Props to The Score – who have the best basketball coverage in Toronto – for coming up with a great intro to the game:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kY9nrxKaAY]
Gotta love those Knicks games at the ACC. Somehow they always have a different flavor to them. Stephon Marbury’s talking trash after hitting threes. Marbury’s lobbying for Mitchell to get a contract extension. Eddy Curry’s trying to guard Andrea Bargnani. Andrea Bargnani’s trying to guard Eddy Curry, both having little success. TJ Ford is getting it on with Francis/Marbury, Anthony Parker’s injuring ankles. Stormin’ Norman Rumack’s saying that Isaiah doesn’t have talent to work with. Cousin Shahid thinks Channing Frye can hold Chris Bosh, TJ Ford is racking up 18 assists. Walt Frazier’s throwing words out that I didn’t even know existed and all that was just part of it.
So the Knicks come out firing on all cylinders and when Eddy Curry started scoring with his eyes closed early on, I thought this might go their way but it’s great to see New York go away from their biggest strength and advantage and instead jack up shots on their first option – usually a step-back by Marbury or Francis. Note to Isaiah: Nate Robinson will not beat us, I don’t care how many points he scores. Curry should be pissed off – as he was – at the Knicks. Feed him the damn ball, Toronto doesn’t have anybody to matchup with him yet the Knicks continue to look away. Curry took 9 shots while Marbury and Francis took 19 and 12 – it makes no sense. Curry was too kind after the game:
“It’s tough because from my point of view it seems that I’m open a lot. But I’m not a guard so I can’t see what it is. I know it’s not personal. At the time I’d mad, but after the game I realize what’s going on and I’m not mad about the situation. I just want to win.”
Translation: I want the ball but don’t know how and who to ask for it.
TJ Ford was at it again, 18 points, 18 assists. It’s not like the Knicks triple-headed PG combination is long in the tooth that TJ Ford was so easily able to stroll pass them anytime he wanted to. He even pulled back a few times just to drive again on them, it was fun to watch if you’re a Raptors fan. Stormin’ Norman Rumack’s trying to spread some hate between Raptors fans and The TJ, he even went up to him and told him that fans have been criticizing him despite his good play. Now why the hell would you want to do that Norman? As I said before, when TJ plays within the confines of the offense and uses his tools correctly, he’s borderline unstoppable.
There was a 21 point swing in the third quarter when the Raptors went from being down 11 to up 10, all thanks to shooting 72%. Walt Frazier was giving Bargnani and Garbajosa props all through the game in the way only he can. The man was very impressed by Bargnani and said that he’ll become “something special” in this league. Bargnani hit 4 big threes, two in the third quarter which kept the Raptors in it until the Knicks finally had trouble scoring. Once the Knicks offense stalled, it was all over because we kept pouring it on. Bosh didn’t have a great game but he was assertive in the third/fourth quarter run that pushed the lead to 11. Bosh attacked the rim and converted FT’s while contributing a three point play in this great stretch for the Raptors.
The division lead is 6.0 over NJ and 6.5 over NY. Both are out of it. Thanks to Chasin for the highlights, here’s the Game in a Flash:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JK0mr1nPK8]
