New York City's NBA teams struggle to get on track
New York's two NBA teams, the New York Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets are struggling to get on track. Both teams started out the first eleven games this season with a track record of 3-8. With both teams dealing with injuries and unhappy fans, the Nets stand at 12th place in the Eastern Conference, and the Knicks at 14th.The Knicks have lost six straight games at home. The injuries to Carmelo Anthony, Raymond Felton and Pablo Prigioni have not helped the Knicks case of return. Knicks coach Mike Woodson is undergoing problems too. The unhappy Knicks fans are suggesting and chanting that he should be fired. Woodson said before the Knicks against Raptors game,"We have not had a full deck. I’m talking about key guys that have been out. I’m just anxious to see where we are. Because I know if we’ve got a full deck, we’ve got a chance to win basketball games. I truly believe that.” The loss to Toronto gave a little support to his words. Without his 3 stars, shooting guard Iman Shumpert and small forward Metta Worldpeace provided much. The Knicks led by as much as 12 in the third, but the Raptors charged back with ease in the fourth. Without Anthony to go to down the stretch, the offense stalled. Knicks Center Tyson Chandler said,"I felt like we had the game in control,We let it dwindle away in the fourth quarter. It’s pretty disheartening.”Woodson said that the Knicks shorthanded roster was a key factor to the loss. Without Carmelo leading the offense and Prigioni and Felton racking up assists and making plays the Knicks couldn't fight back in the fourth quarter. The offense shot 5 of 19 in the fourth, giving up the lead and the game to Toronto.
The Nets are having similar problems. With Nets center Brook Lopez out for the season and Boston imports Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett not hitting the ground running, the Nets are in trouble.
No one expected KG and "The Truth" to put up 50 points per game and play in their prime..
But they haven't met any expectations. They're not showing their expected value and play how they played on the Boston Celtics. When Pierce and Garnett were on the Celtics, they averaged 18.57 points (Pierce) and 14.8 points (Kevin Garnett). This season they average 12.6 points (Paul Pierce) and 6.6 points (Kevin Garnett). With Pierce at age 36 and KG at age 37, they cannot expect so much for them. Because they're getting older, they're not as athletic as they used to be. Nets shooting guard Joe Johnson and Nets point guard Deron Williams lost their leadership roles to the Boston players, so they cannot help.
My Opinion
I think that the Knicks should trade some of their players, and the Nets should give more minutes in the game to their bench players. The knicks aren't doing well because of injuries to their players and because they don't have the correct pieces. Carmelo Anthony is a scorer, Raymond Felton is the passer, J.R Smith, doesn't fit, Amare Stoudemire is too bad, and Tyson Chandler fits. J.R Smith should be traded or should develop a passing skill and step down a little bit. J.R and Carmelo fight to be the star player and take the last shot. If J.R steps down and gives Carmelo some space, Melo can grow. Amare Stoudemire doesn't have talent anymore. He's been playing forever and his prime years ended. If they could get rid of him and get some one younger and more healthier. As for the Nets, they cannot rely on KG and Paul Pierce any more. If they want to start winning again they need to give their bench players more minutes. Bring KG and "The truth" out of the spotlight and give it to the younger guys. Deron Williams and Joe Johnson had a good thing going before the Celtic players came over. If they can give them the role again, they can make something happen and bring out the best in KG and Paul.
Top 10 Worst Teams
1. 1973 Philadelphia 76ers went 9-73.
Points Per Game- 104.1 (13th of 17th)Coaches- Roy Rubin and Kevin Loughery
2. 1993 Dallas Mavericks went 11-71
PPG- 95.1 (27th of 27)
Coach- Quinn Bucker
3. 1987 Los Angeles Clippers went 12-70
PPG- 98.8 (23rd of 23)
Coach- Gene Shue
