(*T*M*C)Start spreading the news. I’m leaving today. I want to be a part of it! New York, New York. These vagabond shoes, are longing to stray. Right through the very heart of it! New York, New York. I want to wake up, in a city that never sleeps! And find I’m King of the Hill, Top of the Heap…..Now in order for the New York Knicks to accomplish this feat, the Miami Heat will have to be dethroned. In a titanic match-up which could be a preview of how the East is won, New York burned Miami 102-90. The Knicks have taken the season series 3-1 and swept the games played at American Airlines Arena.
Carmelo Anthony treated all Knicks fans, far and wide, to a virtuoso performance scoring 50 points(18-26 FGs, 7-10 3-PTs, 7-8 FTs). A masterpiece that tied a career-high. JR Smith came off the bench with 14 points(5-15 FGs, 2-3 3-PTs, 2-4 FTs) and 6 rebounds. Raymond Felton added 10 points(4-9 FGs, 0-3 3-PTs, 2-2 FTs) and 9 assists. The Heat was guided by Chris Bosh with 23 points(6-13 FGs, 1-3 3-PTs, 10-10 FTs), 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Mike Miller recorded 18 points(7-12 FGs, 4-8 3-PTs), 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 blocks. Ray Allen tallied 16 points(5-7 FGs, 1-1 3-PTs, 5-5 FTs). Norris Cole collected 14 points(6-12 FGs, 1-2 3-PTs, 1-2 FTs).
The Knicks came out smoking in the 1st Quarter with a 13-4 burst. The Heat missed their first 5 shots. Carmelo Anthony scored 10 points(4-4 FGs, 2-2 3-PTs) in that stretch. The Heat responded with a 9-0 run. Chris Bosh and Norris Cole had 4 points each during that span. The rest of the quarter had the intensity of an Eastern Conference Final(eye wink). New York finished the quarter with a 27-25 lead. Carmelo Anthony was absolutely ridiculous with 17 points(7-8 FGs, 3-4 3-PTs). The Knicks were 11-19 FGs(57.9%) but didn’t take a single free throw. Head Coach Mike Woodson provided some insight. “We started well. It’s always our goal to hold our opponents to 25 points or less in a quarter. We’re on track with that. Bad switching got us into trouble late.” The Heat’s balanced attack featured Mike Miller and Chris Anderson with 5 points each. Miami shot 8-20 FGs(40%) but outscored New York 16-4 in the paint? C’mon, son! Another factor, the Heat was 6-7 from the free throw line.
Miami set the tone for the 2nd Quarter with a 14-7 sprint within the 5 minutes, MIA 39-NY 34. Over the next 1:44, Carmelo Anthony engineered a 6-0 lift, NY 40-MIA 39. Mike Miller outdueled Carmelo Anthony 8-2 as we reached the 3:00 mark, MIA 47-NY 42. The Heat wrestled a 58-50 Halftime lead away from the Knicks with an 11-8 push. Mike Miller was electric for Miami scoring 13 points(5-5 FGs, 3-3 3-PTs). Norris Cole registered 8 points(3-3 FGs, 1-1 3-PT, 1-2 FT). Ray Allen provided 7 points(3-3 FGs, 1-1 3-PTs). Carmelo kept New York in the game dropping 10 points(2-4 FGs, 1-2 3-PTs, 5-5 FTs). The Heat shot 13-18 FGs(72.2%) and 6-10 FTs(60%) while the Knicks were 6-14 FGs(42.9%) and 8-10 FTs(80%) in the 2nd Quarter. New York would weather the storm.
New York controlled the 3rd Quarter with a 20-9 surge that took us to the 4:36 mark, NY 70-MIA 67. The Knicks’ Defense started to take over the game shutting out Mike Miller 0-4 FGs(0-3 FTs). The Heat committed 6 turnovers and was held to 18 points. As New York took a 78-76 lead in the 4th Quarter, Carmelo Anthony continued to shoot the lights out with 15 points(6-9 FGs, 2-4 FTs, 1-1). Chris Bosh kept Miami afloat producing 9 points(2-2 FGs, 5-5 FTs). Head Coach Erik Spoelstra seemed optimistic, “New York stepped up the defense, as we expected. We’re in our building and it’s going to be a grind. We’ll try to get the ball out of Anthony’s hands when it’s timely. The Knicks have good spacing so it’ll be tough.”
The Knicks’ defense was the story as the Heat was put to bed. Miami didn’t score a FG in the last 7:30 of the game! The Heat was held to 14 points. Carmelo Anthony closed the game with 8 points. Felton Spencer pulled in 6 points. Kenyon Martin chipped in with 4 points. Chris Bosh tried to carry Miami with 8 points. Ray Allen hauled in the other 6 points. As the fans started to clear out hopefully the bad taste lingers for quite some time.
New York has NOW won 9 straight games! Tyson Chandler made his return to the starting lineup. Lebron James, Dwyane Wade & Mario Chalmers were all resting due to injury. Brooklyn is 5 games behind and Boston is 9.5 games behind in the Atlantic Division. How far can the Knicks go? It’s up to you New York, New York….New York!(*T*M*C)
Written by Shelby Spencer
The Morning Crap 
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