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NBA Playoffs

05.15.12

NBA Flopping Issue: Imaginary Solutions to a Very Real Problem Basketball, Blake Griffin, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, NBA, NBA Atlantic, NBA Playoffs, New York, New York Knicks, Opinion, US Cities | Comments Off
LeBron James had just been shot. Recoiling in agony, his arms flying into the stadium-lit night air, he was assassinated in front of a crowd of 20,000 people. I immediately began looking for a grassy knoll, eyes bulgingly scanning the crowd for the shooter, and somewhere members of LeBron's crew probably leapt off their gold-plated chairs screaming into their Bluetooth headsets, "We've got a shooter!!!!" He fell to the ground, tattooed arms instinctively reaching for his undoubtedly gaping exit wound. Madison Square Garden had just become a gigantic crime scene; a nightmarish scene with thousands of eye witnesses to a brutal, brutal ...
05.09.12

NBA Playoffs 2012: Setting Odds for the 5 Series-Trailing Teams to Rally 2012 NBA Playoffs, Atlanta Hawks, Basketball, Chicago Bulls, Denver Nuggets, Memphis Grizzlies, NBA, NBA Playoffs, New York Knicks, Rankings/List | Comments Off
Five first-round series remain undecided in a postseason with more than its fair share of one-sided match-ups. The Denver Nuggets, Atlanta Hawks and Chicago Bulls all survived elimination in Game 5 victories Tuesday night.But how much longer can they stave off the inevitable, and are we destined to witness a come-from-behind upset in these playoffs?It's certainly possible. Few would have imagined the Memphis Grizzlies would be entering Game 5 at a 3-1 deficit. Perhaps Lionel Hollins' team is saving its best for last.Here are the best-guess predictions for whether teams with their backs against the wall have a shot at ...
05.09.12

NBA Playoffs 2012: Setting Odds for the 5 Series-Trailing Teams to Rally 2012 NBA Playoffs, Atlanta Hawks, Basketball, Chicago Bulls, Denver Nuggets, Memphis Grizzlies, NBA, NBA Playoffs, New York Knicks, Rankings/List | Comments Off
Five first-round series remain undecided in a postseason with more than its fair share of one-sided match-ups. The Denver Nuggets, Atlanta Hawks and Chicago Bulls all survived elimination in Game 5 victories Tuesday night.But how much longer can they stave off the inevitable, and are we destined to witness a come-from-behind upset in these playoffs?It's certainly possible. Few would have imagined the Memphis Grizzlies would be entering Game 5 at a 3-1 deficit. Perhaps Lionel Hollins' team is saving its best for last.Here are the best-guess predictions for whether teams with their backs against the wall have a shot at ...
05.09.12

Knicks Have One Last Chance: Win Game 5 or Go Home 2012 NBA Playoffs, Basketball, Carmelo Anthony, NBA, NBA Playoffs, New York Knicks, Preview/Prediction | Comments Off
This is it. After what happened two Sundays ago, few thought we would even get this far, but we did. Believe me, I'm just as surprised as most of you are. Game 5 is upon us, and the Knicks have one final opportunity to make magic. If we're lucky, perhaps they'll escape and have one more. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. Desperation: that's what drove Carmelo to play the way he did Sunday afternoon. If he continues to play that way—with energy, desire and a noticeable drive—he can handle LeBron James. There's no doubt about that. The second ...
05.09.12

Knicks Have One Last Chance: Win Game 5 or Go Home 2012 NBA Playoffs, Basketball, Carmelo Anthony, NBA, NBA Playoffs, New York Knicks, Preview/Prediction | Comments Off
This is it. After what happened two Sundays ago, few thought we would even get this far, but we did. Believe me, I'm just as surprised as most of you are. Game 5 is upon us, and the Knicks have one final opportunity to make magic. If we're lucky, perhaps they'll escape and have one more. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. Desperation: that's what drove Carmelo to play the way he did Sunday afternoon. If he continues to play that way—with energy, desire and a noticeable drive—he can handle LeBron James. There's no doubt about that. The second ...
05.09.12

