Daily Rant: 4/20/2011

Things aren't exactly what people expected to be during the first two playoff games between the Knicks and the Celtics. The Knicks have played better defense when it mattered most in both games, despite having a coach that doesn't coach defense. The Celtics have shown that they are vulnerable in the front court against teams with talented forwards (anyone in Boston missing Kendrick Perkins yet?). Doc Rivers has proved once again that he is a very smart coach and that he knows how to squeeze every last drop out of his players. Home court advantage in this series doesn't mean having raucous fans, it means having half-witted officials giving away calls to the home team. Carmelo Anthony can score 30 or 40 points at will when he decides to, but only if he is the lone superstar on the court. Sophomore, Toney Douglas, is a very capable point guard, with the range of a shooting guard and the toughness of an 8 year veteran. Paul Pierce and Ray Allen are still both clutch. Shaq is too old to be in uniform. Lawrence Frank is really small. Jared Jeffries should never touch the ball....ever, even if he is wide open and can place the ball in the basket uncontested. Boston isn't that good, they got lucky the Knicks can still find ways to lose. If a team with Carmelo Anthony and 4 bench players that David Stern is not even sure are in the NBA can take the so called "Big 3" of Boston to the final buzzer down 1 point, then the Celtics need to reevaluate their own talent. The Celtics won both games because of better coaching, because the Knicks can't sustain solid defense throughout an entire game and because there isn't enough talent around Anthony and Stoudemire. If the Knicks can get the same preferential treatment at home from the referees that the Celtics got in Boston and if Stoudemire and Billups can just be at least 50%, than maybe they can even the series here in NYC. If not, then Boston will take it in 5 games and then get manhandled by their next opponent.

Daily Rant: 4/18/2011

To quote Dick Vitale, "ARE YOU SERIOUS!?". The officiating during Game 1 of the Knicks/Celtics Eastern Conference playoff game was so atrocious and beyond one-sided for the home team. The worst of the bad calls came with the game on the line and 21 seconds left with the Knicks having possession of the ball. The refs called an offensive foul on Carmelo Anthony, which it clearly was not and it in turn gave the ball back to Boston, who ended up winning by 2 points because of it. Also, there was a clear "no call" when Toney Douglas was run over. The officials have again regained control over these NBA games with their foul calls and missed calls and have taken away the option of letting the players play. If they don't call the foul when Douglas is mowed over, then be consistent and let Carmelo move with ball while being closely defended with the game on the line. It's frustrating to watch your favorite team lose, but it's harder to see them have the game taken away by the officials, giving them no opportunity to win. It's true though, the Knicks did blow a 12 point lead and then were outscored in the 3rd quarter, but they fought back and kept it tight until the last buzzer. The Celtics have more experience in the playoffs and the home court advantage, but the Knicks have started to find rhythm and have dabbled in playing defense. They could have and should have won last night and if they can pull out a win tomorrow night before returning home to NYC, then the series is up for grabs.