Lee Continues to Shine, But Knicks Fall to Heat

David Lee was once considered not much more than a rebounder and solid blue-collar player over his first three seasons with the Knicks since being selected with the last pick in the first round of the 2006 NBA Draft.  

After nearly two full seasons playing under Coach Mike D’Antoni, Lee is now an All-Star and one of the league’s best offensive big men. If Lee scores over 30 points, it’s not all that surprising anymore. When he dished out 10 assists to complete his first-career triple-double against Golden State earlier this month, no one was shocked.  

Lee continued to show that he’s more than a hustle player in the Knicks’ second-to-last home game on Sunday against Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat. With 26 points, seven rebounds and five assists in the 111-98 loss to Miami, Lee’s stat line was very similar to that of Wade, one of the most explosive offensive players in the NBA.  

“Offensively, he’s still kind of the center of what we do,” D’Antoni said of Lee, who has led the Knicks in scoring 27 times this season compared to just seven times last year. “And there are situations when he can use his height and strength to an advantage.”  

Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra believes the Knicks’ system is perfect for Lee to reach his potential.  

“David Lee is a unique player," Spoelstra said. “And the system that they have here really highlights his skills and the rest of the guys. It is a tough system to defend. He is a skilled big man who can make a lot of decisions on the move. They can get you in compromising positions quickly.”  

Lee made nine of his first 10 shots and went 11-for-18 from the field overall to keep the Knicks competitive against the playoff-bound Heat. His 10 points in the first quarter helped the Knicks build an early nine-point advantage, which would be their largest lead of the game. He also contributed on defense with one block and a steal.  

Wade, meanwhile, finished with 32 points, five assists and five rebounds.  

Lee failed to reach his 53rd double-double of the season for the second straight game, which could be a result of starting alongside a 7-footer for the first time in two seasons. Earl Barron, who was signed to a 10-day contract from the NBA D-League nine days ago, has proved to be a force on the boards over his time with the team.  

“I think he still does what he does,” D’Antoni said of Lee. “He might not get as many rebounds just because Earl’s taking some of them away. But I thought he played well.”  

Barron recorded his second double-double in five games with the Knicks with 13 points and 12 rebounds against the Heat, his former team. He is averaging 12.6 points and 11.4 boards this season.  

“I am just playing hard, taking advantage of the minutes, taking advantage of this opportunity and making the best of it,” said Barron, who made his fourth straight start. “Seven games, that’s not a lot to some people, but that is quite a bit of games to be able to go out and start showcasing your abilities.”  

Barron isn’t the only Knicks player looking for momentum heading into the offseason. Several younger players, including Toney Douglas, Bill Walker and Danilo Gallinari, are playing big minutes down the stretch.  

Gallinari had 19 points and seven rebounds, while Bill Walker scored 18 off the bench. Douglas added seven points.