Newhouse Sports NBA Recap: Feb. 27, 2014

Newhouse NBA Recap: Feb. 27, 2014

Game of the Night: Heat Throttle Knicks, 108-82

Story by Jordan Greer

All Images Courtesy of AP

LeBron James flew through the air, donning a black mask that drew comparisons to the Caped Crusader across the Twittersphere. But even “LeBatman” can’t do it alone, a lesson Carmelo Anthony is learning the hard way.

The Miami Heat (41-14) dominated the New York Knicks (21-37), shooting more than 60 percent as a team on the way to a 108-82 win.

LeBron finished with 31 points on an efficient 13-19 shooting night. Dwyane Wade turned back the clock, scoring 23 on 10-13 shooting from the field. Both James and Wade did not venture too far from the basket, going a combined 18-20 inside the paint.

Mario Chalmers, Norris Cole, and Ray Allen each added 11 points in a complete team effort. The Heat kept pace with the Indiana Pacers for the number one seed in the East after the Pacers narrowly defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 101-96.

The Heat turned the game into a blowout in the third, finishing the quarter on a 26-5 run that sealed the outcome. Miami found easy looks all over the floor, and when you get the combination of James and Wade with role players stepping up, there might not be a team in the NBA that can stop this machine.

For the Knickerbockers, it was a game that served as a microcosm of the entire season – a complete mess.

The team shot less than 40 percent from the field overall, including 4-23 from behind the three point line. Raymond Felton, in the starting lineup for the first time since being arrested on felony gun charges, shot 1-7. Tim Hardaway, Jr. went 2-15. Starting guard Pablo Prigioni did not score in 25 minutes of play. On and on and on.

It was not just offensive ineptitude, as the Knicks defense failed to even exist on some possessions. After made baskets, the Heat would simply take the ball out of the net and push it up the floor for an easy score. It only got worse when Tyson Chandler subbed out, leaving the Knicks with no rim protection.

Chandler and Anthony were the lone bright spots in an otherwise disappointing effort. Chandler had 19 points and 16 rebounds while Melo dropped 29 to go with 7 rebounds of his own.

As smooth as Carmelo’s jumper has looked, he can only do so much. This looks nothing like the team that was first in the Atlantic Division at 54-28. Games like this one make you wonder how seriously Anthony can consider resigning with a team that does not appear to be built for present or future success.

There is not exactly salary cap flexibility, as the Knicks have the second highest team payroll in the league. You are not going to see any help coming from the NBA Draft. The Knicks have no draft picks in 2014 and 2016.

LeBron realized he could not capture a championship in Cleveland with a below average supporting cast. With Melo having a player option for next season with New York, he may be taking his talents elsewhere.

• The 2003 NBA Draft was very much on display Thursday night; James (No. 1), Anthony (No. 3), Chris Bosh (No. 4), and Wade (No. 5) all came out of that draft class.
• Two teams going in different directions: the Knicks have lost 10 of their last 11, while the Heat have won 9 of their last 10.
• Lebron played in his first game with the protective mask due to broken nose suffered Feb. 20 against OKC; he had sat out the Heat’s last game against Chicago.
• James last wore mask during 2004-05 season and he might want to keep it on based on his numbers. He averaged 26.4 points in 16 games with the mask on for the Cavs during that stretch.
• Both of these team’s leading scorers came into this game on a tear. Melo averaged 41.3 points in previous four games, while Lebron averaged 37.0 points in his last four.
• Just a side note, but an interesting quote I heard from none other than Charles Barkley on TNT concerning Jason Collins dealing with any kind of pushback from players for his sexual orientation: “We hate playing with basketball players that suck. That’s what we hate more than anything.” Gotta love Chuck.

Catching Up with the ‘Cuse

Carmelo Anthony

I went into depth on Anthony above, so I won’t belabor the point. The guy is doing everything in his power to keep this team competitive, but it’s still a team game. Melo is second in the league in scoring only to the Thunder’s Kevin Durant, and his three point shooting has been incredible as of late.

Season Averages: 28.3 ppg, 3.0 apg, 8.5 rpg, 46% FG, 42% 3PT FG

Michael Carter-Williams

Yes, you could make an easy argument that the Sixers are the worst team in the league. But Philly is hoping to hit rock bottom and build back up, as evidenced by moving Evan Turner and Spencer Hawes at the trade deadline. Carter-Williams has continued to shine in a weak rookie class. His shooting numbers leave something to be desired, but last time I checked Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook were not burning up the nets in their rookie seasons. He is not quite the lock he was early in the season for Rookie of the Year, but he will be squarely in the race if he can stay healthy.

Season Averages: 17.1 ppg, 6.2 apg, 5.3 rpg, 2.0 spg, 40% FG

Wesley Johnson

The Los Angeles Lakers own the worst record in the Western Conference. Sounds weird, right? Johnson is taking advantage of the situation by putting up decent numbers in expanding minutes. Mike D’Antoni has even experimented with Johnson playing at one of the frontcourt positions in a small ball lineup. Johnson finished with 18 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 blocks against Memphis Wednesday night, but did struggle at times guarding Marc Gasol due to the size differential. I can’t say I see this as the solution, but when you are 19-39 overall in the West with a serious lack of talent on the floor, does strategy really make a difference?

Season Averages: 9.3 ppg, 1.4 apg, 3.9 rpg, 44% FG, 39% 3PT FG

Dion Waiters

Waiters has missed five straight games since hyperextending his left knee Feb. 18 against Philadelphia. Cleveland is fighting for a playoff spot in the lowly East after winning seven of their last ten, including an impressive victory at Oklahoma City. Still, Waiters is a much better option than the likes of Jarrett Jack and Matthew Dellavedova. With no timetable set for a return, Cavs fans may be waiting for a little while longer (See what I did there with waiting? Ok… I promise I will leave after this last player).

Season Averages: 14.3 ppg, 2.7 apg, 2.9 rpg, 42% FG, 36% 3PT FG

Arinze Onuaku

The Cleveland Cavaliers signed Onuaku to a 10-day contract on Feb. 22. Onuaku was previously on the Canton Charge, the Cavs NBA Development League team. He appeared in 26 games for the Charge this season, putting up 14.4 points per game to go with 9.7 rebounds. He last appeared in the NBA with the New Orleans Pelicans earlier this season, appearing in only three games with the team.