Last night (Wednesday) in Miami, the Knicks went into Game 5 of their opening round playoff series against the Heat playing with house money.
After losing three straight to the Heat to place themselves in an 0-3 chasm, the Knicks displayed admirable heart and will to win Game 4 by 89-87, earning a return trip to South Florida, where they hoped to extend the series to tomorrow.
Irrespective of Wednesday’s outcome, by winning Game 4, the Knicks gained a measure of respect and good will from their passionate supporters by eradicating an NBA record 13-game postseason losing streak. Giving the fans another game this season was a gift. No, make that a debt–one the franchise owed to their loyalists.
“It’s about time,” said Knicks head coach Mike Woodson on Sunday evening after the victory. “This team is good enough to win games. We’ve proven that we can beat anybody in this league. But it couldn’t have happened to a better group of guys.
“And for Knick fans, I mean, they’ve been waiting for a long time, but it is just one game and we have a way to go.”
Unless you are an eternal optimist or delusional, you resigned yourself to the inevitable elimination of the Knicks by the Heat after they lost Game 3 at home by 87-70. And with a decimated lineup–Baron Davis was the latest Knick to go down after horrifically tearing his ACL, MCL and patella tendon on Sunday–they were utterly unequipped to go against LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh et al.
However, a singular win in Game 4 was critical to the reputations, images and futures of three men in particular: Woodson, Amar’e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony. It likely cemented a multi-year contract for Woodson while redeeming Stoudemire (20 points, 10 rebounds) and Anthony (41 points) as stars who have the makeup to be cornerstones of a championship contender moving forward.
“It does feel great,” said Stoudemire of the win after missing Game 3 with a lacerated hand. “I really didn’t feel I had anything to prove.”
Yes, he did. So did Woodson and Anthony. After some doubt, they proved that the Knicks’ immediate future is still promising.