Knicks-Bucks Recap

Brandon Jennings throwing down one of his many dunks tonight. He killed the Knicks.

Tonight, the Knicks got blown out at the Garden by the Milwaukee Bucks, 100-86. This was a shock to everyone in the MSG crowd, including me. It is fair to say that everyone thought that the Knicks would snap their 4-game losing streak tonight against the Bucks, who came in with a record of 0-8 on the road. Throughout the game, Knicks fans were booing profusely, especially in the second half when the Knicks were simply unable to put the ball in the basket. In the second half, the Knicks only scored 35 points, and this was supposed to be a high-powered offense with Carmelo and Amare. It was far from that on Friday night. First I will talk about the impressive Bucks, then the terrible Knicks, and then the jokes and notes from the game.

Drew Gooden is so disgusting.

The star of the game for Milwaukee was Brandon Jennings. He was pretty incredible tonight, and he looked like an NBA superstar. I thought I was watching Derrick Rose. Jennings came into the game only averaging 18 ppg, but tonight he doubled that with 36. He even made 6 3’s, which is definitely not his strength. In the second half, he took over at times, making 3’s, getting steals, and smashing open break-away dunks. One possible reason he had such a good game was payback for the Knicks not selecting him in the 2009 draft. The Knicks had the number 8 pick, while the Bucks had the 10th. The Knicks picked Jordan Hill, and we all know how that worked out. Every Buck was on their game tonight, even Shaun Livingston (yes, he is still alive), who had a season high 18 points. He also got his first start of the season, taking the place of ex-Bob’s Cat Stephen Jackson, who was benched for the entire game for skipping morning practice. He probably wants to go back to Charlotte right now. And Jackson is probably the Bucks biggest offensive weapon, which makes it even more shocking that the Knicks lost this game by 14 points. Another impressive Buck, was, and I called it, Drew Gooden, who had 10 points and 11 rebounds. He helped the Bucks get many second chance opportunities and is very good at tipping balls to teammates. This is such a KHH thing to be good at. Petro should learn from Gooden.

Carmelo going up for a layup. He probably missed.

On to the Knicks, who were more disgusting than usual tonight. Their biggest problem was easy shots. In the second half, they could have easily scored 50 points if they didn’t miss layups. Literally, layups. Tyson Chandler and Amare Stoudemire were not able to make their layups tonight and it killed the Knicks. It seemed like they were from France, because all they were doing was French Layups. The Knicks did not hit a field goal in the first 6+ minutes of the fourth quarter and there were boos galore. The Knicks’ other major problem is that the bench is non-existent. Actually, the rest of the team other than Carmelo is non-existent, but especially the bench. They scored a grand total of 11 points. Drew Gooden alone scored 10 off the bench. Ew. The Knicks also shot 37% from the field (a very Nets number) and 27% from 3. That’s not going to win you many games. The leader for the Knicks was obviously Carmelo Anthony, who scored 35 points, but it was an extremely ugly 35. To prove this, after the game my sister asked me, “How did Carmelo score 35? He sucked tonight.” Yes, indeed, he sucked. He took 26 shots and only made 11 of them. Most of his shots were when he was double-teamed, and sometimes he got a lucky foul call. He made 11 foul shots, which will really help your scoring numbers. This was such a typical Carmelo performance. He takes 25+ shots, scores 30+ points, and the Knicks get blown out. So typical.

Carmelo was not happy tonight.

Now on to the jokes and notes:

• Carmelo got thrown out of the game in the last two minutes after the game was already over. He got a double-technical called on him earlier in the game, and got another double-tech in between two of his foul shots. This ejected him, which led to an extremely KHH moment. Because he still had 1 shot left when he was ejected, the Bucks got to choose which Knick would get to take the foul shot. I thought they were going to choose Jared Jeffries, a 50% foul shooter, but instead they chose Josh Harrellson, a 57% foul shooter. For those of you who don’t know, Josh Harrellson is a rookie out of Kentucky. He does not look like an NBA player at all. He is extremely white and disgusting-looking. He promptly bricked the free throw to a chorus of boos, and the Bucks won the game. It was a great moment.
  

  Josh Harrellson. Ewwwww.

• Speaking of white people, the Bucks have so many of them. I believe they have 7 of them. On a 15 man roster. Wow.
• The referees seemed to be rooting for the Bucks tonight. Even though I was as well, they made some very bad calls against the Knicks. But it didn’t matter. That might have given the Knicks 5 points back, which wouldn’t have actually made a difference in the game.
• Knicks fans were brutal tonight, as I expected they would be if the Knicks were losing the game. There were even boos in the first half when it was still a close game. In the third quarter, the “Fire D’Antoni” cheers started, and in the fourth, “Let’s Go Giants” was very popular. After Carmelo got ejected, it seemed like the fans were debating which cheer to use, which was very amusing to me. I definitely enjoyed myself, and joined in with both groups.
  

