<font color="darkorange">New York Knicks (10-21)</font> at <font color="darkred">Cleveland Cavaliers (20-11)</font> Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, Ohio Tuesday, Jan. 10th 1:00pm, MSG, FSOhio, NBALP <div align="center"> @ </div> <font size="2">The Knicks make it three in a row with Sunday?s victory over the Sonics. Now, for the first time this season, the Knicks are on a three-game win streak, however, their undefeated record in 2006 isn?t road tested. All of their victories have been amongst the greatest fans in the world. Today will be the Knicks real test as they go head-to-head with the 20-11 Cleveland Cavaliers.</font> [div=50%] <font size="3"><div align="center"><font color="darkred">Cleveland Cavaliers </font></div></font> Projected Starters <div align="center"> </div> Backcourt [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/eric_snow.jpg[/imgl]<font color="darkred">PG ? Eric Snow </font> 4.7ppg, 2.2apg, 46.5%fg Snow is the definition of ?A Larry Brown Player.? Snow is a good defender, a leader on the court, and a true point guard. One of his weaknesses is offense, though. He?s only putting up five points for Cleveland, so I think it will be okay for the Knicks to focus less on Snow and focus more on his backcourt mate? [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/damon_jones.jpg[/imgl]<font color="darkred">SG ? Damon Jones </font> 7.7ppg, 1.6rpg,1.8apg Damon Jones is a true sniper from three-point range. I mean, his job is to just camp out behind the arch and kill the opposition from downtown. Last game against the Sonics, the Knicks allowed Radmanovic to have a feast from downtown. The Knicks can illafford to give up 30 points to someone whose name is Damon Jones. FrontCourt [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/lebron_james.jpg[/imgl]<font color="darkred">SF ? LeBron James</font> 30.6ppg, 6.5rpg, 5.8apg The Phenom, King James comes into the game averaging incredible numbers. Now that he?s worked on his jumper, he?s become almost unstoppable to beat. He has a lightning-quick first step, a brolic 240 pounds to post up, ridiculous athleticism, and improved jumper, and a vertical leap close to Nate Robinson. What doesn?t he have? James become a problem for defenses league-wide and the Knicks must find a way to stop him. I wonder how they?ll do that? [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/zydrunas_ilgauskas.jpg[/imgl]<font color="darkorange">C ? Zydrunas Ilgauskas </font> 15.3ppg, 7.6rpg, 1.7bpg Big Z is one of the League?s better centers. He can post up, shoot the midrange jumper, and block shots. At 7 feet, 3 inches tall, Ilgauskas is a regular match-up problem. Because of this, some teams like to double and foolishly neglect James and Jones. Let?s hope the Knicks don?t follow the paths of those teams. [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/drew_gooden.jpg[/imgl]<font color="darkorange">PF ? Drew Gooden</font> 11.2ppg, 8.6rpg, 53.5%fg Remember when he was in Kansas and people were comparing him to Jermaine O?Neal? Well, at least NBADraft.net was. They?re really bad at those, aren?t they? Although he?s yet to become anything close to Jermaine, Gooden is still a beast on the block and has a nice outside-inside game. The Knicks box out and limit the Cavs second chance opportunities. Did you also know the Knicks were about to acquire him at the trade deadline for Kurt Thomas? Things just didn?t go through. I wonder how that would have ended up? <u>Keys To Game</u> <font color="darkred">Create Turnovers:</font> Every time the Knicks get sloppy on offense, it leads to turnovers which then lead to easy baskets. In order to deflate a surging Knicks? teams confidence would be to force turnovers and thrive off of them. <font color="darkred">Interior Defense</font> The Knicks love to pound the ball inside with Curry and Taylor in the post. If those two get a rhythm going early, it?s going to open up things on the perimeter where Crawford shoots 41% and Robinson shoots 48% from there. [/div] <font size="3"><div align="center"><font color="darkorange">New York Knicks</font></div></font> Projected Starters <div align="center"> </div> Backcourt [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/nate_robinson.jpg[/imgl]<font color="DarkOrange">PG ? Nate Robinson</font> 9.0ppg, 2.9rpg, 1.8apg Every game starting, Nate just gets better and better. Against his hometown team he dropped 17 points with most of his damage in the second quarter as he brought the Knicks back into the game. He?s also shooting 48% from downtown. Those smart shots are certainly doing wonders for his game. Will Snow be able to contain him, though? [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/stephon_marbury.jpg[/imgl]<font color="darkorange">SG ? Stephon Marbury</font> 18.5ppg, 6.9apg, 3.3rpg Marbury is becoming the leader and true floor general we always wanted him to be. He had a season high 15 assists and led the Knick troops to victory. Now he does have the luxury of the Garden crowd motivating him with standing ovations. Now he is in the Quicken Loans Arenas where cats like Usher will be booing him. It is up to Marbury to help the Knicks to remain poised in this game. Frontcourt [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/david_lee.jpg[/imgl]<font color="darkorange">SF ? David Lee</font> 4.8ppg, 4.8rpg, 0.7apg I like David Lee, but I really see him getting murdered in this game. He isn?t quick enough to guard James nor is he strong enough to deal with him in the post. The only person I think who might have a ghost of a chance guarding James tonight is, believe it or not, Quentin Richardson. Lee must give us that energy again and make big plays down the stretch like he did against the Sonics. [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/eddy_curry.jpg[/imgl]<font color="darkorange">C ? Eddy Curry </font> 14.0ppg, 6.7rpg, 1.0bpg Another 20 point game for Curry on Sunday. Now that he has gotten into better shape, he is playing much better basketball. Once he gets that fouling under control, Curry will give us an even longer post presence. His mission will be to draw fouls on the big men to make things easier for Marbury when he penetrates. Ever since he hit those clutch free throws against Phoenix, Curry has been shooting pretty well at 81%. [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/antonio_davis.jpg[/imgl]<font color="darkorange">PF ? Antonio Davis</font> 4.8ppg, 4.7rpg, 0.32bpg Well, I expect Davis to play more minutes since Gooden isn?t a three-point shooting power forward. This will be a battle in the paint for every rebound, but Davis might have the upper hand here. His 50 years in the league means he has more experience than Gooden, so maybe it won?t be so bad. <u>Keys To The Game</u> <font color="darkorange">Contain James:</font> There?s no way the Knicks will stop James, but containing him by giving him an average night is something the Knicks need to do. Having James going off for 50+ points will be unacceptable even though there?s no one on the team that can guard him. <font color="darkorange">Perimeter Defense:</font> It?s no surprise that anything defense-related is a key to the game for the Knicks. Last night their perimeter defense was awful and with the Cavs loaded with guys who can light it up from downtown, the Knicks need to stop them. James is already a hard enough task to contain; the Knicks don?t need anymore trouble from anyone else. Prediction: Post them below.
Hughes has a broken finger I believe. Anyways I got the Knicks in this game. I have a gut feeling that this will be a very exciting game. There will be tons of highlights.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TNG Impact:</div><div class="quote_post">I thought the game was at 1... DAMN you Mike... It's at 7 pm. Fix that </div> My bad. 4 straight games, baby! Dallas is going to be tough tommorow though.
Didn't see the game but this is awesome news! Knicks are finally starting to gel somewhat and maybe even solidify a lineup. BTW Since Crawford was back in the lineup where did Frye end up? I see he put up some consistent numbers still w/ 16 pts. and like 7 boards. Anyone who saw the game let me know.
