Next game: vs. Sonics(1/16/04) 1/16/04 Knicks (16-24) vs. Sonics (19-17) Game time 7:30 EST <u>Last 5 games</u> New York: 2-3 Seattle: 3-2 Knicks Probable Lineup: <u>Head Coach:</u> Lenny Wilkens <u>Guard:</u> Stephon Marbury 20.5PPG - 3.4RPG - 8.6APG <u>Guard:</u> Allan Houston 20.3PPG - 2.6RPG - 2.1APG <u>Forward:</u> Keith Van Horn 16.8PPG - 7.4RPG - I.7APG <u>Forward:</u> Kurt Thomas 11.7PPG - 9.2RPG - 2.0APG <u>Center:</u> Dikembe Mutombo 6.3PPG - 7.1RPG - 0.6APG ____________________ Sonics Probable Lineup: <u>Head Coach:</u> Nate McMillan <u>Guard: </u> Ray Allen 24.0PPG - 5.0RPG - 5.5APG <u>Guard: </u> Brent Barry 11.0PPG - 3.5RPG - 5.4APG <u>Forward: </u> Rashard Lewis 19.2PPG - 7.3 - 2.0APG <u>Forward: </u> Vladimir Radmanovic 13.4PPG - 6.2RPG - 2.4APG <u>Center: </u> Calvin Booth 5.6PPG - 4.7PPG - 0.5APG __________________ Stats: <u>Knicks</u> Points Scored:91.2 (16th) Points Allowed:93.7 (13th) Field Goal%:.444 (5th) Opp. Field Goal%:.429 (8th) 3pt Field Goal%:.361 (6th) Opp. 3pt FG%:.335 (9th) Free Throw%:.809 (1st) Opp. FT%:.771 (28th) Rebounds:42.475 (16th) Opp. Rebounds:42.475 (5th) Blocks:5.05 (14th) Assists:20.9 (18th) Opp. Assists:21.2 (14th) Steals:6.875 (25th) Opp. Steals:8.775 (27th) Turnovers:16.725 (5th) Opp. Turnovers:13.3 (5th) Record when scoring 100+:6 - 1 (15th) Record when Opp. score 100+:2 - 9 (17th)
Preview Details: Who: (19-17) vs (16-24) Where: Madison Square Garden When: Sun, Jan 11th, 4:30pm TV: None Projected Lineups: PG: Brent Barry/Antonio Daniels/Luke Ridnour SG: Ray Allen/Ronald Murray/Richie Frahm SF: Rashard Lewis/Vladimir Radmanovic PF: Vladimir Radmanovic/Reggie Evans/Vitaly Potapenko C: Calvin Booth/Jerome James/Vitaly Potapenko Coached by Nate McMillan PG: Stephon Marbury/Frank Williams/Moochie Norris SG: Allan Houston/Anfernee Hardaway SF: Keith Van Horn/Shane Battier/Shandon Anderson PF: Kurt Thomas/Othella Harrington/Mike Sweetney C: Dikembe Mutombo/Michael Doleac/Kurt Thomas Coached by Lenny Wilkens Injury List: Nick Collison: shoulder, season. Ansu Sesay: left ring finger sprain, on IL. Knick Injury List Cezary Trybanski: left patella tendinitis, on IL. Analysis: A crucial game for both sides. Seattle, still clinging onto a playoff seed in the West, are currently on the two game losing streak. Against the Warriors they threw away chances to win the game, and against Cleveland they were undone by rookie phenom LeBron James, and shooting too much from the perimeter. New York will give them shots, but can they take the chances they are given? For New York, the addition of Stephon Marbury has certainly added some spice to Brooklyn basketball, and has made New York a higher scoring team. If they want to make the playoffs from here on in, games like this at home need to be won. Good Times: Legendary Seattle point guard and then Championship coach Lenny Wilkens adds some spice to this one. Wilkens starred for the Sonics in the role of player/coach from 1968-1972, and returned to coach them in 1978 through until 1985, guiding Seattle to their first and only Championship to date in 1978/79. [quoteright]"Lenny has a quiet style. What I appreciated, and I was a young player at the time, is he stated what he expected of you and what you needed to do, and then gave you some room go out and do it." Seattle assistant Jack Sikma, who played under Lenny Wilkens in the mid seventies.[/QUOTERIGHT] Key Factor: Containing Marbury is the key here. Since he has landed in Madison Square Garden, Marbury has taken control of this team and shown himself to be an unselfish floor leader, averaging in double figures assist wise. On his day he can and will tear apart any team on the offensive end, and it remains to be seen whether or not Seattle have the match-ups to stop him. Blessed with a great jumper and the speed and ball handling to get past any defender, he promises to give the Sonics problems all night. Antonio Daniels will see plenty of time on him, as Brent Barry give away too much in terms of floor speed and defense. If Marbury gets hot early, then not only does it put Seattle back defensively, it means Luke Ridnour will likely see few to no minutes, which puts back Seattle's transition game. Key Matchup: Rashard Lewis vs Keith Van Horn While Marbury may be the danger man, this is potentially the most important match-up on the floor. Both play very similar games, both have similar stats on the season and a big night from either will likely coincide with a win. Lewis, frustratingly enough, continues to be inconsistent. At his best, Lewis can take a defense apart, and as always the key to his form is getting him early touches. Van Horn may yet be the biggest beneficiary of Marbury's arrival, despite their spotty past. Marbury likes to penetrate, Van Horn likes to work his way around the perimeter and cut through the key, so Lewis will have to stay focused defensively or Marbury will find him for easy buckets time and again. X-Factors: Antonio Daniels - could be his most important game since joining Seattle. Daniels has firmly entrenched himself as 6th man in coach McMillan's rotation and will see plenty of time on Marbury. As per usual, he needs to hit his shots so Marbury can't play off him and look to fast break. Kurt Thomas - once courted by the Sonics, Thomas remains underrated and should have a ball against a weak Seattle team inside. A real banger, he will crash the boards and look to score down low all night. <font size="1">Player photos and logo images courtesy of NBA.com </font>
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Nylex:</div><div class="quote_post">Shane Battier isn't a Knick...</div> and where does it say he is a knick?
Here is an official preview of the game from nba.com http://www.nba.com/games/20040116/SEANYK/preview.html
At the half, Knicks lead 60-42 Knicks players Keith Van Horn:19 points Allan Houston: 11 points Dikembe Mutombo:8 points 5 boards Doleac and Hardaway: 6 ponts each Stephon Marbury: 4 points and 10 assists (7 assists, quarter high) Sonics players Ray Allen: 19 points Radmanovic:8 points R. Lewis:7 points 4 boards Brent Barry: 5 points 5 assists
Knicks win 108-88. I call this game "The Beginning of the Lenny Wilken's Era". http://www.nba.com/games/20040116/SEANYK/boxscore.html Recap: http://www.nba.com/games/20040116/SEANYK/recap.html
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting VinsanityMK:</div><div class="quote_post">correction on your recap... Stephon Marbury had 8 points, not 4. lol Marbury is the man.</div> Dude, that was at the half.
I think Steph is making a conserted effort to make everyone on the Knicks fell comfortable with him leading them. He makes sure Van Horn & Houston get alot of easy shots. This is good to see but if the Knicks are going to go to the playoffs, steph is going to have to find away to get everyone involved yet still get his on offense. But you Know that will come with time. The Knicks are really starting to look like a team that can make somethings happen in the east. But the playoffs are so far away, it will be interesting.