  Knicks Fans

• Because of these Knicks fans, this was not a KHH event. At KHH events, fans don’t really care about the game very much. There are almost never boos and the home team is expected to lose. This was very different. I prefer KHH events.
• As I announced in my preview, I wore my Deron Williams throw away jersey to the game today. I was not heckled nearly as much as I expected I would be, but I definitely got a few strange looks. I was rooting very loudly for the Bucks the entire game (I did not see a single fan for another NBA team, let alone the Bucks at the game), and I was standing and cheering when Brandon Jennings was hitting his 3’s in the fourth quarter. In some ways, I wish I was booed more, but I think I still got the point across that I was attempting to convert Knicks fans into Nets fans.

This was my last event, KHH or not KHH, before I go back to Colorado. The Nets will be playing at home against the Thunder tomorrow where I expect them to be blown out (110-89 is my prediction), but I will not be able to watch because I will be on a plane. It will be up to Raphi to provide a recap for our avid readers, and me. I will try to continue to blog during my time in college, and I will definitely keep up with the Nets.

I expect to see many Durant slams tomorrow.

Your 2011-2012 KHH Fantasy Basketball Guide

Bored out of my mind at 2 a.m. (after watching a great late night Knicks – Warriors game), I decided to join a Yahoo! public fantasy basketball league that drafts tomorrow afternoon. I quickly proceeded to make some pre-draft rankings. Since I only spent five minutes of my (not so valuable) time making these rankings and want to kill more time so I can sleep in tomorrow, I will state and explain my top twenty five ranked picks. Feel free to chime in. I hope this helps KHH fans worldwide draft good fantasy basketball teams and win their leagues.

1. SF,PF – LeBron James
   

   2010-11 Per Game - Pts: 26.7, Reb: 7.5, Ast: 7.0

   LeBron is a great basketball player, but an even better fantasy basketball player. He is the best in the league at filling every different statistical category.

2. PG – Derrick Rose
   
   

   2010-11 Per Game - Pts: 25.0, Reb: 4.1, Ast: 7.7

   Rose was last season’s NBA MVP. He takes a lot of shots, makes many of them, and does a good job of collecting assists and three pointers as well.

3. SF – Kevin Durant
   
   

   2010-11 Per Game - Pts: 27.7, Reb: 6.8, Ast: 2.7

   Durant led the league in scoring last season. He can knock down three pointers and collect rebounds as well. The Hornets have other good scorers, but he should have a chance to lead the league in scoring again this season.

4. PG, SG – Dwyane Wade
   
   

   2010-11 Per Game - Pts: 25.5, Reb: 6.4, Ast: 4.6

   Wade has always been able to score at will. After losing in the finals last year, I expect Wade to be especially focused this season. He’ll score, rebound, collect assists, and be a great starting guard for your fantasy team.

5. PG – Chris Paul
   
   

   2010-11 Per Game - Pts: 15.9, Reb: 4.1, Ast: 9.8

   Playing on the Clippers with Blake Griffin, Paul should continue being an elite passer. He could also score twenty points a game. I think this will be an especially great fantasy basketball year for Paul.

6. C – Dwight Howard
   
   

   2010-11 Per Game - Pts: 22.9, Reb: 14.1, Ast: 1.4

   Dwight Howard may have an interesting year and get traded, but he should score and rebound at an amazing rate regardless of the distractions. Keep your fingers crossed that he will join the Nets!

7. SG – Kobe Bryant
   
   

   2010-11 Per Game - Pts: 25.3, Reb: 5.1, Ast: 4.7

   Kobe is getting older, but I still expect him to be great this season. He will still take a lot of shots. I expect this to be his last really great season.

8. SF, PF – Carmelo Anthony
   
   

   2010-11 Per Game - Pts: 26.3, Reb: 6.7, Ast: 3.0

   Carmelo has always taken a ton of shots and scored at a great rate. I don’t expect anything to change with Carmelo this season. He should rebound fairly well, as he always does.

9. PF, C – Kevin Love
   
   

   2010-11 Per Game - Pts: 20.2, Reb: 15.2, Ast: 2.5

   Kevin Love knows how to clean the glass. His rebounding leads to second chance opportunities to score. I don’t think he’s the most talented player, but he should still be a good fantasy basketball player by collecting rebounds. He isn’t good at blocking shots though. I kind of hope I don’t have to draft him. I think he’s overrated.

10. PF, C – Pau Gasol
    
    

    2010-11 Per Game - Pts: 18.8, Reb: 10.2, Ast: 3.3

    With Kobe Bryant getting older and Lamar Odom getting traded, maybe Pau will take more shots this season. I’m not the biggest fan of Gasol because he likes to take too many Petro-type jumpers. He’s above average at blocking shots and rebounding. He definitely underperformed in the last year’s playoffs and this is concerning.

