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Postgame reaction from William Botchway

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                  WILLIAM BOTCHWAY’S POSTGAME REACTION

Today’s Knicks game showed me something about this team, and it makes me feel a lot better about their playoff chances. The Knicks didn’t win in their traditional style by being an offensive team, chucking as many three pointers as possible. They shot 40% overall and 36% from behind the arc. The really impressive part about this game one victory was the Knicks’ ability to stymie the Celtics with great defense, as New York forced 20 turnovers. Boston only scored 25 points in the second half after scoring 29 in the first quarter alone. They also were only able to muster 8 points in the fourth quarter. This was more of a statement about the Knicks’ commitment to the defensive end of the floor than it was to the Celtics’ inability to shoot or run the offense. In fact, they were doing a pretty nice job of running their plays, but the Knicks weren’t giving anything up easily. The Knicks didn’t play that well; Carmelo and Earl “Pipemaster” Smith shot low percentages. But they still got the win, and it is always a good sign when a team can seemingly pull a victory out of their a$$. The Knicks will play better throughout the playoffs, which is a scary thought for all teams.

Also, you have got to love the fact that James White played a total of 15 seconds at the end of the third quarter.

NBA Playoff Preview

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NBA PLAYOFF PREVIEW 2013

Only the strong will survive. Who will come out on top?

By Tommy Rothman

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The NBA playoffs are upon us, with some familiar faces at the top of the bracket, with some surprises mixed into the lower half. Most of these teams were expected to be here, albeit in different seeds than those in which they wound up. The 16 remaining teams will each be seeking the 16 wins necessary to capture the NBA crown. While squad will emerge victorious in 2013?

PREDICTIONS

(Higher seed has home-court advantage)

 

Eastern Conference Quarterfinals

 

#1 Miami Heat vs. #8 Milwaukee Bucks (Miami won season series 3-1)

Could you imagine what it would be like if the 8-seeded Bucks stunned the top-seeded Heat in a thrilling 7 game first-round series, shocking the world and sending the best player of his generation home 2 months early? No? Neither can I. Heat in 4.

 

#2 New York Knicks vs. #7 Boston Celtics (NY won SS 3-1)

This series will be hard fought. Boston will be a motivated team, but without Rajon Rondo, they are not a very good team. I expect Boston to steal a couple games, but I don’t think Boston has any particular strength with which they can exploit the Knicks’ defense. Knicks in 6.

 

#3 Indiana Pacers vs. #6 Atlanta Hawks (SS tied 2-2)

Indiana lost one of their best players early in the season, but they have thrived without Danny Granger thanks to a stifling defense and the emergence of Paul George. On the other side of the matchup, Atlanta has played well after trading star player Joe Johnson in July, but they now lack the go-to scorer they will need in the playoffs. I don’t think Atlanta can solve Indiana’s defense— at least not 4 times. Pacers in 6.

 

#4 Brooklyn Nets vs. #5 Chicago Bulls (CHI won SS 3-1)

Chicago is scary for a 5 seed, but Rose will not return this season, and Joakim Noah has been battling a foot injury. Because of this, the Bulls are not as dangerous as they have been in years past. But they have still found a way to win, and I think that continues in this series. The Nets are a good team, with a big 3 of Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, and Brook Lopez. But I think the Bulls win this series, although it could go either way. Bulls in 7.

Western Conference Quarterfinals

  

#1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. #8 Houston Rockets (OKC won SS 2-1)

Houston has been a fun team to watch, and the Harden-Thunder matchup will be exciting, but Houston isn’t good enough to beat OKC. Linsanity is not making it out of the first round. Thunder in 5.

 

#2 San Antonio Spurs vs. #7 Los Angeles Lakers (SAS won SS 2-1)

If Kobe had not gotten hurt, I would be picking LA here. San Antonio has been beatable lately with Ginobili out and Parker slumping a bit. But without Kobe (and possibly Nash), the Lakers can’t win a playoff series. Spurs in 6.

 

#3 Denver Nuggets vs. #6 Golden State Warriors (DEN won SS 3-1)

The Nuggets were the team nobody wanted to face— and then the injuries came. Danilo Gallinari tore his ACL, and Ty Lawson and Kenneth Faried are banged up. The Warriors were a great surprise this season, as Stephen Curry’s rise to stardom propelled them into the playoffs. This will be the most entertaining series of the first round. I think Denver’s quickness will give them the edge in transition, and in the series. Denver in 6.

 

#4 Los Angeles Clippers vs. #5 Memphis Grizzlies (LAC won SS 3-1)

Both of these teams cooled off after very hot starts to the season. Griffin-Randoplh will be a matchup to watch. But I think Memphis threw away their season when they traded Rudy Gay— this is not a team that is sending Chris Paul home early. Clippers in 5.

 

Eastern Conference Semifinals

#1 Miami Heat vs. #5 Chicago Bulls (SS tied 2-2)

Miami will face the team that ended their 27 game win streak, with the knowledge that this is not a Bulls team that can be underestimated. If Noah is healthy, the Bulls can win. But without Rose, I think LeBron prevails. Heat in 6

#2 New York Knicks vs. #3 Indiana Pacers (SS tied 2-2)

The Pacers are a physical team, giving them a chance against the Knicks. But their performance in the season series (one of their wins came with Melo out, and the Knicks beat them in April without Tyson Chandler) suggests that the Knicks have a bit of an edge. The Pacers lack the quickness at the guard position to exploit the Knicks, and Melo should give them fits on the other end. Knicks in 5.

Western Conference Semifinals

#1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. #4 Los Angeles Clippers (OKC won SS 3-0)

These are probably the 2 best teams in the West right now, meaning this series will have higher stakes than your average Conference Semifinal. The point guard matchup will be a must-watch, and the deep benches on both sides will provide for a very close series. The Clippers’ leading scorer is Blake Griffin. OKC’s leading scorer is Kevin Durant. I think that makes the difference in a very close matchup.

