“No Finish In Us” [4-1] • W2: Half-Empty Energy Tanks

[kibaxx7]

No individual did anything big, but the team definetly showed the NBA, they're no joke this season. The Heat are now 0-2 in season openers with the Big 3.

The team is working on the chemistry

Decent win, as always, lovely presentation. This Knicks team cannot really be strenghtened by trades if you ask me. You rather need to sign some veterans, since you ain't got much to make deals with.
I'd love to see Camby in a Knicks jersey for example. Just came to my mind right now since you're pretty thin on the five spot.

Keep this one going. Although I am not online that much lately, I will follow as good as possible

Yeah I only have Amar'e, Turiaf and Shawne Williams as centers I will look for someone... thanks man! Spurs still going (one update each)

Agree, Cambyman back to NYC would be sweet

Nice win. Can't believe game only has you as 18th ranked team Maybe to do with lack of depth at some spots.

One downside, I tried to push the arrow on the gif so that I could shuffle through pics quicker

What's worse is that even after doing that and knowing it was a gif, I still had the audacity to push the zoom icon

FAIL

Yeah 18th team, but one of the best offensive squads... I will make the pics quicker next time then

Good win. I hope this year Knicks will go to the finals !

Follow this association, good luck.

Very, very, very difficult task. But I'll try

Love the narrow victory of the Heat, surprising to see you almost choking it away as opposed to the Heat choking it away...at least you held on

Yeah I was scared in the last minute. Thank God Amar'e was fouled.

Great presentation as always and a good win, don't really like the result though.

I knew you wouldn't. But hey, the Heat can still go 81-1.

Amar'e and Melo need that one piece *cough* Chris Paul *cough*

As I said, I don't see myself adding CP3. That would make this a lot easier. If it happens in real life (maybe next year, lol) I could try here.

Top win there dude. Looks good. I will be following.

Thanks bro. It will go slow, but I don't have plans of stopping it.

You can't push the buttons? I was pretty sure I did the slide by myself

Nope, it's an animated gif. I would need a Flash file to do that.

Congrats on winning your opener.

Thanks L. I will do some week recaps too, not all separated.

Have an exam tomorrow so it has been a little quiet lately.

[Justine.]

Nice close win. My Magic story is done, I'm just waiting for a stable roster and start with 2k12. How good is the roster that you're using?

[albidnis]

Nice win and presentation is excellent as usual. Going to have to steal some of those ideas...lol

Note: You know you have to show me how to do that animated .gif thing

[kibaxx7]

Preview | Recap | Game Info | Full Play-by-Play | Boxscores (NYK :: MIL)

MILWAUKEE (2011, November 5) -- Amar'e Stoudemire looked at the group of Bucks who came out for the second half and realized it wasn't the same one that started the contest -- then the Knicks knew they were in for a game. “The second group played harder, no doubt. They gave us a scare,” said Stoudemire, who scored 16 points, including eight in the fourth quarter to halt Milwaukee's frantic rally, and New York held Milwaukee, 101-93. Carmelo Anthony scored 22 to lead the Knicks, who blew almost all of a 21-point lead at halftime after Bucks coach Scott Skiles went deep into his bench with his team seemingly out of the game.

That nearly came to fruition.

“I want people who are going to fight and compete,” said Skiles. “The fight has to be in us every single night. I thought our young guys, when they came in, fought their tails off and then gave some of our most experienced players the courage to come back.” Milwaukee scored 12 of the second half's first 17 points to pull within 64-50 on a jumper by Michael Redd, who had the Bradley Center fans on their feet -- slowly coming back from his last couple of seasons, spent in the injured list. But after Anthony knocked down a 3-pointer, Landry Fields nailed a mid-range shot that gave New York some breathing space -- a 80-64 lead in the first minutes of the fourth frame. Fields and Chauncey Billups contributed with 11 points apiece, while Anthony, Stoudemire and Billups all had 5 assists each. Bill Walker, who is becoming the Knicks' sixth man as of lately, had nine points and four rebounds, commenting: “It's been kind of tough on the road for us, we don't have the same juice. They surprised us for a moment, going at us, but I think today we did a great job.”

