Smack / Mar 31, 2011 / 7:41 am

Carmelo/MSG Produce Fireworks; The Rest of the League Goes Crazy

By

Carmelo AnthonyNormally, starting Smack with a Knicks/Nets game must’ve meant that the rest of the league either had the night off or every other game just sucked. We could’ve started with all of the misplaced anger going around the NBA last night – guys were throwing bows, players were getting thrown out for grabbing their junk, there were punches thrown between announcers and fans. People were going harder than Malice on a solo cut, but we’ll get to it all after last night’s main basketball event from Madison Square Garden … 68 first-half points. To the Nets. Even Jay-Z would’ve had to laugh at that. Mike D’Antoni and the Knicks were probably laughing themselves. New York’s defense couldn’t have been more lax if they tried. Still, it was fun. Runs, highlights, the return of Deron Williams (22 points) - the first half had everything. But New York and Carmelo Anthony (39 points, 10 rebounds) did just enough in the second half to eek out a win, 120-116. In the third quarter, ‘Melo dropped 20 with a variety of shots: threes, spin moves, pull-ups, bringing the Knicks back from two separate 10-point deficits. While he made just one bucket in the final frame, it was a big one: a baseline shot to give New York the lead with a minute left. We haven’t seen a whole lot of it lately, but when ‘Melo starts cheesing, it’s bad news for the defense … Williams had a wide-open shot to tie it in the final moments and missed. Anthony Morrow (10-15 field goals, 30 points) should’ve touched it on that possession. A win is a win, but after trailing by 16 in the first half, New York barely survived against one of the worst teams in the league. With the win, they moved to 2-8 against teams under .500 since the big trade. They are also 7-4 against teams above .500 in the same span. Something doesn’t make sense … And we bet Williams never signs an extension in New Jersey unless Brook Lopez (26 points) gets rid of his sideburns … Read More: Elbows and fists (by Dominique Wilkins!) were thrown all over the League last night, and we see the return of Vince Carter …

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  • McSimon

    Bulls killin

    And Wall holdin his own, props.

  • http://Dimemag.com Chrisballz

    Hahahaha crak up as games.
    All those scuffles.
    McGee could of stood near the hoop and still smacked the crap out of Z. Brother is that lanky

  • Knicksfan84

    McGee should be a WAY better player than he is now. No reason he doesn’t turn into Dwight Howard. We all know Dr. J is his daddy…

  • quest???

    no mention of barea going crazy on the clippers in the 4th quarter….

  • yoda

    good to see that little man holds his ground against big z. but one thing i don’t get it. i’ve been reading for years how nba players practice boxing and jujutsu and mma and all kind of martial arts during the summer time, yet when it comes to fights on courts, they swing like girls. wtf is that?

  • top_gun

    That wasn’t a fan that was fighting with Dominique Wilkins. It was an ex-referee who claimed Wilkins owed him money for suits.

  • Fish

    People need to give this “New York doesn’t play defense” a rest. It’s not how D’Antoni coaches basketball, and he has proved himself to be a very capable coach. Everyday he bows to the pressure of the media/fans to change his style the team will sink that little bit lower. Let them score 140 points per game, see if people can keep up.

  • First & Foremost

    @Yoda – They do that to stay in shape, if they actually throw down on the court consider their season done and depending on who you and who you hit, they may be looking at a 2 year suspension if it got real ugly. So NBA fights will remain playing chicken with bumper cars.

  • QQ

    Seeing McGee act like a sucker night in and night is just plain disappointing. He has the talent to DOMINATE, but hey, who cares about working on your game if you could make highlight dunks and triple doubles.

    I’m gonna repost this, cause this has to totally happen:

    The Austin Burton meme. (In the same format of the Socially Awkward Penguin and Insanity Wolf stuff)

    ‘Lebron James ass-raped a bear… AB: I’ve seen other players do that before’

    ‘Lebron kicked Coach Spo in the face… AB: That’s wanting to win right there’

    ‘Lebron threatened to burn the Cavs arena… AB: SETTLE DOWN. It’s only arson’.

