<div align="center"> ^made by Knicks Analyst @ Supersonics 41-19 / Knicks 26-34</div> <font size="3"> Date: 3/13/05 Time 6:00 (Eastern Time) TV: MSG, FSN-SEA, NBALP</font> <font size="4">Season Stats</font> Previous Games: Knicks: 93-83W vs. Wizards Sonics: 100-97L vs. Chicago Knicks: Record: 26-34 (.433) Standings: Fourth, Atlantic At Home: 19-12 On Road: 7-22 PPG: 96.8 Opp PPG: 99.3 FG%: .451 Opp FG%: .464 RPG: 40.9 Opp RPG: 42.1 Supersonics: Record: 42-18 (.683) Standings: First, Northwest At Home: 21-11 On Road: 20-8 PPG: 100.5 Opp PPG: 96.6 FG%: .447 Opp FG%: .457 RPG: 40.7 Opp RPG: 37.7 *BOLD* indicates leads team in particular stat. Maurice Taylor and Malik Rose?s stats are when they became New York Knicks <font size="4"> <font color="DarkOrange">Knicks Starters</font></font> PG: Stephon Marbury 39.8pg 21.0ppg 3.0rpg 8.3apg Jamal Crawford 36.5mpg 17.8ppg 2.8rpg 3.9apg SF: Tim Thomas 27.1mpg 11.4ppg 3.5rpg 1.4apg PF: Mike Sweetney 18.4ppg 8.3ppg 5.2rpg 0.6apg C: Kurt Thomas 36.6mpg 11.8ppg 10.2rpg 2.1apg <font color="Blue"><font size="3">Knicks Bench:</font></font> Penny Hardaway 24.9mpg 7.7ppg 2.4rpg 2.1apg Trevor Ariza 17.7mpg 6.1ppg 2.9rpg 1.2apg Maurice Taylor 12.2mpg 6.2ppg 1.8rpg 0.6apg Malik Rose 18.4mpg 6.0ppg 4.4rpg 0.6apg Jerome Williams 15.8mpg 4.6ppg 3.5rpg 0.6apg Jermaine Jackson 7.0mpg 2.3ppg 1.7rpg 0.0apg Bruno Sundov 4.7mpg 1.6ppg 0.9rpg 0.1apg Complete Knicks Stats <font size="4"> <font color="Green">Supersonics Starters</font></font> PG: Luke Ridnour 31.5mpg 10.0ppg 2.4rpg 6.1apg SG: Ray Allen 39.6mpg 24.0ppg 4.3rpg 3.9apg SF: Rashard Lewis 38.3mpg 20.6ppg 5.4rpg 1.1apg PF: Reggie Evans 23.4mpg 4.9ppg 9.3rpg 0.6apg C: Jerome James 15.9mpg 4.4ppg 2.9rpg 0.2apg <font color="YellowGreen"><font size="3">Supersonics Bench</font></font> Vladimir Radmanovic 29.5mpg 12.0ppg 4.6pg 1.4apg Antonio Daniels 27.4mpg 11.7ppg 2.3rpg 4.2apg Danny Fortson 17.5mpg 8.0ppg 6.0pg 0.1apg Nick Collison 14.5mpg 4.8ppg 3.8pg 0.4apg Ronald Murray 14.7mpg 5.8ppg 1.7pg 1.0apg Vitaly Potapenko 6.4mpg 1.9ppg 1.9pg 0.0apg Robert ?Ladies Man? Swift 3.6ppg 0.3ppg 0.2pg 0.2apg Complete Supersonic Stats <font size="4"><font color="Red">Injuries:</font></font> <font color="DarkOrange">NYK:</font> and Allan Houston and Jackie Butler <font color="Green">SEA:</font> and Matten Cleaves and Damien Wilkins <font size="4"> <font color="Navy">Matchups:</font></font> vs. PG: Stephon Marbury against one of my favorite point guards, Luke Ridnour. Ridnour is a very good passer, and is the Sonics leading assists man with 6 per game. In fact, some people thought that he could develop into a John Stockton type of player. While I don?t think he?ll ever have the all-time record for assists per game, I don?t doubt the fact he will be a very good PG for years to come. Ridnour also has a good shooting touch and shoots about 39% from beyond the arc, while shooting about 88% from the charity stripe. Marbury definitely needs to put a body on him unless he wants to get lit up from down town. He also needs to take advantage of his strength. Ridnour at around 167 pounds, is vulnerable on the defensive end on Marbury. Stephon has about 33 more pounds on Ridnour so he should take advantage of it in the post. If Marbury puts effort on defense and continues his unselfish play as of late, it is very possible he can do very well in this matchup. vs. This is another one of my favorite players?Ray Allen. I loved his game since he was in Milwaukee. This matchup is the most important for the Knicks. Ray Allen is arguably the best shooter in the league, and the Knicks perimeter defense can get worse than that country singing half time performance in the all-star game! Jamal Crawford needs to play defense, plain and simple. I?d rather him score 5 points and put up a great defensive effort on Allen, than score his usual 18 and allow Allen to kill him on offense. Last game against Washington I couldn?t see, but reading the boxscore, the Knicks held the highest scoring backcourt to 35.5% from the field. They are very capable of playing good defense it?s just the effort isn?t there every single game. Ray Allen is a good bad shot shooter so imagine good shots he can get due to lackadaisical Knick defense. If Crawford decides not to play defense today, unless someone else has a big game, it?s probably a wrap. vs. SF: Rashard Lewis and Tim Thomas are playing the starting 3 position. Again, defense needs to be stressed at this position. Rashard Lewis is a scoring machine and is 17th in the NBA in 3 point percentage at 40.3%. He has good ball handling skills and has a more than legit driver?s license. If double T plays crappy defense, we need to substitute JYD and quick before he Rashard heats up. I get the feeling Tim will have another big game. If he posts up Lewis and has a good shooting night, I think he can do well in this matchup. If he plays defense for us, than we definitely have a shot at wining. He is also 14th in the NBA at 40.8% from the land of plenty. Tim needs to take advantage of his looks he?ll receive from Marbury and Crawford?s penetration. vs. Very interesting matchup we have at hand. Two players