You have to give them credit, the Knicks are fighting the good fight…somewhat. I mean, they are doing the best they can with the wrong philosophy, system, coaching and players. Sad to see them so playing so rough. Thank G*d we caught them at this point of the season though. The next gimme-game is Miami, and that can’t come any sooner.

Just when you think it can’t get any worse for the Knicks, they are without Randolph, Curry and Robinson. I’m not saying that with them, the Raptors would have lost, they wouldn’t have, but it gives them some more options. Regardless, won a game they should have, and have climbed 2 games over 500 before they take on New Orleans on Sunday.

11 offensive boards, and 13 Raptor turnovers kept this game much closer than it should have been. Can’t get too excited about this win, but there are a couple things I want to touch on:

Parker’s entry passes to the post:
This is a great addition to the offense. A quick swing to Parker, and he gets the ball into the post, and on most occasions creates great opportunities for Rasho/Bosh with lead passes to the rim. Nice to have some variety on the offensive end, especially with everyone in the league limiting the effectiveness of the pick-and-roll. Parker and Rasho have great chemistry together, with Parker making things really easy for Rasho on the blocks. Nice to see.

Forderon:
TJ’s line: 9pts and 10ast, solid showing. We all knew he had game, just sad to see that tantrum he has been throwing for a few a while. Smitch/BC really handled him badly. They should have started him earlier after he got back. Jose, to his credit, has been stand up about this situation, to the detriment of his playing time and position on this team in respect to him starting. The Chuck/Leo/Jack love fest is in full court press, and it is deserved, but at the end of the day, I am sure there was tension that needed to addressed, and Calderon stepped up. Kudos.

Jamaal Crawford:
He dropped 26, but I thought that TJ and Calderon did a really good job of keeping him in check. The guy is a Raptor killer, and his 26 were reasonably quiet. He was never given much of an opportunity to heat up. Only took a couple seasons, but they kept him under control for once.

Knicks grab 11 offensive boards without Randolph and Curry in the line-up:
That pretty much sums it up, lol. I just thought it should be noted that without their beasts up front, they handled the Raptors. Not surprising the Raptors give up offensive boards, just wasn’t expected the Knicks to do what they did without those two guys.

In the pre-game, Isiah Thomas was asked what he thought of the Raptors, to which he said (and I’m paraphrasing):

“…when the Raptors shoot well, they are a tough team to beat - as they score a lot, and are tough to defend; but if those shots aren’t falling, you can get out on them and score some easy baskets.”

I hope more of the delusional fans heard that. No secret, a lot of us having been harping about this for a while now. You have to figure if Isiah knows, Van Gundy and Brown also know, and have already planned to give Moon 20 open looks a game. Anyways, that’s for a later discussion, down to business:

1st Quarter (Click for Stats):

• Bosh wins another tip…
• Bosh drops a dime to Rasho in the low post for an easy layup.
• Crawford hits a turn-around J to start what will probably be a 30+ point night for him.
• Moon swings to Parker for a trey.
• Bosh kicks out to TJ who swings it to Moon for a jumper inside the arc.
• Richardson penetrates and kicks to Crawford for a trey in the corner.
• Bosh goes baseline and finishes a tough layup + 1.
• Lee sends Chandler on the break for an open dunk.
• Crawford gets the ball up the court to Richardson for a long jumper, off Moon’s missed jumper on the baseline.
• Ford sticks a jumper off the Bosh screen in the high-post.
• Jeffries puts up an open layup in the paint.
• Parker comes off a screen for an open jumper.
• Ford brings the ball up court, and pops a J at the foul line - timeout Knicks.
• Moon doesn’t get the pass to Rasho, gets the deflection back, and sticks a long jumper.
• Rasho finesses a half-hook in the paint.
• Lee grabs an offensive board, and lays it back in.
• Bosh holds on to the ball too long when he got doubled, and turns it over to Lee.
• Lee hits a jumper on the other end.
• Bosh travels under the rim.
• Richardson kicks out to a wide open Jeffries for a jumper.
• Moon takes it to the rack, and crowns Jeffries.
• Jeffries returns the favour with a layup in traffic.
• Rasho answers with a jumper form the foul line.
• Richardson hits a layup in traffic + 1.
• Chuck: “Sam Mitchell, when he rolled his eyes, that was his second of the night” lol.
• Parker hits Rasho with a great pass for an easy layup.
• Richardson penetrates and drops it off to Lee for a dunk.
• Rasho finds a slashing Parker, who draws the foul, hits both from the line.
• BC doesn’t look as pissed as usual.
• Calderon swings to Bargnani for a trey.
• 32-23 Raptors lead after the 1st.

