STILL A RIVALRY: How Melo, KG, and LaLa Renewed An East Coast Rivalry

Johnny J

Madison Square Garden has been known to host big fights, such as Joe Frazier v. Muhammad Ali or Sugar Ray Robinson v. Jake Lamotta. Usually when a fight is over, the loser is usually too tired or too beaten up to try and carry it over in the tunnel or locker room. That wasn't the case for Monday night's match-up between the New York Knicks and the Boston Celtics.

After the Celtics defeated the Knicks 102-96 in a game that included confrontations and blood being spilled.  Anthony can be angrily seen walking by the Knicks bench toward the Celtics tunnel by-passing any handshakes and brotherly love. Carmelo Anthony waited for Kevin Garnett by the Celtics locker room. When he couldn't reach him there, he waited by the Celtics' bus hoping to finish what was started on the court.

Anthony, who can be identified in the video wearing a red hat, can be seen waiting for Garnett with a handful of MSG security personnel who I believe are trying to talk him out of it. If you look all the way to the left Rajon Rondo can be seen, probably trying to play peacemaker from afar (irony is a cruel beast--Ed). It's as much action as he's seen all night after being suspended for bumping an official.

Apparently Garnett had made some comments about Anthony's wife LaLa and Anthony just wanted to clear the air:

"I wanted to talk to KG, I think it was something that we both needed to get off our chest and see what really was the problem. It wasn't no altercations, it was just some words and a conversation that we needed to have," said Anthony.

Anthony who is the second leading scorer in the NBA averaging 29.0 PPG had an off night against the Celtics swarming defense. Anthony was held to 20 points on 6-26 shooting from the field. Anthony and KG both received technical fouls for the shoving and trash-talking on the floor. Anthony, who is tied with Matt Barnes of the Clippers with a league-leading 9 technical fouls, is very close to a suspension. Once a player reaches 16, they're suspended for one game and can continue for every other tech they receive afterwards.

J.R. Smth received 11 stitches above his right eye after bumping heads with Avery Bradley, who was trying to pick pocket Smith. After a timeout was called to give more time to stop the bleeding, Smith came back out with Vaseline and a headband over his cut (J.R. the prizefighter--Ed). 

While KG was getting into Anthony's head; Paul Pierce took over the game, scoring 23 points and dishing 6 assists. Pierce hit a step back jumper with the shot clock winding down with Tyson Chandler all over him. As he was going back down the floor he starting blowing kisses to the crowd as if saying, "I had a great performance; thanks for coming, but it's over now!"

As a Knicks' fan, I was irritated at what I was seeing.  I know this is a hated, long-time rival, but we're sitting at the top of the division for a reason. There wasn't any ball movement; just isolations for the majority of the game. Melo gets the ball and tries to go to work, but he shot the ball for 23%! If its not working, you have to adjust as a TEAM! You have other stars on the TEAM! They shouldn't be watching one guy every possession. The Celtics are six games behind the Knicks and they can't play down to their level. KG is known for his trash-talking; Back in 2010 Charlie Villanueva accused KG of calling him "A cancer patient." Villanueva suffers from a medical condition called alopecia universalis that results in hair loss (Apparently, KG told Anthony that his wife "tastes like Honey Nut Cheerios". Another incident that is not widely known is the fact that KG, back on Mothers' Day of 1999, went up to Duncan to tell him, "Happy Mothers' Day, mother------!" Duncan's mother died when he was only 14-Ed). 

If Anthony plans on taking his team to the finals this season, he's going to have to put up with people trying to get in his head. He has already shown he's vulnerable and thin-skinned in that aspect.  And now he will pay for his lapse in judgement with a one-game suspension.

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