Knicks 95 Pistons 98: Here We Go Again

In a nightmare game in Detroit, the Knicks played bad basketball for 95% of the game, and lost their back up point guard.

The Knicks lost to one of the worst teams in basketball tonight. While Detroit has plenty of talent to be a good basketball team, they simply aren’t there yet. However, the Knicks didn’t try to make this a game until about just under 4 minutes to go in the fourth quarter. In that 4 minute period, the Knicks cut the lead from 14 to 2. That’s the second game in a row the Knicks didn’t put together a complete game.

The Pistons destroyed the Knicks on the glass with 55 rebounds, 19 of which were offensive. We knew going into the game that the Knicks would have a tough time keeping the enormous Detroit lineup off the glass, but I don’t know if anyone saw their starting front court collecting 41 rebounds alone. Hey, Samuel Dalembert had 2.

While the Knicks struggled offensively, defensively they were abysmal. They simply couldn’t get a stop against the Pistons. It was like the Pistons were trying to lose at one point. Josh Smith missed something like 10 layups for a solid 2-17 night. Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond combined for 11-27 shooting, and if you didn’t notice, they take 99% of their shots from about 2 feet out. Although the Pistons were seemingly trying to miss, the Knicks made sure to leave all other shooters wide open to go 11-23 from downtown.

To say the Knicks don’t attack the basket is an understatement. The Knicks took 10 free throws, Detroit to 33.

Some Highlights…

• Jason Smith might have been the greatest player of all time for about half of the game. At one point, he had 17 of the Knicks 34 points, while shooting 7-9 from the field. Unfortunately, the Knicks only let him shoot twice in the second half and quickly gave him the hook. He did have one of the best blocks ever though:

• Amar’e Stoudemire continued his strong play. He was 7-13 from the field for 15 points and 8 rebounds. The big man even had 2 steals and a block! He tries harder than everyone else. It’s refreshing to see out there.
• Tim Hardaway Jr. made the most of his minutes. The sophomore was given the opportunity to take the suspended J.R. Smith‘s minutes, and he did great. THJ led the Knicks with 20 points on 8-15 shooting in 27 minutes. His +3 should help him see more time next game as well.
• Cole Aldrich had 3 blocks. Too bad one of his shots missed the hoop completely.

Some Low-lights…

• Carmelo Anthony just does whatever he wants. Sure, the Knicks can say they are running the triangle offense, but when things break down, the ball always seems to be in Melo’s hands. Guess what he’s going to do with it? If you answered shoot, you’re our lucky winner. Yes, he led the Knicks in assists with an astounding 8(!), but he also shot 5-21 from the floor. He made 0 shots in the first half. Again, Melo most nights is not the problem and is 100% their best player, but holy cow he’s 13-44 over the last two games! He needs to take better shots, and some of that is due to playing with an inexperienced point guard. The Knicks will have a hard time winning without Melo on top of his game.
• Pablo Prigioni got hurt. And then there was one.
• Quincy Acy got shafted of some playing time. In 14 minutes he had 6 rebounds, a block, and a HARD foul. With STAT and Smith playing so well, it was hard to find him minutes. He is the only one who ever plays defense though.
• Jonas Jerebko had 11 points on 4-6 wide open shots. Who? Yep.
• Detroit shot 36% from the field and the Knicks still lost. That’s how bad they played.

Frustrating is an understatement. We knew there were going to be growing pains with this team, but these last two games have been tough to watch. At least the Wizards are actually a good team; Detroit isn’t.

Where does this leave the Knicks? I guess we will find out Friday when they take on the

New Jersey

Brooklyn Nets. I think Melo will be a little bit more into that game.