Knicks vs. Celtics: Behind the Scenes at the Game of the Year
Amar'e Stoudemire (photo. King Lawrence)
* Amar’e got the easiest 39 points of his life. You would think that if any team could defend the pick-and-roll it would be Boston’s veteran group, but they were getting torn apart by Felton and Amar’e, resulting in wide-open looks and easy dunks for STAT and driving lanes for Felton. Yesterday in the office we were debating whether Felton is a Top-10 point guard in the NBA. Talent-wise, I’d say no. But the way he’s playing this season, absolutely. Felton is like the younger Andre Miller in that he’s found the right system for him and simply gets it done. The New York crowd already loves him, though he’s only a couple losing streaks away from being booed like Stephon Marbury. Felton seems to thrive under the spotlight, though.
* Every time it seemed the Knicks were about to put Boston away, the Celtics hit a couple shots and stay within striking distance. A minute to go in the fourth, Ray Allen hit a three right in front of New York’s bench — I think it was Roger Mason who jumped up to yell in his ear. The crowd groaned as soon as he caught the ball, reminiscent of the Reggie Miller era.
* Twelve seconds left, tie game, Boston ball. Either Doc Rivers was going to draw up a creative play to get Allen an open look, or it’d be Pierce going right for a pull-up jumper. They run the pick-and-roll and Amar’e and Felton have to switch, leaving STAT on Pierce. He goes right, two dribbles, a little push-off and buries the fadeaway with 0.4 on the clock. Amazing.
* Multiple times this season Mike D’Antoni has run a play in crunch time to get Amar’e an open three at the top of the key. And it’s worked. They run it again and Amar’e has the open look … AND HITS IT AT THE BUZZER! You remember that overhead camera shot of the Garden erupting when Larry Johnson hit the four-point play against Indiana? From my vantage point, it looked exactly like that. During the moment, it seemed like Amar’e may have gotten the shot off in time, but the TV replay showed it wasn’t even close. The crowd was booing so loud as the refs reviewed it, I wondered if they’d pull a Franco Harris “Immaculate Reception” move and just count the shot so they wouldn’t catch batteries to the dome. They waved it off anyway.
* In his post-game press conference, Amar’e says he’s never pleased with a loss, but admits the Knicks played well and now have Boston’s respect. “They know we’re not slouch.”
* John Starks and Anthony Mason were in the tunnel after the game. Spike Lee walked past me, which isn’t the first time I’ve seen Spike up-close, but is the first time I’ve seen him up-close when he’s standing up. He’s about 5-5.
* I’m pretty sure the media wants this whole rivalry to pop off more than the fans or the players. Every player I saw interviewed yesterday was asked about the rivalry multiple times, as reporters tried to get them to say flat-out “The rivalry is back.” Most of them didn’t bite. Some Celtics did allow that this Knicks team is better than in years past, but that’s about it.
* Boston’s locker room was closed for a long time afterward. A players-only meeting after a win? The Celtics do have some things to talk about defensively, as they gave up 116 points and couldn’t stop that pick-and-roll.
When it finally does open, Big Baby is again crowded, as he’s really the only notable guy available. Nate Robinson is giving the rookie Harangody a hard time after Harangody wouldn’t take Nate’s jacket to the team bus. “Oh, so you’ll carry Shaq’s food but not my jacket? OK, I get it.” Nate then decides Harangody has to buy everybody something for Christmas, and walks out of the locker room singing, “Last Christmas, I gave you my heart!”
* Garnett emerges from the training room and, after giving some dap and catching up with his boy Felipe Lopez, is swarmed by recorders and notepads.
After KG leaves, Pierce emerges and an even bigger crowd surrounds him. I get in one question: Asking how he feels coming out of that timeout in that situation where he knows he’s getting the ball to decide the game. “I’m nervous. I’m always nervous,” Pierce says. He hides it well.
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December 16th, 2010 at 12:00 pm
bookkwormmaster says:
Nice little insider info AB. Very enjoyable read
December 16th, 2010 at 12:06 pm
sh!tfaced says:
nice one. man, must be awesome to experience something like that. we should get more behind the scenes stuff. that was one good walkthrough, ab.
with the way he celebrated last night, gotta wonder if Paul Pierce received a few pointers from The Miz himself… lol
December 16th, 2010 at 12:23 pm
JBaller says:
Thank you for the great article Austin. I’ve been waiting years for the Knicks to be relevant again. It doesn’t have to be an instant rivalry to be a good game, and the Knicks took them to the wire last night. If Amare’s last shot counted NY fans would’ve gone nuts!
