On Wednesday night the New York Knicks came to the Amway Arena, only to be sent back home with a 118-104 beating at the hands of the Orlando Magic. The New Jersey Nets lost an 18th straight game to set the season opening loss record, but the Knicks certainly have an argument for the worst team in basketball. At least the Nets are trying.
For what seems like a very long time, the Knicks organization has been promising fans they were going to bring in big-time free-agents in the summer of 2010. They had hoped for Lebron James or Dwayne Wade, maybe even both. It doesn’t look like they’ll get either, which is a shame for New Yorkers who have watched a roster of scrubs the last few years – a roster that hasn’t really improved since Mike D’Antoni’s arrival.
D’Antoni, for all of his alleged genius, doesn’t seem to be able to coach his way out of a paper bag. And that’s a shame, because a paper bag is exactly what he should have over his face for posing as the head coach of a professional basketball team. The Knicks are such a sub-par team, their games should not even count in the record books. Wins against them shouldn’t count, and losses shouldn’t either. The teams that lose to them probably lose because of deciding to play left handed, or without shoes. Playing with an off hand or without sneakers is the only possible explanation for losing to the Knicks.
They are a bad team, and they are poorly coached, but the real atrocity is that they are treating the entire season as a testing ground for a team they are planning to blow up in the offseason. Night in and night out the Knicks are playing for their roster spots, although it doesn’t look like they know. D’Antoni and the Knicks organization have approached this season as evaluators, not contenders. They are using each game to gage the talents of the guys on the floor and to see which guys they like enough to keep around. If D’Antoni doesn’t like you, you can’t play; ask Stephon Marbury.
The fact that New York treated Wednesday night like a preseason game aside, Rashard Lewis had a monster night. Lewis caught fire in a third quarter that yielded 17 of his 20 points. Dwight Howard added 19 points and ten boards to the mix with Brandon Bass leading the bench in points with 17. The starters all had diminished numbers because they played diminished roles. The entire bench got into the game, most for double-digit minutes. Anthony Johnson saw significant time and looked good. God forbid the Magic have more problems at point guard, AJ may still have enough left in his legs to keep the ship afloat.
Although the Knicks are a team that should be blown out, it was encouraging to see the Magic extend their lead each quarter. There were a few lulls in Magic intensity, but for the most part the team was able to go for the throat in order to keep New York out of the game.
For the Knicks, Wilson Chandler led the team in scoring with 24 points, Danilo Gallinari led the team in rebounds with seven, and Larry Hughes led the team in assists with three.
Following their dismantling of the Knicks, the Magic will head off on a four game road trip before an extended home stand over the holidays. On the docket for Orlando are games in Oakland against the Warriors, in Los Angeles against the Clippers, in Salt Lake City against the Jazz, and in Phoenix against the league leading Suns. The games against the Jazz and Suns are both marquee matchups that will air on national television.
Jon Foley Reporting for West Orlando News