2nd Quarter (Click for Stats):

• Delfino penetrates and draws a foul, hits 1 of 2.
• Calderon finds Bosh with a sweet pass off the pick and roll for an easy layup.
• Crawford nails a serious trey with Calderon up in his grill.
• Malik Rose bricks his 4th shot in the last 3 minutes. I can’t believe Isiah traded for him.
• Calderon draws a charge on Jones.
• Bargnani takes it to the rack, and lays it up over Rose. I thought he was going to crown him.
• Bosh forces it baseline and lays it up over Lee.
• Calderon pesters Rose into taking a horrible three point attempt from the corner…lol
• Bosh grabs an offensive board in traffic, and puts it back.
• Malik Rose needs to be taken out of this game, he sucks.
• Lee puts it up over Bosh under the basket.
• Bargnani puts back a dunk off Calderon’s missed trey, jebus, I didn’t see that coming.
• Delfino sticks a deep trey.
• Bosh blocks Jeffries to start the break (nothing happens on the break).
• The Knicks are just jacking shots without blinking.
• Jeffries hits a couple shots in back-to-back possessions.
• TJ lets Crawford get open for a trey.
• Bosh finds a cutting Delfino twice, nothing comes out of it, but the Raptors need to do more of that.
• Crawford hits another trey, 5 point game.
• Jones penetrates and drops it off to an open Lee for a dunk. Raptors timeout, 3 possession too late, way to let them back in the game Smitch.
• Chuck: “normally, the ball goes through Ford late in the shot clock, in sequences you are about to watch.”
• Bosh hits a jumper from TJ’s penetration with 1.2 left in the quarter.
• 49-44 Raptors at the half.

3rd Quarter (Click for Stats):

• Rasho hits a half-hook in the paint.
• Moon tips the ball away from Jeffries.
• Bosh faces up Jeffries, and sticks a jumper, Knicks timeout.
• Parker drops a sweet dime to Rasho in the post for an easy layup.
• Rasho using Rashos screen pops a jumper from the foul line.
• Richardson calls glass and hits a jumper over Moon.
• Moon shoots, instead of swinging, and misses a jumper.
• Bosh pump fakes, up-and-under, and lays it in.
• Parker feeds Rasho, again, and Rasho draws the foul, hits both from the line.
• Richardson sticks an open trey.
• Ford finds Moon on the baseline, and draws the foul, hits 1 of 2.
• Moon steals the ball, sending Parker out on the break for a layup.
• Jones answers with a layup + 1.
• Parker comes off a screen, and pops a jumper.
• Ford penetrates and kicks out to Bosh for a trey.
• Moon runs down an offensive board, then grabs another one, then finds Bargnani in the paint who draws a foul, and hits both from the line.
• Lee kicks to Richardson for an open trey.
• Bosh gets fouled in the post, hits both from the line.
• Bargnani takes it to the rack, and draws the foul - hits 1 of 2.
• 76-68 Raptors lead at the end of the 3rd.

4th Quarter (Click for Stats):

• The Raptors need to put these guys away quick, I need to walk my dog.
• Calderon pops a trey.
• Parker drops a dime to Bosh for a turn around hook.
• Crawford answers with a quick jumper.
• Fred Jones’ goatee doesn’t fall from his chin, it sticks out parallel to the ground, creepy.
• Calderon goes under the screen and gives Crawford an open look for a jumper.
• Jeffries posts up Parker and lays it in.
• Raptors swing the ball around the perimeter to Parker for an open trey in the corner.
• Delfino hits a trey from the elbow extended.
• *yawn*
• …yea…I’m done taking notes, this game is over, I need to walk my dog, he’s giving me that look.

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