Knicks Beat Bucks 111-107 in Game They Had to Have

     The Knicks needed this game as it was in Milwaukee, the team chasing them for the 8th spot in the Eastern Conference, the spot the Knicks came into the game tentatively holding onto. The Knicks were 29-28 coming with the Bucks at 28-29 so a loss would have been back to tied.

    Instead the Knicks came up with another big win during the era of Woodsanity-they are now 12-4 since interim coach Mike woodson took over after D'Antoni quit. Owner Dolan had made it clear that Woodson had the ability to win the job and he has done everything since he took over to do just that. With the win the Knicks are now up by 2. It was a must win game as Woodson said:

    ''This is a game we had to have,'' Knicks coach Mike Woodson said. Anthony came away from the game banged up - he said he hurt his right wrist in the first half and fingers on his left hand in the second half - but said he'll be fine as the Knicks continue their push for the playoffs."

   ''This is probably the biggest win we have had so far this season for how important it was,'' Anthony said. ''On the road, the way we won, we gutted it out. The way we responded being down eight coming down the stretch, we buckled down on the defensive end.''

     http://sports.yahoo.com/news/smith-hits-3-knicks-beat-025300000--nba.html

     "With the New York Knicks locked in a tight fight for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, J.R. Smith hit the kind of shot that could end up making the difference between playing on and going home."

      "Smith hit a 3-pointer for the lead with 1:04 left, and the Knicks held on to beat the Milwaukee Bucks 111-107 on Wednesday in a game that could turn out to be critical to both teams' playoff hopes.
''If you are going to shoot the ball, make it - and he did,'' Carmelo Anthony said. ''He shot with confidence, he made it and put us up one and we were gone from there.''
    
      Of course the last thing we need right now is for Carmello to go down. I got to admit he's proven a lot since Woodson has taken over. For one thing he can accept winning without being the leading scorer every might. And now with both Stoudemire and Lin down, he is capable of being the leading scorer when needed.

     What's amazing is how well this team has played for Woodson. With two of their most important players out the team has scarcely missed a beat. They have blown out the Magic twice and beat the Bulls on the day Derrick Rose came back once.

     J.R. Smith was the late hero yesterday but every game there's new hero. Just about every night since the Woodson era has started the Knicks have had at least 4 players in double figures. Last night it was more of the same as six scored in double figures led by Melo's 32 points on sizzling 13 for 26 shooting and 10 rebounds. J.R. had 14, Chandler had 19 on red hot 6 for 6 shooting and 11 rebounds.

    Novak as usual did his thing going 3 for 6 from three point land for 10 points. Shumpert again contributed a lot with 16.