Upon the Knicks and Updating from Yesterday

Yesterday I questioned Tim Thomas' ability to play up to his skill set. He responded (though probably not to me) by hanging 35 on the Lakers in an overtime win for the Knicks, their third in a row. Thomas was on-target from three, and contributed one of the biggest baskets of the win, tipping in an offensive rebound that tied the game up at the end of regulation. An ingame blow-up between Tim and Penny showed that the fire is not out in these Knicks, and they won a close game which went down to the wire, which they had all too often lost this year.

Mike Sweetney, who is my guy on this team, posted career highs in rebounds and points, and will only improve as his playing time increases. Sweet is a foul-magnet, which occasionally gets him into trouble on defense, but more often sends him to the free-throw line on the offensive side of the ball. I have liked his game since he was in Georgetown, as he lives under the basket fighting for rebounds and put-backs.

New acquisitons Malik Rose and Maurice Taylor provide an interesting new aspect to this team. Rose has defensive intensity, and is another rebounder whose hustle makes up for his lack of size. Yesterday, Herb Williams played him as a crunch-time defensive sub, which speaks to his abilities and his teams confidence in him. Mo Taylor is a load on the block, who is a 12 and 7 guy when he's going well. I think he fits in as a one-on-one player when the Knicks spread the floor. Working with Mark Aguire, the Knicks post czar, should enhance his offensive abilities. The defensive example of workers such as JYD, Kurt Thomas, and Rose should inspire him as well. I hope both players can be contributors and help this recent streak continue.

With the addition of Carter in NJ, Webber in Philly, and Walker in Boston, the much-maligned Atlantic will be no picnic. The Knicks will have to win, and win often, to make the playoffs. If Marbury can win a game a week by himself, Crawford can keep producing, and Tim Thomas can keep remembering how he should play nightly, the Knicks have a shot. Time will tell.