  • Fish

    Nothing like the Heat/Knick brawl of 97. You had Zo fighting like a big girls blouse, and Tim Haradaway punching like a pro.

  • K-Dawg

    Could it be that Vinsanity is playing for his next contract? He went retro last night!

  • The Goods

    Wild night in the L, maybe with opening day upon us the NBA thought it had to turn it up a notch?

    Was literally rolling around laughing watching J Wall and Big Z go at it. Wall looked like a kid does when they are frustrated with the PS3 or Xbox, get pissed and spike the controller. Just slugs a dude, classic. Human highlight reel better start paying people back otherwise his post game wrapups will be must see tv.

    Pretty much a comical matchup with the Nets and Knicks last night, no matter what way you go with Melo or D will they can both beast and be a centerpiece for a team. Not much of an excuse though giving up 68 at half to a team that only averages 98 or so a game.

    Real basketball on tonight with the Lake Show fittin to flex some muscle on Dallas. Spurs hear the footsteps getting faster behind them, Celtics grab a tough road win and the lakers draw within 2 games. Happy Opening Day to everyone!

  • JAY

    Lebron announced his personal pick for MVP… D-Rose

    Smartest thing the guy has said all year.

  • http://www.dimemag.com Austin Burton

    Youth and athleticism vs height and slowness: Wall/McGee vs Ilgauskas/Howard would have been like Hardy Boys vs Kane/Undertaker.

  • Claw

    Suns again blow it in the 4th, then a referee calls scrub Zabian Dowdell “stop being a whiny bitch” and Z gets T’d up for saying “say that to me outside the arena” and tossed and Aaron Brooks grabs his junk and is tossed. The only excitement generated last night!

    http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/03/31/referees-disrespect-suns-players-then-eject-them-in-teams-blowout-loss-to-the-thunder/related

  • LakeShow84

    Dammmnnnn DWill disappointed me last night with that brick.. Shit i wouldve acted hurt too..

    @ AB

    I think thats giving Ilgauskas and Howard too much credit lol

    @ New York Knick fans

    That was the funniest game i have tuned in and out of in years lmao.. Given DWill made his comeback and hes a handfull for ANY team, damn the Knicks cant play D.. Melo fell in love with that SUPERSTAR D last night which is basically fouling the shit out of people not expecting calls because ur a major..

    Dude was all over Morrow on some sequences like DAYUM lmao aye whatever gets dude motivated hahaha

  • beiber newz

    kemba coming soon…real soon..blue and orange

  • Sporty-j

    (Wall/McGee vs Ilgauskas/Howard would have been like Hardy Boys vs Kane/Undertaker.) lmaol!!! The NBA did turn into WWF last night and i would have payed money to see the fight with Wilkins and this ex-ref lol. People are now coming out of the stands to get in on the action. Wheres Ron Artest when you need him???…

  • http://getyourishbusted.net Chicagorilla

    Saying Javel McGee is underacheiving is just ridiculous.

    10ppg 8rpg (3 off reb per) 2.4bpg 54%FG.

    as an 18th overall pick and only being in his 3rd year i think he is progressing a a very good pace. The guy was a twig when he came in and now he is pretty cut up, which tells me he was putting in work over the off season.

    The guy is a 7fter who is a supreme athlete but can also shoot a mid range jumper. Doesnt have effective post moves yet but it’s coming along. The guy will be a PROBLEM in the years to come. he has incredible upside.

    Whats bugging me the most about this is that you guys say he’s not a good player or is underachieving, but then you look at Ken Perkins or Joakim Noah and act like they are beast or something. Forget the team wins and look at the talent.
    In my opinion i’d take McGee’s production on this sh!tty Wizards team over and of the centers below

    Javel McGee > Noah, Perkins, DeAndre Jordan, Andy Verjayjay, Tyson chandler, Andrew Bynum, Dem Cousins, Ibaka

  • http://getyourishbusted.net Chicagorilla

    Oh and btw,

    that 10ppg 8rpg 2.4bpg is all done in 28min per game!!!!! thats just an a$$hole of a coach for you.

