Steve Martin
FOXSportsCarolinas.com
November 23, 2010
A busy holiday week starts tonight in New York for the Bobcats. Four games in five nights.
The next two games, back to back with the Knicks, should carry plenty of emotion. Raymond Felton battles his old team. It's been a roller coaster ride for Raymond in New York.
When the Knicks embarked on a West Coast trip, they had lost six straight and the New York media openly campaigned for the Knicks to not only to pursue Carmelo Anthony, but to bring teamate Chauncey Billups on the premise that the Knicks didn't have a point guard.
The Knicks turn around and take the last three games of a four-game Western trip, keyed by Raymond Felton's career-high 35 against Golden State and the NY Media tune changes quickly.
The headline on the Sports Page of the New York Post today says, "Thanks, Larry" for giving up Raymond so he could sign with the Knicks. The Knicks are 6-8, while the Bobcats are 5-8 after their rollicking win over Phoenix on Saturday.
The two teams play each other only three times this season, so a sweep by either side gives the winner a vital tiebreaker later in the season when teams are vying for playoff spots.
I've said in earlier blogs that I feel Charlotte, New York and Cleveland will be battling for the 7th and 8th spots in the East.
Stephen Jackson said at this morning's shootaround at the New York Athletic Club, that it was Assistant Coach Dave Hanners who told him he was just an assist short of a triple double Saturday night.
After a time out in the fourth, Jackson hit Matt Carroll in the left corner, his three pointer caromed off the front of the rim. Next time down, instead of passing, Jack took a three and made it. I asked him about it, and he said if he didn't take the three, Boris would have never been open on the next trip down. Leave it to Jack to build the drama.
Sure enough, The Suns defender gave Jack just enough room to hit Boris who nailed the three. Boris said he took a three instead of a higher percentage shot, because he didn't want to put the ball on the floor and risk costing Jack the assist.
Bobcats Knicks tonight beginning at 7 with Bobcats Live on Sport South.
