<font color="navy">New Jersey Nets (30-23)</font> @ <font color="darkorange">New York Knicks (15-38)</font> Madison Square Garden, New York Friday, Feb. 24, 2006 8:00pm, MSG, YES, <font color=""Red"">ESPN</font>, <div align="center">@</div> <font size="2">After all the struggling, what does Isiah decide to do? Make headlines and acquire struggling guard Steve Francis from the Orlando Magic. Penny Hardaway, who only played a total of 4 games for the Knicks this season, was packaged in the deal along with sophomore Trevor Ariza. Despite the fact the Knicks took a low-risk gamble on a three-time all-star, the Knicks’ critics don’t think it’ll work out. Will Franchise show signs of what could be the deadliest backcourt in the NBA, or will this be another transaction to add to Isiah’s Hall of Shame list?</font> [div=50%] <font size="3"><div align="center"><font color="navy">New Jersey Nets </font></div></font> Projected Starters <div align="center"> </div> Backcourt [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/jason_kidd.jpg[/imgl]<font color="navy">PG –Jason Kidd</font> 14.6ppg, 7.2apg, 7.9 apg Recently voted as a top 60 player of all-time, Jason Kidd comes into tonight’s game a month shy of age 33, but still the biggest triple-double threat in this league. His defense, court awareness, and high basketball IQ continues to make everyone better. The Knicks must be smart about double-teaming and try to force Kidd to shoot more. He’s still not a great shooter although he’s improved. [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/vince_carter.jpg[/imgl]<font color="navy">SG – Vincent Carter </font> 24.1ppg, 6.0rpg, 4.4apg A game before, Carter dropped 45 on Milwaukee with 38 coming in the second half including the Net’s final 14 points. When Carter is hitting shots, he’s still half man, half amazing, but the Knicks need to do all in their power to prevent this from happening. When Carter is on a scoring tear the Nets go from being a good team to an elite team. Defense has to be played. FrontCourt [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/richard_jefferson.jpg[/imgl]<font color="navy">SF – Richard Jefferson </font> 19.0ppg, 7.0rpg, 4.0apg Richard Jefferson, the last member of the big three, must be contained to the perimeter. His perimeter shot has improved by leaps and bounds since coming into the league, but RJ is still not much from downtown and is average on the perimeter. Put it like this: we’d be better off letting him shoot then letting him drive. Either there must be quick rotations, Eddy Curry becomes a ridiculous shot blocker, or Jalen Rose prevents him from penetrating. [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/nenad_krstic.jpg[/imgl]<font color="navy">C –Nenad Krstic</font> 12.5ppg, 5.6rpg, 0.9apg Krstic is putting up decent numbers, but if you put a body on him we’ll be able to keep him in check. He can shoot from the perimeter and once and a while get a dunk off a nice assist from Kidd, but he shouldn’t be a problem if taken care of properly. I wonder if Eddy Curry will allow this to happen. Probably. [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/jason_collins.jpg[/imgl]<font color="navy">PF – Jason Collins </font> 3.4pg, 4.3rpg, 0.9apg He’s out for defense and rebounding only. Occasionally he can make the 15-footer, but his sweet spot is down low as in pointblank range. With the extra weight Curry has you can expect the Nets to put Collins, their best defender at F/C, on him. <u>Keys To Game</u> <font color="navy">Transition:</font> The Knicks always have a hard time with their transition defense. Guys simply refuse to get back and that’s what Kidd likes to do, get the ball and run with it. Last time against Miami this killed the Knicks. Will it kill them again? <font color="navy">Interior Defense:</font> Now with Francis on the floor you can expect a lot more penetrating from the Knicks. Not just from Marbury. With Curry, Francis, and Marbury causing havoc down in the paint, it will be important for the Nets to hold their own with good shot blocking and hard fouls to discourage the backcourt. [/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/stephon_marbury.jpg[/imgl]<font color="DarkOrange">PG – Stephon Marbury </font> 17.9ppg, 3.2rpg, 6.8apg After missing close to a month with a sprained shoulder, we’ll excuse Marbury for struggling yesterday against the Heat. Going up against his rival on national television, he has no choice but to have a good game. Marbury should be extra pumped for this game, especially with his new backcourt made Steve Francis. [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/steve_francis.jpg[/imgl]<font color="darkorange">SG – Steve Francis</font> 16.2ppg, 4.8apg, 5.7rpg Larry Brown said, and I quote, “He’s starting tomorrow night,” he said. “Steve is going to be a full time starter.” So, despite not having a practice (thanks to Ariza not taking his physical), Francis will start. One thing you will have to remember about Francis is he’s a new Knick, so if he struggles, please don’t panic or jump to conclusions. It’ll be way too early to determine that. Anyway, if he plays good defense and doesn’t make boneheaded plays, I’ll