The Raymond Felton Anti-Revenge Game
Jared Dubin: In an effort to liven up a dismal season, I’ve begun to invent ridiculous story lines for Knicks games to give myself a reason to watch beyond “I like this team because my father likes this team.” Last night, I sold the matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers to myself as the Raymond Felton Revenge Game.
Felton played (horribly) for the Blazers during the lockout-shortened 2011-12 campaign, and after a while, his season morphed into some sort of weird sniping match with the Portland media and fans, for whom he now seems to share a mutual hatred.
Knowing Felton as I do, I knew he would psych himself up way too much for the game, and subsequently psych himself out and play terribly.
Felton did not disappoint, by which I mean he totally disappointed. He shot 2-for-6 from the field, 3-for-6 from the line, dished only three assists, was repeatedly roasted by whomever he was guarding, and the Knicks were outscored by 10 points in his minutes in the floor. He was also unceremoniously benched for Pablo Prigioni in the fourth quarter.
After the game, Felton took aim at those who speak ill of him.
Ian Begley @IanBegley
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Ray Felton on criticism of the #Knicks PG play: "That’s what happens when you’re a point guard. Things are going to get pointed you’re way."
8:54 PM - 5 Feb 2014
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Ian Begley @IanBegley
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Felton on critics: "I can care less what people say. I'm a strong-minded person. They can say what they want but they cant dictate my life."
8:57 PM - 5 Feb 2014
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Things will also get pointed your way when you shoot 39 percent from the field, 29 percent from 3, turn it over on 20 percent of your pick-and-roll possessions, and play defense like a 4-month-old who lost his bottle. Just saying.
Shortly after giving those quotes, Chris Herring of The Wall Street Journal straight-up ethered Felton in a late-night post. Ray Felton ain’t about the haters, though. He couldn’t care less.