Both the Knicks and Mets played in Philadelphia on Wednesday night, and both had different outcomes. While the Knicks beat the 76ers and the Mets lost to the Phillies, I think its reasonable to make the argument that the Mets loss was more encouraging then the Knicks win. Am I crazy... well maybe but let me explain.
Ill start with the Knickerbockers. In a game where they were jockeying for playoff position with the sixers, The Knicks were in charge throughout the game and even had double digit leads in the second half. Carmelo dropped 31 and TD had another big game off the bench and served as Robin to Melo's Batman in crunch time. So why aren't I impressed? I don't care what the standings say the Knicks are a better team than the sixers. The Knicks have 2 of the top 15 players in this league, and a pretty solid supporting cast around them. Once this team takes an 18 point lead the game should be over but it never is. The Knicks let teams hang around and hang around and hang around until you look up and theyre trailing with 2 minutes to go. Fortunately they righted the ship and closed out the game with a couple big shots from Anthony and Douglas, but if you let the Heat hang around in a game in South Beach or the C's hang around in a game at the Boston Garden the result will be far to different. A win is a win, and the chemistry continues to improve, but the Knicks need to find that killer instinct and find it fast because Dwyane Wade and Paul Pierce won't let the Knicks get away with playing 36 minutes.
As for the Mets. Mike Pelfrey was horrible once again. He's aiming the ball and has not life or bite on any of his pitches. It was batting practice for the Phillies over the first 3 innings and next thing you know it was 7-0. Game over right? Wrong. The Mets showed some resiliency and tied the game just 2 innings later with big hit after hit from everyone in the lineup. Unfortunately, Blayne Boyer and the Mets caught a few bad breaks in the bottom half of the 5th and the Phillies jumped back in front and cruised from there, but the Mets left me thinking this team cares a little bit more than they did in years past. Hey I'm not a moral victory kind of guy, especially in the first week of the season, but with all the negativity surrounding this team and all of the doubters, if there is one trait that's good to have its resiliency. They might not be as talented as the Phillies, but as I said last night Phillies team's in the past weren't as talented as the Mets were but look who won back then.
So all in all the Knicks got the all important W and the Mets didn't, but the baseball season is a Marathon and its nice to take a positive out of a loss. It's a sprint to the playoffs for the Knicks, and they need to learn how to turn it up a notch down the stretch or else their season will run out of gas.
Mets look to rebound and steal another road series tomorrow afternoon against Doc Halladay, while the Knicks have another playoff tuneup against the Nets Friday night. Also check out the Rangers tomorrow night as they try to inch closer to locking up a playoff birth, but no matter what happens tomorrow, they cannot clinch and the season will most likely be decided in game 82 once again. Gotta love this time of year!
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