NY Knicks: Another crushing Knicks defeat left everyone at Madison Square Garden literally “shaking their heads” Monday night. Following a bizarre ending New Yorkers won’t soon forget. So far this season New York has found more than a few ways to get beaten at home. Think about this for a second. The Knicks finished last season with a 31-10 record at home, yet their current home record sits at 4-9. Not the recipe for a team trying to climb out of a big, early hole. Mike Woodson will no doubt shoulder a huge piece of the blame pie sure to be served to the Knicks between now and their next game in Milwaukee on Wednesday.
After a poor shooting first quarter New York allowed Washington to go on a 15-4 run beginning late in the second quarter and on in to the third. Martell Webster and Bradley Beal lead the Wizards to a 54% shooting night from the field while floor general John Wall proved to be too much for the poorest Knicks’ perimeter defense. Even the boo birds could be heard serenading the Knicks for their poorest play but New York used a 22-5 run of their own though during a six minute stretch later on in the third. JR Smith seemed to finally get on track with a couple of timely shots from downtown to provide New York a momentous boost.
Unfortunately for the Garden faithful if the Knicks have shown them anything this season it’s been the inability to handle even the smallest amount of prosperity. Midway through the fourth Washington would take a 7 point lead. New York would again rely on the three point shooting of Carmelo Anthony but more so JR Smith who buried two more threes during a stretch that would put the Knicks on top one more time but Beal would not let his team go out just like that, sinking a pair of deep triples to tie the game at 100.
Then things start to get a little crazy. The Knicks led by 1 point and had a foul to give with THREE timeouts. Beal drove to his left on Beno Udrih who seemed to expect some help baseline which never arrived and finished with an uncontested go ahead layup with 6.9 seconds to go in regulation. In the ongoing confusion Mike Woodson chose not to call a timeout so his team could advance the ball to the frontcourt and setup the final possession of the game.
Carmelo Anthony peaked over towards his head coach on the sideline and seen that no timeout was being signaled from the bench nor did anyone on the court, Melo included. Udrih would inbound the ball to Anthony who took his time getting over half court only to throw up a wild, off balanced shot that careened harmlessly off the backboard. Just like that New York found a new way to blow another one at home. A thing Knicks fans have become all to accustom to.
After the game Woodson said “I probably should’ve taken the timeout there at the end” and “I should’ve reacted a lot sooner once the ball went through the bucket, that’s on me.” Anthony said “I think we were expecting a timeout” but also took some of the blame saying “as players we gotta be smart enough to know that as well.” When asked about his head coaches job security the Knicks leader replied “As far as I’m concerned, he’s secure right now. I haven’t heard anything.”
Notes:
Pablo Prigioni broke his right big toe. The injury does not need surgery but will sideline the Argentinian point guard for about two weeks.
Coach Woodson said Chris Smith may be an option from their D-League affiliate with Prigioni going down.
Washington shot 61% from behind the three point line.
Tyson Chandler may return from his broken left fibula as early as Wednesday.
Wilson Caicedo:PureSportsNY