Celtics Deal Knicks First Preseason Defeat
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The eagerly anticipated duel between the new-look Celtics and Knicks began auspiciously for the New York on Wednesday night in a 101-61 preseason loss at Boston's TD Banknorth Garden.
Knicks fans eager to see how Eddy Curry and Zach Randolph would perform together saw the combination of big men start off well right from the opening tipoff, as Curry slapped the ball to Randolph and then nailed a hook shot just 11 seconds into the game.
That good start did not last, however, as the Celtics showed the Knicks why so many people think they are the Eastern Conference's No. 1 team. Boston outscored New York 30-18 in the opening quarter and never looked back.
Wednesday's game was all about new faces, and the first quarter showed why so many pundits have proclaimed the Celtics to be a "team to beat".
The famed troika of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen finished the first quarter with seven points each, with Garnett and Pierce, in particular, leading the way. Garnett was a defensive presence, with a pretty block of a Stephon Marbury jumper; meanwhile, Paul Pierce worked to distribute the ball, with three assists in the first quarter to go along with his points.
The trio started out strong and kept up the effort throughout the game, finishing with 49 of the team's 101 points, and at times, they were simply unstoppable. Pierce scored 22 points to go with six rebounds and five assists; Garnett added 13, 8 and 3, while Allen chipped in 14 points.
Since the preseason game meant nothing in the standings, the eyes of all Knicks supporters were on the work of the team's two big men, Randolph and Curry. Despite their successful play off tipoff, the opening quarter was a rocky one for the combo. Randolph started out slow, with a few turnovers and missed shots in the opening quarter. The two bigs had not worked that often together, as a result of Curry's shoulder injury.
While Curry was in, he performed well -- scoring seven points and adding two offensive rebounds in only six minutes. Randolph's slow start was due largely to the team's inexperience in having two dominant bigs in the paint at the same time.
Randolph's game took off after the quarter-break. Within the first two minutes of the second-quarter, he made a nice 11-footer, hauled in two rebounds, and drew a foul -- getting great looks from the floor.
| THE TURNING POINT
Ten-time All-Star and perennial MVP-candidate Kevin Garnett started the game with a flourish for his new team. With nine minutes remaining in the first quarter, he took an inbound pass and made a sweet no-look, around-the-back dish to Rajon Rondo for an easy lay-up. The Celtics took the lead 7-5 -- a lead they would never relinquish. Paul Pierce took over, following with a jumper, a lay-up and a nice dish to Eddie House for an assist. Pierce set up his teammates again, with a nice pass to Garnett, who made a jumper and put his team up 15-8 with 6:37 to go in the first quarter. |
Last season's Knicks squad shot almost 46 percent from the field and nearly 35 percent from 3-point range. On Wednesday, the team couldn't hit shots, shooting 26 percent from the field and only 15 percent from beyond the arc.
The Celtics deserved credit, of course, and they showed why so many experts have projected big things for them in 2007-08. Boston exhibited great on-the-ball defense, very aggressive tendencies in the passing lane and solid work on the boards. But the Knicks were clearly off their game on Wednesday, as was evident from the shooting percentages alone.
Even in the loss, some players stood out for the Knicks, as their play on the defensive interior, especially, showed what is to come. Wilson Chandler, the team's first-round pick last June provided consistent energy. In less than 15 minutes of action, he grabbed seven boards and swatted three shots. The blocks, especially, were a welcome sight for the Knicks, as Chandler demonstrated that he could stake claim to real minutes on this team, even after Renaldo Balkman returns from injury.
Chandler's great work on the boards went along with a strong effort from David Lee. The star sixth-man hauled in eight rebounds in just under 17 minutes, with an impressive four on the offensive boards. Throw in seven points and his 50 percent shooting, and it was evident that Lee is already approaching his midseason form.
The Knicks get right back to work on Thursday, facing New Jersey at the Meadowlands.
WEDNESDAY'S KNICKS SUBSTITUTIONS
Starters
G - Stephon Marbury
G - Jamal Crawford
F - Zach Randolph
F - Quentin Richardson
C - Eddy Curry
First Quarter
Crawford replaced by Fred Jones with 2:49 remaining
Randolph replaced by David Lee with 2:49 remaining
Marbury replaced by Nate Robinson with 2:08 remaining
Second Quarter
Robinson replaced by Marbury with 8:52 remaining
Jones replaced by Mardy Collins with 8:11 remaining
Lee replaced by Curry with 7:44 remaining
Marbury replaced by Richardson with 6:17 remaining
Curry replaced by Malik Rose with 6:00 remaining
Collins replaced by Marbury with 4:37 remaining
Richardson replaced by Robinson with 0:05 remaining
Third Quarter
Curry replaced by Lee with 9:52 remaining
Richardson replaced by Jared Jeffries with 7:45 remaining
Crawford replaced by Robinson with 6:12 remaining
Randolph replaced by Rose with 6:12 remaining
Marbury replaced by Allan Houston with 5:01 remaining
Rose replaced by Wilson Chandler with 2:41 remaining
Fourth Quarter
Curry replaced by Randolph Morris with 11:25 remaining
Houston replaced by Demetris Nichols with 10:50 remaining
Jeffries replaced by Jared Jordan with 9:44 remaining
Collins replaced by Walker Russell with 5:14 remaining