“I'd say one of my nightmares is going up 20 before intermission. You know it is going to turn at some point,” Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni said. New York led 59-38 to start the third quarter and Skiles then sent out four new players who kickstarted the Bucks rally -- Redd, Chris Douglas-Roberts, Keyon Dooling and rookie Tobias Harris joining starter Stephen Jackson. Players such as Brandon Jennings and Andrew Bogut, who are two of Milwaukee's most important players, watched from the bench. “They were getting the job done,” said Jennings, who scored 17 points and four rebounds, but only one assist. “They were playing with energy and getting us back in the game.” Jackson had a game-best 30 points and Bogut posted 12 and four rejections. Luc Richard Mbah a Moute had a double-double, with 14 and ten boards.

Preview | Recap | Game Info | Full Play-by-Play | Boxscores (NYK :: DET)

DETROIT (2011, November 6) -- Thanks to a newfound focus on toughness and team spirit, the New York Knicks are off to a perfect start away from home -- something that gave them tons of issues last term. Amar'e Stoudemire had 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds (five on offense), even making a 3-pointer in the first half; and Carmelo Anthony added 23 points of his own as the Knicks defeated the Detroit Pistons, 102-87 at the Palace of Auburn Hills, to earn their second straight away victory. Landry Fields proved to be the spark with 15 points, eight rebounds, six assists and four steals. “Any time you can get road wins is good,” Fields said. “When you come up to a hostile ground like Detroit, you've got to stick together. That's what we did.” New York led 52-41 at the half and a 12-2 run in the third quarter was the key to the victory.

Detroit's Richard Hamilton scored a game-high 30 points, going 10-for-20 from the field and making all seven of his charity stripe shots -- he also had seven boards. Rodney Stuckey had 13 points, while Ben Gordon had 16 points off the bench. Despite getting 10 ten more free throws than New York, Detroit shot 40 percent from the floor and 31 percent beyond the arc, also getting outscored in the paint, 52-32. “We have to do a better job of defending inside,” said Stuckey, who shot 3-of-16. “We're settling for a lot of jump shots -- everybody's falling victim to that in this team.” Charlie Villanueva posted nine points while Tayshaun Prince struggled for only eight points. “We made too many mistakes on the floor tonight. That's it,” Prince said. “You start adding the number of miscues we made and that's not good enough to get a W.”

“In the last two games, teams have been rallying at the end of the game and we've held our ground,” said Stoudemire, “but we didn't get mad or frustrated. We tried to do the best job we can on defense and it worked.” Toney Douglas finished with nine points and five assists as a reserve for the Knicks, while Chauncey Billups and Ronny Turiaf had eight points each. “I like the way the guys are responding,” said Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni. “This is the way you're going to have to play to win games on the road. I'm very, very pleased.” This Tuesday, the Knicks go back to the Madison Square Garden to host Oklahoma City, before flying to Atlanta to face the Hawks on Wednesday.

NEW YORK (2011, November 7) -- Ronny Turiaf knows it all -- what was being written, what was being said, what was being suggested. But as the Knicks' starting center pumped his fists in the air, letting out a primal scream, he was striking out not just at the Detroit Pistons, but also at the circumstances over this past week that had led to so many issues. He found his best defensive play and also providing some offensive sparks, Ronny helped post an impressive 102-87 win. “This is my second year in the MSG and I think I know everybody around here,” said Turiaf, who had eight points and seven rebounds. He then joked: “But it doesn't look like everyone knows me (laughs). I played a bad game against Miami on defense and there was too many things going on.”

Ronny even assisted Toney Douglas for a 3-pointer, stole the ball from Tayshaun Prince and had an emphatic block on Rodney Stuckey, but it was his actions, rather than his shots, that spoke for him. He was aggressive and when he goaded Pistons rookie Brandon Knight into a travelling call, he got up and screamed -- it felt like he was giving a big “take that” to all the criticism thrown his way; he posted a game-best plus-minus of +29. “Ronny's energy level was excellent,” said Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni. “He didn't have a good game against the Heat and he knows it, but it's not like he's going to be benched. He doesn't like a lot of the things that have been written about him, and he takes it to heart. He did an excellent job tonight.”

