Knicks Post Game Notes: Knicks Comeback to Beat Nets

That sound you heard was Knicks fans, including myself, letting their collective breaths go as the Knicks were able to avoid losing to the now 1-win New Jersey Nets. The Knicks were down early on, but managed a big 3rd quarter en route to a 106-97 win over the Nets to put the Knicks at 6-15. That was the Knicks second win over the Nets, which means that 33% of the Knicks wins come from defeating the worst team in the NBA.

Still, you have to happy with the win. Even though the Knicks were down by 8 points at half, and had a deficit as high as 13 points in the 2nd quarter, the Knicks showed some fortitude as they did their usual, saving their best effort the 2nd half. I guess there is just no way that the Knicks will ever become a team that plays all 48 minutes, which is surprising given coach D’Antoni’s past in Phoenix, but this is what they are. Luckily for them, Larry Hughes has a big enough 3rd quarter to spark the Knicks win.

Here are key things I took away from yesterday’s game:

-Larry Hughes deserves all of the playing time he can get. I know that means that Knick favorite Nate Robinson is more or less going to be left on the bench, but this is what’s better for the team. Larry can run the point. Nate cannot. Larry can get to the free throw line. Nate cannot. Larry can guard point guards, shooting guards and small forwards. Nate cannot. And Larry, more or less, makes good decisions on the court. Nate shoots the ball at his own basket. I will need to further think about how diminished playing time for Nate affects the Knicks future, but for now, it seems clear that the Knicks are better served with Hughes in the game and not Robinson.

-I’m not sure how the Knicks are going to continue to play such a short bench. There were really only 7 players in the rotation against the Nets yesterday, as the 8th man, Toney Douglas, saw the court for just 6 minutes. Playing with 7 guys just isn’t a long-term strategy for any team, even one as poor as New York. Somebody is going to have to emerge as the 8th man on this roster. The 8th spot really needs to go to a big man to complete the rotation, so we could see reemergence of Eddy Curry, Jordan Hill or maybe even Darko Milicic as the season progresses.

-Lastly, Chris Duhon is a serious disappointment right now. His shooting problems continued last night, as he shot just 2 of 12 from the floor, and made just 1 of his 4 3-point attempts. He managed only 5 assists in 39 minutes. Granted, Devin Harris is a great defender, but there are way too many opportunities in a D’Antoni offense for the Knicks starting point guard to finish with just 7 points and 5 assists.

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