Does Size Really Matter? Lakers Beat The Knicks, 109-87
knicks411.blogspot.com
defending champs, LA Lakers showed the Knicks just how much it does.
While speed may be dangerous for the most part, (which the Knicks
tried to used to their advantage but lost miserably) the combination
of both size and speed makes for the ultimate weapon (ala, LA Lakers).
Andrew Bynum, who scored 18 and grabbed 7 rebounds was the story in
last night's game, as he had the answer to stop Amar'e Stoudermire who
had 23 point and 10 rebounds on 7-24 shooting. Amar'e was just too
small to play the center position tonight, as if not for the early
exit by Bynum for a double technical in the fourth quarter,
Stoudermire would have had an awful performance stat wise. But Bynum
wasn't the only one causing havoc in the paint for the Lakers, as
Lamar Odom who had 13 points and 18 rebounds, Pau Gasol who had 20
points and 14 rebounds, and Queensbridge native Ron Artest who also
had 9 rebounds were all problems for the Knicks down low. Even Kobe
Bryant joined in the rebounding palooza scoring the game high 27
points and grabbing 10 rebounds.
Now don't get me wrong, I'm very happy for Shawne Williams, who scored
8 points in 35 minutes, and the work he has put in to this point to be
seen by Mike D'antoni in such high regard, but last night should not
have been his first start with the Knicks. The Knicks really could
have used some size in the line up. Ronny Turiaf and or Timofey
Mozgov, who played a combined 10 mins. and 20 secs. could have really
helped Amar'e down low, as this was one of those game that Stoudermire
could have gotten into foul trouble early. I guess luckily for Amar'e,
he was the victim of a mauling by the Laker's frontcourt, including a
'ECW' quality "clothes-line" by Artest with 43 secs. left in the 3rd
quarter. I personally challenge Coach Mike D'antoni to put his ego
aside and play the big men like AR, Mozgov, and Turiaf that are
banished deep on the bench when it counts most (ie. games against the
Lakers and Celtics).