Good teams bounce back from tough losses and adversity.  We were definitely close to beating Boston, and we were tied with Miami through one half.

They effectively shut down Amar’e, and our back court of Felton and Fields were never really factors in the game.

Gallinari and Chandler did what they could against LeBron, but he is basically unguardable.  A new approach will be needed in future encounters with the Heat.

Just as they were able to contain Amar’e by triple teaming him and collapsing down whenever he touched the ball, we need to limit what LeBron does.  The Heat were able take away the mainstay of the D’Antoni offense:  the pick and roll.

Considering our two losses, do you think Donnie is working the phones right now?

We keep playing teams with streaks.  The Cavs have lost 10 in a row since they’ve played the one-two punch of Boston followed by Miami.

I think the Knicks are relieved to go back on the road.  They play better on the road than they do in Madison Square Garden.

Dec 03 @ New Orleans 8:00W
Dec 05 @ Toronto 1:00 W
Dec 06 vs Minnesota 7:30W
Dec 08 vs Toronto 7:30W
Dec 10 @ Washington 7:00W
Dec 12 vs Denver 12:00W
Dec 15 vs Boston 7:00L
Dec 17 vs Miami 7:00L
Dec 18 @ Cleveland 7:30L
Dec 22 vs Oklahoma City 7:30
Dec 25 vs Chicago 12:00
Dec 28 @ Miami 7:30
Dec 30 @ Orlando 7:00

Okay, I know it is now called TD Banknorth Garden, but it was once called the Fleet Center, just like the TD Waterhouse arena down in Orlando was once called the Orlando O-rena. My age is showing. I won’t bother to focus on any stats because you will have access to all that stuff online, but I will take some notes of the game and report back what I see for you. It is a four hour drive from here, and it is a meaningless pre-season game, this is crazy. But I look at it this way: this will be the first time “the big three” play on their home floor, and the first time we see E-Zbo. Unfortunately no Balkman, but we’ll have almost everybody else, including AH7–his first game in years! This is a new era for the Atlantic Division. I will represent you defenders. I’ll be back after the game with an update, by then the AP synopsis will be out, but at least you’ll have another perspective, from one defender to another.

LGK!