<div align="center">@ Preseason Record <font color="blue">New York Knicks 5-3</font> and <font color="green"> Minnesota Timberwolves 4-4</font> Date 11/3 Time 8:00 pm eastern Previous Game Jazz @ Knicks- 89-83 W Pistons @ Timberwolves- 102-95W Probable Starting Lineup <u>Knicks</u> (<font size="1">Lenny Wilkens</font>) <font size="1">(Stephon Marbury, Jamal Crawford, Tim Thomas, Kurt Thomas, Nazr Mohammed)</font> <u>Timberwolves</u> (<font size="1">Flip Saunders</font>) (<font size="1">Sam Cassell, Latrell Sprewell, Trenton Hassell, Kevin Garnett, Michael Olowakandi</font>) 6th Men (<font size="1">Trevor Ariza and Fred Hoiberg</font>) <u>Keys To Game</u> Knicks Jamal Crawford needs to watch his shot count, and not throw up bricks, as he has done throughout the preseason, Stephon Marbury and Michael Sweetney will need to step up for this game and perform big, because the Timberwolves are pumped for a new season, as they are a big contender. The Knicks also need to contain KG, because if he gets loose the Wolves will tear the game apart. Timberwolves KG needs to distribute the ball to Spree as much as he can, because he will get double teamed and guarded heavily countless times in this one. Sam Cassell will need to keep Marbury at a level where he can't open up the game. The Wolves need to watch out for Sweetney, as he improved much this offseason. If the Wolves let Crawford open, he can get on fire, they need to force him to take his wild and impossible shots because it will be costly to the Knicks. (Keys to the game has been provided by JBB Member: Only The Knicks) My Take: I say it will be a close game, 86-83 Timberwolves </div>
I really have no idea who will win. On paper the T'Wolves are better however, that's just paper. We beat Minnesota last season and Mutumbo dropped something like 18pts with 18 boards. I think the Knicks will be able to pull off a 98-94 upset over the T'Wolves.
this is gonna be a great game for a season opener, i just hope sprewell doesn't do the same as he did last time. I say: NY: 92 Minnesota: 86
My prediction is that the Knicks drop the first one to the timberwolves. My sole reason for my prediction is Kevin Garnett, he's the reigning MVP and theres not many people that can stop him, we unfortunately have no one capable of controlling KG unless the double team works or else no. Minnesota 99, New York 87.
Nice preview Ming. Hope you make great new ones in the future. As for the preview, you are one hundred percent right on Garnett's part. Not only does he have to produce to Sprewell, but also to Cassell to get that mid-range jumper going. My prediction: Timberwolves win by 8
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting All-Star:</div><div class="quote_post">Nice preview Ming. Hope you make great new ones in the future. As for the preview, you are one hundred percent right on Garnett's part. </div> Oh don't thank me on that. KEys to the game are provided by Only The Knicks.
Well...I dunno. I really dont. I think the Knicks will walk away with the win though. Kevin Garnett if the Knicks dont constantly pressure him will destroy the Knicks that much I'm sure of. Kandiman isnt that great. Cassell and Sprewell are all another year older...The Knick bench is great so we'll always be producing points...I cant analyze how or why the Knicks will win but I smell an upset. Like someone said before we beat them with the old team. I say the final score will be 90-83 Knicks.
I think the Knicks can take it also ..... but i think the knicks will win every game so i guess my opinion doesnt really count
i really think that knicks have the capability to win their season opener against the wolves. it will b a tough game, and its a shame that allan houstan wont be playing but crawford, sweetney and marbury can provide an upset.
This will be a close matchup, especially since I dont think Sprewell is gonna play. I think he is pulling a stunt like he did when he was here. He is mad at Timberwolves management so he isnt rushing back from injury, simliar to what he did with Scott Layden after he came into training camp with his mysterious elbow injury a few years back. Also the wolves have a tendenacy to get off to slow starts to the season. Minny has been getting off to slow 1st month starts for about the last 2 or 3 seasons. But with that Iam think the wolves will pull out a close one. They will be at home, they will be healthy for the most part with the exception of Spree.And will look to feed of the crowd and energy in the target center. Also the Wolves do two major intangibles better then the Knicks, they are a much more effiecient perimeter shooting,maybe the best in the league. And they are a better defensive basketball team as Kevin Garnett and Trenton Hassell usually dictate the pace of their team defense. I think Jamal Crawford is going to have a extremely inconsistent shooting night with Hassell drapped all over him. Cassell vs Steph should be a excellent match, Steph and Sam have always played extremely aggressive against each other since Steph was on the Wolves. So I always enjoy when those to matchup. I give the edge to Steph in the matchup this time, he is in better basketball rythm right now, coming off the Dream team action. And he also got more minutes in during the preseason to get a feel again for basketball. This isnt a game that the Knicks cant win. But I think alot has to go right guys like Kurt Thomas and Mike Sweetney are going to have to be produce in the paint area to offset what KG is doing down low. How the Knicks defend will be key as well, I dont think they want to get into a scoring, shootout with the wolves despit having Crawford and Steph in the backcourt. And like I said Crawford's consistency against Hassell's defense will play a key part in the final score. It should be a close and interesting game though...
TWolves win, nobody will be able to limit KG, TT will have one of those usual games when he disapperas completely. Nazr will continue his dismal preseason performance. I hope I am wrong. I am really looking forward to seeing Ariza on the court. Hopefully Lenny gives him minutes. I am curious if Ariza handles the regular season game as well as the preseason ones. I am pretty sure he's mentally tough enough to overcome the pressure.
We might not be able to stop KG but, our frontcourt are not the only players playing. Marbury, and Crawford will cause problems. Hopefully Tim Thomas can bring a similar game that he brought vs. the Jazz. We have a much better bench than Minnesota as well. Also if we had the old squad beating Minnesota @ home last year, we definetly hve a shot at winning today.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting mrj18:</div><div class="quote_post">We might not be able to stop KG but, our frontcourt are not the only players playing. Marbury, and Crawford will cause problems. Hopefully Tim Thomas can bring a similar game that he brought vs. the Jazz. We have a much better bench than Minnesota as well. Also if we had the old squad beating Minnesota @ home last year, we definetly hve a shot at winning today.</div> I wouldnt put much stake into that win last year cause around the time the Knicks beat the wolves last year, everybody was beating the wolves then..It was the start of the season and you could clearly tell with all those new faces that nobody new their roles. So that was a timing and situation loss more then anything you could have put last year's Hawks against Minny that night and the Wolves probably still would have lost. We didnt see the true Wolves team until December once everyone got adjusted
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Need4Sheed:</div><div class="quote_post">Ariza as a 6man, don't you have anyone else on the bench?</div> Michael Sweetney, Vin Baker, JYD, Moochie Norris.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Need4Sheed:</div><div class="quote_post">Ariza as a 6man, don't you have anyone else on the bench?</div> Well, you sound like you are under-rating him. He averaged 9 points. 5 boards and 2 steals in the pre-season and imo, that's pretty impressive being the 43rd draft pick.
