Mike Woodson's Poor Decision Making Almost Costs Knicks 8th Straight Win

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Friday, March 21^st, 2014

New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers

Post Game Recap

The New York Knicks almost saw their playoff hopes dashed tonight in extremely embarrassing fashion. The Philadelphia 76ers cut a 15 point Knicks lead to 2 in the last four minutes of the game, making what should have been an easy victory into a nail biter. Both teams were desperate for a win for different reasons, and it showed the last couple minutes of the game. With the victory the Knicks winning streak reaches eight games, and with the loss the 76ers are closing in on the NBA All-Time record for losses in a row 23. The Knicks also move to three games behind the Atlanta Hawks for eighth place in the Eastern Conference, as the Hawks dropped their game against the New Orleans Pelicans tonight.

Player of the Game: Amar’e Stoudemire

 

Matt Slocum/AP Photo

Stoudemire continued his strong play for the Knicks since being inserted into the starting lineup. Tonight he led the way offensively for the Knicks, scoring 22 points on 10-15 from the field. He was also a force on the boards, grabbing 10. Stoudemire looks like a different person since being inserted into the starting five and the Knicks have benefited greatly from it. Stoudemire may have to sit a game now and then to rest his knees but if he keeps putting forth performances like tonight it is worthwhile.

Match-Up of the Game Recap

Both Carmelo Anthony and Thaddeus Young struggled from the field tonight. Anthony shot 5-16 from the field, 2-5 from deep and Young shot 6-21, 3-9 from the three point line. Both were able to help their teams in other ways though, as Anthony added right rebounds, five assists, one steal and one block. Not to be outdone, Young grabbed seven rebounds, had two assists and four steals. The best players for each team struggled a bit tonight, but Anthony’s team came out with the victory, even though it was rough, so he wins the match-up.

-Positives

Matt Slocum/AP Photo

Tyson Chandler teamed up with Stoudemire to dominate the 76ers frontline. Chandler registered a double-double of his own, scoring 17 points to go along with 10 rebounds. Chandler also recorded one block and steal of his own. The tandem of Chandler and Stoudemire was too much for the overmatched frontline of Young and Henry Sims.

Pablo Prigioni and Iman Shumpert gave the Knicks a big spark off the bench. Prigioni led the way with nine assists, setting up his teammates numerous times for easy baskets. Also impressive, he only turned the ball over once compared to the nine assists. He also added four rebounds in only 18 minutes of play. Shumpert has looked more comfortable recently off the bench and tonight he was a big help knocking down timely jump shots. Shumpert knocked down 3-6 from behind the arc, the only Knicks player to make half his threes in the game.

-Negative

The Knicks offense struggled for the better part of the game. They struggled knocking down the long ball, making only 7-29. Tim Hardaway Jr., Raymond Felton, Prigioni and Chandler combined to miss nine attempts. J.R. Smith struggled as well, making only 2-9.

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

Mike Woodson is lucky if he is allowed to enter Madison Square Garden after the performance he put on to finish the game. He sent the end of the bench guys into the game a little early, with about four minutes remaining with the Knicks up. That wasn’t even nearly the worst decision he made, as he decided to let them stay in the game as he watched the Knicks lead disappear. Inexplicably Woodson stood idly as a 15 point lead quickly turned into a ten point lead, then a five and as low as two. At no point did he hesitate to make a substitution and get his regulars back onto the court. By the time the regulars got onto the court they were cold and not prepared. The 76ers managed to mess up enough for the Knicks to hold on, no thanks to the poor coaching decisions of Woodson.