NBA Playoffs 2011: 10 Ways for the New York Knicks to Get Back into Series
Previously, I predicted the Celtics would take it in five.
Now, I’m not so sure the New York Knicks will even steal a game.
Mike D’Antoni has his work cut out for him. In his post-match press conference, he said as much.
But he knows time is not on his side.
Here are 10 ways the Knicks can be competitive again in the series.
Celtics Won’t Reproduce Another Game 3 Performance
1 of 10
Pierce goes for 38 points on only 19 shots.
Allen knocks down eight triples.
Rondo has a triple-double.
Are you kidding me?
These nights are few and far between.
Gain Early Momentum
2 of 10
In Game 1 at the TD Garden, Carmelo Anthony was forced to sit after picking up two fouls in the opening 90 seconds.
Last night, the Celtics began the opening period with a 9-0 run.
Pitted against a group of postseason veterans such as the C's, the last thing the Knicks need is to play catch-up from the outset.
Execute Down the Stretch
3 of 10
Had Carmelo Anthony hit a triple with four seconds left in Game 1, the series may be spiraling down a completely different path.
Let there be no confusion.
It was ‘Melo’s shot to take.
The part that stings is the lack of method that accompanied the madness.
With no time-outs left, Toney Douglas was forced to race the ball down the floor, hand it to Anthony and say, “There you go.”
With 11.6 seconds on the clock at the inbound, the Knicks should have gotten a better shot.
Don't Make Excuses
4 of 10
Chauncey Billups has been sidelined and hurt.
Amar’e Stoudemire continues to play hurt.
After last night’s Game 3 loss, D’Antoni refused to use poor health as an excuse and the same should apply Sunday.
After all, both missed Game 2 in Boston and the C's were lucky to steal a 96-93 victory.
Limping out of the series is simply not an option.
The Knicks are back in the postseason for the first time in seven years, and they owe it to their fans to play hard despite the injury setbacks.
Keep Rondo out of the Paint
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Sure, this one is easier said than done.
Rajon Rondo dropped 22 points and 14 assists on the Spurs at the start of the month, but I like the way San Antonio played him.
They gave him jump shots.
They lived with the results.
And he couldn’t miss.
Twelve of Rondo’s 13 field goals were from layups in Game 2 against the Knicks.
He’s arguably the Celtics' best player now. And culling his influence completely is not realistic.
But keeping him out of the paint is key to forcing Boston into taking tougher shots.
Get Landry Fields Involved Early
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Landry Fields has endured a horror start to his first playoff series.
In three games, he’s totaled just six points, going three of 12 from the field.
This is a guy who averaged just less than 10 points a game in his rookie season, shooting 50 percent from the floor.
The Knicks need to spend more time getting Fields involved early on the offensive end, and less time chasing Ray Allen off screens.
If Mike D’Antoni can get Fields on the end of a few first-quarter possessions, he can keep Allen accountable on the defensive end.
Push the Tempo
7 of 10
The Knicks know they can’t play a half-court game against the Celtics and expect to win the series.
They have yet to surpass 100 points in the playoffs, yet averaged 106 per game through the regular season.
This is a team that needs plenty of shots to win a basketball game.
Pass the Ball
8 of 10
Isolation offense is predictable.
And the Celtics have too many superior shut-down defenders to let it work.
The “your turn, my turn” style of offense simply won’t cut it.
The Knicks are averaging only 16 assists per game thus far in the series, down from their season average of 21.3.
Show Some Pride
9 of 10
With all the trades manufactured in the past 12 months, can the Knicks really afford to be swept in their own building?
The Knicks need at least one playoff victory to entertain the idea that next season they could be a legitimate force in the East.
The last time New York made the playoffs they were swept by the Nets.
In fact, if they fail to beat Boston Sunday, it will be 10 years since their last post-season victory.
Keep the Faith
10 of 10
Last night the Celtics were good.
Really good.
They scored 113 points on 94 possessions, making it their most efficient offensive game since January.
It's fair to say the reigning Eastern Conference champion would have beaten better teams than the Knicks on the night.
It's worth remembering only five points in total separated the teams through the first two games at Boston.
The most optimistic Knicks fans will be hoping the Celtics are already distracted at the thought of a second-round clash against the Heat.
At the moment the C's have every right to be doing so.