December 16th, 2010 at 12:46 pm
Sporty-j says:
Time to bring the HEAT to MSG!!! Wade is going to DUNK on somebody. My guess??? SPIKE LEE if he brings his A$$ on the court trying to persuade the refs that AMARE can get a shot off in 4 tenths of a second lol??? Man i must admit i kind of feel sorry for the guy but to watch the faces of those Knick fans look like they had just lost they best-friend when Paul Pu$$y hit that game winner WAS PRICELESS. Than to watch LEE at the center of the court screaming like MARK CUBAN. Yep, PRICE-LESS. I cant imagine him on FRIDAY NIGHT and i know its going to be rocking. Would be funny if LEBRON delivers the dagger this time after he already delivered 1 this summer to SPIKE and the Knick fans that he was taking his talent to SOUTH BEACH instead of BROADWAY. Poor guy might lose his mind and start chasing LEBRON lol…
December 16th, 2010 at 12:57 pm
Mitch says:
The perspective was unreal…I felt like I was in the type of movie shot where the camera was following the narrator. That being said…I have to comment on an article from couple days back where you guys did not mention the James Harden dunk on JJ Hickson. I know other readers commented but I wanted to mention it jus cuz…
pz
December 16th, 2010 at 1:11 pm
IGP says:
I really appreciate you even more as a writer after your “Four Things That Need to Die” line. I fucking hate when people say “nuff said” and adding “-gate” to the end of anything is so annoying. And if playing with all stars makes you average 20 assists then why the hell is Arroyo killing it this year? All he has to do is give the ball to James, Bosh or Wade right?
December 16th, 2010 at 1:50 pm
JoshG says:
interesting…nice work AB.
December 16th, 2010 at 1:56 pm
Chaos says:
Honestly the L needs rivalries again. The NFL and MLB have those and it makes the game that much better. But in order to have it there has to be some level of animosity between the two teams (like DAL/WAS, PIT/BAL, NYY/BOS). There needs to be some kinda rivalry and every is too buddy buddy for that….
Honestly how likey is it for ray felton to be an all star. He is the third best performing pg in the east right now. Call me out if I’m lying
December 16th, 2010 at 2:02 pm
IGP says:
@ Chaos…I think Felton is an All-Star. When I think of all-stars I think of who is impacting the league the most as well as stats and wins. That’s partly why Kevin Love and Blake Griffin are locks in my opinion. Their teams sucks but I wanna see the best players and the players who help define the season. Tell me when you look at the season so far you don’t think of Kevin Love and Griffin?
December 16th, 2010 at 2:11 pm
Steve Nash says:
Felize Lopez… really… is he the ball boy or something? what happened to him
December 16th, 2010 at 2:28 pm
Hoops says:
Knicks dominated from the start but the mighty C’s stole it in the end. Hard luck Amar’e.
December 16th, 2010 at 2:34 pm
karizmatic says:
Yeah people do need to realize Rondo is the real deal..at first I was one of those people that said oh well he’s on a team with 3 (now 4) future all stars it’s easy. But after seeing him this year the dude is the real deal. I think he’s the best point guard in the league.
December 16th, 2010 at 2:36 pm
karizmatic says:
Also I agree with Chaos…in the East it’s Rondo and Rose…Felton isn’t getting any looks over them.
December 16th, 2010 at 2:57 pm
Sporty-j says:
Felton should make it as 3rd string PG. Does N.Y. trade him next though for lets say, a guy by the name of CP3 if he keeps this level of play up??? Dude is passing the ball just as good as CP3 right now and is shooting lights out???
December 16th, 2010 at 3:13 pm
s.bucketz says:
CP3 controls the game like no1 else tho..
lol @ the charles smith joke
even bigger lol @ rondo avg 10 + asts w/ clevland (but hey, dre miller avgd 10+ asts wit an even shittier cle squad wit ther doo doo blue jerseys back in the day so it could happen)
December 16th, 2010 at 3:18 pm
Rainman says:
“If the Raptors were offered Gallinari for Andrea Bargnani straight-up, do they take that deal?”
coming from a Torontonian: NO.
Bargs is a potential All Star, Gallo on the other hand doesnt want the pressure that comes with being a star, which he has always said, he is just a role player…
December 16th, 2010 at 3:21 pm
Rainman says:
also agreed, EPIC FAIL
need to go away. it was always gay…
and amazingly nerdy/geeky.
December 16th, 2010 at 4:10 pm
teamcurtisfamily says:
Sitting in the rich people seats! Nice!
Rondo can play and the Celtics are a well rounded team when he is on the court.
Even great players play better when they have a Rondo at PG!
Blessings,
Ron (Celtics Fan!)
December 16th, 2010 at 5:23 pm
sh!tfaced says:
some said rondo left MSG in crutches last night…?
December 16th, 2010 at 11:31 pm
jzsmoove says:
Austin Burton, wrong again. Alonzo Mourning has the biggest calves in the world. Just as big as Vince’s leg. Can you say grapefruit?
Gallo for Bargnani? GTF..OH – gate
December 17th, 2010 at 2:48 am
svigi says:
Charles Smith and a chicken sandwich is cold but very funny