New York Knicks approach a first round exit - NBA Playoffs 2010-2011
On Tuesday night at the TD Garden, the All-Star Carmelo Anthony blistered away with a game-high 42 points and clutched 17 rebounds. However, despite tying a career playoff-high, the small forward fell short of propelling the New York Knicks to victory as
the Boston Celtics, spearheaded by Rajon Rondo and Kevin Garnett, denied his effort down the stretch.
After superseding the Knicks for an impressive 96-93 win, the Celtics now lead the seven-game first round series 2-0, and are well on their way to sweep the Knicks.
The Knicks host Boston at Madison Square Garden next but even with the added home advantage the prospect of the Knicks winning even a single postseason game this year is already appearing a dream.
In their first game of the playoffs on Sunday night, Mark D’ Antoni’s team, even with their top three performers Amare Stoudemire, Chauncey Billups and Anthony in the starting five, failed to overtake the defending Eastern Conference champions. In the very
next game, although Billups was not playing and Stoudemire left midway through the game, the Knick couldn’t push aside the Celtics with Carmelo’s best playoff performance ever.
The Celtics are not playing well at the moment. Anyone who knows the C’s, knows what the Men in Green are capable of and they are only going to improve with time. To compliment that, they have rich experience in post-season games and know how to sustain
the pressure when it really matters. Their performance in the critical junctures of the last two games was just a small clip of their tenacity. At present, only the Big-3 and Rondo are carrying the action, but as the games go on, the rest of the Boston bench
is inevitable to get some playing time and when that happens, the Knicks can kiss their next round chances good bye.
Boston will be arriving in New York on Friday for the third postseason meeting. Things won’t be easier for the Knicks at their own building as they are competing in the playoffs now against one of the best teams in the league. New York needs to alter their
line of attack and crop up with a supportive game-plan in order to beat the visiting Celtics. Or else they should prepare themselves for the first round sweep.
One of the major problems the Knicks are facing is with their two offensive powers Stoudemire and Anthony. Both players have enormous talent but they have failed to put together a game winning performance together in recent showdowns. When Anthony is leading
the proceedings, Stoudemire lacgs behind, as was the case in Tuesday’s game and vice versa.
Both players need to realise that the team can only do better if they get on the same page and develop chemistry. The Knicks however might have to wait for this rhythm to develop as Stoudemire is still tentative for the third game.
Anthony however still seems confident of making a strong comeback. Pointing to the Celtics’ sloppy play in the first two encounters he said, "The Celtics didn't do anything special; they won two games on their home court. Now it's our turn to do the same
thing."
Although Carmelo has the potential to turn things around as he did in the regular season, the current platform makes it difficult. He will be challenging a team who went to the NBA final last year and are extremely keen on grabbing the championship title
this year.
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