As did the entire team in a second quarter that was just flawless -- it was as if all the things D'Antoni had been talking to the team in scrimmages came together at once. Richard Hamilton had 15 of his 30 points in the first period -- but went scoreless in the second, with just two rebounds and an assists. As good as they were, paled in comparison to the work of Turiaf on the defensive end. Amar'e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony provided the attack, finishing with 23 points apiece. Other players, like Douglas and Landry Fields, took a back seat in the offence when they attracted extra attention. “Teamwork” -- that's how they call it.

[kibaxx7]

Nice close win. My Magic story is done, I'm just waiting for a stable roster and start with 2k12. How good is the roster that you're using?

Downloaded the rookie rosters from here and made some changes myself, works smoothly.

Nice win and presentation is excellent as usual. Going to have to steal some of those ideas...lol

Note: You know you have to show me how to do that animated .gif thing

I'd be glad to show some of my ideas... but not right now, gotta get the most of them

Last night's show by Swedish House Mafia at MSG gave me more inspiration here Finished school a couple of days ago, so this one should be up and running again soon!

EDIT: Edited the last post with the new games, C&C appreciated

EDIT2: Also edited the Heat game in the previous page with a few changes.

[Mavs4Life]

Rip and S-Jax ate their Wheaties this week

[homicide1550]

Nice presentation as always!

[john26]

Congrats on the wins

[mp3]

No roster update?

Just started a season messing around with my knicks and Tyson Chandler makes a huge difference in the middle!

[hova-]

This last update from 18th December was just great, bro. Lovely layout, short, but very informative. Great spark by Turiaf, always been a fan of his game, although he does better at FIBA tournatments than in the NBA.

[kibaxx7]

Rip and S-Jax ate their Wheaties this week

Lol yeah, I couldn't stop them. I did stop players like Bogut or Stuckey...

Nice presentation as always!

Thanks man! You coming back to the dynasty / association business?

Congrats on the wins

Thanks. I'll wait until I play against contending teams... if I get more wins like this, will have to do a couple of changes in the sliders and the difficulty.

No roster update?

Just started a season messing around with my knicks and Tyson Chandler makes a huge difference in the middle!

Will do the real-life trades later I will acquire Chandler sooner or later.

This last update from 18th December was just great, bro. Lovely layout, short, but very informative. Great spark by Turiaf, always been a fan of his game, although he does better at FIBA tournatments than in the NBA.

Thanks bro! Yeah Turiaf has been better in FIBA games. If he continues like this, I don't know if I would deal him away for Tyson.

[Rta]

Nice wins man.
I had noticed that in both games your best quarter is the second quarter.

[Valor]

Rooonny Turiaffff!!!!!!!!!

[homicide1550]

Nice presentation as always!

Thanks man! You coming back to the dynasty / association business?

Probably, just waiting for a completely updated roster, 2K updates are still lacking some key players. (2nd rounders, people overseas, etc.).

[qfrmcpt310]

Looks like I missed alot, that last update was flawless. Great one brewing here Thierry

[Martti.]

Good to see this running again. Top notch presentation as always!

[Axel The Great]

Great games from Melo and Stat, but I wish I could say the same for Billups. Your presentation of the pics is still top notch like they always have been.

[kibaxx7]

Nice wins man.
I had noticed that in both games your best quarter is the second quarter.

Thanks man. Yeah, I tend to use a starters/reserves mix in the second quarter and score a lot.

Rooonny Turiaffff!!!!!!!!!

He's been great. I will end up acquiring Chandler, but I'd like Ronny to stay.

Probably, just waiting for a completely updated roster, 2K updates are still lacking some key players. (2nd rounders, people overseas, etc.).

Superb. Can't wait

Looks like I missed alot, that last update was flawless. Great one brewing here Thierry

Thanks man, going slowly, but it's better than nothing. Great team to play

Good to see this running again. Top notch presentation as always!

Thanks bro!

Great games from Melo and Stat, but I wish I could say the same for Billups. Your presentation of the pics is still top notch like they always have been.

Thanks man. I struggle a lot with Billups' scoring -- I tend to use him for assists and steals. Hopefully he will explode in games where Melo or Amar'e are injured...

[Valor]

Rooonny Turiaffff!!!!!!!!!

He's been great. I will end up acquiring Chandler, but I'd like Ronny to stay.

