Shump Hits Black Gold in Texas

Everything is bigger in Texas and the Knicks got two huge wins in their Texas road trip. They could’ve swept their Texas slate had it not been for late game mental errors. Nonetheless the Knicks have come into 2014 with a new attitude. Amid trade rumors and heavy criticism, Carmelo Anthony and company finally look like a basketball team. Iman Shumpert got his swagger back putting up a career-high 27 points in a win against the reigning Western Conference Champion Spurs. Following that with an equally impressive 26 points in a tough loss to H-Town.  In the finale against Dallas Shump hit big shots late to secure the game.

The team returns to The Garden for the first time in 2014 with hopes of changing their luck in the New Year. Coach Woodson is starting to mix it up giving younger guys like Toure’ Murry decent minutes and it has paid off. Murry’s defense in the second quarter in San Antonio helped the Knicks get going. With Kenyon Martin getting healthier by the day the second unit looks a lot better with Murry, Hardaway Jr. and STAT.  J.R. Smith and Beno Udrih continue to struggle finding their range, but both have had key hustle plays to help keep the Knicks alive. 

The question heading into Tuesday’s matchup against the Pistons; was this Texas road trip a farce or the beginning of turn around the Knicks have been desperately looking for? Carmelo Anthony has had a rough year of criticism and trade rumors, but is starting to look like the leader his team has needed since the veteran presence of Jason Kidd and Rasheed Wallace left the locker room. Melo willed his soldiers to victory in Dallas and if this continues the Knicks can start climbing themselves out of the giant hole they dug. Detroit is coming off a mauling at the hands of the Grizzlies on their home floor. The Pistons do play better on the road going 8-8 compared to their 6-12 home record.

If the Knicks come out firing like they did in Dallas they can wrap this one up early. Coach Woodson has to continue riding his young guns. Their energy has changed the way the team comes out. If Shump remains hot and J.R. can start getting back to driving to the basket like he did last year he will start getting those open shots to hit. Expect Anthony to continue his good play and focus more on how he leads his squad during those tough moments. Those stretches of adversity will be where the Knicks will win or lose this game. So far the Knicks have given us no reason to doubt them in 2014; let's hope that does not change. 

JR's Back At It: #THERETURN

Love him or hate him he’s entertaining and on Sunday the reigning Sixth Man of the Year J.R. Smith returned to the court.  We all know and rather not speak about the massacre that was the Spurs game, one that saw the Knicks down by almost 40 points in a performance that hasn’t been seen in the Garden under Coach Woodson’s watch. Smith had little impact in his first game back going 1-for-9 from the field for five points and team high four turnovers per NBA.com.  It would be foolish to get carried away with Smith’s less than spectacular performance. If anything is consistent about J.R. is that he will look like the second coming of John Starks on some nights and other nights look like Stephon Marbury 2.0.

The key thing to take away from Smith’s return is the countdown to the possible exit of fan favorite and virtually the team’s only asset sans Carmelo Anthony; Iman Shumpert.  Frank Isola of the Daily News thinks Shumpert might be closer towards a Garden exit than the starting lineup. In his the column he reports “The rest of the league seems to value Iman more than the Knicks do,” said one Eastern Conference executive. “And his value is high.”

It will be interesting to see how Woodson uses Smith, Shumpert and neophyte Tim Hardaway Jr. The early success of the rookie has made someone available and it will be interesting to see how it unfolds. It’s no surprise that Woodson and Smith have a great relationship and Woodson has gotten the more out of Smith than any coach he has had while in the league. These factors set up for an interesting next couple of months. If Smith plays like the reigning Sixth Man than adios Shumpert, but if Shumpert flourishes both Smith and Woodson might be given a pink slip at year’s end.  Damn it’s great to have J.R. back!