The Storm is Over But The Knicks Are Just Getting Started

Added by Michael McCloskey on February 9, 2013.

A look back at Hurricane Sandy and why New Yorkers don’t need to ask the Knicks to show up when it counts.

The best part about being a New York Knicks fan living in Manhattan is that every time there’s a home game, you’d have to be a fool to miss the signs.  No need to check your ESPN app or meticulously documented paper calendar if you’re from the Ewing era, the city will let you know.  But what happens when the power goes out, the subways shut down, cell service is across the bridge, your favorite deli closes, your dog ate your season schedule or people start scraping inches of snow off their Range Rovers with their AMEX?  When the city needs a couple hours of peace, we have the Knicks for that.

Following Hurricane Sandy the Knicks went on a six game winning streak, starting with a 104-84 win over the Miami Heat, and capping it off with a 104-100 victory over the San Antonio Spurs.  You can expect the same from them this time around, starting with tomorrow night’s matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers.

In the aftermath of the Sandy, the city was a very strange place, especially downtown.  For those of us that live here we all remember how tough it was. The storm put life on hold for countless New Yorkers.  Yet with much controversy, the New York Knicks held host the Miami Heat on Friday, November 2, 2012, just hours after Mayor Bloomberg announced he would be cancelling the New York City Marathon. 

There were mixed emotions about whether or not the game should have been held at all.  Heat superstar Dwayne Wade said he thought the game should not have been held.  Doesn’t he know New Yorkers hate it when tourists tell us how to run our city?  Incase he missed the message, we have the Knicks for that who put the beat down on Miami in a crushing 20 point loss in front of a sold out Madison Square Garden crowd of 19,033 screaming fans who gave team loyalty a new definition.

Carmelo Anthony scored 30 points and recorded 10 rebounds.  After the win he said, “Today was something to give New York a couple hours of some peace.  Come to the game, support us. We gave them a good show out there tonight, that’s the least that we can do.”

Now that this storm has come and gone, expect to see the Knicks thrive going into the All-Star break for the following reasons:

Felton is back which takes pressure off Kidd in terms of how many minutes he will have to play.

Amar’e back means more options for in-bounds plays late in the game.  He can finish in the post just like Tyson can. 

More threats mean more options means more chances for Melo to get open.

While coaches and players around the league talking about how scary the Knicks offense is, Carmelo is developing his defense and passing.

Amar’e and Carmelo are finally starting to groove. 

According to Ian Begley of ESPN, Stoudemire can draw a defender to the paint and open space for Anthony on the other side of the floor. As for Anthony, he has become a more willing passer this season, finding Stoudemire open near the rim again and again in recent games.

The bench scored 82 points last Saturday. Seriously.

The Knicks are winners of six of their last seven.

 Sleep well New York, or don’t, Chris Paul is coming.