Boston's Paul Pierce, left, will get the assignment of slowing down Carmelo Anthony.
Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images
Heat is on cold-shooting 'Melo to light a fire under Knicks
Posted Apr 19 2011 10:09AM
BOSTON -- The spotlight is on Carmelo Anthony.
The spotlight has always been on Carmelo Anthony. But now it is even more so after his miss Sunday in the final seconds capped a 1-for-11 second half as his New York Knicks lost, 87-85, to the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of their first round series. The spotlight grows even hotter with Chauncey Billups, the Knicks' point guard, expected to miss Tuesday's Game 2 (7 p.m. ET, TNT) with a strained left knee.
The Knicks are not going to win this series if Anthony doesn't have a few big games. Amar'e Stoudemire almost carried them to a win on Sunday, but he needs help, especially if the Celtics continue to deny the high-post entry pass and limit his touches as they did at the end of Game 1.
In Anthony's 28 total games with the Knicks, they're 11-5 when he shoots 44 percent or better and 3-9 when he shoots worse. Anthony knows he has to shoot better. But he's not stressing over his Sunday struggles.
"I couldn't buy a bucket last night," Anthony said after practice on Monday, "especially in the second half. Shots were going in and out. Shots were short. But as far as that goes, I know I can make those shots. It's just a matter of them not going in, putting a little more legs into it. They're the same shots that I wanted to take. They just didn't go in ..."
The Celtics' defense had something to do with that, consistently contesting Anthony's jumpers. They were the second-best defense in the league, arguably at their best when defending players who rely heavily on isolations. And when he has help behind him, Paul Pierce is one of the league's best defenders at the small forward position. He's had success in neutralizing LeBron James in postseasons past.
The Celtics have done a pretty good job in defending Anthony since Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen arrived in Boston. Over the last four seasons (including Sunday's Game 1), Anthony has shot just 42.5 percent against Boston. Only three teams have held him to a lower percentage.
The spotlight has always been on Carmelo Anthony. But now it is even more so after his miss Sunday in the final seconds capped a 1-for-11 second half as his New York Knicks lost, 87-85, to the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of their first round series. The spotlight grows even hotter with Chauncey Billups, the Knicks' point guard, expected to miss Tuesday's Game 2 (7 p.m. ET, TNT) with a strained left knee.
The Knicks are not going to win this series if Anthony doesn't have a few big games. Amar'e Stoudemire almost carried them to a win on Sunday, but he needs help, especially if the Celtics continue to deny the high-post entry pass and limit his touches as they did at the end of Game 1.
"I couldn't buy a bucket last night," Anthony said after practice on Monday, "especially in the second half. Shots were going in and out. Shots were short. But as far as that goes, I know I can make those shots. It's just a matter of them not going in, putting a little more legs into it. They're the same shots that I wanted to take. They just didn't go in ..."
The Celtics' defense had something to do with that, consistently contesting Anthony's jumpers. They were the second-best defense in the league, arguably at their best when defending players who rely heavily on isolations. And when he has help behind him, Paul Pierce is one of the league's best defenders at the small forward position. He's had success in neutralizing LeBron James in postseasons past.
The Celtics have done a pretty good job in defending Anthony since Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen arrived in Boston. Over the last four seasons (including Sunday's Game 1), Anthony has shot just 42.5 percent against Boston. Only three teams have held him to a lower percentage.
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