*made by Knicks Analyst Knicks 17-23 Suns 32-10 <font size="3"> Date: 1/25/05 Time 7:30 TV: MSG</font> <font size="4">Season Stats</font> Previous Games: Knicks: 101-96L vs Bucks Suns: 113-105W @ Nets Knicks Record: 17-23 (.425) Standings: Fourth, Atlantic 10th seed in the Eastern Conference At Home: 11-10 On Road: 6-13 PPG: 95.5 Opp PPG: 97.8 FG%: .444 Opp FG%: .463 RPG: 40.8 Opp RPG: 42.3 Suns: Record: 14-24 (.368) Standings: First, Pacific 13th seed in the Eastern Conference At Home: 17-4 On Road: 15-6 PPG: 108.1 Opp PPG: 99.8 FG%: .473 Opp FG%:.442 RPG: 43.2 Opp RPG: 45.9 <font size="2">*Bold Indicates Leads the Team.</font> <font size="4"> <font color="DarkOrange">Knicks</font></font> PG: Stephon Marbury 39.9mpg 20.7ppg 3.0rpg 8.5apg SG: Jamal Crawford 36.3mpg 18.4ppg 2.8rpg 3.7apg SF: Trevor Ariza 16.0mpg 5.0ppg 2.6rpg 1.3apg " target="_blank">http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/trevor_ariza.jpg"></a> PF: Kurt Thomas 36.6mpg 11.7ppg 9.6rpg 1.9apg C: Nazr Mohammed 30.0mpg 12.0ppg 9.0rpg 0.4apg <font size="3">Bench:</font> Jerome Williams 17.7mpg 5.4ppg 4.0rpg 0.7apg Jamison Brewer 9.8mpg 1.4ppg 1.6rpg 0.5apg Vin Baker 7.7mpg 1.4ppg 1.6rpg 0.1apg Bruno Sundov 4.3mpg 1.9ppg 1.3rpg 0.1apg <font size="4"> <font color="DarkOrange">Suns</font></font> PG: Steve Nash 34.3mpg 15.7ppg 3.1rpg 10.9apg SG: Quentin Richardson 37.9mpg 15.6ppg 2.0apg 4.2rpg SF: Joe Johnson 39.5mpg 15.7ppg 5.5rpg 3.6apg PF: Shawn Marion 39.2mpg 19.5ppg 10.8rpg 2.2apg C: Amare Stoudemire 36.6mpg 25.7ppg 8.5rpg 1.5apg <font size="3">Bench</font> Jim Jackson 40.3mpg 12.9ppg 4.6rpg 3.5apg Jake Voskhul 10.3mpg 2.0ppg 3.0rpg 0.5apg Steven Hunter 13.4mpg 4.9ppg 2.8rpg 0.2apg Smush Parker 10.2mpg 3.0ppg 0.9rpg 1.2apg Bo Outlaw 5.3mpg 0.7ppg 1.3rpg 0.4apg <font size="2">*Sorry for more in-depth stats. I didn?t have enough time to throw in the exact statistics</font> <font size="4"> <font color="Red">Injuries:</font></font> <font color="DarkOrange">NYK:</font> Penny Hardaway, Moochie Norris, Allan Houston <font color="DarkOrange">PHO:</font> Leandro Barbosa <font size="4"> <font color="Green">Matchups:</font></font> vs. PG: Interesting match up. You have the ?best point guard? against the best point guard. This matchup is very interesting Steve Nash is a great shooter and the Knicks perimeter defense can not let him ever shoot. This guy shoots 51% from the field and 41% from 3. Don?t ever let the rock leave his hands. I hope the fact that Marbury is playing against his old team, the best point guard in the league, at home will stir up something in him so he can bring his a game. Remember the show he put on last meeting against them, and against Nash? Pretty good stats I just hope we can see this today. Marbury since making that bold ?I?m the best PG in the league? statement we?ve gone 1-11. I think this might bring out the best in him. vs. SG: Jamal Crawford can ill afford to have a bad offense night much less a bad defensive night. Known to most people as Q, he is a big offensive threat for the Suns especially for the Knicks weak defense. What the Knicks can not afford tonight is Crawford to play the way he played against Milwaukee chucking up shot after shot. What I can?t understand is if you have the handle, the quickness and the creativeness why not TAKE IT INSIDE?!?! Anyways, Crawford needs to bounce back from his awful performance and actually create the havoc he is capable of doing. vs. SF: Joe Johnson is one of the most improved players in the league. He is a smart player and has the ability to give rookie 19 year olds a very tough time both offensively and defensively. There is no question why he averages the most minutes in thw whole team. We saw Trevor Ariza perform against the Bucks perhaps a bit anxious about his first start. Another try especially against an elite team should add some extra energy to this guy. Whether he plays well or not, the fact of the matter is that he?s getting some valuable starting experience. JYD will be good if Johnson decides to get out of hand. vs. PF: Wow. A tough matchup for Kurt Thomas. Kurt Thomas has been struggling with PF?s like Shawn Marion this season. The only thing is Shawn Marion isn?t a PF. He is really a versatile SF who was put there to exploit the talent of the team to it?s fullest. Wow again. He is a great dunker and has tremendous leaping abilities. I think someone like JYD will be greatly needed in this game again. Maybe Sweetney could give him a hard time. Anyways, tough matchup and always for any team because the Matrix is a great player and one of the most underrated players in the game. vs. C: Another tough one. Nazr Mohammed can easily get thrown around like a little rag doll. I have nothing to say is hopefully Sundov can draw Amare out the paint. I really don?t want the help to come because players like Q and Nash will make us pay. Let Amare do his damage because we will end up paying more. <font size="3"><font color="DarkOrange">Knicks Bench Summary</font></font> Even worse. The Knicks are down to 4 players on their bench including no burn players like Baker and Sundov. JYD and Sweetney will need to become factors and Sundov and Baker needs to something. Our bench is why many predicted a good season. Now that we?re down to the wire, we need our starters and the few members on the bench to really step it up. <font size="3"><font