Just like us: Celebrity Knicks fans

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Celebrities are just like most people, only with more money and fame. They snack, get coffee, get stuck in traffic, spill the occasional soup, and go on vacations. And while a lot of celebrities try to keep away from the prying eyes of the public, some don’t mind joining thousands in attending sporting events. And among all the other teams, the New York Knicks have some of the most loyal celebrity fans, notes sports management student Peter Max.

Spike Lee: Spike Lee is not afraid to show his enthusiasm with his loud getup. Lee often sits close to the bench or at the half-court. He usually sports the jersey with the number 6, 34, and 10, along with his orange and blue combo of clothing. Every game he’s been to will have at least one shot of him celebrating a field goal or having the look of disappointment after a bad call.

Howard Stern: One of the funniest people alive, Stern is easy to spot as fellow comedians such as Tracy Morgan often join him, explains Peter Max. Though not as active as Spike Lee in terms of being with the team, his support can be felt just by his cool presence.

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Ricky Gervais: While seeing a Brit watch the NBA is not so common, seeing one of the funniest British comedians in Madison Square Garden is a pretty usual sight. Like always, you can spot Gervais wearing his signature black shirt and one or two pints of beer by his feet.

Ben Stiller: While Stiller is often busy acting, producing, and directing, he takes every chance he gets to watch his favorite team. Along with his wife and kids, Stiller catches every game he can, notes longtime Knicks supporter Peter Max. And while he may look calm and collected in the stands, he’s not one to shy away from high fiving other fans when something magical happens on-court.

Knick glory: The 1970 climax of the Cinderella run

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Peter Max. Almost 50 years ago, the New York Knicks won their last championship. It was a titanic battle between two of the biggest franchises in the league. The Los Angeles Lakers had put together quite a team (as it always has) and were surprised that the Knicks forced everyone to a seventh game.

In the fifth game, Knicks leader, Willis Reed tore his right thigh muscle. The Lakers, behind the strength of their superstars, Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, and Elgin Baylor, pounced and destroyed the Knicks in game six. Peter Max.

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It looked bleak for the Knicks, even with the seventh game being played in their own Madison Square Garden. Until, of course, the impossible happened.

Out from the Knicks dugout limped their wounded captain, Willis Reed, all dressed up to do battle one last time that season in a scene that would forever be one of the most inspiring in league history.

Peter Max. While he was nowhere near 100%, Reed did manage to score a few points and cause the dominant Chamberlain to miss more than just a few shots of his own.

Reed’s actions not only revitalized the fans, but it also fed into the collective energy of the Knicks. Another Knick legend and NBA Hall-of-Famer Walt Frazier took it from there, scoring 36 points and dishing out 19 assists, capturing the title for the fabled franchise. Peter Max.

The biggest weakness of the Golden State Warriors

I’m Peter Max, aspiring sports agent. I love sports. My dad and I would sit in the living room for hours cheering on the Knicks, Jets, Giants, and Yankees (and sometimes the Rangers). Today, we still do whenever I visit.

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 The last time I visited my dad was April. We saw a few NBA playoff games on TV, including the one where the Golden State Warriors blew a 31-point lead against the L.A. Clippers. What an embarrassing result for the defending champs. My dad and I got to talking about it, and we agreed, while the Warriors are still odds-on favorites to win it all this year (even after Boogie Cousins’ probable season-ending injury), they have one weakness that the Clippers exposed – their overconfidence.

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After the Warriors clobbered the Clippers in the first half, their defense faltered, their offensive sets became sloppy, and they committed turnover after turnover. Lou Williams did whatever he wanted and defensive specialists like Klay Thompson and Draymond Green seemed too slow. After all, they were still up.

If any team has a hope of beating the Warriors, it’s because the Warriors allow it. Kerr is a great coach when it comes to motivating his players, but with teams like the Rockets and Bucks proving themselves highly capable, Kerr would need to instill more discipline in his boys.
Like Peter Max, Sr. (my dad) always used to say, it ain’t over till it’s over.

Greatest NBA matches held in Madison Square Garden

New York’s Madison Square Garden has hosted some of the best shows in the world in the worlds of sports, as well as entertainment. This esteemed hall has witnessed Ali’s first fight as well as Rocky Marciano’s last, hosted sold-out crowds for Michael Jackson twice, and saw some of the most astonishing games in the NBA. Here are some of the greatest basketball games held in Madison Square garden.

