The Knicks do not figure to have a healthy Patrick Ewing the rest of the way, but they’ve got something they haven’t had in a long time – an exciting look.
Thanks to Latrell Sprewell, athleticism, not grind-it-out offense and death-grip defense, is the order of the day and the Knicks are catching opponents off stride, winning four of the last five in their push to the playoffs.
“The athleticism is definitely something totally different from what you’ve seen in the past from the Knicks,” noted Marcus Camby, who has helped change the Knicks’ ways. “We’re starting to play together.”
The Knicks have gone from the Road to Ruin to the Road to Run, and that has made all the difference. As all coaches will tell you, good things happen when you drop the “I” and play a team game.
“We definitely had the opportunity to pack our bags and say, we’re going home, but that’s not the mentality of this team,” Sprewell said of the Knicks’ bounce-back fortunes. “I’m glad we have guys on this team that want to compete, want to be in the playoffs and want to win. The goal for me is to make the playoffs. We’re a lot better team than what our record is. We feel we can compete with any team in the East, with any team in the NBA for that matter.”
The Knicks are a game-and-a half ahead of the Hornets for that final playoff spot with only three games remaining. Barring a collapse, they will make the playoffs for the 12th straight year and for the second straight season they will have done it despite all of Ewing’s health problems.
The key for this team will be to see how Jeff Van Gundy blends the offensive parts when Ewing is on the floor.
That new athleticism will be put to the test tomorrow in Indianapolis tomorrow afternoon. The Pacers beat the Knicks 108-95 the last time the two teams met in Indiana.
Sprewell is coming off a tremendous outing against the Sixers Thursday night when he scored 30 points off the bench to lead the Knicks to an 85-70 win, a burst that included 11-straight Sprewell points on everything from high-flying dunks to running three-pointers.
“He’s very capable of doing that,” noted Garden Guru Dave Checketts of the explosion. Knicks are 4-1 since Checketts assumed command.
“Everybody has seen that before. He’s so explosive in the open court, he is a very exciting player, but defensively is where he made all the big plays, steals and everything. He’s getting more comfortable,” said Checketts.
“He runs like a greyhound when he gets that ball in the open floor,” Checketts added. “We knew he was an enormous talent, nobody is surprised by that. The thing that I think is the most pleasant surprise to me is that he has been such a solid kid. He has handled himself in every interview, in every interaction, he’s just been superb.”
Said Sprewell of his high-flying performance, “It brings energy to our team and it brings the crowd into it. Those are the type of plays I want to provide to this team to help get us going. I wanted to stay aggressive, but at the same time, not play selfish. I think I did a pretty good job of that.”
Ewing has been impressed by Sprewell’s play.
“Spree is playing fabulously for us,” he said. “We need for him to have big games.”
Some amazing numbers go along with the Knicks’ recent play, thanks in large part to the fast break. Just a short time ago, Camby had put together two games where he was a combined 0-for-11 from the field, however in his last five games Camby is 24-for-35 from the field, a stunning .686 field goal percentage. Does the term easy baskets hit home? Also in his last three games, Camby has compiled 13 blocks, despite a sore right shoulder.
Sprewell, meanwhile, is tearing it up. In his last three games he is averaging 26.7 points on 56 percent shooting (28-for-50). He also had a terrible streak of missing 14 straight three-point attempts over 10 games. He has nailed five of his last eight three-point attempts in his last four games.
Sprewell’s game is played on the run and Van Gundy and the Knicks are finally adjusting to that fact. In addition, Sprewell and Allan Houston have connected on the court. In their blowout of Philadelphia, a game where the Knicks missed their first 11 shots of the night, Houston and Sprewell were showing their enthusiasm for one another on the floor. Every time that Sprewell set up Houston (9-for-16 shooting) the two would meet at halfcourt for a congratulatory high fives.
For a change, there is reason to celebrate.