color="DarkOrange">Suns Bench Summary:</font></font> We are very fortunate that the Suns bench doesn?t get much burn at all. The players on the Suns that do get off the bench, must be kept in check. The Suns starters are <font size="4"><font color="Green">Key Matchup:</font></font> The Key Matchup is at the PG position. Marbury vs. Nash Great matchup again. I expect good things from both players and one of the best PG?s in the league. I expect them to be going at each other while maintaining poise as a floor general. Both are crucial to the teams success and will have to act like it tonight especially Stephon Marbury. Let?s see what takes place today it will definitely be a fun one to watch. A dramtic confrontation <font size="4">My Prediction:</font> This will be an easy one. The Knicks 144-67. I can dream can I? I see this game being a blowout for us. We just aren?t matched for the Suns and their NBA 2nd best proves it. I for one just hope we don?t killed like against Dallas, but rather by a respectable margin. We are down they are up and plus are better than us. Let?s just keep the faith I hope I?m wrong. TNG Impact feels that we will get killed. I just hope we can come out victorious and my 120-100 prediction loss will not take place. Everyone just pray?
Halftime <font size="7">Halftime</font> Knicks 55 Suns 65 <font color="DarkOrange"> <font size="4">Knicks Leading Scorers:</font></font> Jamal Crawford FG's:5-9 Kurt Thomas: 15: FG's 7-12 Trevor Ariza: 8 FG's: 3-10 <font color="DarkOrange"><font size="4"> Suns Leading Scorers:</font></font> Amare Stoudemire 16 FG's: 4-8 Joe Johnson 13 FG's: 5-9 , Jim Jackson 12 FG's: 4-6 <font size="4"><font color="Red">mrj18's Hot at the Half Player:</font></font> <font size="2">Jamal Crawford</font> Tough one between Crawford and Thomas but, I chose Crawford because he was dominating both quarters. Crawford gave the Knicks some much needed scoring with the bench gone and also manged to give us some assists. He made an extra effort to take it in and take better shots which I admire. He also countered the 3 ball with his own shooting 4-5. Crawford is a world of talent just waiting to explode and tonight, I think the Suns heat is about to set him off! <font size="4">My Prediction:</font> We started off much better than I expected. I thought it would be 70-44 Suns but, only down by 10, we are still in it. The Knicks are outnumbered and outmatched in every category except heart and the will. This has been their driving force and tonight, I am going to make the bold and probably wrong prediction of my Knicks wining 110-108 because of it. We have too much to fight for! Also I need to keep the faith if I wear an embarrasing sig . Go Knicks!
I don't know, I am simply not pleased with the style of basketball we're running, I don't like this cloud of the lack of defensive intensity, and while I realize and understand that Phoenix is a dynamic offensive team with lethal scorers etc. I just don't see how one could be pleased with the defensive performance. Crawford has been awful in past games, I wouldn't say he found his touch but he's looking more comfortable tonight.
Well, I griped about the poor defense before, but unfortunately the defensive woes continued. The loss was close to inevitable. But there is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow --- Ariza. 21 points 8 offensive rebounds 11 rebounds total. His impact on the Knicks offense was undisputedly deep, he looked incredible. I can't help but grin with anticipation at his future - hopefully in New York. If there's any priority Isiah should have - it's to lock up Ariza...for a long time.
For real but again defense. How many 3's? They were 19/17 in the first half. That's what many teams get in a game. Kurt Thomas had a solid game. 24 points 14 rebounds. I wonder what idiots said he was a bad rebounder? JAMAL CRAAAWFORD is what I was hearing all night. 40 points. That's how he should play all the time. Hopefully he'll learn from such experiences. Ariza was amazing. Spectacular. There so much to comment on this game but I have to roll
Damn I wonder what would happen if this Knicks team could actually play defense? Scary thought. Good game by Ariza, dude can full out ball. But I also wonder what will happen when Isiah tries to re-sign him? Would he really want to play in a guard rotation with Marbury and Crawford? I know if I was on a team, I wouldn't want to play with Crawford at all. I mean 40 points is very talented but dude is just selfish. Me being Ariza, would I want to stay here? How long does his contract run for? Funny that the one play that stopped their whole drive in the 4th was a Crawford pass that went away from Marbury. Shades of Sunday's game.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting CourtVision:</div><div class="quote_post"> How long does his contract run for? </div> I believe a couple more years from now. He loves New York, he is loving the love the fans give him here, he's said that and when I go to the games ( I go to a lot of games) he's always talking with the fans and such. Thanks to the "Bird Rule" I think locking him up is definently going to happen (it should) but the question is: For how many years will the Dolans dish the money out to young players? That question always pops up in New York. In a couple of years it will pop up again.
