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Well, the Knicks lost to the Mavericks. Their offense was more or less fine throughout, but New York's defense easy granted switches like it was 2013 and serially failed to run Mavs shooters off the three-point line. That fairly uncharacteristic stretch of willfully bad defense supported a ridiculous downtown barrage and put New York in a hole they could never escape.
Kristaps Porzingis went OFF in the second half and the Knicks legitimately threatened, but a couple frustrating Carmelo Anthony fouls, a defensive lapse or two, and just the preexisting weight of Dallas threes and fucking Raymond Felton floaters were too much to overcome.
Joe's got your full recap later. For now, a few sights and sounds. Here's your first half:
Terrible/lazy defense here allowing Dirk to get a mismatch in the post pic.twitter.com/eHTQ4cQ9Sb
— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) December 8, 2015
If U Watch Calderon, You'll See He Needlessly Rotates To 1st Kick Out Pass. Not Good D https://t.co/CMkI3TpzAQ
— BBALLBREAKDOWN (@bballbreakdown) December 8, 2015
Some combination of weird scheming and weird decision-making throughout that first half. I was happy to see the Knicks adjust later, but I have no idea why they were giving Dirk Nowitzki undersized defenders and helping off shooters to begin with.
Anyway, forget all that. Watch some Kristapses:
.@kporzee going right at his idol for the bucket in the paint. DAL leads 19-10 in the 1Q. #NYKvsDAL pic.twitter.com/bBUms9z0P4
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 8, 2015
Just Keep Saying: "This Dude Is 7'3", This Dude Is 7'3'..." https://t.co/tMpfBKObrT
— BBALLBREAKDOWN (@bballbreakdown) December 8, 2015
More Pinch Post Action From Porzingis. https://t.co/9cB1o5Z9bb
— BBALLBREAKDOWN (@bballbreakdown) December 8, 2015
He's 7'3" pic.twitter.com/CuBZJPxrXV
— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) December 8, 2015
.@kporzee is putting on a show @TheGarden w/ a team-high 28pts! #Knicks trail by 5 w/ 18.6 to go. #NYKvsDAL pic.twitter.com/7Z3UkNg9CY
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 8, 2015
Melo, in a performance that really seemed to vex him, missed Kristaps a few times, but for the most part, those two had a crackling little connection going as passers and screeners.
As has often been the case, I didn't really expect the Knicks to win and am not mad at a 10-12 record in the grand scheme of things. But as has often been the case, I'm certain the Knicks could have given themselves a better chance had they played the first half the way they played the second.