The Cup Runeth Over

[Michael Anthony]

Amare couldn't miss from 18 feet, BILL WALKER puts the team on his back, TONEY DOUGLAS drops a dagger, Turiaf looks like Russell, Baby couldn't hit anything, Rondo throws the ball at Wyc twice...

The refs get the sixth man award from New York last night. I was furious about the Carmelo Elbow - you let them play in that spot - but anyone notice how our combacks constantly stalled from ref-induced turnovers?

I watched the second half from my bed last night, and kept saying "this one is over". I must have said it a half dozen times in the final few minutes...

Guess what?

New York blew its best chance to steal a win, break out the brooms!

[GreenFaith1819]

I'd be surprised if we swept NY, but based off of what's happened around the league this was in fact NY's best shot at an upset.

MEM took one from San Antonio, NOH took one from LA, DAL and OKC games were close.

Boston survived. You are right Michael - NY had a lot going for them in this game, but Boston held on.

It does get much harder for NY from here on out. Enjoy that game, Amar'e. Won't happen again.

[Brendan]

The Knicks were also terrible from the charity stripe, which really hurt them.

[Moranis]

Actually I think Amare can do that pretty much every game.  When he is on the block with the ball, he is almost unstoppable.  I'd just focus on everyone else and let Amare do his thing offensively and try to get him in foul trouble on the other side of the floor.

[Assassin70]

Actually I think Amare can do that pretty much every game.  When he is on the block with the ball, he is almost unstoppable.  I'd just focus on everyone else and let Amare do his thing offensively and try to get him in foul trouble on the other side of the floor.

/agree

Only 2 ways we are stopping Amare in this series 1. He ends up just missing the shot.  2. If you have someone in position to take a charge when he drives.

Other then those 2 scenarios I don't see any answers.

[Michael Anthony]

Actually I think Amare can do that pretty much every game.  When he is on the block with the ball, he is almost unstoppable.  I'd just focus on everyone else and let Amare do his thing offensively and try to get him in foul trouble on the other side of the floor.

/agree

Only 2 ways we are stopping Amare in this series 1. He ends up just missing the shot.  2. If you have someone in position to take a charge when he drives.

Other then those 2 scenarios I don't see any answers.

Amare shot 67% last night, I do not expect that to continue. He will get his, but KG and company did a nice job limitting his shots at the rim until late in the game...

Also, looks like Peter May beat me to it by three minutes:
http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/nba/columns/story?columnist=may_peter&id=6379344

[dtrader]

Amare couldn't miss from 18 feet, BILL WALKER puts the team on his back, TONEY DOUGLAS drops a dagger, Turiaf looks like Russell, Baby couldn't hit anything, Rondo throws the ball at Wyc twice...

The refs get the sixth man award from New York last night. I was furious about the Carmelo Elbow - you let them play in that spot - but anyone notice how our combacks constantly stalled from ref-induced turnovers?

I watched the second half from my bed last night, and kept saying "this one is over". I must have said it a half dozen times in the final few minutes...

Guess what?

New York blew its best chance to steal a win, break out the brooms!

None of that is very out of the ordinary or anthing they cant repeat over the series. We've all seen enough bill walker to know what he's capable of if given time. Toney hit 1 clutch shot, but was relatively quiet all night. Turiaf played like he usually does...he's always been exceptional at blocking shots. Babys been garbage for over a month, so theres no reason to think thatll just change, and Rondo actually played a MUCH better game than he's been.

The knicks could just as easily say "Rondo played better than he has in months, JO shot 100%, Melo had to fight through early foul trouble, we lost chauncey, the refs gave the celts every call in the last 2 minutes, and it STILL took a last second prayer (and a non-called illegal pick) for them to win"

There's a lot of truth there too. Fact is this series is gonna be tough. Neither team is going to give up. For this one at least, I'm really happy to have home court.