<font color="red">Atlanta Hawks (11-31)</font> vs. <font color="darkorange">New York Knicks (14-28)</font> Madison Square Garden, New York Monday, Jan. 30th 7:00pm, MSG, WPXA, NBALP <div align="center">@</div> <font size="2">We could have been worse, right? The Knicks currently stand at .500 with 7 wins and 7 losses in the year 2006. The 8th seeded is still attainable, however, it is slowly getting out of reach. With the Knicks facing the worst team in the league, how will they respond to this gift wrapped W?</font> [div=50%] <font size="3"><div align="center"><font color="red">Atlanta Hawks</font></div></font> Projected Starters <div align="center"> </div> Backcourt [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/royal_ivey.jpg[/imgl]<font color="red">PG –Royal Ivey </font> 3.4ppg, 0.8apg, 50.0%fg Yup, Ivey is starting again and we know what to expect from him – good defense, rebounding, good handle, shooting, and leadership. Basically, Ivey is the total package and must be contained or else he’ll have a big night like every Harlem baller. [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/joe_johnson.jpg[/imgl]<font color="RED">SG –Joe Johnson </font> 19.8ppg, 4.1rpg, 5.7apg The Knicks will have to be careful for Johnson. At 6’8”, Johnson can handle the ball like a point guard and has an excellent shooting stroke. Get to close, he’ll blow right by you, get too far he’ll light you up. The Knicks must contain Johnson somewhat inorder to win this game. The perimeter defense must be actually existent. FrontCourt [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/josh_smith.jpg[/imgl]<font color="red">SF – Josh Smith</font> 9.1ppg, 5.0rpg, 1.2apg I think there’s an easy solution to stopping Smith. Just let him shoot. Smith is an unbelievable leaper and when you factor his long arms into the equation, no one can get up higher than him, well, at least no one on the Knicks. Don’t let Smith drive, just let him shoot and I guarantee he won’t shoot efficiently. [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/zaza_pachulia.jpg[/imgl]<font color="red">C –Zaza Pachulia </font> 11.4ppg, 8.8rpg, 1.6apg I wonder why the Bucks didn’t re-sign him. Zaza is a good rebounder, defender, and is oozing with potential. The Hawks got quite a steal in him. By the way, did I mention I would rather have him than Jerome James? For all of you guys who hate Tim Thomas, I hate Jerome James more. [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/al_harrington.jpg[/imgl]<font color="red">PF – Al Harrington </font> Al Harrington will be a problem because of his elusiveness off the dribble combined with a good shooting touch for a power forward. He’s also very athletic and is a typical Isiah player. Could he end up playing in the Garden by the end of the February trade deadline? <u>Keys To Game</u> <font color="Red">Run, Run, Run:</font> The Knicks get beaten easy in transition. The Hawks are athletic enough to run for a full 48 minutes of play. The Hawks must beat them with their running game like they did last meeting at the Phillips Arena/ <font color="red">Rebounding </font> The Hawks don’t have much size other than Pachulia, so they get outrebounded fairly easily. Although the Hawks aren’t the tallest, they are arguably the most athletic team in the league and must use this to their advantage. [/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> 8.9ppg, 2.8rpg, 1.9apg The rookies are hitting a wall now, but that’s to be expected; they already played more than a full season in college basketball. They’ll just have to adjust to NBA life. Nate must light it up from downtown against the Hawks and just give us energy and hustle on every play like he usually does. [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/stephon_marbury.jpg[/imgl]<font color="darkorange">SG – Stephon Marbury</font> 18.9ppg, 6.8apg, 3.4rpg Marbury is trying his very best to buy into Larry Brown’s “play the right way” system, but when Marbury isn’t constantly attacking the basket and allowing his teammates to thrive off his penetration, the Knicks simply aren’t the same team. I expect, or at least hope Marbury goes back to his old ways with the new and improved defense. Frontcourt [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/qyntel_woods.jpg[/imgl]<font color="darkorange">SF – Qyntel Woods </font> 6.8ppg, 5.5rpg, 0.7apg I must admit, when he was signed I really didn’t care too much about him I was like whatever, but after seeing him in action the past couple of games, I am very impressed with him. He’s playing very good defense, is rebounding the ball exceptionally well, and is very athletic. He’s only 25, so he still has time to get better. Hopefully we get the opportunity to see more from Woods. [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/eddy_curry.jpg[/imgl]<font color="darkorange">C – Eddy Curry </font> 14.8ppg, 6.7rpg, 1.0bpg Curry needs to do a better job with his personal fouls and turnovers. Pachulia is a good defender, but Curry has all the necessary tools to give Pachulia and just about any center a hard time. Sometimes he just plays sloppy basketball and with the Knicks trying to at least get to the eighth seed, we can’t afford Curry to continue playing inconsistently. [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/maurice_taylor.jpg[/imgl]<font color="darkorange">PF – Maurice Taylor </font> 4.7ppg, 4.8rpg, 0.29bpg Antonio Davis is eligible to play after his 5-game suspension, but I think Brown wants to keep Taylor in because he’s been playing well as of late. With Taylor going up against athletic high-flyers, he’s not going to reject anything from them, but he must draw some charges and make the swingmen think twice before driving. <u>Keys To The Game</u> <font color="darkorange">Transition Defense:</font> This is always a key to the game when you allow 101 points per contest. With a gut load of athletic swingmen the Hawks are a run and gun team and will look to push on every opportunity they get. The Knicks must get back and prevent the game from becoming a track meet. <font color="darkorange">Perimeter:</font> Yes, when you allow 101 points per game this will always be a key to the game. The Hawks have good perimeter shooters in Lue and Johnson and a decent shooter in Al Harrington. The Knicks must put a hand in their face on every shot. Prediction: Post them below.
I think the Knicks will win this game. They just have to keep feeding Curry and have strong play from Marbury.
Mr. J I don't think this team is worthy of your quality game threads, we just don't look like a NBA team anymore, the defense is as bad as it gets out there. It just needs to stop...I don't know why I watch the whole game.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting j0se:</div><div class="quote_post">Mr. J I don't think this team is worthy of your quality game threads, we just don't look like a NBA team anymore, the defense is as bad as it gets out there. It just needs to stop...I don't know why I watch the whole game.</div> I agree. It just pains me to save go out and spend bucks to see these guys play like this. I wait all season for 2 games to see these guys live and both times have been major dissapointments. I could have just pocketed the money and watched these guys play on tv. There was no sense of urgency at all with this team. Careless with the ball. We must have had like 30 turnovers. No synergy no cohesiveness whatsoever. Looked like playground ball out there. Terrible...just terrible.
