SIMULBLOG FOR SONICS V. KNICKS

JAMAL CRAWFORD RULES THE DAY -- KNICKS WIN

Knicks 87 Sonics 86 with 3:39 left in the 4th Quarter
Reggie Evans is trying to guard Eddy Curry in the post. This is a problem.
Ray Allen can’t hit anything. This is as bad a shooting night as I have ever seen from Ray.
He was wide open a moment ago. The Knicks had a major breakdown and he missed a wide opn three for the lead.


Knicks 82 Sonics 78 with 6:45 left in the 4th Quarter
Interesting that when it gets to crunch time Larry Brown goes to his best offensive line-up.
Crawford is the best player on the floor right now.
Ray Allen is having a tough night. I thought this would have been a match-up he would dominate. Let’s see what he does down the stretch.
Ridnour in for Murray who had a tough night
Channing Frye is going to be an outstanding pro.
Both teams in the bonus at 6:45 left.


Sonics 72 Knicks 71 at the end of the 3rd Quarter
The reason Seattle looks like they have no rhythm tonight is the bench is not playing well. The Sonics starters played well and got a lead and then the bench didn’t perform tonight and it has been a struggle since.
This game feels like it is slipping the wrong direction.
Jamal Crawford is one of the offensive players I aforementioned and he is hot.
Flip is not letting the game come to him tonight at all.
The Sonics eliminated the Knicks pick and roll with a great defensive game plan, but the Knicks have gone away from it and the Sonics can’t stop what the Knicks are running.

Sonics 66 Knicks 60 with 2:39 left in the 3rd Quarter
Jamal Crawford is a very poor defensive player
Weiss is gambling and trying to get as many minutes he can out of Swift. Evans must be injured. The others are all in foul trouble. Weiss pulled him at 4:43. That is a good run.
Robert doesn’t look like he has any idea how to rebound.
The Sonics are not playing well. I can’t tell if it is the match-up or if is the Sonics lacking.
The Knicks have some offensive players that will make this tough if the Sonics let the Knicks stay in the game.
The Knicks bench is far better then their starters so this becomes time.


Sonics 61 Knicks 48 with 6:54 left in the 3rd Quarter
Robert Swft is starting the second half of action.
This may be the ultimate jinx but Ridnour is doing a really nice job on Marbury
Ray Allen is being guarded by Marbury. He should kill him.
Nate Robinson does not start the second half.
Eddy Curry enters the game at the 9:30 mark because they believe he can go at Swift.
Two possessions later Curry is replaced by Jackie Butler. Larry Brown is all over the place.
This is why the Knicks commit so many turnovers


Sonics 50 Knicks 41 at the half.
Robert Swift enters when Nick Collison gets his 3rd foul.
This is most excitement of the night in a dead arena
Jerome James took it to Swift on two possessions.
Swift missed a tip-jam with two hands. He visibly has too much energy.
You want a jacked up rotation Larry Brown is all over the place


Sonics 47 Knicks 36 with 2:39 left in the 2nd Quarter
Nate Robinson just took a charge (awful call) from Danny Fortson
It was Fortson’s 3rd foul.
Larry Brown is beside himself on the sidelines.
Nate is guarding Luke. Seattle is in a zone
Marbury just pulled up from 20 breaking off a play and missed. Brown was pissed but when he looked down his bench he had no one to go to.
Marbury’s body language is just awful.
This game has no flow the Sonics aren’t playing particularly well.


Sonics 35 Knicks 25 with 7:04 left in the 2nd Quarter
Larry Brown just called a timeout when Jamal Crawford pulled up and took a jumper with 18 seconds on the shot clock without running the set play or making a pass.

Sonics 33 Knicks 23 with 7:50 left in the 2nd Quarter
Curry’s size is a problem for the Sonics down low
The minute Antonio Davis left the game the Knicks became dramatically better.
Vitaly couldn’t handle Curry and got 3 fouls. Why not go Swift at this point?
Knicks in the penalty at 8:05 left in the Q. That is bad because the Knicks can’t shoot so this is the only way they can score.
The Knicks have been brutal at the line 7 of 16.
Sonics are in the penalty at 7:50


Sonics 27 Knicks 17 at the end of the 1st Quarter
Looking at Penny Hardaway reminds me of all the hype around Lil’ Penny. He is barely hanging on.
Eddy Curry is fat.
Nate’s opening quarter was very quiet.
The Sonics played a very strong first half. Their transition was terrific.
Ridnour had 5 assists in the quarter.


Sonics 15 Knicks 8 with 6:06 left in the 1st Quarter
Huge ovation for Nate Robinson. Mixed reaction to Jerome James in the pre-game.
Nick Collison leaves the game with two fouls 2 possessions into the game.
This has always been my concern with him starting. Moreover, with him starting at center.
Luke Ridnour is seeing the floor as well as I have seen him all year.
He has initiated a few fast breaks and is finding the open man with precision.
Keep an eye on Antonio Davis of the Knicks. He is the worst +/- player in the NBA. He starts for the Knicks. Obviously, he is -7


Storylines
1) Sonics improving their defense
2) Nate Robinson back home
3) Sonics bench play from Radman, Flip and Danny
4) How will the Knicks guard Ray Allen?

Larry Brown Effect on the New York Knicks
1) Defensive rating from #27 in the NBA at (108.3) to (102.6) #14th in the NBA
2) Not taking care of the ball. The Knicks are #30 in the NBA in turnovers per possession and they were just #18 last year.
3) They went from the #19 offensive rebounding team to the #1 offensive rebounding team
4) They went from the #14 team in the NBA at forcing turnovers to the #2 team in the NBA