Chapter 198 Our goal is never a certain team, but to go further
After losing to the Grizzlies, they finished all the games in February. So far, the Knicks have played 58 games, with a record of 39 wins and 19 losses, currently ranked third in the Eastern Conference.
Eastern ranking.
1, Cleveland Cavaliers (46 wins and 14 losses).
2, Orlando Magic (40 wins and 20 losses).
3, New York Knicks (39 wins and 19 losses).
4, Atlanta Hawks (37 wins and 21 losses).
5, Boston Celtics (36 wins and 21 losses).
6, Toronto Raptors (31 wins and 27 losses).
7, Chicago Bulls (31 wins and 28 losses).
8, Milwaukee Bucks (30 wins and 29 losses).
The 2-5th place in the Eastern Conference is very closely following the record, and if you are not careful, you are likely to be followed by a long time.
The Celtics have also made secret efforts recently, which can be seen from the previous game against the Knicks.
The Celtics' record is currently close to that of the Atlanta Hawks. Although there is only one difference between the fourth and fifth places, it can determine the home and away games in the first two games in the playoffs.
Once the Celtics come to fourth place, they will have two home advantage first. The home atmosphere is very likely to make the Hawks make mistakes, thus directly winning the first two games, and once the Hawks lead the
After returning to the home court with a 0:2 back, it is difficult for them to ensure that there will be no problems in their mentality.
For the old Celtics, once they seize the opportunity, they are likely to complete the sweep.
The cooperation between Carter and Howard on the Magic team is getting better and better, and the Magic's record in February is also constantly improving.
Like the Knicks, the Hawks are mostly young, so they are prone to make mistakes when fighting against some strong teams.
The Knicks tied 1:1 twice against the Cleveland Cavaliers this season, but the Atlanta Hawks lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers twice.
It can be seen that the Hawks' offensive ability needs to be improved.
The February competition ends, and the day of the 28th is also the best day for the East and West Month.
The best of the month this month is still out of reach with Lian Dao, and LeBron James once again won the best player of the month in the Eastern Conference again.
The Cavaliers played 11 games in February, with a record of 8 wins and 3 losses, while the Knicks also played 11 games, with a record of 7 wins and 4 losses.
The Knicks lost one more game than the Cavaliers.
James' data in February was also very impressive. His average of 32.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 10.5 assists in February was averaging 32.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 10.5 assists. It can also be seen from the data that James not only maintained efficient scoring in the February game, but also revitalized.
The entire team.
The West won the best player in February is Carlos Boozer.
The Jazz had a total of 13 games in February, and they scored 10 wins and 3 losses, ranking first in the Western Conference in February.
Boozer also won the Western Conference Player of the Month in February with 21.2 points, 13.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists.
Al Ellington's outstanding performance perfectly made up for the impact of Millsap's departure on the bench.
The Knicks entered the March with the most games. The Knicks will complete 16 games in March, which means they will face a new round of back-to-back.
Especially in March, there are many strong teams in the playoffs against the Knicks, including the Cavaliers, Spurs, Celtics, Nuggets, Hawks, Pistons...
Many media also believe that March is the real touchstone for the Knicks. As long as the Knicks score in March, the Knicks will basically be stable in the playoffs.
On March 1, the Knicks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, and this game received a lot of attention. After all, Lian Dao and James shared the AMVP trophy at the All-Star Game, and the media also made the showdown between Lian Dao and James after the All-Star Game.
Full of interest.
"Although the Cavaliers are currently the number one record in the Eastern Conference, we will not be afraid. We dare to challenge any strong team. The Knicks' goal has never been a certain team, but to go further."
Lian Dao also directly expressed his attitude in media interviews before the game.
The Knicks changed their previous lineup, sending out Ju Holiday, Wilson Chandler, Lian Dao, Millsap and Milicic.
D'Antoni asked Lian Dao to defend James alone, Milicic defended O'Neal, and Millsap to assist in defense.
After the game started, James felt very uncomfortable under Lian Dao's defense, but he frequently used the advantages of the basket to play the inside, although Willie and O'Neal scored three attacks at the basket, the physical energy was also consumed very much.
On the Knicks' side, Lian Dao and Holiday frequently used their teammates to pick-and-roll and hit the basket and made a layup with O'Neal. Each of Lian Dao and Holidays' side created O'Neal's foul.
Five minutes into the first quarter, O'Neal had already received two fouls.
Moreover, with the constant double-teaming of Millsap and Milicic, O'Neal also consumed a lot of physical energy.
Cavaliers head coach Mike Brown also helped to replace O'Neal and replace Big Z.
But soon James used Varajo's pick-and-roll to open up the situation. Lian Dao lost the position twice in Varajo's pick-and-roll.
Millsap's backup defense is not particularly effective for James. Under the impact of James, the two teams were unable to open the score for a while.
The two teams tied 18, 23, and 26 in the first quarter. At the end of the first quarter, the Knicks tied 34:34.
In the second quarter, Lian Dao led the substitute lineup to score 8 points in a row, and scored an 8:2 wave at the beginning of the second quarter.
