The Heat pushed the Knicks around Saturday afternoon.
They bullied them, and then they buried them. The final was 105-86, but the verdict was even more stinging than that. … the Heat played with fire and fury and ferocity. They slugged the Knicks in the jaw. They butchered them with body blows.
…The Knicks usually fight back. They don’t always win, but they’re usually like the guy in a bar fight who doesn’t much mind absorbing a black eye and a chipped tooth as long as he gets his swings in, too. The Knicks never got their swings in. They never hit back. It was a study in soft. It was stunning. And it was devastating.
…
… All year, in truth, they’ve been at their best when they’re bleeding. But there was no tourniquet to be found anywhere inside Kaseya Center on Saturday.
[This cogno and another, Stephen Smith, have not given up on 🍎 and that should be some comfort to their fannies. And a caution to Spo & Co. that they already know. Yesterday was so brutal that Monday night cannot be more brutal. It is not completely unreasonable that 🍎 will be so embarrassed that they will win. And with a win, the series is tied 2-2 and 🍎 regains home court advantage. No, not completely unreasonable, just nearly so. The most telling game of this series was G2.🔥 should be up 3-0. These two cognos, and Spo & Co. know that too. 🍎 is sliced and diced and put into a pie and cooked and served up hot and delicious for a “Heat” feast. In a word, I believe beyond a reasonable doubt that the “Knicks” are done.]
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The Knicks can still salvage their reputation as stubborn counter-punchers as well as this series. …Monday night, when… the Heat will look to figuratively step on the Knicks’ necks.
There will be blood in nearby Biscayne Bay on Monday, Knicks’ blood, and it’ll be on them to change the narrative…
…
…after taking a standing-eight count, they need to come out swinging, as is their wont, as is their reputation. At least it was until Saturday.