    Sure McGee has a little coonery going on when he dunks or blocks a shot. Hell at least the kid is actually in tune with the game. No different than Shawn Kemp, Derrick Coleman, Karl Malone, Barkley, X-man, Chuck Person and plenty others used to do when they played.

    As for the “fight/scuffle” that went on with J.Howard…at least McGee had his hands up ready to swing. he wasn’t backpaddling 90ft down court like Melo did. And Juwan took a cheap shot at him for no reason. McGee was protecting his rookie PG from a 7’3 mongaloid.

  • Kobeeeee

    The 2 McGee blocks were really good. 2 big time in your face power blocks are hard to do.

  • Claw

    @Chicagorilla – What I don’t like about McGee is he has tons of talent but is still just a goofball. I saw the Wiz play the Bulls and he is doing crazy dunks or shooting from half court. Look to other side of the court and Noah was working on his post moves and drives to the basket and shots around the elbow. This is your job, it is a game but your job you are getting paid for, take this sh*t seriously!

    Seriously, you a relative or something? I wouldn’t take McGee over any of those guys especially Bynum, Chandler, or Ibaka and Cousins has way more game than McGee at this stage and they are both goofballs.

  • JAY

    I’m with Chicagorilla
    McGee is sick. If he was on your team you guys would be singing praises. He does everything a coach wants a center to do. Block shots, change shots, finish strong inside, be physical. What else do you guys want from a young center? The guy has improved immensely since he’s been in the league. He’s not going to be Moses Malone right away. McGee is a beast.

  • LakeShow84

    @ JAY

    i wouldnt say he does everything a coach wants lol

    His main problem is his mental state.. and hes an idiot more than half the time..

    Personally i believe he’ll another one of those players who has “potential” listed right next to him for his whole career..

    But i will say hes so young hes got a lot of room to prove critics with my opinion wrong.. and i hope he does because thats a big boy lol

  • LakeShow84

    But saying hes better than Bynum, Ibaka and Chandler???

    id say thats a mighty big stretch based basically off the thinking he could blend in and play a certain role.. well if maturity is an issue who knows if he can jump into a role and play at a high level???

    Id even say Perkins is more valuable because he’ll go out and lock down a player like McGee..

  • Stunnaboy2K11

    McGee is sick, but could stand to be better. He has all the talent in the world but has a horrible attitude.

    Dominique is THE MAN. Apparently the guy who attacked him was a former ref. Can you imagine?

  • http://getyourishbusted.net Chicagorilla

    @Claw and Lakeshow

    I dont get what you guys are looking at. Stats? as i listed, he does all that in 28min per game and DOESNT GET THE BALL on offense.

    I agree that he has crazy antics on the court, but lets not go so far as to say he has a behavior problem. McGee doesn’t get kicked out of practice, doesn’t get into fights with his teammates, and doesn’t get thrown out of games. What you call immaturity, I call him enjoying the game and having fun with a mild case of immaturity. When Guys like Karl Malone and Kemp was fist pumping, pointing at cats they dunk on, and flexing and posing as they ran down court, people called it passion. I don’t agree with everything McGee does but the kid is producing (same as Wall).

    I would trade Noah for McGee in a HEARTBEAT!!!! And thats not saying that Noah sucks or nothing, but moreso i’m looking at what McGee does for the team.

    MCGee- is an elite shot blocker (2.4 bpg in 28min and had a 12blk game this season). good on the weakside help or his own man.
    Noah-is an avg shotblocker who doesn’t change peoples shots and is actually more concerned about getting the rebound so he will allow his teammates to contest your shot while he goes for the rebound. (1.4 bpg)

    McGee-is not a strong post defender but he is getting better and can block the shot of the person he’s guarding.

    Noah- is not a good post defender, though he tries hard. he gets bullied by bigger guys without having the ability to change their shots. if he doesn’t have any help with a double down by the guards or forwards, he is in serious trouble.

