The Knicks win a regular season game

Overreaction is what all fans are guilty of. Some of it is negative and the rest is positive. Fans are seldom in the middle. Already this week I've seen Yankees' fans panicking because they started 0-3. Rivera blows one save and people are saying he's done. It's amazing how easily fans can overreact. The one thing I can say is even with a 3-0 start Mets' fans know this is still likely to be a long season. They can be cautiously optimistic and enjoy this while it lasts. It's the Mets--no way this can last, right?

Today's Knicks win over the Bulls was the absolute, ultimate example of fans overreacting. While the atmosphere was great and the Garden was rocking, you would've thought we went into a time machine and watched the '93 playoffs, but this time the Knicks made their free throws and Charles Smith actually made the layup or dunked the ball like a guy 6'10" should've done in the first place. When the game ended I was looking for Ewing, Mason and Starks, and I wanted to see Jordan and Pippen's reaction after losing a tough game. Could the Bulls win game 6 in Chicago and force a game 7 back at the Garden?

The only problem was we all witnessed a game in 2012 and it wasn't even a playoff game. It was a regular season game and a very important win for a team fighting for their playoff lives. Is that how far expectations have lowered at MSG? Mediocre teams beat great teams at home, it happens--it's called an upset. Quick nugget: The 95-96 Bulls that set an NBA record with 72 wins, lost twice that season to an awful expansion Toronto Raptors team.

What gets lost in the celebration was the fact that the Knicks led the game 27-6 and even with Derrick Rose back for the first time since March 12, the Bulls were flat and looked like they had a great Saturday night in NYC. As mediocre teams do the Knicks came back to earth and the Bulls slowly got back into the game. A 21 point deficit was cut to 8 at halftime. Then Rose woke up and reminded everyone how great he is by scoring 14 third quarter points. The Bulls dominated the quarter, outscoring the Knicks 30-19, giving them a three point lead entering the 4th.

For the first 6 minutes of the quarter the Bulls led by around 5 points. Then at 85-80 the reigning MVP made his presence felt again. He drained a 3 as he was fouled and converted the 4-point play, giving the Bulls a 9 point lead. The Garden was quiet, ya know, like how it's been for the last 10 years or so. With 3:30 left the Bulls led 91-81. So to break this down; The Bulls trailed by 21 in the first quarter and now led by 10 points in the 4th quarter. That's a 31 point swing in an NBA game. They say everyone makes a run, but not like that.

I can't lie, I thought the game was over. I was laughing as I watched JR Smith jack up shot after shot. The Knicks attempted 34 three point shots. That's just absurd. The offense is awful to watch. The only problem was even a shit shot shooter like Smith can eventually make a few. Now while he hit a couple and shaved 5 points off the lead I still felt confident the Bulls would close this out.

KILLING MY OWN TEAM ALERT: People who can't read always say I don't trash my own team. Well, if you can read you will enjoy the following. My biggest issue with the Bulls at the end of games is, they seem to go into what I am going to call a prevent offense. Derrick Rose gets the ball and the offense shuts down. Noah may run up for a screen, but for the most part Rose takes the ball and goes 1 on 5. It eats me alive as I watch this because for 46 minutes the Bulls actually played a good offensive game even with the slow start. They had 91 points with 3:30 left.

I witnessed this garbage last postseason and it ended up biting them in the ass against Miami when they learned that LeBron James couldn't be taken off the dribble like most players trying to defend Rose. One would think lesson learned, right? I guess not. Now I would be remiss not to give some credit to the defense Shumpert played on Rose. Nothing like LeBron but still very effective as Rose was forced into so many difficult shots, which resulted in a 8-26 shooting day. Now this was Rose's first game in nearly a month so rust and fatigue was a factor. Magic Johnson said at halftime it normally takes between 7-10 days to get back into game shape.

I think Bulls' head coach Tom Thibodeau is a great defensive mind; I just question his decision at the end of games to allow Rose to just hold the ball with no ball movement. How about Deng off a curl going to the basket? Where was Boozer high post to set up a pick and pop? Boozer, who I kill all the time, but less this year, was 6-11, 13 points and 16 rebounds. For the Bulls to win it all he needs more than 11 shots. Rose needs help, it's that simple. For 46 minutes Rose had plenty of help but then it's like the coach forgets anyone else is on the court. Does he not trust the others? Does Rose not trust anyone else? If either is true--they will never win it all.

Rose also seldom looks for teammates when he gets stopped by good defense. For the most part he will force bad shots. He does make a lot of them but the bigger issue is taking higher percentage shots. Sometimes Rose just puts his head down and goes. He misses open guys all the time.

Back to the game. After the Knicks cut the lead to 3, with 34 seconds left Chandler fouls Deng, which initially appeared to be the bonehead play of the game. Tyson, still plenty of time, no need to foul. Now while I have grown to like Luol Deng and have even forgotten he played at Duke, sometimes he just looks like a lost free throw shooter. Now Deng was 5-5 from the line and is 79% on the season. He was short on the first. I can't go nuts, he logs insane minutes (played 50 out of the 53 minutes). However, he then bricked the second one. Chandler looked like a genius.

Out of the timeout Mike Woodson drew up a great play and Steve Novak ended up open. The ball literally was in the basket and rolled around several times before coming out. I still have no idea how the ball came back out. I thought the Bulls escaped and the game was over. Little did I know Rose would step to the line and not only miss the first but the second as well. I often joke with people by asking if they're concerned about their sports team. I can honestly say I am concerned with the Bulls inability to make free throws. This was the Heat game all over again from earlier this year. I hate to say this about Rose but I'm starting to think this may be in his head.

It took me half a book but I finally get to the 'superstar' Cancer Anthony. He got off to a great start with 22 points at the half. I've never seen Deng look so bad defensively and credit goes to how well Anthony played in the first half. The Bulls actually ran a few double teams at him to make him give up the ball. With the score 91-88 Anthony walked into a 27 foot 3 that rattled around a little and then dropped. Great clutch shot, cannot deny that. It was his day--shooters catch fire and anything seems possible.

I almost vomited when I saw Rose hold the ball and step back for a 20 foot shot to win the game. He actually hit a similar shot in Milwaukee to win that game at the buzzer, but I still hate that shot and when it drew air I just shook my head. The Bulls were up 99-95 in OT. That worthless piece of shit Kyle Korver had a great look from 3 that missed. He is in the game to make such shots. I really hate the fact that this 'specialist' played 30 minutes and couldn't have any less impact on a game. I fucking hate him.

After an Anthony layup and another Rose turnover (8 in the game), Anthony did it again, he drained another clutch 3 right in the face of Deng. Rose took a highly contested off balanced floater in the lane that missed and the Knicks won a regular season game.

Should I say congrats? What did the Knicks accomplish besides tying the 76ers in the standings while keeping the Bucks off their backs? The schedule is still difficult going forward. I will say with the way the 76ers have imploded the Knicks and Bucks may be the ones making the playoffs. I'm happy Cancer Anthony thought this game had a playoff atmosphere. Nobody fears the Knicks. They are a bunch of gunners who will run out of bullets when it matters most.