(though when the Angry Samoans sang “Everything looks better when the world is black / Grab a fork, make the first attack,” they really weren’t offering advice to Jerome James)
So it’s finally come to this. A week in which Neil Hamburger gets a better reception at the World’s Most Dysfunctional Arena than the New York Knickerbockers. The chants of “Fire Thomas”, I can understand. The chants of “We Want Nate”, are far more questionable, unless young Mr. Robinson has donated a lot of tickets. And on that tip, the section with the banner marked “N8’S GR8 SEATS” has some of the worst sightlines in Madison Square Garden. In all honesty, I’m somewhat envious of those who had a poor view of the Knicks’ feeble defensive effort Wednesday night, as the Wizards sank a ridiculous 14 of 20 3-pointers, six of ’em launched successfully by Agent Zero. Arenas scored 38 points and it could’ve been a half century had Eddie Jordan not rested his superstar for a long stretch of the 4th quarter.
On the bright side — and there’s not much to choose from — Eddy Curry (22 points, 12 rebounds) scored 20 or more for the 8th consecutive game, and Renaldo Balkman is working ridiculously hard to grab the sort of rebounds his teammates and opponents are somewhat snoozy going after. But between Arenas and Antwan Jamison being allowed to bomb away at will and the diabolically ice cold shooting of Stephon Marbury and Jamal Crawford (a combined 9 for 29 from the field), this one had clusterfuck written all over it.
Biggest ovation of the night (not counting the bush league t-shirt toss) was for a Mardy Collins layup in garbage time.
From section 131, I felt your enviousness. Small disagreement: The biggest ovation of the night came courtesy of Charlene’s breathless come-from-behind victory during the tic-tac-toe game. Of all the time-out games in sports, the tic-tac-toe game is second only to the Great Sausage Race.
Is there a more disinterested audience than at a 2007 Knicks game at MSG? This was my sixth game of the season (despite having so many other better things to do, like…ANYTHING ELSE), and tonight the vibe felt like bored restlessness: so little to cheer for. I started up some deep-throated “DEE-FENSE” chants to try and generate some focus on the action. Boy was I lonely.
When David Lee and, to a lesser extent, Rolando Blackmon, are on the court, they defintely make a palpable impression on the crowd—it’s easy to feel and respond to their upbeat passion, because IT SHOWS. Jamal sometimes shows it…Q a little moreso…but Lee and Blakcmon wake up the game for everyone. They’re fun to watch.
Sometimes I see Marbury as the A-Rod of the Kincks: Both came to their teams as The Missing Piece, and each are being shown zero love, anti-love, because they haven’t proven themselves truly worthy. Which one of them has a better chance of earning their NY stripes in five years or less?
Nothing is going to be solved until A) the Marbury/Francis musical closes up shop, and B) Eddy Curry gets the bitch outta him. In other words: things ain’t gon’ get any better. anytime soon.
surely not Charlene of “I’ve Never Been To Me” fame?
though Starbury’s already on record giving A-Rod his love, I think this comparison wildly flatters the NBA’s self-proclaimed no. 1 point guard.
I’m gonna wait for Curry to have another bad game before talking shit about him. He’s got issues galore (knowing how to pass out of a double team for one), but he isn’t putting up 20/10 most nights without being aggressive. Haywood and Thomas certainly weren’t intimidating Eddy last night.
I don’t think Crawford is lacking in effort, and he’s (very) occasionally a competent defender. But he’s never seen a shot he didn’t like, and John Bolton’s not diplomatic enough to call him streaky.
I saw about one minute of this game, and some dude on the Wizards, right after calling time out, heaved one up from just inside half-court and the announcer informed us that he actually made the shot, depspite not much reaction from the crowd. Did you witness this shot go in, or was the dude bullshitting us?
(I thought “Charlene” meant Janet Jackson.)