7SoM: Webisode 27, Knicks vs Clippers

by gian casimiro on Nov 22, 2010 9:30 AM EST in 7 Seconds or Mess

Aside from Blake Griffin commanding the wind with a hurricane that left souls bare, the Los Angeles Clippers exhibited some awful, bewildering defense. In 7SoM: Webisode 27, I look at what the Knicks did to exploit the Clips offensively.

The Clippers are the second worst defensive team in the league, giving up the fourth highest field goal percentage at the rim and the highest effective field goal percentage from three. Sometimes I wonder how those stats translate to the game but Saturday's game proved why they rank so poorly in said categories.

The team's ball movement is becoming more and more promising. Raymond Felton is being himself these days, by that I mean, he's looking to score more instead of forcing himself to be a distributor. He'll still get his assists by nature of handling the ball so much, but not in the PnR way we all assumed he would. But that's fine because it's working.

Danilo Gallinari is the bigger story. He's no longer hesitating after receiving a pass or dribbling off a screen. He's either up with his shot or moving it for something better. Before he was waiting and forcing anyway. And he's recognizing cutting/fastbreak lanes in ways I haven't seen him do before. There's legit aggression in his game now instead of the emo aggression that sometimes gets the best of him.

Finishing 3-1 on a five-day road trip is nothing to take lightly for a team this inconsistent. So let's all enjoy it for another day. They're gearing up for a home-and-home against the Bobcats starting Tuesday. I expect Felton to have a little something extra for his former team, like extra daps and stuff.

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Nobody can say 'egregious' without sounding like Clyde :-)

Another smart video Gian.

I’ll just dump the rambling analysis I just posted in Seth’s fan shot in here too for safe keeping:

The Clippers announcers kept referring to Gallos smarts & high BBIQ throughout the final quarter and the sequence of plays leading up to and following BGs spin & dunk over Gallo is a great example. (Read the plays from 7:39 here)

Gallo shot a 3, on the next NY possession draws a foul from BG driving to the basket, the next possession draws BG into an hilarious Kung Fu Panda foul for another 3 points & then BG does his business into a TO. Gallo has just matched Gordon & Griffin 8-8.

Straight out of the TO Gallo draws yet another foul from Gomes, then steals the ball from Gordon setting up a fast break for Will to mop up, Amar’e draws more fouls & then Gallo rebounds to set up an Amar’e dunk into another TO.

Knicks have just scored 8 points unanswered out of the TO called following BG’s showreel dunk and are 116-103 with 4.09 to play. Clippers outscore the Knicks 12-8 in the final minutes which is nowhere near enough (Amar’e (x2) & Gallo get the last 3 dunks of the game, just to make a point) and it’s game over.

Ronny Turiaf put it best when he said "Let me say something plain and simple: I will take getting dunked on the rest of the year every single game if we get the win."

Clips fans can be satisfied with a terrible record, the distant hope of yet another high lottery pick and getting their beaming faces into BG’s reel. Knicks fans can be satisfied with a W and the feeling that if the team can keep building on it’s talent and smarts, we’ll be watching playoff basketball before too long.

Now doubt about it, BG is a monster baller and will thrive when either Kaman & Davis return from injury or he ends up with a decent franchise but Gallo played an incredibly smart final 12 and did exactly what needs to be done to win games, two nights on the trot without even having to rely on Fisher/Ray Allen/Dirk buzzer beaters.

I’ll take that.

EST +5 hours is hard work sometimes...

by UK Knick on Nov 22, 2010 9:48 AM EST reply actions

I want consisency out of Gallo

He’s looked like a dynamic offensive player during this win streak. Scoring off the break, going with reckless abandon to the hoop in one on one situ’s, and of course taking is whole package out and showing if off in the 4th Q with thos clutch 3’s

Aggressive is what I want him to consistently be. Cock gotta stay hard.

Pause if you will

Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows

by Rorschach44 on Nov 22, 2010 10:11 AM EST reply actions