Knicks Played a Great Forty-Seven Minutes of Basketball

I understand that the game has changed. As the Knicks would like to have you believe, the game has gone from mutton chops to high tops. From Dick McGuire to Stoudemire.  From old time hoops to alley oops. But, since when is it okay for a player to put up a last second shot with six seconds left?  That's what Raymond Felton did Saturday night, giving Oklahoma City plenty of time to respond with a final shot of their own. Kevin Durant took Felton's gift, which he hand delivered on a silver platter, and ran with it, hitting the first game winner of his young career.  But, what was Felton thinking putting that ball up with so much time on the clock? You have to put that shot up with no ticks left so the only outcome is a win or overtime. I understand that Felton hasn't played in many meaningful NBA games since he left Chapel Hill, but he turned what could have been a meaningful win on a tough road trip into the Knicks most disappointing loss of the season and sixth straight loss in a row.

Felton, who has otherwise had a fabulous first season in New York, has one major flaw in his game and it came to the forefront tonight against the Thunder. He's not the type of point guard who can close out games because he cannot easily create his own shot.  He took that final shot on the Knicks last drive because he did not think he could get a better look trying to create space from the pesty Russell Westbrook.  On the Knicks previous play, Felton was able to get to the hoop, but he had a hard time getting a decent shot off amongst the bigs. If the Knicks are going to go anywhere this season, Felton will need to make better decisions down the stretch. It's a large burden to put on your point guard, but the Knicks simply lack quality scoring options in crunch time.