With one game remining in the NFL season, the NBA is making its customary schedule shift from heavy to lighter on Saturdays and light to heavier on Sundays, with some allowances for the compression of the lockout.
As a result, Saturday’s slate has just six games, and the best of a weak bunch has the slumping New York Knicks visiting the surging Houston Rockets.
Yes, this isn’t exactly a marquee matchup, especially with Knicks star Carmelo Anthony again sitting out with multiple injuries. But as long as the Knicks continue to struggle, they bear close watching.
If you want to blame someone for the overt attention on the Knicks, point your finger at coach Mike D’Antoni. He was the one who said right before Opening Day that “of course” the Knicks were a title contender.
It hasn’t really played out that way. Even a 6-4 start included a 78-point no-show at Golden State and home losses to Toronto and Charlotte. Since then, the Knicks have dropped eight of nine, with D’Antoni’s seat getting hotter and hotter.
New York’s biggest problem has been on offense, where it has been unable to unleash Amar’e Stoudemire. Last season, Stoudemire averaged 25.3 points on 50 percent shooting. This season, he is down to 17.2 points on 42 percent from the field, and some have suggested trading him.
The issue is the lack of a point guard who can play pick-and-roll basketball with Stoudemire. There was hope that the Knicks would be getting back Baron Davis during this road trip, but that probably is not happening.
Meanwhile, the Rockets did just fine without their leading scorer. Kevin Martin averaged 29.3 points over a four-game stretch before sitting out Friday’s 103-76 win over woeful Washington with plantar fasciatis.
Martin is expected to play Saturday, when the Rockets seeks their ninth victory in 10 games. They have won 12 of the last 13 meetings with the Knicks.
D’Antoni doesn’t have the “right” players to run his system, that’s why he never wanted the melo to Denver trade, New York gave up way too much. His current system “will not work” with his current players. Yes, they’re talented, but will not function in D’Antoni’s system. I absolutely loved D’Antoni and STAT for coming to New York, but they’re both gone before the trade deadline.
Everyone keeps saying Mike D’antoni’s seat is getting hot and yet nothing has changed, his seat was pretty warm coming into the season if you ask me. How is it that a coach like Flip Saunders got the axe with hardly any talent but D’antoni has a ton of talent, a HORRIFIC record with the Knicks and yet hes still here, a mist losing 8 of 9?
another wrinkle is Houston owns the Knicks’ 2012 1st rd pick (top 5 protected)