Schmeelk: Knicks Need To Make Adjustments To Win
By John Schmeelk
» More Columns
The two teams made their bets. Game 1 was the flop. The Knicks blew a huge opportunity to win a road game against a superior opponent and now it's time for the turn. This is when coaches earn their money and playoff series are won. How will each team adjust after seeing each other play?
The parallels between the first game of series and and the last time these two went head-to-head in a meaningful game are uncanny. The Knicks outplayed the Celtics in the first half, moving the ball well and finding good shots. In the second half, the Celtics turned on the defense and the Knicks offense couldn't handle it. It happened in both games and the Knicks need to find a way to stop the pattern.
Adjustment one will come out of necessity, not choice. Unless there's some sort of medical miracle before Tuesday night, Chauncey Billups will not be suiting up for the Knicks. It's a huge loss due to Billups' playoff experience, demeanor, shooting and control in the half court. Toney Douglas is going to have to grow up very quickly and learn how to handle the intensity of the playoffs without panicking. We've seen the Celtics and other teams take him out of his game, leading to forced shots and turnovers. He needs to stay aggressive with his own offense, but also make sure to get it to Amar'e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony where they like it. Remember, as goes the Knicks point guard, so goes the Knicks offense.
However, the Billups injury may have one unintended positive consequence for the Knicks: a better pace. Game 1 was played at the Celtics speed. It was a grind-it-out slugfest in the halfcourt. With or without Billups, the Knicks are going to have to push the ball more to become more efficient on offense. Shooting 42% from the field is not going to cut it. Everything came so hard for the Knicks because they let the Celtics set up their halfcourt defense.
Douglas is more apt to push the ball and the tempo than Billups. This might get Carmelo and Stoudemire some easier looks, especially if the Celtics play with the same defensive intensity. If Anthony Carter is playing major minutes along with Jared Jeffries and Ronny Turiaf, scoring in the halfcourt will be next to impossible. The Celtics will take advantage of those players and double team the Knicks scorers. Setting a better pace to facilitate better ball movement and offense is the first adjustment the Knicks have to make in order to win Game 2. They have to score more points.
The second adjustment comes defensively and on the boards. This is something else that Billups' absence might help. Both Douglas and Carter are better defenders than Billups, and will do a better job of keeping Rondo in front of them. Ideally, Knicks defenders won't have to rotate as much, leaving them in better rebounding position. The Knicks can't be outrebounded by double digits the way they were in Game 1. They played excellent initial defense but have to finish off possessions. If this doesn't improve, don't be surprised to see Shelden Williams get some minutes to help rebound.
The final adjustment has nothing to do with the coaches. It has to do with Anthony. His shot selection in Game 1 was putrid. Don't buy into his "I just missed shots I usually make" nonsense. It's not true. He needs to work to get better looks and if Boston shifts their entire defense he must find his teammates for open shots with quick decisions. Getting out in transition and pushing the tempo should help him find easier looks. It would also help if Anthony caught his initial pass closer to the basket rather than near the three point line.
By blowing a golden opportunity in Game 1 the Knicks have put themselves in a very difficult position in a near must win game without their starting point guard. If you look at Game 2 through the prism of the first game between the two teams, it's easy to say "Carmelo was bad, Billups and Fields did nothing, and the Knicks scored in the 80's and almost won the game!" In some ways that's true, but the Celtics played far from their A game on Sunday as well. The Knicks will have to match their improved play, and if they make the above adjustments they will have a chance to win.
You can follow me on twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/Schmeelk for everything Knicks and the NBA playoffs.
