. With Carmelo Anthony having a lackluster game, shooting 7-26, the Knicks did not have enough firepower to stay with the Warriors. The Knicks shot an unsightly 36-95 (37.9 percent) from the field overall. The Warriors were able to keep Anthony and the Knicks offense off-balance with different looks they gave him throughout the night.

The Knicks once again let their offensive struggles carry over to the defensive end. The Warriors lit the Knicks up throughout the night, especially Curry and his backcourt running mate Klay Thompson. The two combined to shoot 18-36 from the field and 10-21 from the three point line for 52 points. The Knicks also watched Jermaine O’Neal turn the clock back as he terrorized the Knicks in the paint, scoring 15 points with six rebounds and a block in 20 minutes. On the night the Warriors shot 47.8 percent from the field and 40 percent from the three point line.

Right from the start the Knicks looked disinterested in the game and once they got down they didn’t show any fight to get back into it. The Warriors dominated every facet of the game, outscoring the Knicks in transition, in the paint, at the three point line and from the free throw line. It was a disheartening performance for a team that is on the outside looking in of the playoff picture.

The emotion and struggles are starting to boil over as well it seems as Tyson Chandler was ejected from the game tonight after getting into it with Warriors reserve big man Marreese Speights. Chandler and Speights received double-technicals about halfway through the fourth quarter and Speights responded with multiple scores on Chandler. Chandler then laid an ill-advised foul on Speights and was ejected, embarrassing himself and his team in the process.