In Hindsight-Game 1

"In Hindsight" will be a running piece that will look back at my pre-game predictions and for the most part explain why it only looks like I got it all wrong.


1. Toney Douglas will look infinitely better guarding Rajon Rondo than he did in the playoffs.

The reason? Tyson Chandler. Toney can pressure Rondo and force him into the paint this year which is not the layup line it has been in the past. With a stronger interior defense our good face up defenders will benefit by being able to ball hawk and pressure the dribble. While typically you would want to lay off Rondo to let him shoot by doing so you don't hinder his court vision which is uncanny. Today, Rondo looks good, but not all-world good.

RESPONSE: Boy, couldn't have gotten this more wrong. Rondo looked all-world good today and made the interior defense look as soft as it has been for the past ten years. I was flat-out wrong with this prediction and I blame myself for buying into the defensive hype WAY too early. I think the D issues that have plagued us in the past gets corrected by mid-season. I also think that watching Rondo play against Toney Douglas in five straight Knicks games is akin to being waterboarded.

2. Melo goes for 30+.
With no Paul Pierce and his new role as "point forward" giving him the ball that much more he won't be able to help himself and will put it up at least 24 times. If he is feeling it early, it could be a 40 plus day for Carmelo.

RESPONSE: I nailed this one, in part, but was wrong about the shot attempts. It is a great sign that Melo can get 37 on less than 20 shots. He was flat out bodacious yesterday and to para-phrase a few NY papers that I perused today this is officially his team. D'Antoni referred to him as the team's best player and A'Mare was quoted as saying it is Melo's team. I like it, and he is already the greatest scorer the Knicks have had since Bernard King.

3. Chandler gets in early foul trouble.
Love the dude, but he will too hyped early, and the refs will be looking to not let the Knicks establish this new aggressive defensive scheme from jump street. Plus, Doc is a great coach and will attack the rim with KG and Brandon Bass to start the game.

RESPONSE: I'm actually sorry I didn't get this correct. Chandler accumulated 6 blocks but looked soft with Rondo attacking the hoop repeatedly in the first quarter. He was timid and seemed too conscious with not fouling. I also underestimated Bass' perimeter game which was eye-opening. Great move by the C's to trade Baby for Double B's. He is without question the better player.

4. Shumpert has a moment of brillance and moment of complete buffoonery.

RESPONSE: Eh, too close to call. No true "moments", although one could argue that both brilliance and buffoonery occurred on the same play. When Shump dive bombed toward the hoop for what would be a defining dunk he cocked the ball back a little too far for a bit of showmanship. By doing so KG was able to adjust and get a small piece resulting in a back rim clanger. (As shown, Above Left) I wouldn't have Iman curtail his swagger but it's the first game, reel it in young buck. (Kid had the sexiest 3-12 I have seen in a long, long time. Rest up and get well Iman, the Garden loves you already.)