be okay. Frontcourt [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/jalen_rose.jpg[/imgl]<font color="darkorange">SF – Jalen Rose</font> 15.9ppg, 3.5rpg, 3.1apg Well, I won’t expect him to play defense, but if that’s the case he has to make up for it and hit some shots and get everyone involved. He’s hitting shots and getting to the line and that’s what the Knicks were especially lacking with Marbury’s absence. Let’s see how he performs being on national TV, too. [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/eddy_curry.jpg[/imgl]<font color="darkorange">C – Eddy Curry </font> 14.7ppg, 6.4rpg, 1.0bpg Definitely not looking worth possibly a first overall pick in this draft plus the other stuff we gave up. After fouling out in 15 minutes, Curry must redeem himself. Granted, he was playing the best center in the league, but as the franchise player, performances like that really shouldn’t happen. Going up against Collins, a good defender, but also a hack, he has a perfect opportunity to redeem himself. [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/channing_frye.jpg[/imgl]<font color="darkorange">PF – Channing Frye</font> 13.4ppg, 6.0rpg, 49% fg Frye played very well yesterday and he’s been taking it to the basket more instead of settling for the outside shot. He’s averaging less points, but he’s getting more rebounds and playing better defense. If the Knicks have any hopes of winning this game, I think Frye is going to be the X-Factor. He’s played well against the Nets this season averaging 17.5 points on 56% shooting from the field. <u>Keys To The Game</u> <font color="darkorange">Defense:</font> The Knicks need to play defense to win this game. Many of the games get out of hand early because they simply don’t defend. If the Knicks make a strong commitment to defense and hit shots on the offensive end, I guarantee they won’t embarrass themselves on national television. <font color="darkorange">Don’t Rely on Francis Too Much:</font> I know the Knicks might try to go to Francis often, but he hasn’t had a single practice with the Knicks, so he will be confused. Rose is a different story because he played with Brown before; Francis has not. Bottom line is the Knicks must slowly bring Francis along, so they can’t expect him to have an automatic 20/5/5 game.
Drive to the basket, I saw Dooling and Arroyo do it against Jersey and they almost won the game. If they can do it...then Marbury and Francis should dominate. **** Curry, and **** Larry Brown's system, its time for the players to take over.
i love these games cause i don't know who to root for. 2 great backcourts could make for one helluva show. as much as i hated the trade, i'm really anxious to see what francis can do next to marbury. besides trying to contain carter and jefferson, the knicks have to make sure kidd doesn't shoot from the perimeter, as he's been extremely clutch this season from the three. feeding the post, moving the ball, and playing good D can pull out a win for the Knicks.
Game is nationaly telivised so I'm happy that I'll be able to see #3 and #8 side by side. Looking forward to it. Maybe it will be like Magic and we salvage some face this season.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Ewings2ndcousin:</div><div class="quote_post">Game is nationaly telivised so I'm happy that I'll be able to see #3 and #8 side by side. Looking forward to it. Maybe it will be like Magic and we salvage some face this season.</div> Francis just changed to #1. I thought he'd do it, too. He just doesn't seem like a #8 kind of player. Seems more shooting guard oriented.
It's weird, though - Francis said his top choices for jersey numbers were #3, 23, and 8 (no mention for 1). But I agree, 23 and 8 are too shooter-esque for Francis to wear.
Collins is a good defender, Brown should let their guards go one on one and break down the Nets defense...passing it off to Curry all the time slows down the offense.
We looked more confused on offense than usually luckily we cut the lead down to 10. Hopefully we'll continue our run. Btw, if Francis struggles, don't get alarmed. It's only his first game.
my friend was @ that game he said everyone was yelling **** larry and stuff wen they didnt fould @ the end
And they still lost. They seriously need some help. I don't know if Steve Francis is enough. Give him some practice time and we'll see.
To tell you the truth I'm happy we only lost by four on national television. I got scared in the fourth quarter we'd lose like 100-60 or something.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting MrJ:</div><div class="quote_post">To tell you the truth I'm happy we only lost by four on national television. I got scared in the fourth quarter we'd lose like 100-60 or something.</div> It hurts though, even though you expect it... We should play zone, none of our players are one on one defensive players.
Agreed...thanks for making it a respectable loss on national television. I think with a bit of practice he may do OK. Too much force feeding to Curry. I know he needs 7-10 touches to get in the game but to me they were forcing every pass in there. And what was up w/ JC? I never seen him that scared to shoot?
