Bulls Too Much For Knicks in Opener

By | 2016-10-28T19:43:11-08:00 October 30th, 2014|News|Comments Off on Bulls Too Much For Knicks in Opener

As Derek Fisher makes his regular season head coaching debut for the New York Knicks, the start to his team’s schedule is resembling another lineup from New York sports history: the 1920s Yankees Murderers’ Row.

The Knicks open up their season against the four teams that very well might end up the season as the top four seeds in the Eastern Conference, and the first team in that treacherous slate, the Derrick Rose-led Chicago Bulls, was every bit as tough as expected Wednesday night.

Chicago Bulls v New York Knicks

While D-Fish was making his coaching debut, D-Rose was making his return after missing the better part of the last two seasons, and he helped to guide the Bulls to a 104-80 win over Coach Fisher’s Knicks.

Derek’s crew held strong through the first half at Madison Square Garden, but a poor third quarter sunk them. While the Knicks coach saw plenty of room for improvement, he also saw signs that his team is beginning to understand where they need to be.

“My assessment of tonight is that we’re going somewhere, but at the beginning it’s going to be difficult to get wins,” D-Fish said. “We have to fight really, really hard to win games. It won’t be because we’re executing perfectly and we’re playing perfect defense, it will be because we’re working hard and we’re playing with a lot of energy and effort.”


The Knicks scored largely by committee, as all 13 players who played ended up with crooked numbers in the scoring column, but Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire led the way with 14 and 12 points respectively.

Stoudemire, a late addition to the starting lineup, was hot early, tallying eight points in the first eight minutes. The Knicks big man added eight boards and a block to his 12 points, and with his help New York led by as many as five early in the first. But soon after Amar’e checked out for a breather, the Bulls took over, closing the frame on a 13-4 run.

The Knicks struggled to handle Chicago’s All-Star duo of Pau Gasol and Joakim Noah down low, particularly when their seasoned post man Stoudemire was out of the lineup. Then inside the final minute of the first, Chicago rookie Doug McDermott dished to Aaron Brooks for the go-ahead three, and the Bulls led from then on out.

Chicago Bulls v New York Knicks

Gasol and Noah dominated the boards, combining for 17 rebounds on the night, which helped the Bulls hold an overwhelming 47-38 rebounding advantage. They also outscored the Knicks 42-28 in the paint.

Despite the rough result, Stoudemire stated afterward that he was encouraged by some of the things the Knicks were able to do and noted this team is bound for some growing pains, but that improvement will come with time.

“We know it’s a marathon, and not a sprint,” Stoudemire said. “We know we have some work to do, and we are willing to put in that work.”

Anthony and Amar’e provided a big highlight early when Melo picked the pocket of Rose and charged down the court. Noah kept up with Carmelo stride-for-stride but Stoudemire snuck behind the 2014 Defensive Player of the Year on the fast break, and made it easy for Anthony to get him the ball for a one-handed jam.

However, down the stretch, it was Chicago supplying most of the highlights against Fish’s work in progress.

The seasoned Bulls befuddled the Knicks on both ends of the floor, though the first-year coach did see a few bright spots. His squad dished out 19 assists while turning the ball over just 12 times, compared to 15 from Chicago.

“The Bulls are a really good defensive team, but we didn’t turn the basketball over a ton,” Derek said. “We didn’t turn the ball over 20-plus times tonight, but more so getting out of balance offensively as their pressure started to come up.”

Although the Knicks shared the basketball well, against the tenacious Bulls defense their shots simply weren’t falling. New York knocked down just 36.5 percent of their attempts, while Chicago was above 50 percent for the night.

Chicago Bulls v New York Knicks

While the opening night loss didn’t bring many fireworks, Fish isn’t deterred by the defeat, and neither are his players. Anthony commented after the game that he trusts in the system and that he is ready to put the opening loss in the past.

“We lost, you gotta tip your hat to Chicago for playing extremely well,” he said. “Embarrassed? No, I’m not embarrassed. We will get better, I know that (and) I believe that.”

NEXT UP

The Knicks will look to rid the sour taste from their mouths quickly, as they hit the road Thursday night and take on another juggernaut in the East, the Cleveland Cavaliers.

It’ll be Cleveland’s home and season opener, highlighted by the highly anticipated return of LeBron James to his hometown team, as well as the arrival of Kevin Love to join James and Kyrie Irving in forming a new Big Three with the Cavs.

This game will be followed by clashes with the rising Charlotte Hornets and another East contender, the Washington Wizards. With that, Fish is urging his team to get used to playing tough competition.

“It’s required that we feel comfortable being uncomfortable,” Derek said. “That’s what being in this league is about. If you’re comfortable or complacent, somebody’s passing you by. So early this season, it’s all hands on deck.”

Tip-off from Quicken Loans Arena on Thursday night is set for 8 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on TNT.

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