11. PG – Deron Williams
    
    

    2010-11 Per Game - Pts: 15.0, Reb: 4.6, Ast: 12.8

    Playing for a terrible Nets team with an injured center, D Will will have a chance to stand out. His assist numbers may go down because the Nets have too many unreliable players. Because of this, I have ranked him somewhat low. Yet, his scoring should increase by a lot. If he doesn’t score more than he did last year, the Nets will be terrible. If the Nets get Dwight Howard, Williams should become a top five fantasy basketball player.

12. PF, C – Amar’e Stoudemire
    
    

    2010-11 Per Game - Pts: 25.3, Reb: 8.2, Ast: 2.6

    Amare was a motivated player last season. He is best when he has someone to make nice passes and he certainly does not have that, playing for the Knicks. In addition, Carmelo will probably take a lot of shots for the Knicks, decreasing Amare’s scoring rate. His rebounding rate may also decrease slightly, rather than increase because his team acquired Tyson Chandler during the offseason. Chandler is a better rebounder than the Frenchman Ronny Turiaf, who sometimes started at center for the Knicks last season.

13. PG – Russell Westbrook
    
    

    2010-11 Per Game - Pts: 21.9, Reb: 4.6, Ast: 8.2

    Westbrook is athletic and can break down a defense. He tends to miss too many shots, but he may improve in this regard this season. He gets assists and steals as well.

14. PF – Dirk Nowitzki
    
    

    2010-11 Per Game - Pts: 23.0, Reb: 7.0, Ast: 2.6

    A defending world champion, Dirk should continue scoring at a great rate. He won’t fill many different statistical categories, though.

15. PG, SG – Monta Ellis
    
    

    2010-11 Per Game - Pts: 24.1, Reb: 3.5, Ast: 5.6

    Ellis can score, then score some more. He can knock down three pointers. He’s a good second round choice for his scoring.

16. PF, C – Blake Griffin
    
    

    2010-11 Per Game - Pts: 22.5, Reb: 12.1, Ast: 3.8

    Blake Griffin is certainly a loud big man. In terms of fantasy basketball production, he scores and gets a lot of rebounds. He is pretty underwhelming at shot blocking. I think it is important for your starting fantasy basketball center to record blocks. If you do draft Blake, remember to also draft someone who blocks shots.

17. PF, C – Al Jefferson
    
    

    2010-11 Per Game - Pts: 18.6, Reb: 9.7, Ast: 1.8

    Jefferson is a somewhat boring player, but he gets rebounds, records blocks, and scores pretty well. He is certainly more noticeable in fantasy basketball than he is in real life. This is his second year playing for the Jazz. I was at Nets – Jazz last season and I have no recollection of him playing.

18. SF, PF – Rudy Gay
    
    

    2010-11 Per Game - Pts: 19.8, Reb: 6.2, Ast: 2.8

    Rudy Gay got injured last season, but he should continue scoring well and collecting some rebounds. He is also fairly active defensively, getting some steals.

19. PF, C – LaMarcus Aldridge
    
    

    2010-11 Per Game - Pts: 21.8, Reb: 8.8, Ast: 2.1

    Aldridge had an especially productive year scoring the basketball last season. I don’t expect his scoring or rebounding to change at all this season, even with Gerald Wallace taking too many shots for the team.

20. PG – Rajon Rondo
    
    

    2010-11 Per Game - Pts: 10.6, Ast: 11.2, Reb: 4.4

    Rondo is a good passer. He’s also very good at recording steals. He sucks at shooting, though. If you didn’t get a guard who’s good at passing in the first round, it is a good idea to draft Rondo in the second round.

21. SF, PF – Josh Smith
    
    

    2010-11 Per Game - Pts: 16.6, Reb: 8.5, Ast: 3.3

    Josh Smith can contribute in every relevant statistical category. He can score, rebound, and block shots especially well. He had a stiff rejection on John Wall last night.

22. SF, PF – Danny Granger
    
    

    2010-11 Per Game - Pts: 20.5, Reb: 5.4, Ast: 2.6

    Granger is a good late second round pick for his scoring. He has always put the ball in the bucket for the Pacers and should continue to do so. His rebounding numbers are not much better than Petro’s, though.

23. SG – Eric Gordon
    
    

    2010-11 Per Game - Pts: 22.3, Reb: 2.9, Ast: 4.4

    Eric Gordon plays shooting guard and scores from that position. It is not very hard to find shooting guards who can score, but Gordon can score at a particularly high rate.