New York Knicks: The 15 Biggest Playoff Gaffes in the Team’s History Basketball, NBA, NBA Atlantic, NBA Playoffs, New York Knicks, Rankings/List | Comments Off
Plenty of NBA franchises have long and stories histories. Many have timelines dotted with numerous highs and some lows as well. The New York Knicks are a little different. Founded in 1946, the Knicks spent the first 23 years of their existence in search of a title. They finally got one in 1970 and then another in 1973. It's been cold turkey since then, though. If the Knicks don't win a title either this season or next season then they'll have hit the 40-year drought mark. The team has made the playoffs plenty of times, and they've made the NBA Finals twice since 1973. ...
05.08.12

NBA Playoffs 2012: The Real Reason Knicks’ Jeremy Lin Won’t Play in Game 5 2012 NBA Playoffs, Basketball, jeremy lin, NBA, NBA Atlantic, NBA Playoffs, New York, New York Knicks, Opinion | Comments Off
Over the course of the last 48 hours, I’ve seen a number of reports indicating that Jeremy Lin is not yet ready to suit up for the New York Knicks and will almost certainly not play in Game 5. Even if he does play, it’s unlikely he will make enough of an impact to dramatically sway the outcome of the game to a winning effort, but this is the playoffs. It’s gut-check time, and I see a guy who’s pragmatically weighing the pros and cons of returning to the court rather than someone who is looking to put it all ...
05.08.12

Jeremy Lin Must Play Through Pain to Help Depleted Knicks in Game 5 2012 NBA Playoffs, Basketball, jeremy lin, NBA, NBA Atlantic, NBA Playoffs, New York Knicks, Opinion | Comments Off
For the New York Knicks, the mountain to climb to come back from a 3-0 series deficit to the Miami Heat is still a large one, even if star point guard Jeremy Lin can return to the lineup for Game 5 of the series.Even after winning Game 4 in New York on Sunday, the finish line is nowhere in sight yet for the Knicks, who put an end to their own personal 13-game playoff losing streak with Sunday's win. However, if they plan to start any kind of playoff winning streak this season, Lin is going to have to play a ...
05.07.12

Jeremy Lin: Baron Davis Out, Knicks Need a Point Guard to Stay in NBA Playoffs 2012 NBA Playoffs, Basketball, jeremy lin, NBA, NBA Atlantic, NBA Playoffs, New York Knicks, Opinion, Preview/Prediction | Comments Off
The New York Knicks staved off elimination in Game 4 without Jeremy Lin, but with Baron Davis out for the year, they are in desperate need of help at the point when they face another elimination game against LeBron James and the Miami Heat on Wednesday.The Knicks held off the Heat 89-87 on Sunday afternoon to snap their NBA-record streak of 13 consecutive playoff losses. Amar'e Stoudemire turned in a sparkling double-double (20 points, 10 rebounds) despite the stitches in his hand, and Carmelo Anthony poured in 41 points to lead the Knicks to their first playoff win since 2001.But ailing ...
05.07.12

NBA Playoffs 2012: Do the Knicks Have an Obligation to Play Lin? 2012 NBA Playoffs, Basketball, jeremy lin, NBA, NBA Atlantic, NBA Playoffs, New York Knicks, Opinion | Comments Off
The topic of Jeremy Lin's potential return has now been looming around for the last couple of weeks and it really does pose an interesting question: Should the Knicks play Jeremy Lin if he's healthy? For Knick fans, the answer is an easy, but intuitive answer. Bring Lin back, bring Lin back! With Baron Davis going down with a late season ending knee injury, the Knicks have a dilemma on their hands at the point guard position and the answer to their problem may not be as easy as they would like. Before Davis was declared out for the season, the Knicks ...
05.07.12

