Knicks fall to Bobcats in return to Madison Square Garden
By Brad Rowland
In what has (somehow) been an underreported story during the NBA preseason, the New York Knicks hadn’t played a single home game during their slate of games. That all changed on Friday night, however, as the team returned to Madison Square Garden for a game with the Charlotte Bobcats.
Unfortunately, the Knicks dropped the decision, 85-83, to the Bobcats, but the real story was the re-opening of the world’s most famous arena. “The Garden” just underwent what is being reported as a $1 billion (yes, billion) renovation, and it reopened to the public on Thursday, just in time to give the Knicks one look at the surroundings before the regular season opens next week.
After the game, Knicks star forward Carmelo Anthony gave this quote (reported by the AP) about the “new” digs:
"“We never really got a chance to adjust here during the preseason, but that’s over,” Anthony said. “Now the real deal starts and this journey begins.”"
That pretty much sums it up, but Knicks fans will be hoping for a better and more comfortable offensive night when the “real” season starts. New York managed to shoot just 37% from the field against Charlotte, and it was that lack of efficiency that likely cost them the game in this spot.
MSG is one of the better homecourts in all of the NBA (and sports, in general), and I’m glad to see it back open. Wake up, Spike Lee.