We have other sporting events going on besides March Madness In Indianapolis, so at this time, we will dive into that, in this weeks early addition of “Mondays with Marv”, as we preview what’s on the horizon this week in professional sports, and look back at the week we just endured.
KNICKS VS NETS:
Although the Nets didn’t have Kevin Durant, the Knicks were without Derrick Rose, the expectation coming into this Monday night affair(3/15), was a Brooklyn blowout at Barclays Center. But while the game began that way, with the Nets opening up a 21 point advantage, only for the Julius Randel led Knicks to rally, and make it a ballgame. But unfortunately for New York, a Randle travel down three late, cost the Knicks the contest, falling 117-112, with Brooklyn being led by Kyrie Irvings 34 points, and 21 points, 16 rebounds, and 18 assists. However, the Knicks still fought with a team that is now regarded as the team to beat in the NBA, and as a Knicks fan that’s currently enduring a rebuild, that’s all you can ask for. Meanwhile, the Nets won for their 13th time in the last 14 games.
NETS: 29-14
The wins keep coming at a rapid rate. The exhilarating “Battle of NY” win, was followed by a road 124-115 win over the Indiana Pacers, where James Harden put up 40-10-15, without Irving, and Durant due to injury. Kyrie would return on Friday(3/19) in Orlando, and show out with 43 points, but it wasn’t enough as behind a 38 point performance out of Aaron Gordon, the Magic stunned the Nets 121-113, handing Brooklyn just their second loss in the last 16 games.
However, the team would respond by finally defeating the Washington Wizards 113-106 in their third, and final meeting of the season. In his Nets debut, Blake Griffin went for two points, and two rebounds in 15 minutes off the bench, with Kyrie Irving(28-7-6) and James Harden(26-5-8) powering the offense in the win. Brooklyn is still one game behind the Joel Emblid-less 76ers for the Eastern Conference lead.
KNICKS: 21-22
If you think the Nets loss was tough, the loss to the 76ers in Philadelphia the next night was even more excruciating. The Knicks held the lead for practically the entire game, including having an 82-73 lead after 36 minutes of play. But a fourth quarter meltdown, a 76ers Tobias Harris takeover(30 points on the night), and a late Randle game-tying miss from beyond the arc, sent the Knicks their second devastating loss in as many nights 99-96, to drop them under 500.
However, credit to the team for coming together, and defeating the Magic 94-93 at MSG this past Saturday, when Reggie Bullock stripped the ball, and went the length of half court to dribble out the clock, and certify the win.
But on Sunday, Philly walked into the gardens and once again the Knicks gave them a battle, rallying from a 14 point deficit, and sending the game into overtime, when Julius Randle got the trey to bounce in from the corner, evening the score at 88 points apiece. Up 100-96, inside the final minute, New York, and their fanbase could taste victory, but Philadelphia had other ideas. A three from Tobias Harris, missed free throws, and a Randle loose ball foul with 5.3 seconds remaining, sent Harris to the line, with a chance to redeem himself, after missing two free throws in regulation, that set up the chance for Randles heroics.
Harris hit both from the charity stripe, giving Philly the 101-100 lead. Needing to go the length of the floor, the Knicks led their star do his thing, but Julius’s 18-footer rimmed out, sealing another 76ers win without Joel Emblid. Something that will be glossed over, is just how good Danny Green played for Philly, pouring in 11 points, including three clutch triples, late in regulation, and in overtime.
As for the Knicks, while it’s their third heartbreaking loss in a week, they continue to show they can hang with the big guys, which can prove vital come the big games, against teams they’re trying to to excel over, and make the postseason.
RANGERS: 13-13-4
As it turns out, the problem may have not been the teams star players getting hurt, it may just be the “old” coaching staff. On Monday(3/15), the Rangers fell in overtime 5-4 to the Flyers at MSG. But what happened next, completely flipped the season upside down, with the entire coaching staff, including head coach David Quinn, needing to quarantining, due to COVID-19 protocols. To replace the pros, the organization called up Hartford Wolfpack coach, Kris Knoblauch. Then on Wednesday (3/17), in their rematch with the Flyers, something clicked, something changed, it was like the Rangers had suddenly become for a night the best team in hockey, and had brought back even the farthest removed of the Blueshirts faithful. On this night, in front of the hockey world on NBCSN, the Rangers trounced the cup-contending Philadelphia Flyers 9-0. No injuries, no backup goalies on the other side, just a demoralizing beat down. The first period was just the appetizer, as goals from Julien Gauthier, and Artemi Pannarin gave the Rangers an early 2-0 lead. The second period though, brought fantasy to reality for Rangers fans. Back to back goals by Pavel Buchnevich, and a tally by Adam Fox gave the Rangers a 5-0 lead, and chased Flyers starter Brian Elliot, for Carter Hart. It was then that Mika Zibanejad insisted to himself, it was time for him to start scoring, after already having assisted on all three prior goals in the period. So when the Flyers had a power play, Mika blocked a shot, and then turned on the jets, for a breakaway shorthanded goal, to extend the New York lead to 6-0. A few minutes later, Mika scored in front of the net, once again from Panarin, before completing the “Natural hat trick” with his third straight goal, capping off a six point period from Zibanejad, with the lead now at 8-0. With the clock winding down on the period, Filip Chytil joined the party, completing a seven goal frame from the Blueshirts for the ultra commanding 9-0 lead. The third period, was all about goaltender Alexander Georgiev, who stopped all the shots he faced, for a 26 save shutout, sealing a wire-wire Rangers onslaught of the cup-contending Flyers, with a substitute coaching staff.
The resounding win prompted many Rangers fans to call for a permanent replacement in the coaching staff area, as this upset had completely energized the fanbase.
Two days later, the team traveled to Washington to battle the first place Capitals, with Kris Knoblauch once again behind the bench. Artemi Panarin scored for the Rangers, but was one upped by Alex Ovechkin, who squeaked two goals in a span of 3:09 in the third period, for a come from behind 2-1 Washington win.
However, the next night would see the Rangers respond, as with the game even at 1, with Pavel Buchnevich, and Tom Wilson trading goals, Mika Zibanejad would take the puck away, and snap it by the goaltender, to give the Rangers a 2-1 lead with 2:32 left in regulation. In the final minute, Brett Howden would hit the empty net, as the Rangers salvaged a split in Washington, with a. 3-1 win.
ISLANDERS: 20-8-4
New York saw their streak come to a halt at nine games, with a 3-1 loss in Washington, and then suffered their second straight loss, despite rallying from a 3-0 deficit against the Flyers, before a late goal by Oscar Lindbolm, gave Philly the lead again, for a Thursday night road win. But the losing skid would only last two games, as Casey Cizikias would net two goals, in a 6-1 revenge rout of the Flyers, to earn a split or the weekend series on Long Island.
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