recapping the battle of New York

The season series between the Knicks and Nets concluded on MLK Monday. The Nets won this last one 88-85 at Madison Square Garden to split the four game series 2-2. Here's my biased but honest take on the (yes, I'll say it) new rivalry.

- With the Nets down by one with 25 seconds left, the ball was in Joe Johnson’s hands. JJ makes a move to get in position, gets a shot off and drained it. On the ensuing possession for the Knicks down by one, the ball was in Carmelo’s hands. Melo drove to the baseline, had a look, but put up an air ball.

- Everyone was quick to criticize Joe Johnson early in the season. But this was at least the third game that he buried the game winning shot. JJ scored 10 points in the fourth quarter (including two big threes). Carmelo missed all six shots in the final period.

- Brook Lopez has become a complete center. He scored just 14 points today (after 20+ the last three games) but added 11 rebounds and four blocks. Brook plays good defense and finally is getting rebounds, and is one of the best offensive centers in the NBA. Deserves to be an All Star.

- Nets are 11-2 since P.J. Carlesimo took over for Avery Johnson. Those wins include at Oklahoma City, at MSG, and home wins over the Pacers and Hawks. JJ and Deron Williams are playing very effectively. After their breakout start, the Knicks are 7-9 since December 17.

- The Nets are a puzzle with a lot of pieces that all fit very well together. Nets bench is very solid. Reggie Evans is an elite rebounder and ultimate teammate. His emergence into the starting lineup leaves Humphries (11 points, 13 rebounds) becoming a solid contributor off the bench along with Andray Blatche, Keith Bogans, C.J. Watson, MarShon Brooks, and an up-and-coming Mirza Teletovic. They started somewhat slow this season but now that they are getting used to playing together, this is a complete team.

- Knicks are a very flawed team. They live and die with the three, and that is not a recipe for long term success. They can’t rebound. Today they were -15, including allowing 12 offensive rebounds. Knicks are without Raymond Felton right now, and earlier in the season they had him without Carmelo for several games. Without both out there they really struggle to score as a team. (And by the way, Felton scores but only because he is such a high-volume shooter. I don’t care for him.) They are depending on a bunch of ancient players (Jason Kidd, Rasheed Wallace, Marcus Camby, Kurt Thomas, and Amar’e Stoudemire) and players coming off injuries (Iman Shumpert and Amar’e, again). This plan is backfiring.

- Nets won’t continue an 11-2 pace and Felton will be back. We haven’t reached the All Star Game yet, and the Knicks are still a game up. But I feel much more comfortable with the Brooklyn Nets in the long run this season than the Knicks.

The one thing I am the saddest about is that this is the last time these teams play before the playoffs. Brooklyn/New York should happen ten times a season, not four all before February.