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  Knicks VS Lakers, NBA Finals Game 7 (1970) In a grueling display of attrition, the series was dragged out to a game 7 by the Knicks. Led by Willis Reed and Walt Frazier, the Knicks were able to seal the championship over the Lakers after an upsetting game 6 loss where Reed was unable to play. The team won with a score of 113 – 99.

  Knicks VS Bulls, The Dunk (1993) During the NBA playoffs, the Knicks faced off against Michael Jordan and the Chicago bulls. The Knicks were up by 3 with 50 seconds remaining when John Starks dealt a decisive dunk over both Michael Jordan and Horace Grant. This sealed the win for the Knicks in spectacular fashion and was also to be John Stark’s greatest career moment.

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  Knicks VS Bulls, Return of MJ (1995) After a year in hiatus, Michael Jordan returned brandishing his classic number 45 jersey. It was his first game and was pretty much a statement telling everyone that he was back. Jordan scored 55 points during the game and eventually won the championship that year.




  Hi there, my name is Peter Max. I’m currently based in California, but I was born and raised in New York. Even if I’ve been in sunny Cali for the past two years, my allegiance still belongs to the sports teams of New York. For more sports updates, visit this onwebsite .

Why Steph Curry Didn’t Win The Last Finals Mvp

Many fans were dismayed when it was Kevin Durant’s name that was called by commissioner Adam Silver as Finals MVP during the crowning of the Golden State Warriors as 2018 NBA champs. Some insist that though Durant delivered the so-called dagger that guaranteed the sweep of LeBron’s Cavaliers, it was Steph Curry that was the real offensive threat in the team’s death lineup.

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Not that Curry minded the decision at all; he seemed genuinely happy for Durant’s back-to-back taking of the coveted award. Yet Curry hasn’t won it in any of the Warrior’s three recent championships (Iguodala got it the first time around). But, really, why has Curry’s efforts been relegated to the sideline?

A good argument for Durant’s case is consistency. Curry is the top man to mark when guarding the Warriors, and he has proven to be less consistent than Durant for set plays and during crunch time. Curry’s impact on games is not in question here; he still brings in the needed momentum and energy for the Warriors, especially when he makes near-impossible threes from the proverbial parking lot.

Curry’s strength is often overshadowed by the team’s passing game. All five players can generate great offense, fueled by their constant movement and hustle. This is essentially why four of the five Golden State starters are all-stars. There were times these past finals that the Cavs focused on containing Steph. And this was when he faltered, and Durant took over. All in all, if Curry were to get his own Finals MVP in the future, his consistency throughout a series must take precedence over impact.

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Hello, my name is Peter Max. I’m currently based in California, but I was born and raised in New York. I’m pursuing a sports management degree, hoping to become a renowned sports agent in the future. For more sports posts and updates, follow me on Twitter

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Luka Doncic is Dallas’New Nowitzki

In what’s touted as the greatest steal of this past NBA Draft, Luka Doncic was acquired by the Dallas Mavericks in a trade with the Atlanta Hawks. The 19-ear-old Slovenian player is argued by many to be the most-legitimate top overall pick. If it weren’t for a dearth in big men who can play multiple positions like Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo, Doncic could have indeed been at the top.

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But the draft happened more or less as expected. The Hawks needed a talented shooter like Trae Young while Dallas was keen on getting someone whose play is very reminiscent of their aging superstar Dirk Nowitzki. And indeed, Doncic may just become the Nowitzki of this era.

Doncic has already led his country to its first-ever Euro League championship and is its current MVP. For such a young player, he has already gained years of experience playing as a pro. At 6’8”, he has great upside, can play the point, and showcases excellent court vision and passing. He is explosive on his way to the rim and can spot up for high-looping threes.

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Dallas fans are ecstatic about getting Doncic, and with good reason. He should add height to the guard position and complement the games of Dennis Smith Jr., Seth Curry, and J.J. Barea. Moreover, Dirk Nowitzki should be able to mentor the kid as he reaches the twilight years of his career. We might soon see the rise of the next great European player in the NBA. And he’s, again, to be found in Dallas.

My name’s Peter Max, a sports management student based in California. I like blogging about various sports. I hope to be an agent to star athletes in the future. More info about me on this website.

Reminiscing About The Yankees' Famed "Murderers' Row"

The New York Yankees arguably have the richest history in Major League Baseball history. Some even consider the franchise as one of the most valuable and successful sports clubs in the entire world.

