FanPost

Hot at home but cold on the road

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Home is where the heart is for the New York Knicks. With 16 games into the 82 game season, the New York Knicks are a mediocre 8-8. 7 of their 8 wins came at home bringing their home record to 7-2, while their road record is a terrible 1-6. The Knicks are looking impressive at home and have won 6 straight games at the "Worlds Most Famous Arena." The Knicks are taking care of business on their home floor but not so much on the road. The Knicks have lost 4 straight away from New York. Their last road win came on November 4th against Chicago. In order for the Knicks to move up in the upper echelon of the eastern conference the Knicks have to start winning road games.

Last season the Knicks went 14-27 on the road. The Knicks have the roster to surpass that number and win at least 20 games on the road. On the road the Knicks have looked lethargic, not full of energy, and not working as a team. You could make a case that 3 of their road losses have come on back-to-back games (something the NBA should get rid of) but that shouldn't be an excuse. Their latest road lost came against the Charlotte Hornets, a home-and-home, back-to-back game. In that game the Knicks struggled with their perimeter defense, while Carmelo Anthony and Derrick Rose shot the ball poorly. Anthony went 7-25 from the field while Rose went 6-20. The only player to bring the energy and defense was Brandon Jennings. Jennings scored 12 points off the bench and had 5 steals.

The Knicks look to make it 7 straight home games tonight when they take on Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder tonight. Derrick Rose and the Knicks have their work cut out for them in this matchup. The Thunder are 10-8 and Westbrook is nearly averaging a triple double. In order for the Knicks to continue their hot home start the Knicks have to contain Westbrook out of the paint and not let him make that extra pass. Hopefully a win will carry over to their next road game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday.