11-01-2016, 09:26 PM
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#21
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MVP
OVR: 9
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Charlotte, NC
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Season 1, Game 2 - vs Memphis (1-0)
MARC'D FOR DEATH
The younger Gasol brother dominates the Knicks with 33 points l Rose, O'Quinn, both head to bench with injuries
October 29, 2016
New York, NY -- It’s no secret that Derrick Rose has had an injury riddled career in Chicago. New York hoped that the Rose they acquired this offseason would show flashes of his MVP season in 2011 and less what came after.
Unfortunately, the latter reared its ugly head. Rose would leave the game in the middle of the fourth quarter with what is only being currently disclosed as a “lower body injury” in New York’s 117-108 loss to Memphis.
“It felt like I pulled something, but nothing crazy.” Said Rose. “I know I can’t have any setbacks, so I understand coming off the court to not make anything worse.”
Before Rose left, he showed the same flash and fire during his heyday with the Bulls, scoring 9 of his 17 points in the second quarter. Rose added nine assists and shot 5-of-10 from the floor.
New York (0-2) had more trouble defensively, as Marc Gasol destroyed everyone in his way to tune of 33 points and 9 rebounds. Gasol shot 13-of-21 from the field, and whether the Knicks guarded him with Joakim Noah, Kyle O’Quinn, or Kristaps Porzingins, the result was mostly the same.
“I just went out there and tried to get into a rhythm.” said Gasol. “I didn’t worry about the hand in my face or who was in front of me, just went out there and tried to get as many good looks as I could. My teammates did a great job and helping me find open shots and we took it from there.”
The shots weren’t always falling for Memphis (2-0), as they opened the game down 13-4 before ending the first quarter on a 16-4 run to tie things at 24.
Memphis pulled away in the third quarter, opening the second half with back to back three from Troy Daniels and Mike Conley Jr. to spark a 10-2 run. A pair of free throws from Rose would bring the Knicks within three, the closest they would get in the second half as they only made three field goals in the last six and a half minutes of the third quarter.
“We shot poorly but we had some good looks.” said Carmelo Anthony, who led the Knicks with 28 points. “We wasn’t getting back on defense though, that’s what killed us. It comes down to communication, and we’ve got to play smarter. We should have let them pull away from us like they did.”
Anthony, while averaging 30 points a game through two contests, hasn’t shot very well with just a 39% field goal percentage so far this season. He is also shooting a paltry 33% from beyond the arc.
In addition to Rose having to leave the game, Kyle O’Quinn left late in the second quarter after reaching for his right ankle and hobbling toward the bench. He seemed to come down awkwardly after attempting to block a shot attempt from Zach Randolph. His departure left the Knicks a little short in the front court, having to play Anthony and Lance Thomas at the power forward spot on occasion.
O’Quinn had four points and four rebounds in six minutes of action.
"We didn't execute defensively." said Knicks head coach Jeff Hornacek. "Having Kyle and Derrick have to leave the court only bolstered the fact we needed to step up defensively and we didn't do it. You can't give them easy shots and expect to stay in the game."
NOTES…Porzingis record his first double double of the season with 15 points and 10 rebounds, including a powerful dunk over Jamychal Green in the third quarter…Courtney Lee had a strong showing in front of the home crowd, scoring 19 points off 7-of-11 shooting…Lee made his first five shots…Randolph continues to come off the bench as the Grizzlies’ sixth man, and finished with 17 points and 9 rebounds…Green starts in place of Randolph and recorded a double double of his own…Chandler Parsons is still day-to-day as he recovers from surgery on his right knee.
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Last edited by Knickerbocker91; 04-17-2017 at 07:56 PM.
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