This game was not as entertaining or disparate in team play as the final score would indicate. Ask the uninterested NBA.com recap guy. Sure, he always sounds like they snatched him out of a sports bar and put him in front of a microphone. But, that's not even the point.
The Caron Butler-less Washington Wizards Knicked away a 9-point third quarter lead, allowing Nate Robinson to have his way with an uninterested defense. New York's Lilliputian led The Proud Ones to a 22-point victory--a quick reversal of fortune from what just as easily could have been a defeat of the same margin.
Robinson's cathartic play comes as a direct result of yet another shakeup to coach Mike D'Antoni's strict but volatile 8-man rotation. Rookie Jordan Hill, who had been getting moderate run over the past couple of weeks, received a DNP-CD. Noted party monster Chris Duhon did not start the second half, conceding his rotation spot to Larry Hughes. Astonishingly enough, within 24 hours of issuing an unusual ultimatum to the Knick organization, Hughes found himself thrust back onto the Madison Square Garden floor and receiving significant playing time.
I guess no one wanted to deal with the effects of Hughes' facial hair anymore. According to the teardrops on Hughes' face, the body count must be piling up. Gotta kill witnesses 'cause Smooth's beard's sticking out.
Unlike his adolescent nickname, Hughes' behavior and relationship with Knick brass of late have been anything but "smooth." You would think the nigga would have taken a lesson or two from Robinson's response to diminished playing time. Apparently, the "make an ass of myself and embarrass my team while it's spiraling into oblivion" approach has worked. I guess the Knicks have to play Hughes if they expect to trade him.
Donnie Walsh's phone should be ringing off the hook today. The February 18th trade deadline is quickly approaching and there's always a market for self-important shitheads who grossly overvalue their talents and abilities. Perhaps The Proud Ones will have a 2010 first-round draft selection yet.
But I digress. Despite the final score, tonight's game was difficult to watch. Surely this is partly a result of the Knicks' overall play this way. Perhaps the passing of "Tricky" Dick McGuire did not help liven the mood going into the contest. However, both teams played a lethargic, uninspired game until the third quarter. The second half simultaneously found the Wizards losing interest and the Knicks giving a third of a fuck for the first time in several games. Andray "Funky Feet" Blatche and his Hot Karl Nikes couldn't keep The Wiz close, despite his steamy shooting.
No. You're right. That was not necessary. But how can you resist referring to Blatche as "Funky Feet" knowing what Gilbert Arenas did to him?
The Knicks bring their win total to within ten games of a .500 record. New York will have to continue to take advantage of a home-heavy February schedule laden with "beatable" teams to maintain any hope for postseason play.
We all know how the Knicks tend to fare against "beatable" teams, though. The quest continues this weekend with a Friday/Saturday back-to-back against the Milwaukee Bucks at home and Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. Despite having already endured a thrashing Bradley Center this past November, Milwaukee is one of the "beatable" teams we refer to.
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