Lebron "Killed" The Knicks
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"He was as good as that other No. 23 I played against," Isiah Thomas said. "He was exceptional. He wasn't going to let his team lose."
James scored 45 points, and it "crushed" the Knicks confidences. James needed to bounce back from his "horrible" performance against the Dallas Mavericks this week.
"I didn't think I played Wednesday night with the energy I needed to play with," James said. "The guys feed off me."
Daniel Gibson was effective, and he improved on his three pointer. He made four three pointers, and James was credited with the assist on three.
"That's the thing about LeBron that everybody loves," Gibson said. "He had 45 but he's still finding his teammates and getting everybody involved."
James always finds the hot shooter, and last night it was Gibson.
"When he's that open, it's almost like a practice shot," James said.
Playing team basketball is important, because the Cavaliers aren't expected to succeed. They haven't improved in the off-season, and many have doubts about their season. James wasn't happy with the Cavalier efforts to improve, and recently expressed his frustration.
The Cavaliers could fail against productive teams, because they've haven't improved. Winning against the Knicks wasn't a test, because their not expected to succeed. The Cavaliers need to produces against top contending teams in the league.
Gibson finished with 24 points, but wasn't effective anywhere else. Drew Gooden scored 14 points, and 6 rebounds. James, Gibson, and Gooden were the only Cavaliers to score in double figures.
The Knicks weren't productive defensively, and the problem remains. They didn't strengthen their weakness, and it'll continue until something changes.
Scoring wasn't a problem, and it never was. Defense wasn't the focus in camp, and it was proven against the Cavaliers.
"It was very fast," Jamal Crawford said. "That gave them some life. It got away from us."
Defense cause the problems, and scoring wasn't the answer.
Crawford scored 25 points, but it wasn't impressive. He was 8-17 in field goals, with 2 rebounds and 6 assists.
Trading for Zach Randolph showed progress against the Cavaliers. Randolph scored 21 points, and 14 rebounds. His play could be helpful towards the Knicks this season.
"We're the underdogs right now," Randolph said. "We've got to work our way up, keep on getting better and don't worry about all those other teams. We've got to worry about ourselves."
Stephon "Poorbury" wasn't productive, Nate Robinson was more effective with 19 points and 6 rebounds. Stephon only scored 10 points with 5 assists.
"Overall, I was pleased with our effort," Thomas said. "We had to do a better job at the foul line. If we could do a better job from the foul line, it's a different ballgame. In a six-point basketball game, it's the little things that beat you."
Thomas is "crazy," because I wouldn't be pleased. The Knicks were suppose to correct their defense, but they didn't emend. They couldn't stop James, and that expose their defense.
"LeBron will get guys open shots," Robinson said. "You have to pray they miss them, but Gibson didn't."
The Knicks have talent, but they fail as a team. Eddie Curry scored 18 points with 7 rebounds, but couldn't produce on defense. If the Knicks play defense they'll make the playoffs, but it hasn't happened.
"Right now, what we can all agree on is that the best thing for the Knicks is to get on the court and win some basketball games," Madison Square Garden chairman James L. Dolan said in a statement.
Defense is how their going to win games, Dolan can't realize that. His father should takeover, because Dolan is running this team into the ground.
- Quotes from Yahoo Sports*