He'll be a great backup to Chandler

[kibaxx7]

Preview | Recap | Game Info | Full Play-by-Play | Boxscores (OKC :: NYK)

NEW YORK (2011, November 8) -- Carmelo Anthony figured the way to score against Oklahoma City's inside defense was to go and attack it non-stop. “I just wanted to be aggressive. They gave me the chances to go the hoop and I took them,” said Anthony, who scored a season-high 27 points, in 10-of-12 shooting, to help the New York Knicks beat the Thunder, 113-102 and stay undefeated. Madison Square Garden enjoyed Noche Latina as Amar'e Stoudemire chipped in 18, along with four boards, three assists and three steals for the Knicks. Chauncey Billups finally made it out of his slump and added a season-high 16 points and seven assists, while Toney Douglas contributed with nine points, six rebounds and three assists to help New York reach the 2nd seed in the East. “We must work on our 3-pointers since we are struggling as of late. We got confident on the paint today and we took advantage of that,” said Stoudemire, who shot 9-of-14, after the Knicks outscored the Thunder inside, 64-30.

Kendrick Perkins only scored two points for Oklahoma City, but had nine rebounds to lead his team. His former teammate in Boston, Nate Robinson, had 13 points as a reserve. “We let them take it to us, instead of taking it to them,” said Perkins. “They played good defense down the stretch, and Carmelo took the team over his shoulders. He dominated.” Russell Westbrook scored 18 and ten assists, and James Harden had 14 and seven rebounds. But the real offensive weapon was Kevin Durant: one night after scoring only 14 points in OKC's loss to Dallas, he went to score 42 points -- but only six in the fourth quarter. Thunder coach Scott Brooks hinted that he will not hesitate to make changes in the lineup, looking to stop the slide of two losses in a row. But Harden disagrees. “We need to calm down, that's it. This season is young. You are going to lose games,” he said. “If all we talk about is losses, then they will keep piling up.”

New York shot 54 percent from the field and had 28 assists on 45 field goals. Though Oklahoma City had a 4-1 edge in rejections, the Knicks had only six turnovers and their reserves were way more helpful, 41-17. “We let Durant whatever he wanted,” Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni said, “but a win like this is great for team chemistry. Melo and Amar'e did a great job and Chauncey played his part greatly.” The Knicks led by as much as 18 points in the game. “Anthony was unstoppable,” said Durant. “They made the right plays when they had to. I was able to get on a roll with my scoring, but some of my teammates had a rough night.” Thunder rookie guard Reggie Jackson was out with a sore foot.

Preview | Recap | Game Info | Full Play-by-Play | Boxscores (NYK :: ATL)

ATLANTA (2011, November 9) -- You could tell the New York Knicks were tired -- against a winless team like the Atlanta Hawks, they couldn't deliver when it matters the most. Joe Johnson had 27 points, six rebounds and six assists as the Hawks rallied back from an 8-point deficit and then held off New York in the fourth, to win 90-83. Jamal Crawford, as a reserve, and Al Horford added 15 apiece for Atlanta. “We're a running team,” said Horford. “We're at our best when we're in transition and we did that in the fourth to keep our lead.” Other players, like Josh Smith and Marvin Williams, didn't mind taking a backseat with Johnson running the show, as they combined for just 5-of-18 from the field. “I can't keep my head down,” said Williams, “I've got to continue to play. Joe was there to make for my miscues.” The Hawks again played without bigman Zaza Pachulia, who has a hyperextended knee and is day-to-day -- Atlanta has lost three of four without him, not able to make his debut for the team this season.

Down by as many as eight points and booed by the home fans in the beginning of the contest, the Hawks narrowed it to 41-40 at halftime, on a 20-foot jumper by Kirk Hinrich. To start the second half, a free throw by Horford tied it. After Amar'e Stoudemire blocked a layup attempt by Johnson, Crawford hit a 3-pointer to give Atlanta the lead and it stayed close the rest of the way, as New York was outscored 26-19 in the third. “It was the third quarter that hurt us,” Stoudemire said. “We had a lot of open looks and we couldn't knock them down.” The Knicks played their fourth game in five days -- three of them in the road -- and their energy tanks are starting to suffer. And it's about to get worse -- after a stop in New York to play Indiana, the Knicks embark on a 7-game road trip, including games at Utah, Denver and Los Angeles... these three in four nights.

