All in With John Jastremski

NY Basketball Midterms Bring A Mixed Bag of Grades..

On the weekend of the Super Bowl, the two basketball teams in town with massive aspirations to do big things come the Spring took center stage on Friday and Saturday Night respectively. 

On Friday night, St Johns traveled to Storrs Connecticut to take on UCONN, the reigning back to back champs. 

Saturday, the Knicks hosted the Celtics, the defending champs of the NBA. The weekend provided a mixed bag of results. 

The Knicks could not have failed their big test any worse. 

In front of a star studded Saturday Night Madison Square Garden crowd, the Knicks could not have looked more overmatched against the Celtics. 

They fell behind early, couldn’t guard Jayson Tatum, allowed the Celtics to hit a zillion 3s and were all out of sorts on both sides of the ball. 

The Knicks have done wonderful things thus far this season, but they have a massive Celtics problem. 

In both matchups so far in the regular season, they have both been incredibly one sided. The Knicks have struggled with the versatility and three point prowess of Boston. 

The Celtics have brilliantly exploited mismatches defensively and have made the Knicks pay at every level. 

It’s only two regular season games, but it’s an ominous sign for playoff basketball. 

If the goal is for the Knicks to break through and get back to an NBA Finals for the first time since 1999, you’re going to have to go through the Celtics. 

It’s very difficult for me to believe that in early February that a potential playoff series will look any different to what I saw on Saturday night. 

On the flip side, the college basketball team in town could not have aced their midterm any better. St Johns had a week taking on two nationally ranked teams and two of the top teams in the Big East. 

Last Tuesday they hosted Marquette and on Friday night they were in Storrs taking on UCONN. St John’s swept both games and once again showed a level of fight and determination that is the calling card of a Rick Pitino coached team. 

The Johnnies trailed by 14 early in one of the best environments in college basketball. They didn’t panic and let their defense and star transfer guard Kadary Richmond lead the way. 

Coach Rick Pitino’s St John’s team have now won ten straight. It’s the program’s best start since the days of Carnesecca and the 1980s. 

After the best week for St John’s in decades, the dream of a regular season Big East title is in reach. And an even bigger dream of a deep NCAA Tournament run awaits… 

Midterms alter expectations. Now let the second semester of the NY Basketball season begin…