NBA Playoffs 2011: No Tony for Anthony nor D'Antoni for Knicks Play vs Celtics.

I’m in a New York state of Mind I guess, sans stress and a la “Barbara”.  How could I not be, after living in The Big Apple for over eleven years and witnessing the team’s relative success during Ewing, Starks, Jackson, Oakley, Walker (Whatever happened to Kenny) and Tucker’s tenure ?  How could I not be quietly excited at the possibility of us finally winning our first playoff game in 10 years ? Hence here am I, penning a few troubling things that are on my mind related to the current NBA Playoffs first round series between well the New York Knicks and the Boston Celtics.

How fitting that Jay-Z and Alicia’s “Empire State of mind” is being played at this moment on M.T.V (My Television) via M.T.V (Music Television).

“In New York, concrete jungle where dreams are made off there’s nothing you can’t do…"

Damn! The whole world must be in a New York State of mind.  That must firstly include D’Antoni as there’s nothing that he couldn't do that he didn’t do in that Playoff 2011 Game 1 against Doc’s team.  Confused? So am I.

Seriously though.  Game 1 at Boston Garden against the Celtics: We were so close to that elusive Playoff win.  Down by two with 3.8 seconds left in regulation, coach D’Antoni’s failed to seize that very last opportunity to redeem himself for a fourth quarter if not a second half that was very poorly coached decision-wise.  By deciding to put the ball in Anthony’s hands (some 25 feet or so away from the basket) on the last possession of “that” game, he showed no common sense whatsoever, failing the team, its fans and ultimately himself.

Don’t get me wrong.  Melo is my man and by no means am I against him having the ball in his hands on the last possession of a game…but not on a day when he clearly wasn't his best.  Actually No. 7 had an atrocious fourth quarter in Game 1: One point in the fourth after managing only two in the third. 

Ten percent shooting in the second half ? That’s ridiculous during the regular season let alone in a playoff game away from home, a Game 1 which New York could and should have won.  Still…down by two with 3.8 seconds left in regulation, New York could have executed a much much better play but hey D’Antoni: “There’s nothing you can’t do.”

There has to be a team statistician keeping the coach abreast throughout the game.  So Mike did you pay attention to him or her?  If so you would have also known that STAT had scored 12 of the team's 28 points during the fourth quarter.  Amare was alive and kicking indeed.  “There’s something you could have done” Mike D’Antoni.  You should have put the ball in his quite capable hands.  To the contrary your coaching lapse(s) undermined Stoudemire.  Did I read somewhere that none of the team’s last six to seven possessions went to/through Amare despite him having scored 12 fourth quarter points ?

I definitely read and quote:  “During Monday's press conference off the parquet, Mike D'Antoni trotted out the statistic that says that the absolute best finisher over the last 10 years in NBA games has been Carmelo Anthony.”

Would someone, anyone please firmly slap coach twice in his face….a backhand followed by a forehand ?  Not angrily and definitely not to physically cause him any harm.  It’s New York You Know…”There’s nothing you can’t do” plus he needs to pay attention in order to adjust on the fly and not be so inflexible as to predetermine who’s taking the game last shot(s) in crunch time regardless of his/their performance du jour.

Snap out of it both of you: Anthony and D’Antoni. 

It’s the Playoffs and every single possession of each and every game matters.

Game 2………coming up !