KNICKS vs. NETS ~ Wednesday Night Hoops

WEDNESDAY NIGHT HOOPS

New Jersey Nets

vs.

New York Knicks

Madison Square Garden
33rd Street and 7th Avenue

Most Talk Of A Budding Rivalry Is Taking A Back Seat This Time Around With Both Teams Having More Pressing Issues As The Season Winds Down.

This rivalry will have it's day.  It's just not Wednesday.  Actually after the Melo Trade Drama and the Nets acquisition of Deron Williams, things have been fairly quiet between the two camps.  James Dolan and Mikhail Prokhorov are out of the headlines for the moment and attending to owner's stuff I assume.  Since the last time these teams met, the Nets went across the Pond to play a pair of games in England and the Knicks shocked their fans with massive ticket increases.

On the court, the Knicks are still trying to mesh together.  The Defense is non-existent and the Offense isn't where everyone thought it would be.  As for the Nets, they better be real careful as to how they deal with Deron Williams' injured wrist.




KNICK NEWS:  It took overtime, but the Knicks finally snapped their six game loosing streak that frazzled everyone from Melo and the Media, to D'Antoni, and the fans.  Melo dropped thirty-nine points in the win.
FINAL ~ 113-106 Knicks over Magic.

From the Taken Out of Context Department:  Melo doesn't want to play upwards of forty minutes a game?  Amare' can't drive an hour out of town for a team shoot-around?  Really?

Coach D'Antoni breaks out in a rash any time you bring up defense.  If you read between the lines, he'll tell you his defense IS his offense.  But it's the offense that has struggled of late.  And that reminds me of the league wide welcome mat placed in our defensive paint in the absence a big man.  And when is the Garden crown going to get it?  Save your breath and stop chanting DE-FENSE!!   I know that's our thing for a long time, but right now, it's useless.  It's laughable for the crowd to chant De-Fense when there are pigeons landing on Knick players imitating statues on the defensive end.

And for what ever reason, this team carries itself like it's already clinched a playoff spot and is just finishing out the string now.  Doesn't it?  I have a lot of opinions about these Knicks.  And most of them aren't good.
But I'm going to ease into all that.  I don't want to make it seem like I'm just surfing the wave of negativity especially after I haven't posted about the Knicks much lately.

The truth is I was never a big fan of Melo.  However, I do feel the trade was still worth pursuing.  And I do think he can work here.  But I don't have any visions of grandeur or lofty expectations for this Knick team as presently constituted should we wind up in the playoffs.  I just can't get the vision of Carmelo Anthony sucker-punching Mardy Collins several years back out of my head.  ...But that's just me.


On the other hand...




NETS NEWS:  Tonight versus the HOUSTON ROCKETS:

FINAL:
Houston Rockets  112
New Jersey Nets   87

Deron Williams looks like he may be ready to make a return against the Knicks after missing the last six games.  Coach Avery said it best when he stated one big game will not make him (Coach Avery) jeopardize Deron's long-term health.  Deron says the wrist feels better.  I'd have concern because this is a recurring injury.  But I'd be pretty cautious if I were the Nets.  Managing this injury will weigh into Deron's decision to re-sign here as much as any factor he'll take into consideration.  And I have to admit, the trio of Williams, Brook Lopez and Kris Humphries intrigues me.  Some complimentary pieces around them and...ya never know.  But that's up to Billy King.

Speaking of Kris Humphries - Life seems to be quiet lovely for him these days.  What's better than a stroll through NYC's Meatpacking District with his Gal?  Or, is the article possibly implying, "Mister" Kardashian is being accompanied by his larger than life Lady Friend?  Quite the paradox...No?  (Uh...No!)

AAR/Fame Pictures ~ N.Y. Post

And sorry Kim, these are the curves that have my attention.  Just take at look at these...

Barclays Center ~ Downtown Brooklyn

Future Home of the New Jersey Nets

...ain't she a beauty?

KNICKS vs. NETS

A Rivalry Grows

RELATED LINKS:

Knicks Power Rankings: Just A Little Effort;  by Seth Rosenthal

Youngest Players In The NBA Today; by Joe Dorish - YahooSports  Hint...Derrick Favors.

Mike.BTB