Think there is a poster with that name on TDS. Saw this on Posting and Toasting after the Knicks game, I just had to share it.

I'd almost think it was a strategic loss

I have to believe the Knicks could’ve done better if they wanted. Problem is that Houston is a nightmare for a coach trying to keep an old team healthy, and if you don’t have enough in the tank, you might as well just lay the damn egg than waste what you have. Thing is, teams get bad PR if they don’t play their starters anyway. They’ve beaten the Celtics and Lakers and pushed the Spurs. Not only are they young, they’re run by a very unselfish backcourt with excellent court vision. It’s common for Harden and Lin to get about 15 assists in a night between them. They’re honestly fun to watch, in my opinion. But for a team like New York, it means it’d take everything to beat them, which sometimes just might not be worth it — especially if you know you won’t see them again.

I said it last year, if anyone remembers. Anyone who wants to beat Lin, can. He’s just so exhausting to defend that it’s really a matter of how badly you want to win the game. After blowing them out the first time, San Antonio barely beat them the second time then promptly lost their next two games to Utah and Portland. Would you want the Knicks to beat Houston if it cost them the next 2-3 games?

As for Chandler staying on Asik, I have to disagree with Seth’s assessment. Chandler was probably toldto stay on him, because Lin and Harden excel at finding the open man. Did it work? No, but remember Lin’s feeds to Novak and Chandler last year? Yeah, Woodson remembers. Asik is not as consistent as Chandler, but he’s smoked some teams just by having the D collapse on Harden or Lin; one quick pass later Asik’s putting in a layup or a dunk with no one in front of him. The problem is that for 29 agonizing minutes, the Knicks had to assign a 39-year old guard either a 23-year-old shooting guard or a 24-year-old point guard — both of whom can drive, shoot the open jumper and pass well, meaning double-teams aren’t very effective. Double-team Harden and he’ll feed Lin — not good. Double-team Lin and he’ll feed Harden — even worse. Double-team both and even “the likes of Omer Asik” could score in the wide-open frontcourt.

by dragonchild on Dec 18, 2012 6:58 AM EST up reply 2 recs