24. PF, C – Zach Randolph
    
    

    2010-11 Per Game - Pts: 20.1, Reb: 12.2, Ast: 2.2

    Z Bo scores, rebounds, and does not play defense. Still, he’s valuable in fantasy basketball for his scoring and rebounding. He will produce just slightly less than Kevin Love, and Love is a popular first round draft choice.

25. PF, C – Al Horford
    
    

    2010-11 Per Game - Pts: 15.3, Reb: 9.3, Ast: 3.5

    Horford gets rebounds and scores somewhat well. He doesn’t get blocks and his scoring is worse than other options, though. He did have a nasty alley-oop throw down on Sundiata Gaines when the Hawks played the Nets on Tuesday, though. This play was a little funny, but it doesn’t mean anything in terms of Horford’s future statistical production.

I am certainly not the greatest authority on fantasy basketball. I have never won a fantasy basketball league before. I have made some very stupid mistakes, such as drafting Shareef Abdul Raheem the season before he retired and having Rasho Nesterovich start for my team. Still, I hope my opinions are helpful to all KHH fans hoping to play fantasy basketball.

NBA First Round Preview

With the NBA playoffs starting tomorrow, I thought that it would be appropriate to give some analysis and predictions to the playoff series.

Eastern Conference:

1. Chicago vs. 8. Indiana. The Pacers are the only joke team in the playoffs this year so this should be an easy win for the Bulls. Danny Granger cannot carry a team to a playoff win of any kind and Derrick Rose will eat the Pacers defense. Plus, the Pacers have too many white guys. Prediction: Chicago 4, Indiana 0. 

2. Miami vs. 7. Philadelphia. The Sixers are better than people think. They completely destroyed the Nets each time they played this season and they are one of the most improved teams from last season. However, Miami is just too good for them. Lebron will matchup well with Iguodala, Brand will be shut down by Bosh, and Jrue Holiday will not be able to score against Wade. And Evan Turner smiles too much. Sorry, Philly. Prediction: Miami 4, Philadelphia 1. 

3. Boston vs. 6. New York. This is a battle of the selfish vs. the unselfish when Carmelo goes against the Celtics’ Big 3 and Rondo. Everyone in the NBA seems to be scared of the Knicks, but the Celtics should be the least afraid because they have the most experience. The Celtics defense will show up and the Knicks run will be stopped. The Celtics have beaten better teams than the Knicks before, and this series should not be a problem for them. Prediction: Boston 4, New York 1. 

4. Orlando vs. 5. Atlanta. I really don’t understand the Hawks team at all. It seems like they always underachieve, yet they finished with the 5 seed, which is not bad. They have a lot of talent, but none of the players really seem to care. They seem to be happy every year to go out of the playoffs early, and this year probably will not be any different. However, I will be rooting against Orlando because if they lose early in the playoffs, they are more likely to trade Howard in the offseason. I will be surprised if Atlanta wins this series. Prediction: Orlando 4, Atlanta 2. 

Western Conference:

1. San Antonio vs. 8. Memphis. This is actually a very interesting series. Even though the Nets beat the Grizzlies twice this year, including a rare road win for them, Memphis has played very well in the second half of the year and the Spurs are not happy to be facing them in the first round of the playoffs. Additionally, Manu Ginobili got injured in a meaningless last game of the season and he may miss some time in the playoffs. Even though everything is pointing Memphis’s way, I cannot bring myself to pick the Grizzlies to win this series. Prediction: San Antonio 4, Memphis 3. 

2. Los Angeles vs. 7. New Orleans. I think that this will be the most lopsided series of the first round. New Orleans is without its all star power forward David West and the Lakers are the two-time defending champions. Andrew Bynum should be ready for game 1 of this series and the only injury to the Lakers is Steve Blake (if you remember the chicken pox article). Chris Paul is a nice player, but the Hornets just do not have the talent to even compete with the Lakers. Prediction: Los Angeles 4, New Orleans 0. 

3. Dallas vs. 6. Portland. The Trail Blazers have a chance to be one of those surprise teams this year that has a chance to reach the conference finals. Dallas will be without Caron Butler and they have been one of those good, boring teams in the second half of the season. I don’t think that Dallas will be motivated enough to win this series, and Portland will advance to the second round. Prediction: Portland 4, Dallas 2. 

4. Oklahoma City vs. 5. Denver. I think that this series has the most combined talent out of any series. Both of these teams are very good and this should be a great first round matchup. For the Thunder, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and don’t forget about Kendrick Perkins, looked poised to make a deep playoff run this year. On the other side of the ball, the Nuggets have looked great since the Carmelo trade. It is not a surprise to see their improvement with Anthony and I expect to see another good season from them next year, but Oklahoma City is too talented to not get out of the first round. Prediction: Oklahoma City 4, Denver 3 (Game 7 will go to overtime).