The Yankees’ rise to prominence began in the 1920s, the decade when The Bronx Bombers won the first of their MLB-record 27 World Series championships. When Colonel Jacob Ruppert, who had just inherited a brewery fortune, and his partners bought the franchise for $1.25 million in 1915, the Yankees were given the go-signal to spend a lot to build a winning team. And that they did.

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In 1920, New York traded for The Bambino, Babe Ruth. The home-run king left both players and fans in awe with the way he hit the ball with ease, especially since he started his baseball career as a pitcher.

Three years later, the Yankees signed Lou Gehrig in the middle of the season. While he did not impress immediately, he improved season after season, eventually breaking out in 1926. He may not have been as powerful as Babe Ruth with the bat, Gehrig showed all-around hitting skills.

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These two sluggers were the foundation of what would then become known as the “Murderers’ Row.” Ruth batted third in the lineup, with Gehrig following him. They were flanked by four other formidable hitters, namely, Earle Combs, Mark Koenig, Bob Meusel, and Tony Lazzeri. The sextet were so intimidating and dominating that it prompted an opponent to say, “Those fellows not only beat you but they tear your heart out. I wish the season was over.”

The group won three World Series titles together, sweeping all of them, before Babe Ruth left the team for the Boston Braves in 1935. Hi! I’m Peter Max, a lifelong New York Yankees fan. Read more about the team by visiting this website.

Is the Lonzo Ball hype turning out to be a dud?

The hype initially driven by Lonzo’s dad Lavar Ball—from wild antics on national TV to creating his own expensive sneaker brand—has not gone unnoticed by the basketball media and fans. But while the attention is laudable from a business perspective, it’s ultimately about how the first of the Ball brothers will do in the professional league. 

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Lonzo did well during the pre-season games and the summer league, taking the MVP trophy and wowing the crowd with crisp, Jason Kidd-reminiscent passes and playmaking. But he has been erratic at best since the season started, turning in stellar stats in one game and shooting bricks in others. Everyone in the sport is quick to pounce on his misgivings, the given consequence of the hype. 

The buildup has not been lost of NBA players, too. Most of them have publicly declared that the young Lakers player will not have things handed to him on a silver platter. On opening night, Patrick Beverley of the Clippers harassed and shackled Lonzo on the defensive end, leading to an anemic 1-6 shooting for the second overall draft pick. 

As of this writing, Ball’s accumulated stats are not pretty. He is 34.4% in the paint and 25% outside, the worst and second worst in the league, respectively. But to be fair with the rookie, he is currently fourth in the NBA with 2.2 assists per game and has a solid 1.1 steals average. All in all, though, Lonzo Ball has to work on his atrocious shooting if he’s to live up to the hype and bring the Lakers back to the map. Entertainment value can only do so much for a team. 

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Hello, Peter Max here. I’m currently based in California, but I was born and raised in New York. I’m working my way into becoming an agent to star athletes. For more features on the NBA, follow me on Twitter.

Knicks commit to rebuilding for 2017-18 season

If there’s one sure thing the Carmelo Anthony trade has shown, it’s that the Knicks are ready to bank on a younger roster moving forward. It’s highly unlikely that the upcoming season will lead to more Knicks wins, with their star scorer gone. But the move is a great indicator that the team is keen on rebuilding. 

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For one, this trade will unfetter Porzingis, who has played second fiddle to Anthony since he got to New York. The talented 22-year-old power forward should now bear the brunt of the offensive load. And given his unselfish, pass-aware play, this should let other young players to gain confidence on the offensive end. 

The new-look team just got McDermott and Canter, who’d probably take some time to buy into the system. But with only four players in the current roster in their 30s (Noah, Sessions, Lee, and Jack), the Knicks is likely going for a faster, run-and-gun offense. The triangle system employed by former president Phil Jackson is outdated in current NBA play, and it’s about time the Knicks accepted the need for change. 

On paper, the New York Knicks is not much to look at. Rookie Frank Ntilikina is a work in progress; Hardaway Jr. is, well, overpaid and still to prove that he can be as good as his dad; and millions of the team’s fans will have to sit and wait a few more seasons. But, who knows, this rebuilding, probably tanking team might just get somebody like Luka Doncic next draft. And that will surely catapult the team to the next level. 

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Hello, my name’s Peter Max and I’m a New Yorker currently studying sports management in California. I’m also a sports blogger. For more on my sports writings, visit this website.