Bullets Forever - Wizards vs. Knicks: Washington rolls to 101-91 win over New York"Ain't No Luck"https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48097/BulletsForever-fv.png2015-01-08T14:31:23-05:00http://www.bulletsforever.com/rss/stream/72752302015-01-08T14:31:23-05:002015-01-08T14:31:23-05:00Leonsis has no pity on the Knicks<blockquote>
<p><p>We didn't feel sorry for New York being short handed and in a rebuild mode.</p></p>
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<div class="source"><p><a href="http://tedstake.monumentalnetwork.com/2015/01/08/take-the-win-for-wizards-over-knicks">Clearly, Ted Leonsis didn't feel bad about beating the Knicks' skeleton crew</a>, and frankly, we can't blame him. We doubt the Knicks felt bad <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/201204130NYK.html">when they beat the Wizards 103-65</a>, back when the Wizards were in rebuild mode in 2012. He was also <a href="http://tedstake.monumentalnetwork.com/2015/01/08/now-that-is-a-lot-of-chatter">very impressed by how many people comment on the site</a>, but slightly concerned, which is probably fair.</p></div>
https://www.bulletsforever.com/2015/1/8/7516545/leonsis-has-no-pity-on-the-knicksJake Whitacre2015-01-07T22:03:25-05:002015-01-07T22:03:25-05:00Wizards show good habits in win over Knicks
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<figcaption>Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Wizards took care of the soft spot on their schedule with a win over the depleted New York Knicks.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Coming off a difficult road trip, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/">Wizards</a> had what should have been an easy game against a depleted, 5-32 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.postingandtoasting.com/">Knicks</a> team. For the most part, that’s exactly what it was. After trading baskets for much of the first quarter, the Wizards pulled away and ended up with a 9 point lead at the end of the quarter. They extended that lead in the second quarter and did so even more in the third. They got the lead as high as 20. The Knicks made a game of it midway through the fourth by cutting the lead to 5, but the Wizards knew they weren’t losing and brought the lead back up to 17.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Wizards probably could have executed some stuff better, especially their offensive sets during that stretch in the fourth quarter, but overall there wasn't too much to complain about in tonight's game. Here's what we learned tonight, and what they can take from the win as they get ready for another tough string of games:</p>
<h3>Nene is still good</h3>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Nene had 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists tonight on 8-13 shooting and is looking more spry after returning from his injury. He scored in a variety of ways, be it his improving mid range jumper, on post ups, or in pick and roll and served as a valuable outlet for the Wizards all night. The Knicks simply didn’t have the bigs to stop him. His defense was also top notch as he did a good job switching on to guards and blowing up pick and rolls as he normally does. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>The Wizards will need his veteran presence and defensive intensity as their schedule ramps back up, with difficult games against <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/">Hawks</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.poundingtherock.com/">Spurs</a>, and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blogabull.com/">Bulls</a> in the coming days.</span></p>
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<span>John Wall</span> loves playing the Knicks</h3>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>After netting 24 points and 12 assists on Christmas Day, John Wall killed it again tonight, mostly in transition with 18 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span></span>John Wall tends to really take it to inferior teams like he did tonight, and that’s fine and necessary, but the Wizards upcoming schedule will really test him. The recent road trip did not display the best of his abilities from a scoring standpoint, and that’s where he needs to separate himself from the rest if he wants to consistently help the Wizards beat good teams.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>He needs to make an effort to run against the good teams the same way he did against the Knicks tonight, because the Wizards are a team that thrives off of his transition play. Too often they get caught up in a slow, plodding halfcourt offense, and with their personnel, they need to start embracing the identity of a fast paced team with the most perhaps the most dynamic point guard in the league. </span></p>
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<h3>
<span>Paul Pierce</span> has cool glasses</h3>
