Nets 109, Knicks 98: Scenes from a playoff push plopping loudly into the toilet bowl of reality

Holy crap, that was pathetic. The New York Knicks came out of the All-Star break looking fresh and rejuvenated against the Brooklyn Nets ... for the entire first quarter, and part of the fourth. The bench farted away most of a nine-point lead to begin the second, the starters came back in and recaptured the edge a few minutes later and then everything fell apart from there. A 20-2 Nets run spanning the second and third quarters put the game out of reach, save for the customary fake-ass comeback.

Hey let's all look at Kristaps Porzingis.

Kristaps yam on Nets https://t.co/G7eWi2P4eq

— vineydelnegro (@vineydelnegro) February 20, 2016

.@kporzee w/ 3 blocks & this jumper to start here in BK. NYK leads 16-14. #NYKvsBKN pic.twitter.com/HEKC5bNY0i

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) February 20, 2016

The Knicks bench -- so lame in the first half -- actually played pretty well in the fourth quarter during said fake-ass comeback.

.@LangGalloway10 sparking the #Knicks comeback! NYK trails 86-80 w/ 10:31 left in the 4Q. #NYKvsBKN pic.twitter.com/eUSX7dmKXd

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) February 20, 2016

Carmelo Anthony started out hot, and then faded mightily.

.@carmeloanthony poured in 11p in the 1Q & @kporzee added 7p/3b to fuel the #Knicks 32-23 1Q lead. #NYKvsBKN pic.twitter.com/b4YpoQmbQD

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) February 20, 2016

Melo looked old and slow. Most of the Knicks looked old and slow, because most of them are.

Recap to come.