Thunder in 6.

#2 San Antonio Spurs vs. #3 Denver Nuggets (SS tied 2-2)

I like the youth, athleticism, and depth of Denver in this matchup. The Spurs have home-field advantage and could get Ginobili back, but I think Denver has a matchup edge in this series. Denver in 5.

Eastern Conference Finals

#1 Miami Heat vs. #2 New York Knicks (NYK won SS 3-1)

The Knicks won the season series and match up very well with the Heat. If the Knicks hit their threes, this is definitely a series they can win. The Knicks can definitely beat the Heat. But the operative word in each of my last two sentences is “can”. I think this series is going 7 games, and game 7 is in Miami. I think that LeBron, like he did last year, will take over in an elimination game. This could go either way, but I’m taking the Heat. Heat in 7.

Western Conference Finals

#1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. #3 Denver Nuggets (Denver won SS 3-1)

If the Nuggets were healthy, I might actually go with Denver in this one. But with some players out and other players banged up, the Nuggets’ depth is not as scary. I don’t think they have the defense necessary to stop Durant and Westbrook, and OKC’s home field advantage is a huge edge when you consider how rabid their fans are. Thunder in 6.

NBA FINALS

#1 Miami Heat vs. #1 Oklahoma City Thunder (Miami won SS 2-0)

This rematch of last year’s finals should be closer, as the young duo of Thunder stars has had another year to develop. Miami wins the small forward matchup, the guard matchup goes to OKC, and I think the 2 power forwards are about even. But one thing worries me: I don’t think Westbrook has shown he can handle the stage he will be on. I think that brings Wade and Westbrook even, and I think LeBron will take over when it gets close near the end. Heat in 7.

I have Miami winning the title, but I could also see them losing as early a round 3, or even round 2. This postseason will be exciting and unpredictable. Let’s see what happens.

New York Knicks Memes’ 50 Rules of Being a Knicks Fan

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50 Rules of a Knicks Fan’s Household

By Tommy RothmanImage

 

  1. Thou shalt not bandwagon
  2. Thou shalt not desert thy team
  3. Thou shalt obey all men in the household, because men have balls, and balls don’t lie
  4. Thou shalt watch every game. You get 1 skip a year. Use it well
  5. Am I busy between 7 and 10? Yes. Unless you’re asking because you have an extra ticket.
  6.  Thou shalt Like “New York Knicks Memes”
  7. The game is on ESPN? Cool story. It’s also on MSG
  8. Thou shalt not sing the Friday Night Knicks song, for it is cursed
  9. Oh, you’re a Heat fan? I’m glad to hear that. Now I know not to associate myself with you.
  10. You want to have a conversation? That’s what halftime is for
  11. If Clyde tells a joke, you laugh
  12. Thou shalt know all 15 players on the roster
  13. The words “Isiah” and “Thomas” must be separated by at least 10 negative adjectives if they are to be used in the same sentence
  14. Thou shalt worship Carmelo Anthony as the Basketball Jesus
  15. Thou shalt not use Carmelo Anthony’s name in vain
  16. Thou shalt take 3 to the dome every single time the Knicks hit a 3
  17. Thou shalt do the belt every time Steve Novak hits a 3
  18. If you see a fellow Knicks fan, you must acknowledge them in some way
  19. If a Heat fan is walking towards you, don’t get out of his way. Stand your ground and take a charge
  20. There will be SILENCE when the Basketball Jesus is speaking
  21. Thou shalt not consume Honey Nut Cheerios
  22. Thou shalt not miss any game because of homework, ever! Due tomorrow = Do tomorrow
  23. Thou shalt recognize the flat-top
  24. Thou shalt recognize the goatee
  25. Thou shalt recognize Rasheed’s bald spot
  26. Hating the Nets is not encouraged. It is REQUIRED
  27. Thou shalt have New York Knicks Memes open on thy laptop during the game
  28. All compliments towards LeBron James must be backhanded
  29. Amar’e Stoudemire is the reason we put this team together. Thou shalt respect Amar’e Stoudemire
  30. Tyson Chandler is the heart and soul of this team. Thou shalt not insult Tyson Chandler
  31. Thou shalt cry a manly tear whenever Carmelo does something god-like
  32. Thou shalt scream “ARIBA” every time you steal the inbounds pass when playing NBA 2K
  33. If Steve Novak dunks, you turn off the TV, turn off the lights, wait in your dark bedroom, and hope the apocalypse is quick and painless
  34. Tyson Chandler is better than Brook Lopez. You must view this as a fact.
  35. Remember Allan Houston? Yes, you do.
  36. Thou shalt own a Knicks Jersey
  37. Thou shalt have at least 1 shrine to the Knicks in thy household
  38. Your marriage is just your side affair. Your true love is the Knicks
  39. Thou shalt not compliment Joey Crawford
  40. Thou shalt not boo unless the Knicks are asking for it
  41. Oh, I just woke you up by screaming after a basket? Well, you shouldn’t have fallen asleep during the game
  42. If Mike Woodson smiles, thou shalt take a picture. Pics or it didn’t happen.
  43. Thou shalt worship Flight White’s leaping abilities
  44. Thou shalt rep the #Knickstape
  45. Thou shalt taunt fans of other teams
  46. Thou shalt troll Nets and Heat pages
  47. Do not breathe when you are in the presence of Carmelo. The air belongs to him
  48. Thou shalt learn to live with the bad side of JR Smith
  49. Jason Kidd is the wise one. Thou shalt not insult his age
  50. Thou shalt Purchase “Zeroes” on your iTunes, because Iman Shumpert is featured on it.