    McGee – Basketball IQ wise, McGee lacks the off IQ to place himself in position to be successful on offense. He has a good looking jumpshot, but needs to improve his post game to make it more effective. His 3 off rebounds per game help him score points, but with more post game work and work on that jumper, he could easily be a 20ppg scorer.

    Noah – has topped out offensively. He has no touch around the basket, but has decent post moves. He’s a little stiff on the moves which is why he misses so many. Has really weak/small hands so he gets stripped A LOT around the basket. His form on his jumper is the ugliest thing since Bill Cartwright was suiting up for the Bulls, but at least he works on it and nails it from time to time. It’s not reliable yet, but it’s getting there.

    McGee has a greater overall impact on the game because of his defense. If her ever loses his athletic ability he’d be in trouble, but Noah could probably survive without his limited athletic ability. Noah has the better IQ (not by much) right now, and is the more experineced player. Watching Mcgee with Team USA showed just how good he could be with good teammates around him. Not to mention his summer league performance.

  • http://getyourishbusted.net Chicagorilla

    @Claw

    you said Mcgee was BSing before the game vs Chicago. Well he had 11pts, 12red, 12blks. He can BS all he wants if thats the case.

    clearly you don’t remember him as a college player or a rookie, the kid was a twig. He went into the off season and gained a bunch of muscle. He is now listed as 7ft 252lbs when he came into the NBA he was listed at 7ft 237lb. Thats called working in the off season.

    If you seriously believe that DMC is as talented as McGee then clearly you are blinded by the hype. I already have went off on the lack of talent DMC has in another article. But to sum it up, DMC is so avg at many things and terrible at the things a big is supposed to do (post up) so people give him credit for being below avg at dribbling, passing, shooting, and def.
    while McGee is unpolished also, he at least has good form on his shot and the athleticism to clear up some of his IQ mistakes. DMC cant do that.

  • LakeShow84

    I didnt say anything about Noah lol

    Bynum is better with damn near the same minutes so thats out the window..

    Ibaka has more upside to me.. savvy and has always had a good state of mind.. like i said McGees just an ass to me so i cant say i follow the kid much but i followe Ibaka and hes got that “it” factor.. hes just hit the sophomore slump..

    Id say its a tie but it should to McGee when it comes to Chandler but id roll with Chandler because we know what we going to get from him.. great weak side help marginal man2man d and a great screen setter/roller..

    And Perkins injects toughness into the post.. thats something that doesnt show up in stats.. Hes the best post defender in the league.. F blocks in 28 minutes when it comes to lockin down the post lol

    but if i were a Chicago fan id say trade Noah for McGee too lol

  • LakeShow84

    Oh and Perkins sets big bang screens..

    even if half of them are moving lol

  • First & Foremost

    Joey Crawford would have punished Nique

  • LakeShow84

    Dammnnn i just saw old school ref dudes mug shot..

    Nique did him dirty straight lumped him.. like dude reffed those old Celtic/Hawk showdowns lmao

  • First & Foremost

    Whoa Whoa Whoa – Ask Andray Blatche if Mcgee doesn’t get into fights with teammates outside of clubs in the middle of winter.

  • Claw

    @Chicagorilla – Wow, one game he went off, and you saw how he got that “triple” double, almost like when (help me here) threw the ball at the other teams backboard so he could get a trip dub.

    Consistency is not there, and you would take McGee over Bynum or DMC? Glad you don’t judge talent for a living.

    Cmon you can say, 2nd cousin, 3rd cousin on your mother’s side what is it?

  • raf

    not hating on you guys, but you realize your site is acting f*ked up…like wen you go on previous entries, it skips a whole bunch and is showing old entries….and also why is smack being posted like a day late..
    is this just happenin to me, or is it common with others??

  • http://www.theresastatforthat.blogspot.com deron

    He had a great game but Knicks fans need to calm down; next year is what matters. With or without Carmelo, they’re still first round losers this year.

    http://theresastatforthat.blogspot.com/2011/03/carmelo-what-has-he-done-to-knicks.html

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