<p class="MsoNormal">We always love to joke about Paul Pierce’s age, but it seems like he embraces his geriatrics as much as we do. <a href="http://www.bulletsforever.com/2015/1/7/7511715/paul-pierce-has-interesting-glasses">These glasses are a thing of the 1970s</a>, and Paul seems to wear them with pride. It was very much a fun little twist to an otherwise boring basketball game.</p>
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<p>Paul Pierce's glasses are so thick they may be bulletproof <a href="http://t.co/FFgSw6GGxM">pic.twitter.com/FFgSw6GGxM</a></p>
— Barely In Bounds (@BarelyIn) <a href="https://twitter.com/BarelyIn/status/552992917032558593">January 8, 2015</a>
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https://www.bulletsforever.com/2015/1/7/7512097/recap-three-takeaways-from-the-wizards-win-against-the-lowly-knicksAkbar Naqvi2015-01-07T13:57:59-05:002015-01-07T13:57:59-05:00Wizards look to kick the Knicks while down
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<figcaption>Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The New York Knicks are in a dark place right now after shipping J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert out to the Cavaliers. Carmelo Anthony is still unavailable and they have the worst record in the NBA. The Wizards will look to make the Knicks bleed a little bit more with a win tonight. </p> <p>Christmas day was a fun day for everyone who is not a <a href="https://www.postingandtoasting.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New York Knicks</a> fan. <span>John Wall</span> pulled off a 24 point 11 assist double double in the holiday showcase while showing the world his elite athletic ability <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bulletsforever.com/2014/12/25/7449459/wall-goes-360">with this insane 360 spin layup</a>.</p>
<p>That, along with a <span>Quincy Acy</span> fight <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bulletsforever.com/2014/12/25/7449663/the-knicks-werent-interested-in-fighting-with-john-wall">no one on the Knicks wanted to get involved with</a>, pretty much defined the New York Knicks' season. With a 5-32 record, they have been helpless, hopeless and frustrated. They are now at the point where <span>Derek Fisher</span> considering shutting down <span>Carmelo Anthony</span> is actually a real thing. If the Knicks had a solid record, that would not even be a discussion.</p>
<p>None of that should change tonight as the <a href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Wizards</a> face the Knicks for the third time this season.The Wizards are clearly the better team, not only on paper but in real life. There is no reason they should drop this game to the Knicks, and if they do then just throw all the blame on me for writing that last sentence.</p>
<p><b>When and where: </b>The will start at 7 p.m. and will be at the Verizon Center. You can watch the game via CSN Washington.</p>
<p><b>Who's playing?: </b>Both Amare Stoudamire and Anthony will not play tonight because of knee troubles. <span>Andrea Bargnani</span> will also be out because of a calf injury. The Wizards have everyone available.</p>
<p><b>Are the Knicks good?: </b>No.</p>
<p><b>What should we look for?: </b>We need to pay attention to how the Wizards start out against this Knicks team. Even though they are horrible and not very good at many things, they are still a professional basketball team. In previous years, this would be a game that the Wizards would overlook and end up losing in a poor fashion.</p>
<p>This Wizards team is better and focus on each individual game has been at a premium this year, but they have to make sure to keep that trend going. They cannot afford to overlook this team after losing three of their last five games. They need every win they can get as they try to keep pace with the scorching hot <a href="https://www.blogabull.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Chicago Bulls</a> and <a href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Atlanta Hawks</a> at the top of the East.</p>
<p><b>Any special performances tonight?: </b>We should keep a particular eye on John Wall. Wall had a pretty good game in the Garden on Christmas day and has traditionally performed well against the Knicks. Wall has been in a shooting slump throughout the road trip and has struggled to get any good looks at the basket.</p>
<p>He's been notably better at home this season than he has been on the road and he's also been better against Eastern conference competition. Wall is averaging 19.4 points per game and 10 assists per game against Eastern Conference competition. Out West in just 13 games, Wall is averaging 13.6 points per game and 10.8 assists. Hopefully, we see similar numbers tonight against the weakest team in the league.</p>
<p><b>Will the Wizards win?: </b>They definitely should and you should expect them to. The Knicks are the worst team in the league and the Wizards are one of the best. As long as they do not expect the Knicks to lay down and hand them a victory, they should be fine. Let's hope they come out and attack whatever openings they see.</p>
https://www.bulletsforever.com/2015/1/7/7508779/wizards-vs-knicks-the-wizards-look-to-kick-the-wounded-knicks-whileMichael D. Sykes, II