NBA Playoffs 2012: Why the New York Knicks Must Blow Up the Blue Prints 2012 NBA Playoffs, Basketball, NBA, NBA Atlantic, NBA Playoffs, New York Knicks | Comments Off
For Carmelo Anthony and the rest of the New York Knicks, Sunday’s 86-85 victory over the Miami Heat to remain alive this season (Miami leads 3-1) still doesn’t validate the current game plan heading back to South Beach. Last Thursday night’s 87-70 loss speaks more to the truth of how concerning the Knicks’ future is. Anthony went 7-for-23 (30.4 percent) from the field, Iman Shumpert crumpled to the ground and big-man Amare Stoudemire punched his hand through a fire extinguisher casing. This required several stitches across his hand that caused him to be limited in Game 4, despite scoring 20 points. For ...
05.07.12

Carmelo Anthony, Knicks Keep Hopes Alive in NBA Playoffs 2012 NBA Playoffs, Basketball, Carmelo Anthony, NBA, NBA Atlantic, NBA Playoffs, New York, New York Knicks, Opinion | Comments Off
Moments before tipoff, an optimistic but restless crowd was treated to a lavish team introductory presentation. A deafening pyrotechnic extravaganza lit up Madison Square Garden and intoxicated throngs of exuberant Knicks fans.The sold out venue was dazzled by the elaborate display, but once the presentation had concluded, many fans wondered if they had just witnessed the greatest excitement of their afternoon. They wondered if the exorbitant amount of money they had spent to watch their hometown team take on a bitter rival would be headlined by a frivolous pyrotechnic display. Their team was down 3-0 and had suffered decisive defeats ...
05.07.12

Heat vs. Knicks Game 5: Why Jeremy Lin Should Join Teammates and Play 2012 NBA Playoffs, Basketball, jeremy lin, NBA, NBA Atlantic, NBA Playoffs, New York Knicks, Opinion | Comments Off
The New York Knicks found a way to win Game 4 of the first round of the playoffs against the Miami Heat. They still trail the series three games to one, but they avoided getting swept on their home floor, and earned their first playoff win in 11 years.Now as they head back to Miami for Game 5, there are talks about whether Knicks guard Jeremy Lin should suite up for action. He had arthroscopic knee surgery a little over a month ago, and has been working out to try to make a comeback. While Knick fans are hoping he ...
05.07.12

NBA Rumors: Knicks Wisely Not Leaning on Return of Jeremy Lin for Game 5 2012 NBA Playoffs, Basketball, jeremy lin, NBA, NBA Atlantic, NBA Playoffs, NBA Rumors, New York Knicks, Opinion | Comments Off
If New York Knicks fans are looking for a savior this postseason, look no further than Carmelo Anthony.Boosted by the return of Amar'e Stoudemire and some timely shooting from Mike Bibby, the Knicks parried the Miami Heat's death blow in Game 4 and will look to do so again in Game 5—only they'll have to do it with only one true point guard on the court.Overnight sensation Jeremy Lin isn't "playoff ready" for a number of reasons, his health being chief among them. Unfortunately, health at the point guard spot is a problem in New York as it's now lost ...
05.07.12

Jeremy Lin: Why Knicks Would Be Better off Without Linsanity in Game 5 2012 NBA Playoffs, Basketball, jeremy lin, NBA, NBA Atlantic, NBA Playoffs, New York Knicks, Opinion | Comments Off
The possibility of Jeremy Lin returning to the New York Knicks for Game 5 was giving fans a glimmer of hope, yet Mike Woodson all but squashed those ideas today.The news comes from Ashbury Park Press sports reporter Josh Newman, via Twitter: Woodson: "I'm not counting on Jeremy Lin to play." #Knicks— Josh Newman™ (@Joshua_Newman) May 7, 2012 Assuming Woodson isn't just tricking the press and trying to surprise the Heat with a Linsanity attack, this is absolutely the right move. Just look at what Lin, who is coming off a semi-serious knee injury, would indeed give New York if he were to ...
05.07.12

