Knicks Comeback vs. Charlotte Hornets Dashed By Kemba Walker Buzzer Beater

The New York Knicks just continue to find ways to lose. After trailing by as much as 21 points in the game, and 18 in the fourth quarter, the Knicks mounted a furious comeback against the Charlotte Hornets. They even took the lead in the final seconds, but were beaten by a Kemba Walker buzzer beating layup for the loss tonight. The focus will be on the final play of the game, but there were plenty of reasons for the Knicks losing tonight. The loss give the Knicks seven straight, and drops their record to 4-17.

Player of the Game: Carmelo Anthony

Dec 5, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) shoots the ball over Charlotte Hornets center Cody Zeller (40) during the first half at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

It took a while for Anthony to get going, but he came up huge in the fourth quarter when the Knicks mounted their comeback. Anthony scored 15 of his game-high 32 points in the fourth quarter, making two three pointers in the process.

That is huge because Anthony has struggled mightily from deep since coming back from his back spasms, making only 3-18 in the previous three games. He didn’t make any other three-pointers in the game, but the ones in the fourth quarter were huge.

Overall he made 11-22 from the field, with a perfect 8-8 from the foul line. He added seven rebounds and four assists to round out his stat line for the night.

-Too Little Too Late

As mentioned above, the Knicks had to mount a furious comeback to get back in the game tonight. The question is why did it take that sort of deficit for the Knicks to begin trying? The Hornets came into the game struggling just as much as the Knicks, and for them to fall behind the way they did was unacceptable. The inabilities to execute, or come into games ready, are inexcusable for a team lacking talent. They need to bring effort night in and night out; they are not talented enough to coast through games.

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-Domination in Paint

A big reason for the Knicks falling behind so big is the domination in the paint by the Hornets. The Knicks defensive principles under Derek Fisher is to push teams from the inside out, but tonight the Hornets made a living on the inside playing through Al Jefferson. Jefferson had only 16 points on 8-21 shooting, but his presence opened things up for his teammates.

Lance Stephenson and Gerald Henderson were some of those teammates, as the two were constantly in the paint finishing around the rim. The two combined to shoot 15-25 from the field for 38 points to help put the Knicks away. On the night, the Hornets outscored the Knicks 52-32 in the paint, and outrebounded them 41-34.

-Clean Game

Both teams valued the ball tonight, as there were very few turnovers in the game. The Knicks turned the ball over only six times, while the Hornets had seven. Only two players in the game, Samuel Dalembert and Stephenson, had multiple turnovers. It could be argued though that poor defense played as much of a role as clean, efficient offensive schemes.

Dec 5, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; New York Knicks guard J.R. Smith (8) shoots a three point shot during the first half against the Charlotte Hornets at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sportsrole in that as clean, efficient offensive schemes.

-Back To Back Bench Production

Two of the catalysts in the comeback tonight were J.R. Smith and Tim Hardaway Jr. This makes two games in a row that the bench duos had strong performances, as this one comes off their good games Thursday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Tonight they combined for 5-10 from the three-point line again and had 27 points together. They also had six rebounds and six assists. If this is production that can be continued, the Knicks may be able to snap out of their funk.

-Coaching Decisions

Derek Fisher is still trying to figure things out, but when will enough be enough with the playing rotation? Tonight the Knicks’ whole roster played in the first half, and 10 players registered 10+ minutes, with Shane Larkin falling just short at nine. A rotation needs to be figure out and stuck to sooner or later so the players can begin to get some continuity and chemistry going.

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Fisher also made a boo-boo on the final play of the game. As mentioned before, it isn’t the sole reason for the Knicks defeat, but it could have been better executed. Why were Iman Shumpert and Dalembert, arguably the Knicks two best defenders, watching from the bench? Pablo Prigioni put little resistance on Walker on his game-wining drive, and Amar’e Stoudemire didn’t exactly play it right as the pick man defender.

Fisher also has to do a better job of relaying information late to his squad. The Knicks had a foul to give that they did not use, even though the Hornets played right into their hands for it to be executed perfectly. It is just another thing the Knicks have to learn and improve upon in the season.