Sighhh… former-Knick Raymond Felton is now thriving as a Dallas Mavericks…
The New York Knicks may not be in the Playoffs… but there are a bunch of former-Knicks playing in the Playoffs this year.
With the Dallas Mavericks getting slaughtered by 38 points in Game 1 against the Oklahoma City Thunder, former-Knick Raymond Felton stepped into the starting lineup for the injured J.J. Barea (groin).
Felton came up huge for the Mavericks, finishing the game with 21 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 assists as Dallas upset Oklahoma City in Game 2. Felton was key in Dallas’ win, scoring six points in the fourth quarter, giving the Mavericks the lead on two separate occasions down the stretch.
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Felton hit back-to-back jumpers to give the Mavericks a 79-78 lead with 4:18 remaining in the game. Felton then grabbed a crucial defensive rebound, bringing up the ball and getting straight to the rim for a layup to give Dallas the lead for good with 28.7 seconds left in the game.
Raymond Felton Game 2 Highlights
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Felton is having a resurgent season this year with the Mavericks, averaging 9.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. In 31 starts, Felton averaged 11.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game.
Felton is thriving as a Mavericks, with the genius Rick Carlisle keeping him in check. Felton is not allowed the same freedoms he experienced as a Knick, no more freelancing around the perimeter. Instead Felton strictly either catch-and-shoot, or if he gets closed-out, he drives into the paint to for an easy score. Or depending on the defensive-read, kicks the ball out or takes a floater in the lane.
Felton has thrived playing within Carlisle’s system. Felton once upon a time thrived as a Knick too, before being traded away in the Carmelo Anthony blockbuster deal. Prior to being traded Felton was having himself an All-Star year, averaging 17.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 9 assists. Felton’s 2010-2011 season was highlighted by a game-winning shot from beyond the arc with 2.7 seconds left in the game that gave the Knicks a victory over the Toronto Raptors.
Felton returned to the Knicks in 2012 via a trade (which is actually why New York does not have a second round pick this year…) after having the worst season of his career (to that point) as a Portland Trail Blazer. Felton struggled with coming into the season overweight, and never recovered from it.
New York Knicks
Felton was supposed to be the answer for Jeremy Lin after he departed for the Houston Rockets on the heels of “Linsanity“. With the combination of Felton and Jason Kidd at point guard, New York had their most successful season in a decade – finishing with 54 wins, advancing to the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
The following season, the Knicks came crushing back down to Earth after all the veterans left/retired. Without their leadership, Felton would reach a new career-low (to that point) of 9.7 points per game. Although, things would only get worse for Felton personally… on February 25, 2014, he was arrested on felony gun charges.
Felton was then traded to the Mavericks for Jose Calderon in the off-season, where he served a four-game suspension for pleading guilty for gun possession. Felton had his worst-season to date with 3.7 points per game, after sustaining an ankle injury.
However, Felton had a bounce back year this season and even notched a triple-double against the Washington Wizards on December.
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It is sad to see Felton thriving and making clutch-plays for another team… especially while New York had to suffer with Calderon’s play as the Knicks’ starting point guard this season…