Game of the year (so far)

Okay so I just got done with watching the ridiculousness that was tonight's Celtics vs. Knicks game.  Just some quick reactions to it, as it was an awesome game to watch.

-The Knicks are good this year.  Amare is ridiculous, Gallinari is a good offensive player, and Felton and Amare are starting to have really good chemistry.  Whatever, everyone already has said that.  On top of that, they gave the Celtics their best shot.  I couldnt believe the shots that were falling, and the Knicks definitely left it out on the floor tonight.

-That being said, I don't think the Knicks are built for a playoff run.  a) Their style of offense is not conducive to winning a series.  They don't have that great of an organized offense, relying more on their studs to make plays (read Amare and Felton to play pick and roll/pop) and for players like Gallinari and Wilson Chandler to knock down jump shots.  In a best of 7 series, they won't shoot nearly as well as they did tonight and the other team will have plenty of time to try different defensive looks.  b) They don't have a real big.  Amare is nasty, but against a center like Bynum, Shaq or Dwight Howard, he doesnt have as much of a shot.  Plus if Amare is guarding another big like that, who'll guard the other teams power forward? c) The Knicks are not good at defense.  Even if they put up over 100 like tonight, they give up easy looks to more organized offenses.

-Not taking away from the Knicks offensive performance, cuz it was really good, but the Celtics did not play great defense tonight.  They let the Knicks smaller guys into the paint far too easily, as well as beaten off the dribble by players not named Stoudemire or Felton far too often.  I think this will be different once Shaq and Jermaine O'Neal come back (if Jermaine comes back) but the inside defense was not amazing.  The celtics still rebounded really well though.

-Gallinari is a giant bitch.  He had two plays tonight that were giant flops.  The charge he tried to take against Pierce? in the 2nd or 3rd quarter where he just propelled himself backwards while still moving sideways was bad and then on the 3 point play after Ray hit the 3 to give the Celtics the lead was just atrocious.  he just moved his head a little and got a call.  Pierce still shouldn't have given up the lane that easily, but he still didnt touch Gallinari. 

-Nate Robinson and Danny Woodhead, two small New York team rejects that have made it in Boston.  Love it.  That being said, I really like the way Nate plays.  Tommy Heinsohn said it best tonight, Nate just loves to play basketball.  Him falling over Pierce was hilarious.

-Tonight's game really compounded just how bad the referees in the NBA have been this year.  Although I believe that the Celtics didn't get as many calls as they shouldve, thats besides the point.  The game was not reffed as it shouldve been.  Calls on both sides were missed, and ones made that shouldnt have been called.  If the NBA is gonna take a stricter stand on games, then just call a lot of stuff.  If they're gonna let players play, then let them play.  No need to randomly mix and match the two philosophies, it makes for less interesting basketball.  Lets not even talk about the delay of game technical on Garnett.  Watch the replays, its silly.

-I really hope Rondo's ankle isn't serious.  I love that he kept on playing, but it was obviously bothering him.  Hopefully Doc will sit him tomorrow or sometime soon to rest it. 

-Have to appreciate the Celtics effort at the line tonight.  A perfect showing.  At one point in the 3rd one of the celtics broadcasters (yes I watched it on the local broadcast) made a comment that the Celtics were getting killed in free throws because they hadnt taken as many.  But them hitting clutch shots from the stripe towards the end of the game swung it in their favor.  My heart legit almost stopped when KG was at the line with a minute left.

-Ray Allen vs. Reggie Miller, whos the better 3 point shooter? Ray looked SO good tonight

Okay, that was far more writing than I planned, but hey, gotta get feelings out.  I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that was the best game in the NBA so far this year.  It is December, the game means little in the long run, but it was awesome to watch.  The atmosphere, especially in the second half, at MSG was great.  Very playoff esque.  The players came to play, not getting too chippy, but definitely playing like it was in the playoffs.  There were great plotlines (aka the two teams winning streaks) going into the game.  2 great matchups in KG vs. Stoudemire and Rondo vs. Felton, even though that second one didnt live up to everything KG vs. Amare was.  I hope there are more games like this played this season, regardless of who is playing.  So yeah, those are my thoughts on tonight.  Barstool knee jerk reactions, eat your hearts out.