The Knicks are Unstoppable

The Knicks are on a 3 game winning streak for the first time all season, and are now 4-1 in December. They just beat the Blazers with relative ease, 93-84, and are looking like they might actually be a good NBA team. The Knicks played real team basketball and were simply the better team on both ends of the ball throughout the game. Brandon Roy could not muster any heroics, and the Blazer team looked lackluster and a step slow throughout. The Knicks featured a quintet of double digit scorers, featuring efficient output from Larry Hughes, David Lee, Wilson Chandler, and of course, Danilo Gallinari. Those four combined to score 66 points on 46 shots (I think that's good). The defense was described as "swarming" for the first time in a long time, and the team forced 18 turnovers, led by 2 blocks and 2 steals for both Jared Jeffries and the Rooster. Gallo had 2 emphatic Cockblocks on Andre Miller, and could be a developing shot blocker.

Look out NBA Gallo keeps breaking out new tricks.

All in all the team rocked the house and played awesome, again without the Lilliputian one seeing a minute.

More random thoughts from the game:

• Kelly Tripucka has got to be one of the worst sports commentators out there. He seems like a great guy and was mentioned a bunch of times in Bill Simmon's book, which gives him some cred, but he is a run-on sentence waiting to happen. Here is an example, from the pregame talk. This is all said in one breath, as one sentence, with little to no audible pauses. "Oh I think mike it starts with playing hard and they have to play hard every single night i think they're doing that for longer stretches but i think as the players and the coaches spoke, they're playing more as a team at both ends of the court but i think defensively they're playing better for longer stretches, they don't have to be a good defensive team or a great defensive team they just have to be good in spots for longer stretches and i think they're starting to get that and its nice to see team basketball." It also doesn't make much sense. Makes me miss Clyde so much more. What happened to Gus Johnson by the way?
• Tripucka did make a solid comment when he talked about how Jeffries needs to learn what he is good at and stick to that and not do what he isn't good at, like shooting.
• The Knicks made hustle plays all game and that is the type of thing that is totally in the players control. Nice to see proud, motivated play.
• Al Harrington started ice cold and stayed that way. He ended with 12 points on 15 shots.
• Gallo had one of his best games despite shooting only 4 for 10, 3 for 7 from deep. It seemed like he drew ten fouls. After Martell Webster blatantly tugged The Rooster's jersey for a silly off the ball foul, I thought to myself "These teams are scared to give him an inch. Smart foul because it sends him to the line for 2 points and he would have most likely nailed a 3."
• Gallo also forced a turnover by blanketing point guard Jared Bayless off a made basket, denying the inbound. Duhon stole, and Al finished it off with a 3.
• Jared "Ragdoll"Jeffries is the king of taking charges. He had 2 today and the Knicks team as a whole made big plays that don't show on the stat sheet.
• Toney Douglas did what Toney Douglas Do, but only for a measley 11 minutes. 
• Nobody shined for the Blazers, and their star Brandon Roy was not much of a factor. I still love watching him play. It is like he is underwater or in molasses. He has a very methodical and unique game.
• Jared Bayless looks like a player. Kind of in the mold of Monta Ellis, very explosive. 14 points in 17 minutes
  
• Chris Duhon had an acceptable game by his lowered standards. He had 9 assists which is a lot these days, and the ball was moving crisply most of the game. I don't know how much Duhon's supposed facilitating of the offense influenced this, but he did play very hard and was all around ok.
  
  
  
  
  
• For the halftime show, they should definitely televise whenever they have little kids play basketball. It is riveting. Also, Celine Dion is a terrible interview, poor Jill Martin.
• Jared Jeffries made a long jump shot!
• Juwon Howard?
• The Blazers had a 14-0 run in the fourth extinguished by Danilo's signature stutter step three from the top of the key. Right before this happened I wrote in my notes "Rooster Time?" I kid you not.
• David Lee could be earning himself some big bucks this season. He is consistently very good, and is improving at his major weakness, defense. He really stroked the jumper tonight. I just tried to google search for his shooting percentage on jump shots, but all I could find was this David Lee Jumpshot Secrets. 

It was nice to have another end to end win, like the Suns game. Dangerous thoughts are going through my head. Could they be beginning a ten game winning streak? Are the Knicks actually good. If any of you read Bill Simmons Book of Basketball, he talks about the secret. It comes from a convo with our very own Isiah Thomas, who says like a wise sage "the secret of basketball is not about basketball." It's basically team chemistry, knowing how to make your teammates better, passing players the ball where they like it, keeping everyone involved and going to your strengths, inherently knowing what it takes to win and executing. I think Mike D'Antoni knows the secret, and I am beginning to feel like the Knicks may have figured it out.