5. Kemba’s Theatrics I expressed my fear of Kemba Walker in a tweet just moments before the Knicks and Hornets left their huddles with four seconds left on the game clock in Charlotte. Walker has registered the most field goal attempts in clutch time this year at four. With New York clinging to a one-point advantage, Walker received the rock near the top of the arc, drove past Pablo Prigioni, and floated a layup with his off hand over Amar’e Stoudemire. Walker was only 4-of-14 prior to the shot but his ability to thrive in crunch time was on full display. In the Knicks locker room, Prigioni said he attempted to take the foul New York had in its back pocket but unfortunately Walker escaped and lifted Charlotte to the win.
4. Finding a Sense of Urgency
Following the game, I asked Carmelo Anthony about the noticeable difference in the pace of play when the Knicks are trailing by a large margin and attempting a comeback. He admitted to an increased sense of urgency. Several of the players have spoke about the need to generate that desperate urgency from the opening tip to avoid massive deficits. Late game execution is certainly critical but the three and a half quarters of action often dictates the final outcome.
3. More From 3
The Knicks outscored the Hornets 33-18 in the final stanza. When examining that final period, the box score reveals New York’s sharpshooting from deep range where it hit 6-of-9 attempts. The Knicks nearly recorded a better percentage behind the arc than from the field on Friday night. 10-of-22 from downtown is an impressive clip and these close games show when the Knicks launch the long ball, the offense seems to open up and allow for more space and production.
2. Melo’s 4th Quarter Output
Anthony was the only Knick to hit the double figures mark through three quarters in Charlotte. In the fourth quarter is where Anthony became aggressive and the result was 15 points and four boards. Anthony nailed three crucial shots down the stretch in this contest. At 2:53, he buried a midrange bucket to knock the lead down to eight. With 1:24 to go, Anthony then drilled a 3-pointer to bring the Knicks within two points. Finally, Anthony’s corner 3-ball provided New York with a one-point lead and only 40 seconds on the game clock. The All-Star posted a game-high 32 points to go along with seven rebounds, and four assists in 41 minutes of court time.
1. The Re-emergence of Hardaway Jr. Hardaway Jr. is starting find a spot back in the rotation. The second-year guard is a nice scoring option for the Knicks second unit and his ability to launch shots from downtown makes this offense more dynamic. Over his last two games, Hardaway Jr. is averaging 16.5 points on 50 percent shooting from the floor and 46 percent behind the arc.