But O'Neal was quickly hit by David Lee's head, and O'Neal directly responded with a wave of 6:2.
The Cavaliers quickly narrowed the score gap to 2 points.
But immediately afterwards, the Knicks' outside line also kept firing. First, Lian Dao made a three-pointer against Jamario Moon's defensive goal.
Immediately afterwards, Lian Dao gave Garynalli a pick-and-roll and assisted Garynalli to make a three-pointer from the outside.
Then Lian Dao rushed to the inside again and caused O'Neal to foul.
One of two free throws was made, and the score on the field reached 45:38.
The Knicks lead by 7 points.
James returned to the court without a few minutes of rest in the second quarter. After playing, he used his teammates' pick-and-roll to create an 8:3 climax.
Once again, it helped the Cavaliers close the score gap to 2 points.
With the last two minutes left in the second quarter, the scores of both sides once again tied 53:53.
After that, the scores of both sides continued to rise sharply. In the last attack of the second quarter, Lian Dao scored under the basket through a pick-and-roll, turned around and avoided Valacho's foul.
The basket pull rod avoided O'Neal's block, but under the guidance of Lian Dao, O'Neal's hand still hit his arm.
With his final instinct, Lian Dao made a layup posture, threw the ball towards the basket, hit the basketball on the rebound, rebounded on the basket, and then stumbled into the basket.
2+1.
O'Neal received his fourth foul in the game.
63:60, the Knicks ended the first half with a three-point lead.
O'Neal's foul crisis was very beneficial to the Knicks' fourth quarter.
In the third quarter, McBrown put Big Z on the court again.
The Knicks officially entered the "running and bombing" mode in the third quarter.
Lian Dao strengthened his offense in the third quarter. After receiving the pass from Holiday from the outside, he used Millsap to pick-and-roll, and rushed to hit the outside.
Lian Dao stole James' pass, and he pushed Valacho's defense in the appearance line, making a strong three-pointer.
Immediately afterwards, Lian Dao assisted Millsap to make another three-pointer from the outside.
The Knicks scored a 9:5 offense during this period.
He led the lead in one fell swoop and scored 7 points.
McBrown called for a pause urgently.
McBrown replaced the exhausted Z again and replaced O'Neal.
When he returned to the court again, Lian Dao was taken care of by James and Anthony Parker.
The frequent double-teaming of the Cavaliers also caused Lian Dao to continue to decline in his shooting rate.
James also used this period to score frequently.
At the end of the third quarter, the Cavaliers tied the score again.
92:92.
Entering the fourth quarter, both teams' physical fitness was in crisis.
But here D'Antoni made a decision to let Lian Dao and Wilson Chandler double-team James.
The Cavaliers are James and Anthony Parker who double-teamed Lian Dao.
As soon as the fourth quarter began, the players on both sides made a blow, and the decline in physical fitness would inevitably lead to a decrease in the shooting rate.
At this time, it depends on which team can get the first to regain the feel.
Originally, the Cavaliers had the most chance. In previous games, they had O'Neal in the interior, and their offensive efficiency at the basket was always higher than that at the outside.
But O'Neal had already received his fifth foul as the third quarter was approaching the end of the year.
At the beginning of the fourth quarter, David Lee's jump shot made another foul, and 6 fouls left the field.
Without O'Neal, the inside strength of both sides is finally at the same level. Although Big Z is still very good, Big Z is destined to not be a strong man in the inside fight. His physical fitness and physical fitness are his shortcomings.
Under Millsap's focus, every attack of Big Z is very difficult.
Finally, Wilson and Chandler on the Knicks stood up first, and after receiving the pass from Lian Dao, fired three points from the outside.
He scored three three-pointers in one go, and a 9:2 wave helped the Knicks establish an advantage in an instant.
But on the other hand, Anthony Parker, the Cavaliers' three-point shooter, was silent in the fourth quarter.
0 of 3-pointers made a 3-pointer.
The Knicks took this opportunity and on the defensive end, Millsap intercepted Big Z, and the whole team quickly pushed and counterattacked.
Liandao made an emergency stop outside the three-point line and made a three-pointer.
"brush!"
10 points advantage.
Lian Dao's three-pointer directly established the Knicks' victory in this game.
Although at the end of the game, Anthony Parker regained his touch and hit three-pointers one after another, which once closed the score gap to 5 points.
However, after the Cavaliers gave up the double-team of Lian Dao, Lian Dao was always able to respond through teammates' pick-and-roll.
In the 30 seconds before the end of the fourth quarter, the Knicks still maintained a 7-point lead.
The Cavaliers James made a three-pointer, bringing the score closer to 4 points.
Immediately afterwards, James suddenly stole Holiday's dribble, but because Liandao's timely defense was repaired, he did not give James a quick break chance.
James made another three-pointer from the outside, but this time he missed. With Millsap stuck Big Z, David Lili beat Valajo and grabbed the key defensive rebound.
Then he was thrown high by David Lee toward the Cavaliers' basket.
The basketball flew through the air and exhausted the last time.
125:121, the Knicks achieved a good start in March with a four-point advantage.