While it is hard not to dwell on what could have been, what should have been, or what was, Tuesday night brings a new game and a clean slate. KnicksTweets’ super-intern Netta, breaks down the seemingly new matchup that will take place at TD Garden in game 2 of 7.
What Worked:
Big Baby Davis is Just That
After making a comment prior to Game 1 that STAT was easy to guard, Amar’e obliterated Davis and his team. Amar’e under the basket was perhaps the biggest reason that the Knicks…
One of the things that makes sports so interesting is that there is always something to debate. Sports fans (and analysts) can debate anything.
We can debate big picture issues. What is wrong with the BCS? Should there be a salary cap in Major League Baseball? Should the NFL get rid of instant replay?
We can debate strategy issues. Should they go for it on 4th and 1? Should they leave the starter in for another inning or go to the bullpen? Should this guy or that guy take the final shot?
We…
Via CBS New York:
“I think we are probably, most certainly the most dangerous first-round team in the NBA,” (Billups) said. “When I say that it’s because we are new, and we are dangerous. We’ve got a lot of weapons. We can move the scoreboard. I think our defense is a lot better; We’re going to be a tough out”…
Carmelo Anthony knows how brutal Knicks-Celtics can be. He was on the receiving end of Boston’s rough-and-tumble brand of play, bleeding from a cut above the eye last month…
Via TKB’s Pavlos Georgiou (@Pavvy8 on Twitter) and Amar’e Stoudemire :
When a 7-game Knicks Win Streak Means So Much More Than Just 7 Wins in a Row: #WinForGianna
I remember first hearing about Twitter when Senators were caught using it during congressional sessions. Despite initial doubts, Twitter has since taken off with the NBA at its forefront. NBA players, teams, and fans alike anxiously use the social media outlet to connect, but recently the #Knicks fan base has witnessed the true power of Twitter.
Gianna and Allan Houston - March 2010
11-year-old Gianna Gergoire was diagnosed with brain cancer last July. Her brother, The Knicks Blog Radio host Anthony Donahue, turned to what he knew, Knicks fans. “It started in July, when the fans of my show rallied around my sister and everything,” said Donahue in a phone interview.
Gianna went to her first Knicks game in January of 2003 when the Knicks took on the Phoenix Suns. She was only three years old. In the wake of her illness, Gianna has not lost her passion for the Knicks. She says that “going to the games and seeing all the players and friends” is her favorite part of the game. The players, to Gianna, are not just bodies on the court, but a voice to the world. “It feels really good,” she says of the players’ support, “because they are very popular, so it’s like, I’m guessing if someone popular does it, it will continue on and spread.”
Gianna and big bro Anthony
Donahue’s life has been largely dominated by his sister’s illness since she was diagnosed. “You’re chillin’ for 27 years and then all of the sudden you’re in a hospital playing with kids with cancer.” On December 17th, Gianna had brain surgery and was in the hospital for two weeks and in January went back for about four more weeks of chemotherapy. Since that time, this courageous young girl has been in and out of the hospital typically three times a week, for several hours each appointment.
Gianna’s illness has not only taken an emotional toll on the family, but has created a huge financial burden. Gianna’s father lives in Texas and her mother lives in Brooklyn, but not with the family. Anthony and his grandmother take care of Gianna. Her father is a retired New York City police officer, so his insurance covers some of the costs of her care, but “she’s on 15 different medicines, so even with a co-pay it comes to like $200,” explained Donahue about trips to the pharmacy.
Last September, Anthony organized an event at a barbershop in the Bronx with Wilson Chandler and Patrick Ewing Jr. The event raised money for the Garden of Dreams Foundation and garnered a lot of attention amongst the Knicks community. Then on November 17th, Donahue’s birthday, the Knicks broke a six game losing streak. A few months later and they found themselves on another losing streak and Knicks fans were frustrated. “Five fans tweeted me: you need to have a birthday again, and one girl tweeted me saying you need to start a trend,” Donahue recalled. And so #WinForGianna was born.
Donahue started the trend in the middle of the afternoon on March 28th, “I was driving to the game that night and I thought to myself: we’re gonna win. I don’t care about Dwight Howard,” he said. The Knicks beat the Magic that same night and continued on to a 7 game winning streak. “I like the [trend] and everyone on Twitter is supporting it and so far Anthony said that the Knicks have won 6 in a row. So I’m thinking it’s good luck,” said Gianna matter-of-factly before the Indiana game on Sunday.
The trend and the cause have garnered support from fans, players, and celebrities. If you were to follow the trend on Twitter during a Knicks game, new tweets are constantly being added to the collection. Landry Fields and Allan Houston have tweeted the trend and on April 6th Spike Lee tweeted “Knicks WIN BIG for GIANNA”.
Tina Cervasio, the Knicks sideline reporter, sent me this statement via text message: “I knew what Gianna was going through when I met her all I could think about was how sweet this young girl is, yet I knew how hard she was fighting. Her spirit is what has clearly touched the hearts of Knicks players and fans alike. It’s proven in studies, joy and happiness will speed the healing process. If we can help Gianna along with her journey with #WinForGianna then everyone wins.”
Donahue says that the support he has gotten from the players brought tears to his eyes and completely overwhelmed him.
This Friday, Donahue will be hosting a “Pre-Playoff Event” at Hype Lounge (243 E.14th st. between 2nd and 3rd ave.). The money that is raised will all go directly to Gianna and her family to cover the costs of her care.
Gianna in Boston, representing her New York Knicks with pride!
Gianna is currently in Boston undergoing treatment, which is supposed to have fewer side effects than treatment she would receive in New York. She told me that the hardest part of being sick has been the chemotherapy and “just going to Boston because I don’t really get to see Anthony.” She could not stop telling me how much what her brother has done has meant to her.
Gianna says that the attention and support she has received from Knicks fans is indescribable, but that given the opportunity to tell them one thing she would say “thank you for supporting me and I really appreciate it.”
This 11-year-old does not take anything for granted. When I spoke to her on the phone she was shy in the spirit of most eleven-year-old girls, but assertive like the fighter that she is. She laughed and chuckled and as if I could hear her smile through the phone, I could feel her undaunted spirit. A spirit that the love of her brother Anthony won’t allow to wane.
On Sunday, Carmelo Anthony would not allow the streak to end. The magic of Gianna prevailed and the Knicks were able to secure a win at Conseco Fieldhouse in the final seconds. So every time that the Knicks win, take a second to think about it. A win for the Knicks, is a #WinForGianna.
A PayPal account will be set up soon to allow online donations for Gianna. For more information and updates be sure to follow @Knickstweets and @AnthonyMSG .
This article was written by KnicksTweet’s super-intern Netta-Lee Lax (@NLax33 on Twitter).
Mike D’Antoni talks about the fact that defense needs to improve but simply cannot offer what went wrong defensively. Most glaringly was his response to questions regarding Danny Granger’s game winning shot:
Q: Is there anything else defensively you would have rather seen or could have been done?
A: You mean defensively? I guess I’d like to see him miss it. You can’t double in the middle of the floor like that. So you get man up and hope he…
Is Raymond Felton right about the Nuggets truly being a better team than the Knicks? If you were to look at the two teams’ records since the big trade last month, you would have to say the Nuggets. But if you took a closer look at how each team has played, on both ends of the floor, night in and night out…you would still have to say the Nuggets are a better team.
The hope for Knicks fans is that they are truly treating these games as a preseason for the real games that will take place in…
