Ny: 104 Atl: 88 4-5 VS. 2-7 DATE: 11/23/2004 TV: MSG TIME: 7:30 (Cannon Business Soulutions Knicks Gamenight at 7:00) Previous Games: ATL: 92-79L @ UTAH NYK: 98-88W VS. CLE Probable Starting Lineups: NYK PG: Stephon Marbury SG: Jamal Crawford SF: Tim Thomas PF: Kurt Thomas C: Nazr Mohammed ATL: PG: Kenny Anderson SG: Boris Diaw SF: Al Harrington PF: Antoine Walker C: Peja Drobnjak Keys to the game: We are better than the Hawks in pretty much everyone way, shape and form. There is now way we can lose a game like this AT HOME. Atlanta has some decent weapons with Walker and Harrington and Childress. If we contain them and play proper defense a win is highly likely. Offense is definitely not a problem with our weapons. We should run on the break and continue our great passing. I see no way that we will lose this game. I'm making a 105-79 win over the Hawks.
It wont be that lopsided but it should be an easy win. I see no strong points for the Hawks except Walker will give Kurt problems. But we do have the JYD if things get out of hand. Besides the nuisance that Walker be, this game should be a cakewalk.
We're up and things seem to be going our way at the half. Stephon Marbury is just dishing and has 11 assists and 1 shot attempt! Talk about team player. Walker and Harrington are creating a little havoc but, still the whole Atlanta team isn't stepping up. Kurt Thomas continues to play exceptionally well. He seems to be fitting well with our team and it's chemistry. Although I see him as untouchable I have this nagging feeling Isaiah will make some stupid trade involving Kurt. Something Like TT and Kurt for Walker... Man I hope this doesn't happen I really don't.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting mrj18:</div><div class="quote_post">We're up and things seem to be going our way at the half. Stephon Marbury is just dishing and has 11 assists and 1 shot attempt! Talk about team player. Walker and Harrington are creating a little havoc but, still the whole Atlanta team isn't stepping up. Kurt Thomas continues to play exceptionally well. He seems to be fitting well with our team and it's chemistry. Although I see him as untouchable I have this nagging feeling Isaiah will make some stupid trade involving Kurt. Something Like TT and Kurt for Walker... Man I hope this doesn't happen I really don't.</div> Looks like Stephon is trying to catch up to Nash. Walker and Harrington are annoying but it's not a big deal. Kurt is doing his job very well. Although I wonder why doesnt Ariza get more minutes and Sweetney more touches? Now you see why I want Isiah gone. He cant leave well enough alone. Your fears are well placed. The only person who we should consider trading is TT right now. Everyone is playing well.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Tribute to H2O:</div><div class="quote_post"> The only person who we should consider trading is TT right now.</div> And how would we go about doing that? ...exactly (btw- I really didn't like the 6 TO's from Crawford. :thumbsdow )
Well we win 88-104. It's another great win for NY. Who saw Brewer out there. I thought he was wasted money this summer. That dunk was great. Knick fans get used to plays like those. We need to bring out that same intensity at Toronto tommorow. They just got blown out tonight and are an angry team. Hope Crawford can drop 50 on the again! With the way we've been playing we don't need one player to score to win. We just need an overall team effort and we're good. I expect even more excitement when I see H2O shooting the lights out.
Like I said...a cakewalk. We controlled that game from beginning to end. That's the way we should be playing every night. Crawford didnt have one of those great performances but at least we still dominated. Brewer is a great back up point guard but anyone who watched the preseason knew that. Although I'm upset about two things, one thing in particular. Ariza is getting alot of minutes but Penny is playing well so I guess it's not that big of a deal. But Sweetney isnt getting the ball. We should be getting the ball to him more often. He's draws double teams that our guards can feed off of. It looks like he's getting lost in the process. We arent using utilizing him as well as we should be. When Marbury leaves the floor sometimes our offense goes stagnant. We can solve that problem by just keep pounding the ball down low. We have a post up player, he shouldnt go to waste. As for the Raptors...it'll be a bit tougher than tonite but not much. Carter isnt playing well and there's noone else on that team that worries me. Another easy win tomorrow.
Well, that makes us 1st in the atlantic with Boston being 4-5 and Toronto being 5-7. What are the predictions for the next 2 games against the raptors?
I cannot understand why many people with whom I have spoken with think that the Philadelphia 76ers and/or Boston Celtics are a better team. Please could someone explaine how? We should have won this game and we did, at .500 and atop the division, lets just hope that the New York Knicks can maintain this play. Impressive players of late; - Kurt Thomas - Jamal Crawford - Penny Hardaway - Stephon Marbury mentions; Jerome Williams, Nazr Muhammad, Mike Sweetney. Cannot wait for Allan Houston to return, though I am concerned where and how he will fit, and if he does what about other offensive players .... I guess we'll just have to wait and see how it pans out. I expect the New York Knicks to lose 93 - 87 at Toronto but bounce back once they hit the floors of the Madison Square Garden, winning 103 - 89 in New York. A crucial game is winning in Atlanta, no excuse if the New York Knicks lose that game.
