Knicks Get Win # 23 Against Lakers: NBA Alive & Well [David Stefanini]

The Los Angeles Lakers and the New York Knicks tangled in an intense battle tonight in Hollywood. The setting fit for a movie - seven seconds left and the Lakers with the ball down by one point. Lakers inbound the ball, Kobe Bryant is nowhere to be found. Lamar Odom takes the rock, holds its, then finally lets out a desperation shot which sails through the air as the horn blows. The shot is no good, and the Knicks win their 23rd game of the season, by the score of 107-106...matching their win total from last year.

To get to this point obviously a lot of things happened. This game was played the way basketball should be played. The refs called the game equally on both sides of the ball, and it was up to the players to win or lose the game. Neither team committed too many turnovers and each team made the big play when they had to. The game was played up and down the court with good passing and good team work throughout.

The talk over the past few years is how very little we see this kind of play happen; however this year I am seeing it more and more. With stars like Kobe, LeBron, Dwyane, and Chris Bosh leading the league, the play and competition is back. There are enough all-star caliber players in the league right now to take it into the future.

Games like this bring a smile to my face when I think about what direction the NBA is heading. Slowly they are cracking down on their bad image and replacing it with players who are sharing the ball and leading their teams to new heights. This year and the years to come should be a pleasure to watch.