Game Recap: Knicks 103, Raptors 99
Oh, how I hate it when the Raptors play the Knicks. It’s the kind of game I just hate seeing because it’s ugly basketball on one side, and the Raptors can never seem to match them physically on the other side. Sure, the Raptors have won their share of games against them, but the games are never pretty, and there’s always plenty of controversy in the end. That goes doubly for every time they play at MSG.
It’s like watching a bad version of the previous Orlando game. The Raptors had difficulty playing any kind of defense and it largely starts with Jamario Moon. Jamario has been a guy that has just been frustrating for me to watch this entire year, as he played fairly effective defense for two weeks once he got inserted into the starting lineup, and hasn’t shown any of that ability since. Allowing Jamal Crawford to go off for 43 points by letting him shoot over you is just embarrassing. To illustrate how horrible Moon’s defense was, Crawford received the ball in the fourth, and Moon laid off of him while Sam Mitchell was yelling at him to get up on his man. You know, the same guy that was shooting hot the entire night. Moon didn’t move, and in the end, Crawford buried another three. When you factor in a less effective shooting night, it’s really no surprise to see why the Raptors lost. Throw in four turnovers from Calderon and you allow one of the worst teams in the league to defeat you.
Of course, the Knicks have to be commended for not folding in the face of pressure. The aforementioned Crawford kept his hand hot and the Knicks continued to feed him throughout the game. Zach Randolph also provided a presence and got the crowd motivated with some timely buckets and massive rebounds. David Lee gave the Knicks a calm presence and continued to rebound the ball throughout the game. In every way that we’ve thought that the Raptors were weak, the Knicks took advantage. It’s perhaps why I loathe the matchup between these two teams because unless the Raptors are playing particularly good defense or shooting the lights out, the Knicks are precisely the kind of “bad team” the Raptors are designed to lose against. Throw in the fact that Jason Kapono had extremely few touches, Andrea Bargnani was once again out of his groove, and Calderon had a very poor shooting night, and I’m just not sure this team will be able to make it past the first round of the playoffs in its current iteration.
Here’s a disturbing trend. The Raptors lost their first game against the Wizards on their turf, despite being the healthier of the two teams. The next night, they came back and hammered them to oblivion, but the loss still remains. Now, the Raptors will face the Knicks yet again on Sunday, and if they crush the Knicks, it still won’t mean much because they lost this game. I was asked by the Orlando Magic Blog about whether I believed that the Raptors could catch the Magic, and my simple answer was “no”. It’s losses like this that have occurred throughout the year and have had no indication of disappearing that worry fans the most, and it’s about time someone on the team wakes up and realizes that a mediocre team that plays to their opponent’s strengths is just simply unacceptable.
When will this team exert their will and playing style on others?
Next Game: New York @ Toronto
Comments
By Anthony RapFan on February 23rd, 2008 at 4:35 am
Same Feelings man!! We can just think of 5 games right now that just “sucked”: Tonight, Phili-blunder, Washington-OT, Clippers home choke, and the Cleveland meltdown from 20 pts (why not Seattle? Counts as an “inevitable bad-loss”). We just don’t deserve to go to the second round PERIOD. Now I know how it feels to be a Cavs fan, considering they lost to some terrible teams as well and have a “more-talented” squad along with KING JAMES. I must of mentioned to you before, if we are going to start Bargnani and “develop” him, we will sufffer THESE games that will make us throw more remotes through walls and tv’s. An insane thought btw, would you start Brezec over Bargnani next game? I would, in order to light a fire under Bargnani’s ineffective-quick 2 fouling ASS.
The point of truth and fate of this game was after the time when we had 2 monster fast break dunks and up by 14. We all must have thought this: “Are the Raps gonna open up a can of 25 point blow-out and awaken “Fire Isiah Chants”? Or are the Raps gonna slag off and allow them to cut the lead?” The Latter happened and our Friday nights were ruined.
By Tfan on February 23rd, 2008 at 10:34 am
I had a sinking feeling that when Kapono missed a tech followed by Humphries missing two free throws that we were in for a tough night. The Raptors played down to the Knicks’ level; and letting Crawford goes off for 43 was inexcusable. Bargs got two quick fouls (the first one was really questionnable) and was sat down (I’d play him as he was having a decent defensive game), while Moon was jacking up three’s. To make matters worse, I saw King James beat the Wiz by a point with less than 20 seconds to go.
I see that Magloire’s been waived. Can we sign him?
By Kinnon Yee on February 23rd, 2008 at 10:53 am
Anthony - For me, I kind of wrote off this year when Garbo and TJ got injured. I’m already looking ahead a bit to next year, and with Roko Ukic in the lineup and a healthy Garbajosa, I think things will be much, much improved. There’s no way I destroy Barg’s confidence now, but It’s just concerning to me that everything he did great before the all star break is gone now. I could see it coming as in the All Star game, he wasn’t able to do Bargnani-like things. I just don’t like the feeling that we have to keep smacking him back over the head, especially offensively. He’s back down to two foul shots per game since we got back, instead of 4 or 5 shots.
TFan - I would have played him too, since that first foul meant nothing. I’ve never seen Bargs foul out either yet, and chances are, you’re not going to play him much down the stretch (as has been the pattern lately). I really don’t want Magloire on this team. We have enough practice dummies for Bargnani already. :p
By Connor on February 23rd, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Granted, Moon’s defence wasn’t great but how can you ignore his 4 three’s? You seem all to willing to jump on the rookie when he makes mistakes but are eager to ignore what he does well.
By Connor on February 23rd, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Also, as a side note, last night was the first chance I’ve had to watch a Raps game in HD. Has anyone else had this pleasure? Wow! Besides the final score my jaw was dropped in amazement at how clear the picture was. I may be “forced” in invest in an HD box…
By Gagan on February 23rd, 2008 at 8:03 pm
Connor: HDTV is where it’s at man, you should try getting one asap. The Raptors are one of three NBA teams, PHX being one and I can’t recall the other right now, that are broadcasting all 82 games in HD. Watching any sport in HD is amazing and it really gives a brand new feel to any game.
Watching my Leafs in HD is so awesome.
Even though they usually lose, which I want right now. 
lol (way to go off topic, eh?)
By Anthony RapFan on February 23rd, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Connor,
You know that whenever Jamario Moon, of all ppl, hits 3-4 treys..ITS a BAAAAAAD sign for us, a very bad SIGN!!! I can remember almost every game he shoots like that we lose those games and those are games we are behind the majority of the game. It also means others are not shooting the 3-ball real well and he is not playing aggressive basketball.
By Kinnon Yee on February 23rd, 2008 at 11:56 pm
Connor - I’m willing to jump on him because he does something that twenty other guys on this team do as well, if not better than he does. Focusing on four threes is great, but was he able to make the same shot down the stretch? Was he able to do anything to change the game? It might be unfair to place these expectations on this guy, but he’s our starter, and he’s a defensive sieve that is unable to do anything more than hit an outside jumper and provide some open lane/back door cut highlights. Oh yeah, when he doesn’t make those threes, he still takes them, so I’m more PO’d by the fact he took them in the first place as he’s obviously not doing what people have been getting on him to do, which is drive to the basket.
Anthony - Thanks for saying what I wanted to in a far shorter post :p
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