NBA 2K9 - New York Knicks Drafted

My lineup: PG - J. Calderon SG - S. Vujacic SF - D. Granger PF - K. Garnett C - K. Perkins Bench R. Stuckey, T. Ariza, M. Daniels, J, Maxiell, R. Gomes, D. Mutombo, K. Azobiuke I also have Varejo as a reserve. Mutombo and Ariza were picked up on a trade offered by the Jazz who were intially asking for Kendrick Perkins for Ariza and a 2md rounder, by a counter offered with the Bucks rookie SF Ten name Tony and reserve pivot Robert Swift. They then countered by saying they would only do it if i also threw in a 2nd rounder. Well derrr. Game 1

OFF DEF OVL (stupid blogging formatting issues)

Miami 85 82 84

@ New York 75 85 80

Well the season tipped off with a clash against one of our fiercest rivals - The Miami Heat. Starters - J. Tijnsley, Y. Ming, G. Wallace, R. Allen, Nene Bench - B. Bass, K. Korver, R. Sessions, M. Moore, K. Dudley, R. Brewer, J. Hart Even though the Heat's ratings in teh matchup screen appeared higher, i was pretty confident that i could keep Tinsley, Wallace, and Nene quiet. My only real concern was how to stop the Asian Aristotle. I lead pretty much all of the first half thanks to a great first quarter from K. Garnett - 12 pts, 6 rbs, 3 blks all in the first quarter, and Rodney Stuck Stuck Stuckeee, who simply exploded of the bench in true Vinnie 'Microwave' Johnson style going 6/6 from the field. This was first time i have done this on the pro level - so was thinking either im starting to get the hang of this - or i drafted a really good team. I extended my lead up to 8 points at one stage but as the 1st half closed i held a slender 59-57 lead. The second half was a different story. Yao just kept grabbing offensive boards and sticking them back. He tightened up defensively, while his teammates started to find their range from downtown. I thought i was gone - but gradually pulled it back as K.G found his second win and Calderon started proving his worth. With 3 minutes to go i was down by 8 and not feeling too confident, just happy that i was in with a chance and the game was close. I'd been playing a full-court press and i had forced the occassional turnover - and as full-time approached - i'd forced a number of turnovers and had started to convert closing the game to 6 with a minute to go. Calderon then connected on a 3-pointer - to pull the game within three with 14 sec left. I then forced another turnover and thought instead of going for the tie i'd play the foul game and attacked the basket with Vujajic drawing the foul and connecting on both of his free throws. This put me 1 point down with 5.9 seconds on the clock. Miami call time. Using KG i cut off the passing lane to Ray Allen (their best free throw shooter) - and they went for the pass to Ming - but the pass went off hands and i suddenly had the ball with 5 seconds and a chance to win. I did not use my last time out. I passed up-court to Calderon who drove from the right side in for the winning layup. Shot blocked. No foul called. Final Siren. I lose by 1 point 122-121. But what a comeback and what a game. Reminiscent of some nailbiters on NBA Live 2005. Just as i had figured the Heat's 2nd chance points had killed me - 22-8 advantage. I did have a 10% FG advantage (shooting 62%) with an 18-4 fast break advantage, and a 38-21 bench point advantage Final Heat 31 26 31 34 122 d Knicks 30 29 22 40 121 Jordan Brand Player of the Game Yao Ming (Miami) - 43 points (19-22 FG), 18 rebounds (13 OFF) 4 assists and 5 blocks Leading Stat Getters Miami Nene - 15 points, 10 rebounds, 4 blocks Tinsley - 13 points, 11 assists Allen - 15 points Wallace - 15 points New York Garnett - 37 points (17-25 FG), 15 Rebounds, 8 assists, 4 blocks Stuckey - 19 points (9-10 FG) Calderon - 13 points, 11 assists Granger - 16 points (8-11 FG), 3 steals