Stoudemire led New York with 26 points, ten rebounds, four steals and three blocks, while Carmelo Anthony flirted with a triple-double with 19 points, ten boards and seven assists, but shooting a troubled 8-of-20 from the floor. Landry Fields had 11 points and five rebounds, as New York was outrebounded 58-50, and shot just 5-of-20 from 3-point territory. “I thought we competed our tails off tonight, but everyone needs a rest at some point,” said Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni. Ronny Turiaf had six points and a season-high 13 boards, while rookie Iman Shumpert admittedly hasn't played well for the past week. “It has been a tough week for me, but I've got to be able to recover,” the former Georgia Tech player said. “It's confidence more than anything else.” Shumpert and veteran Roger Mason both finished the game scoreless -- combining for an abysmal 0-of-11 from the field, 0-of-6 from beyond the arc.

NEW YORK (2011, November 11) -- Renaldo Balkman will be traded before 2012, Knicks owner James Dolan said this morning, confirming a New York Times report that Balkman and the Knicks weren't feeling each other. “We like Renaldo, but this situation is making both the team and the player uncomfortable. As of today, we will engage in trade discussions if any team is interested in him,” said Dolan. “It's awfully early in the season to be even speaking about this, but we want to see this team grow and that will only happen with players who are 100% focused with the organization.” Yesterday's edition of The New York Times published a story that included Balkman talking to the team's head coach Mike D'Antoni, who, according to the forward, does not give him the role he wants in the team, as D'Antoni does with other players.

As a result, Balkman wants out -- the stats talk by themselves: despite playing a career-high 17.0 minutes per game, the Puerto Rican is averaging career-lows in field goal percentage (.182%, 4/22) and free throw percentage (.250%, 2/8). Dolan's associate, Thierry Tirieux, looks poised to be confirmed as the team's new general manager next week -- but he couldn't wait to make an impact. He said he is disappointed that Balkman is making an issue about this. “The thing is, Renaldo wants to have a bigger role. He is playing the most minutes of his career, yet he still wants more playing time,” Tirieux said, “I'm good with that, I'd be upset if he didn't. But there's a right way and a wrong way to go about this things.”

Tirieux continued: “The general manager doesn't want to read that in the press because the general manager doesn't control what the player says to the media. If you have a problem or if you are upset, the GM is available. Let’s talk about it -- whatever you want to say. I'm pretty sure Mike has a couple of guys unhappy. You think Derrick Brown is okay with his role (hasn't played since the season opener against Miami)? You think Shawne (Williams) is okay with his situation (behind Carmelo Anthony and Bill Walker in the rotation)?” D'Antoni needs to ask himself this: If Balkman will get more minutes, that means someone has to get less. Does the head coach, even any fan on the street, really want to see less of Anthony, Walker or rookie Iman Shumpert? Not a chance.

• In other news, the Knicks assigned bigman Josh Harrellson to the Erie BayHawks, the team's NBA Development League affiliate, it was announced today. It is the first assignment for Harrellson, a rookie out of Kentucky. Harrellson (6-10, 275) hasn't appeared for the team this year, considering Anthony, Amar'e Stoudemire, Ronny Turiaf and Shelden Williams all share minutes in both frontcourt positions. Harrellson was selected by the New Orleans Hornets in the second round (45th overall) of the 2011 NBA Draft, and traded to the Knicks in exchange for cash considerations. In three seasons and 94 games with Kentucky, he averaged 4.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 0.9 blocks in 15.8 minutes. He is expected to join the BayHawks for the team’s season opener against the Springfield Armor on November 19.

[kibaxx7]

He'll be a great backup to Chandler

Yes he will. Not sure if Dallas would want Balkman, but I'll try

Injecting some drama into the week recaps with TV show-like titles.

[Martti.]

I wouldn't call 27 points 'going berserk'.

[Valor]

I wouldn't call 27 points 'going berserk'.

Normal day at the office for Melo

[kibaxx7]

I wouldn't call 27 points 'going berserk'.

Normal day at the office for Melo

Berserk because he sank 10/12 shots and in limited minutes, less than half an hour.

[cavs4872]

good job with this one - any plans on acquiring a center? and are you gonna run this one and your spurs at the same time?