{"id":3391,"date":"2017-01-07T16:23:06","date_gmt":"2017-01-07T21:23:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonprobasketball.com\/?p=3391"},"modified":"2017-01-07T16:23:06","modified_gmt":"2017-01-07T21:23:06","slug":"baker-shines-knicks-snap-six-game-skid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2017\/01\/07\/baker-shines-knicks-snap-six-game-skid\/","title":{"rendered":"Ron Baker: A Diamond in The Rough"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ron Baker<\/a><\/strong>, the undrafted rookie from Wichita State University<\/strong> had a career game when it mattered most. This was not only for the sake of\u00a0a\u00a0playoff seed, but also to secure\u00a0a position\u00a0with the New York Knicks<\/strong> for the rest of the ’16-’17 season. Baker was\u00a0on a non-guaranteed contract and with Chanson Randle<\/strong> playing well for Westchester <\/strong>– the Knicks D-League<\/strong> affiliate –\u00a0his future was not certain. Now, his future is.<\/p>\n

Ron Baker: A Diamond in The Rough<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Coming on to start the fourth the Knicks were\u00a0down by 13 points. A Ron Baker lay-up cut the deficit to within ten points early in the fourth quarter. This\u00a0seemed to energize the Knicks as they tore away the deficit in a matter of minutes. Two free throws from Baker saw the game within four points and the Knicks come back was alive. The game eventually came down to the wire. The Bucks<\/strong> had the ball with two possessions remaining. Lance Thomas<\/a><\/strong> was able to tip the ball away and dive on it. He found Baker with an outlet pass which resulted in a slam from Courtney Lee<\/a><\/strong> to seal the deal.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously it\u2019s a lot of fun, a lot more fun to win, to be in a tight game like this,\u2019\u2019 Baker said<\/a>. \u201cIt gets the nerves going a little bit. But to get this game under my belt and get my first true win as an NBA player feels good.”
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\n<\/em>Coach Hornacek<\/strong> reportedly said he had a hunch Baker could run the triangle offense and get Carmelo Anthony<\/a><\/strong> the ball where he wanted it. He also said that his size could possibly slow the Bucks down. It’s for this reason that he apparently ‘wanted’ Baker to play the entire 4th quarter.<\/p>\n

Baker was quickly becoming a crowd favourite with his enthralling side line celebrations along with the hustle and heart he plays with when he gets out onto the court. He’s an incarnation of the 90’s Knicks.<\/p>\n