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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.
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.
Life without Kobe Bryant for the Los Angeles Lakers began Sunday night, and it wasn’t so bad. In fact, it was pretty good.
With Dwight Howard having a big game and Steve Blake somehow outplaying Tony Parker, the Lakers defeated the suddenly struggling San Antonio Spurs and need just one more win to clinch a playoff berth.
I have been asked this several times this season, and I have been wrong each time.
But I now believe it is time to take the Los Angeles Lakers seriously.
Why else would I elevate them nine spots to eighth in my latest NBA Power Rankings?
On Sunday, the New York Knicks appeared on their way to a third and telling victory over the Miami Heat this season.
The Knicks had a 14-point halftime lead. The Heat’s 13-game winning streak was in serious jeopardy. And a third loss to New York would have more than a few folks wondering if Miami could get out of the Eastern Conference and repeat as NBA champions.
But the Heat turned things around in the second half and rallied for a 99-93 victory. What changed?
