Erick Blasco

Yep, Orlando comes out with two forwards and uses two screens to get Nelson into the paint. That's how the Magic are different. It's no more high screen, there are a lot more staggered screens.

Time for some live blogging!

Charley Rosen gives his take on the Lakers' struggles. http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/12/29/charley-rosens-close-look-whats-wrong-with-the-lakers/

Their ball movement isn't up to snuff and Artest has no clue about the triangle. Combine that with Kobe declining and Gasol not playing as well as he did last year and you have problems. Gasol doesn't get a chance to get into a rhythm if Kobe is taking that many shots, and so many of Kobe's shots are mid-range fadeaways or jumpers off perimeter isos. Ultimately though, the Lakers can correct their mistakes. I'm more concerned with how they play in March and April. If they don't pick up their play by then, they'll be vulnerable in the playoffs, even against middle-tiered teams.

I've heard that Sean Elliott is a pretty bad commentator.

Stoudemire is playing more alert defense this year than he has at any time in the past.

Joel Anthony is playing outstanding defense. Another possession, another time he locks up Stoudemire.

They can't though. The Heat have been terrific in their interior rotations, and they've dug in well on Stoudemire's drives.

Even though he fouled him, Anthony was stride for stride with Stoudemire and didn't let him past him. That's not too bad. LeBron has been sloppy the past two possessions.

The Heat are giving up open jumpers too. The Knicks shooting hasn't been sharp.

The Knicks are getting eviscerated inside. There's no interior presence on offense, on defense, on the boards. Miami is playing a man's game and New York isn't.

Anthony plays terrific individual defense on Stoudemire and STAT gets frustrated and picks up a T. Anthony clearly doesn't foul Stoudemire and Javie doesn't make bad calls. Not smart Amar'e.

New York's passing is beating Miami's rotations along the perimeter, but the Heat are hustling so much that the Knicks are rushing their jumpers. Chandler becomes the second Knick to fall for Wade's pump fake.

Stoudemire comes late along the baseline, Bosh hits a plus-one. Turiaf picks up his third foul, and he's the only Knicks frontcourt player playing with heart.

Miami is much more active without the ball on offense just in terms of relocating to get open for threes.

Miami's perimeter defense is very active. The Knicks can't beat their man at the point of attack, and Miami's covering well on screens. I'm impressed with Miami's defense.

The Knicks curl Stoudemire off a Turiaf screen and have him face up. That's tough for another big man to stop.

Turiaf is active on both ends, and the Knicks second unit is really scrapping.

Wade's playing fantastic defense. It's night and day how he's improved from earlier in the season when he wasn't trying.

The Knicks aren't getting any looks at the basket. Everything is from the perimeter, and the Heat are doing a pretty decent job of closing out. This is a totally one-sided game. Now the Knicks have Turiaf and Williams in the game---not an offensive lineup at all. Where is their offense going to come from?

Shawne Williams no help and then no boxout...Juwan Howard of all people gets a tip in.

Good help by Wade as the Knicks run Stoudemire off a curl. He misses a jumper. Miami's getting whatever they want on offense.

LeBron overhelps on a drive, but Gallo misses an open three. Knicks don't get back on defense and Wade dunks in transition. New York's defense has major problems at the start of this game, namely, they aren't physical at all.

Awful closeout by LeBron. Jumps right past Chandler.

The Knicks lack of length is hurting them. They have no answer for Ilgauskas on the glass.