For those of you who missed the game, I'm not recapping it because why would I do that to you or myself? I'm going to Mike Woodson this edition of Final Tape because it's all stream of consciousness with no coherent plan.
I always think I've seen it all with the Knicks, but they outdo themselves constantly. This is a trend that started with Dolan's/management's ineptitude and has trickled down to the coach. I cannot become infuriated anymore. I mean, who doesn't forget that time is a concept that governs existence, society, lives and sometimes basketball games?
I am curious to read if anyone believes Woodson should still be coaching after this latest debacle. A lot of the time it boils down to blaming players vs. the coach, but tonight I do not think you can argue that the Knicks didn't waste another tremendous game by Carmelo. For starters, Woodson did not have to play Beno on the final possession. MWP and Murry were on the bench. Fine, you don't trust a rookie, but surely you trust a former DPOY over a PG that has never been more than an average defender? Nope?
Oh, right, Bargnani is there to protect the paint because "the East is big, man" and "you can't teach size". I forgot Bargnani is also expected to do something he has never been even average at throughout his whole career! Good thing none of this championship strategy matters when you don't use the foul to give anyway!
Then, of course, is the timeout. There were only 3 left, so you want to use them only when necessary! "I probably should have taken for sure the timeout." PROBABLY?! "It had nothing to do with the timeout, we knew we had a foul to give, that's where the breakdown occurred." Spin spin spin. And they say hindsight is 20/20. Mike Woodson does not care about your hindsight bias; he literally does not have time for that.
The kicker: "Shumpert said team didn't discuss calling a timeout if they allowed a basket on WAS's last shot. Said they largely assumed they'd get a stop." Top 5 worst defenses in the league expects a team throwing out Beno and Bargnani on the court to get a stop. Great preparation.
Next: "Melo reiterates that he/the team wasn't told to call timeout beforehand." At least Woodson is instilling confidence and believes in his players? Melo on Woody taking blame: "If he says it's his fault, it's his fault." Oh, never mind, that confidence is not reciprocated. "He"s our coach and we're rolling with him." Well then!
And no, you haven't seen it all. "That's a possibility" Mike Woodson on bringing up Chris Smith from the D-League due to injury issues at PG. So yeah, that's why you stay tuned. New, innovative ways to make an underachieving team underachieve even more!
