Tyson Chandler & the "Light-Skinned Brother" Have Turned the Knicks into the 2011 Mavericks
By Jason McIntyre
The Knicks are 14-4, and two of those wins have come against the defending champion Heat. Both of the victories, shockingly, have been by 20 points.
More stunning than the final result? How the Knicks made 3-pointers as if they were playing pop-a-shot. In the first win, they were 19-of-36 from deep (52 percent); Thursday, New York was 18-of-44 (40 percent).
The Knicks are attempting a jaw-dropping 29 three-pointers per game and making 12 (40 percent, 3rd in the NBA). If it’s not Steve Novak (4-of-9 Thursday), it’s JR Smith (3-of-8). Or Raymond Felton (6-of-10). Rasheed Wallace was 0-for-6, but so what, Jason Kidd hit 3-of-8.
This seems like a good time to mention Carmelo Anthony didn’t play in the South Beach beat down.
Tyson Chandler told Ken Berg of CBS that he and the “light-skinned brother” – that’s Jason Kidd – are in the process of turning the 2013 Knicks into the 2011 Mavericks. In that glorious postseason run – swept the Lakers, won three straight against the Heat in the Finals – the Mavericks made 8.8 three’s per game. If the Knicks keep this up – and with half a dozen 3-point gunners on the roster, there’s no reason to think it won’t – they have to be discussed as a contender.
But as I mentioned last month, just as the fiscal cliff looms over the nation’s economy … the Amare situation hovers over the Knicks.
That’s the only reason to believe maybe this incredible run won’t continue. Will Amare return and wreck chemistry if he’s only given Rasheed’s 14 minutes a game?
Enormous week upcoming for New York: home Sunday against Denver, then at Brooklyn Tuesday, followed by hosting the Lakers Thursday in back-to-back nationally televised games.