Bernucca: Melo Needs to Take a Pass on Hero Ball

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Carmelo AnthonyHere’s the bottom line on Carmelo Anthony’s recent play. Using the measuring stick of points per shot, it is his worst four-game stretch of the postseason since the first four playoff games of his career.

Furthermore, when compared alongside other worst four-game stretches of contemporary solo superstars, it is near the bottom.

Following Sunday’s loss to Indiana in the Eastern Conference semifinals opener, the Knicks are 1-3 in their last four games, including 0-2 at home. Their only win saw them nearly squander a 26-point lead in a matter of minutes as they repeatedly force-fed Anthony (and, to be fair, J.R. Smith) in isolation situations.

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Sheridan: Pacers pounce on Knicks, who need some help

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Any of the residual gratification felt by the New York Knicks and their fans was quickly erased Sunday when the Indiana Pacers came into Madison Square Garden and manhandled the Knicks to take away home court advantage.

Indiana’s top-ranked defense protected both the rim (eight blocks, five by Roy Hibbert) and the arc (the Knicks made just seven 3-pointers, one less than the Pacers) as they led for the entire second half and took away many of New York’s secondary weapons.

Heat-Bulls Preview: Five Key Factors

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Joakim NoahIt seems like the Chicago Bulls spent every last ounce of available energy and every last healthy or semi-healthy body simply to get out of the first round.

It seems like the Miami Heat have not played in about a month, spending that time waiting for pretenders to wrap up their postseason series, chuckling to themselves and speculating on who was the lone wolf who did not cast a first-place MVP vote for LeBRon James.

So it seems like the fifth-seeded Bulls have no chance against the top-seeded Heat when their Eastern Conference semifinal series opens Monday.

But there is the memory of the Bulls ending the Heat’s 27-game winning streak in late March that has you saying, “What the heck. Let’s  wait and see what happens.” 

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Hubbard: In the give-and-take with Popovich, reporters usually take

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gregg popovichSAN ANTONIO – After each Spurs practice, the media assembles in a corner of the facility and prepares for an encounter with famously gruff San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich. Other teams call it an interview session. With Pop, it’s more like a duel at 10 paces.

Pop is the only one armed. Verbally.

Within the word “intimidate” is the word “timid,” and that combination exists at each get-together. Pop has a naturally irritated look that has been refined by years of repetition. And San Antonio reporters, blistered consistently when questions don’t seem to measure up to Pop standards, approach each session like they have to walk barefoot across a bed of hot coals.

Pop opened the session Saturday by announcing that Tim Duncan had to leave practice because of a stomach bug. Someone asked if that concerned him.

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Sheridan: Knicks not acting like title contenders

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The New York Knicks spent the offseason – and the regular season – adding playoff-hardened veterans to challenge the Miami Heat for the NBA title.

But it is some of those same veterans who are showing inexcusable immaturity in their first-round series vs. the proud Boston Celtics.

Whether it be unnecessary elbows or dressing for a funeral or failing to defend their home court, the Knicks have let the Celtics back into the series. What once looked to be a sweep now appears to have a very good chance of going seven games, something Carmelo Anthony and Co. don’t want to consider right now.