Jamal Crawford had a game-high 29 points.
Was that the ‘06 Suns? Do my eyes deceive me? The Knicks dropped 120 points on the Miami Heat in their season opener Wednesday, Oct. 29. In a surprising move by Mike D’Antoni, Stephon Marbury did not play in their 120-115 win. This made a huge statement about How D’Antoni wants his team to be viewed: this is a new era of New York Knick basketball. The Knicks played typical D’Antoni basketball, constant fast-breaks, constant pressure offensively. They had an incredible 27 assists; six players scored 13 or more points. It was an incredible team effort – much different than what we’ve seen in recent years.
David Lee, Zach Randolph, and Wilson Chandler were spectacular in the low post, combining for 53 points and 29 rebounds between the 3 of them. However, the star of the night was Jamal Crawford, who took on the role of team leader. Crawford had a game-high 29 points and hit a key 3-pointer with 2 minutes left to play, slowing a Miami 4th-quarter comeback.
Granted, this was just one game, against a Heat team that had a horrendous 15-67 record last year. But the feel of the game, and the energy of the players was easy to see. This team believes in themselves. They hustle. And despite a solid win, D’Antoni continued to scold his players for allowing a late comeback by the Heat. This is the type of coach the Knicks need, and more than anything they need a strong start to give them confidence in D’Antoni’s system.
The Knicks will be tested Halloween night against a re-vamped 76ers team which features two solid underrated players in their prime: Andre Miller, and Elton Brand. If they can get a road win, it will be a huge boost for their confidence. The game airs at 7pm on MSG.
It seems as if the New York Knicks are going to be a totally different team this year. With the team healthy and the chemistry better than ever, it is destined that we will go far. Who needs Isiah? Lets Go Knicks!