NBA Playoffs 2012: Carmelo Anthony’s Hero Ball Won’t Work If Jeremy Lin Returns 2012 NBA Playoffs, NBA, NBA Playoffs, New York Knicks, Opinion | Comments Off
Carmelo Anthony and the New York Knicks finally got the monkey off their back when they ended the longest playoff drought in NBA history by snapping their 13-game losing streak and defeating the Miami Heat on Sunday for their first postseason victory since 2001. Anthony was outstanding, scoring 41 points and putting the Knicks on his back late in the game, but like everything else during the Knicks' roller-coaster season, good news is met with a dose of bad news. Despite Anthony's heroics and the return of Amar'e Stoudemire to the Knicks lineup, New York suffered another costly injury when ...
05.07.12

Seeing Another Day: What Sunday’s Win Means for the Garden Fanbase 2012 NBA Playoffs, NBA, NBA Atlantic, NBA Playoffs, New York Knicks, Opinion | Comments Off
It wasn't pretty. It wasn't easy. But it happened.For the first time in over a decade, the New York Knicks won a playoff game.True, much of the fervor is masked by the fact that the Knicks still trail Miami three games to one in their first-round series, and injuries to guards Jeremy Lin, Baron Davis and Iman Shumpert certainly don't help matters. But hey, in a sporting world that revolves on a records-based axis, Sunday's win counts for something.Knicks fans have been grudgingly acquainted with futility for years now. Breaking an NBA-worst 13 playoff game losing streak is a step ...
05.06.12

Why New York Knicks Will Never Win Big with Carmelo Anthony as Their Star Basketball, Carmelo Anthony, NBA, NBA Atlantic, NBA Playoffs, New York Knicks, Opinion | Comments Off
NBA Champions, New York Knicks and Carmelo Anthony. These are three things that you will never hear in the same sentence as long as Anthony is the face of the franchise. Regardless of how talented Melo is, he has shown throughout his career that he can never win when it counts. Sure, Carmelo has made the playoffs every season he has been in the NBA. Last time I checked though, teams are trying to win championships, not just to make the playoffs. In his nine postseason appearances, Anthony has only made it past the first round once. You know, for ...
05.06.12

Jeremy Lin: Game 5 Return Would Derail Miami Heat 2012 NBA Playoffs, Amare Stoudemire, Baron Davis, Basketball, Carmelo Anthony, jeremy lin, NBA, NBA Atlantic, NBA Playoffs, New York Knicks, Preview/Prediction | Comments Off
The New York Knicks may not be in a position to end the Miami Heat's title hopes, but they could still derail an otherwise unstoppable force of superstar proportions.While Wednesday's Game 5 is a must-win game for the Knicks by definition, it also happens to be a pretty important game for those Heat. Of course, Miami would appreciate the rest afforded by a short series as much as the next team.But Miami's confidence may be an even more important consideration.One game could do a lot of damage to that confidence, a game some are expecting Jeremy Lin to play in.Amar'e ...
05.06.12

Jeremy Lin: Knicks’ Only Hope Is to Unleash Linsanity 2012 NBA Playoffs, Basketball, jeremy lin, NBA, NBA Atlantic, NBA Playoffs, New York Knicks, Opinion | Comments Off
Such a move is potentially Linsane enough to work.The New York Knicks are down 3-1 to the Miami Heat in the first round. South Beach is already celebrating a second-round playoff berth. But one player possesses the ability to call off the party. Allow me to reintroduce the phenomenon of the 2011-2012 NBA campaign: Jeremy Lin. Lin hasn’t played since March 24th. But his penetrating ability is game-changing enough to provide the Knicks with the spark necessary to ignite a comeback. According to CBS Sports’ Royce Young, though, a Lin comeback sounds almost as questionable as a Knicks comeback. Mike ...

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