Six games, six losses. Ho-hum.
The Knicks came very close to snapping their then five game skid against the Magic a couple nights ago, only to lose by a J.R Smith buzzer-beater brick attempt.
The Jazz in sinister coach Quin Snyder’s inaugural season haven’t been doing much better than the Knicks in the win column, posting a 3-6 record through nine games. However, wins aren’t the most important thing under a new coach, overall team development is also a big priority; Snyder’s fleet-footed offensive system has been the main reason why the Jazz are winning. The Jazz possess a 107.5 ORtg, which is ranked 13th in the league, a much bigger improvement from what Tyrone Corbin‘s offense had to offer (cue Jazz fans scolding over Corbin). Proof in change of offensive systems: Enes Kanter is shooting 5-15 from the perimeter. Before this year? He only took 3 shots from downtown, making one, because what low-post player would do such a thing? Quin Snyder doesn’t care for you, because he knows it works. For more on Snyder’s offense, check out this great article by Andy Bailey on the effects of Snyder’s offense.
The Jazz matching the Hornets’ offer sheet for League of Legends player Gordon Hayward is paying off so far. Hayward, is showcasing his all-around numbers, averaging 18.4 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.7 assists per contest, to go along with 1.1 WS, a 22.2 PER, and a buzzer-beater against the Cavs. Aside from Hayward, rim protector (perhaps their only rim protector) Derrick Favors is having himself a nice season in the first year of his new extension that he signed last season, averaging 16.3 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.6 blocks a game, as well as Alec Burks, who also signed a $40M+ extension in the offseason.
As for the Knicks, Carmelo Anthony during the Knicks’ current skid is shooting 37% from the field and 25% from downtown. He is also below a true shooting percentage of 50%. We know that the team is going to rely on Melo sometimes, presumably thinking that the triangle was going to take up the majority of the offensive game, but that hasn’t been the case as of recent. We may be seeing Melo take up the offensive load tonight, again.
Injuries:
Knicks: Jose Calderon, Andrea Bargnani
Jazz: Rodney Hood
What to Watch For:
- Get To The Charity Stripe!
- Against the Magic, Evan Fournier, who has been on a scoring tear as their starting two guard, dropped 28 points and shot as many free throws as the Knicks did as a whole (14 to be exact). Last time I checked, that’s…not good, I think. The Knicks rank 29th in free throws made and attempted; the Celtics are the team below them in those categories. Melo is known as one of the most physical players in the league to some. The triangle has been ailing lately and who knows what will happen with it in the long term. D-Fish should switch it up a little.
- Derek Fisher‘s Rotations:
- I praised Fisher’s rotations after the Knicks won against the Cavs. So much for that now, right? D-Fish made a big mistake benching Amare Stoudemire, who was virtually unstoppable on offense, exterminating the Magic defense on pick and rolls. Jason Smith was then inserted for the majority of the fourth quarter and clanged his patented mid-range J’s off the rim one-by-one. Mistakes are made all the time, but Fish has to realize that benching a heat check player for anyone else is not the right way to go.
- The Skid Must Be Stopped.
- If the seventh loss in a row comes tonight, then I don’t know what else to say other than “can Jose Calderon and Andrea Bargnani (Bargs for the laugh factor) come back already?” After tonight, the Knicks play the Nuggets, Bucks, Wolves and Sixers. If they can’t get at least a win or two out of the next few games, then the idea of tanking can be fully considerable (not that it isn’t being considered already).
Recap coming after the game.