The Phoenix Suns scored 133 points! Another loss, but what else is new. To be honest I expect the New York Knicks to lose every time they play now, they just cannot win or play together at all! Man how bad is this going to get ................................................
Penny, Suns are elite. If we were playing the Hawks and this happened I could see why but, these Suns have the 2nd best record in the league and are tied for the fewest losses of the season. Many plusses in this game. We should beat Cleveland. I understand how you feel though. We are improving though since the last couple of games. I gurantee we will beat the Cavs. I'll put a sig bet on that with anyone!!
Man I hope your right. I guess I was a little harsh, because the Phoenix Suns are good. What bothers me is that; look how far we are from a championship, based on today's game. This also assumes the Phoenix Suns are a championship caliber team. I think the losing streak will continue, and Lebron James will get another tripe double. I hope I'm wrong though ................... I couldn't imagine how Stephon Marbury / Isiah Thomas feel.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting mrj18:</div><div class="quote_post">Penny, Suns are elite. If we were playing the Hawks and this happened I could see why but, these Suns have the 2nd best record in the league and are tied for the fewest losses of the season. Many plusses in this game. We should beat Cleveland. I understand how you feel though. We are improving though since the last couple of games. I gurantee we will beat the Cavs. I'll put a sig bet on that with anyone!!</div> pm sent
Hey, KnicksUK, did you watch the game (as it was on Channel 5)? I watched some, but I ended up falling asleep and missed the 2nd half. It was kinda annoying that their coverage started from near the end of the 1st quarter . Anyway, in the bit of the game I did see, I didn't like the defense. Suns were being left wide open and just draining 3s. Kurt Thomas was good and I liked Sweetney inside, too. Ariza was driving lots as well, but he got blocked once or twice.
You guys have a real special player coming up in Trevor Ariza, 21 points, 11 boards in his first start of the season. He should defiantly be getting more playing time. The Knicks also got one of the best offensive games by the Suns in a long time, 133 total points on 54% shooting, it is hard to lose those kinds of games when you put up that many points. Suns just blew the Knicks away in the second quarter; they were outscored 37-22.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rimwrecker:</div><div class="quote_post">What a good game, Quentin lit it up from beyond the arc.</div> Quentin did light it up from beyond the arc but he took 14 shots from there to do it. He has been taking around 9 threes a game for us which I am not liking. He is also taking the second highest ammont of shots for the Suns, which shouldn't be happening because I think everybody knows that he is the #4 offensive option on this great Suns team. He had a good game shooting percentage wise though, his last 5 games or so he has been shoting only 29%.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Nylex:</div><div class="quote_post">Hey, KnicksUK, did you watch the game (as it was on Channel 5)? I watched some, but I ended up falling asleep and missed the 2nd half. It was kinda annoying that their coverage started from near the end of the 1st quarter . Anyway, in the bit of the game I did see, I didn't like the defense. Suns were being left wide open and just draining 3s. Kurt Thomas was good and I liked Sweetney inside, too. Ariza was driving lots as well, but he got blocked once or twice.</div> What up man. Yeah I recorded the game and watched it today. Crawford and Ariza were very impressive but Marbury was terrible. The thing that got me the most was our inability to defend the perimeter. I think I heard the commentator say that that's the most 3's the Knicks have EVER had shot against them. So many of them were open 3's as well, just really annoying. Marbury was too keen on taking the shot or the drive rather than setting up others whereas Crawford's game was a lot more balanced. You guys might disagree but I think we should trade Marbury out of here in the post-season, there ARE better PGs out there.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting KnicksUK:</div><div class="quote_post">What up man. Yeah I recorded the game and watched it today. Crawford and Ariza were very impressive but Marbury was terrible. The thing that got me the most was our inability to defend the perimeter. I think I heard the commentator say that that's the most 3's the Knicks have EVER had shot against them. So many of them were open 3's as well, just really annoying. Marbury was too keen on taking the shot or the drive rather than setting up others whereas Crawford's game was a lot more balanced. You guys might disagree but I think we should trade Marbury out of here in the post-season, there ARE better PGs out there.</div> I'm starting to understand why Minnesota, New Jersey and lastly Phoenix traded Marbury now. Hopefully he's learnt not to talk so much! That whole "I'm the best PG in the league" thing, was just so wrong. Oh, you mean "offseason", not "post-season" (cos that's the playoffs!) .
