Local NBA Recap Nets Cruise; Chandler Hurt as local Stars Hang Tough Loss on Knicks

   

On the heels of difficult losses Sunday the Knicks and Nets looked to regain their footing on Tuesday.Playing at Barclay's the Nets succeeded famously as they rode Brook Lopez' 27 point effort to a 104-88 win over Utah. Meanwhile at the self proclaimed Mecca of basketball, you know the one that hasn't seen an NBA title in 40 years, the Knicks not only lost to the Bobcats 102-97, and gave Charlotte their first road win in 17 starts, but they had their effort to bounce back from Sunday thwarted by two local stars, Kemba Walker of Rice High in Manhattan and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist of St. Patrick's High in Elizabeth New Jersey.

      . While scoring 25 points and tallying 6 assists and 5 boards, Walker was first able to help the Bobcats sprint out of the starting gate to a 64-54 halftime lead.  And then, after leaving the game in the third period following a collision where he hurt his shoulder, he provided a key basket to help stave off the Knicks; a tough fade away jumper over the outstretched Kenyon Martin. The play where Walker collided with Tyson Chandler brought potential devastating news for the Knicks this morning. Chandler suffered a non-displaced fracture of his right fibula and could be out from 4-6 weeks. Prior to his exit Chandler was playing well while anchoring an otherwise porous Knicks' defense. Time and again Walker and the Hornets beat the Knicks off the dribble and when they weren't scoring or assisting that's when Charlotte's frontcourt, and Kidd-Gilchrist in particular, went to work.

              Putting together a stat line reminiscent of his NCAA title run at Kentucky Gilchrist finished with 16 points on 5-7 shooting from the floor, 8 boards a steal and three blocks. And while those stats indicate lots of good work on Michael's part they tell only a small part of his contribution to the win. His most important work was done guarding Carmelo Anthony, who scored 28 points but thanks to Gilchrist's diligent work needed 32 shots to get them. He made just 10 of those field goal tries. And at the game's end which is known in the NBA as "winning time" Gilchrest effectively took away Carmelo as the Knicks go to option while his team still had theirs. While Mike put the clamps on number 7 the Knicks had no answer for number 15 who kept the Knicks at bay with drives and clutch scoring as they rallied.

              Those of us who were lucky enough to see Mike and Kemba play as school boys know that even at a young age they were all about winning. For the Bobcats that means that they can be trusted to compete hard as they add pieces in the hope of building a winner. In this win, they exposed Knicks' flaws on defense with their quickness and perhaps the lack of a second option beyond Anthony.  But last night the biggest difference between the two teams was competitiveness. Charlotte simply wanted everything; loose balls, rebounds and ultimately the game a little bit more. And they no doubt drew that extra edge from their two local stars Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Kemba Walker.