‘Soft in the Middle’

by Guichard Cadet

Those words came from Eddy Curry of the Chicago Bulls in describing the NY Knicks, after Saturday’s (01/15/05) game. Though I knew why he would say such a thing, I still felt it was an odd statement from a player who had very little success in the game.

Yes, he did hit the winning layup, and scored 17 points; but as they often say in sports, “the numbers lie.” Most of Curry’s success came early in the first quarter and, only, when matched against Nazr Mohammed. Saddled with fouls, Mohammed sat and in came Michael Sweetney, who basically bodied and frustrated Curry, sending the Bulls’ center to the bench.

The key to the Bulls’ victory was the play of their perimeter and bench players, specifically Luol Deng and Tyson Chandler, who provided the interior defense.

Lately, playing through injuries, the Knicks have been slumping, losers of their last 7 out of 8 games. It is no secret why they continually underachieve. http://www.knickerblogger.net/ odds & ends 1/14/05

Their overall defense is horrible, mainly because it is not emphasized from the coach to the team leader, point guard, Stephon Marbury up to the center position, Mohammed.