listed at 6?8 who are considered ?undersized? however, their height doesn?t effect their effectiveness and value they bring to their team. Reggie Evans is a VERY good rebounder who averages 9 boards in 23 minutes!!! He might be the best rebounder in the league. His offense isn?t that good though so I don?t see him posing any kind of threat. Sweetney who is also strong on the boards is a much greater offensive threat and I see him dominating in the post again. The only question is whether he can stay out of foul trouble. He creates so much havoc in the post and that opens up the floor for Crawford so he can drain 3?s and Marbury penetrating. If he can stay away from the ticky-tac fouls, he will have a very good presence for the Knicks. vs. C: This matchup could make or break our defense. Last time in Orlando, because Kurt Thomas was struggling, Cato was able to lock up the paint and that somewhat threw off our whole offense. James is a good shot blocker and Kurt Thomas? midrange jumper needs to be on target. Keeping James and other shot blockers out of the paint is essential to whether we win or lose. Our offense is run through Marbury who thrives from getting into the paint, however if it?s inaccessible our whole offense can be thrown off. The pick and roll will have to be on target. <font size="3"><font color="DarkOrange">Knicks Bench Summary</font></font> Our bench will have to be key tonight. JYD and Malik will need to give us much needed energy and hustle off the bench. Taylor needs to continue his scoring and his presence in the post. Ariza needs to give us some more energy and a defensive spark creating easy transition opportunities for us. Hardaway needs to play smart and give us some scoring and good leadership off the bench. Jermaine Jackson needs to continue his good defense that he plays especially against a team like this. If Bruno gets burn today, he needs to give us scoring from the perimeter when left open. Our bench needs to be great and provide us with depth we?ve been lacking prior to the trade deadline. <font size="3"><font color="Green">Supersonic Bench Summary:</font></font> The Sonics bench is very deep. They have yet another perimeter threat and a 6th man of the year in Vladimir Radmanovic. What makes Vlad so effective is like most European big men, is able to shoot the long ball, and very well at 6?10! The Knicks bigs can not forget about this and that needs to be stressed tonight. They have Antonio Daniels a back up PG giving about 12 points and 4 assists off the bench. Not so sure if Fortson who?s had some problems with the team recently will be playing. He didn?t play yesterday and isn?t on the injured list so, I really don?t know. Nick Collison from Kansas gives them a little lift off the bench as well. Their starters are the main concern for the Knicks, however the bench can certainly not be forgotten at all! <div align="center"><font size="4"><font color="Green">Key Matchup:</font></font> The Most Important Jamal Crawford vs.Ray Allen This matchup is the most important. Jamal Crawford and Ray Allen are two prolific scorers. Allen is a premier shooting guard while Crawford is someone trying to become one. Jamal Crawford a young player with a ways to go, will be playing a very experienced veteran. Defense wins championships and it can also win this game against the Sonics. Allen needs to take advantage of any lackluster defense he receives and make the Knicks pay. Playing against one of the best shooter in the league requires defense and whether or not he decides to show up or not will most likely decide our fate. That is why this is the most important matchup in my opinion.</div> <font size="4">My Prediction:</font> The Knicks are playing the Seattle Sonics with the 3rd best record in the western conference. They are playing with tons of confidence and are one of the most surprising teams in the whole NBA this season. They come to Madison Square Garden after losing a close one in Seattle against the Bulls. The Knicks have won 7 straight at home and 7 of their last 10 games. They are playing very different basketball than what they were in January. Although they are playing an elite western conference team, I am taking the Knicks partly because I am a bias fan, and second of all because of the way they have been playing at home. They are playing with too much confidence and I feel as if Herb Williams will stress this game and the Knicks will actually show up. With the World?s Most Famous Arena cheering on their beloved Knicks, I will make a bold statement and say the Knicks will win it 100-90. Just please, don?t bash me if my prediction is totally wrong . <font color="Blue"><font size="3">Just For You Guys:</font></font> <font size="2">Useful/less stat of the day</font> The last time Seattle won at Madison Square Garden, was in 2000 <font size="2">Word of the day:</font> Pandemonium; n: a state of extreme confusion and disorder <font size="2">Random Family Guy Quote:</font> Lois: Peter, why would they make you presidesnt? Peter: Maybe it's because I can recite all 50 states in a quarter of a second - RARF! Lois: Peter, that was just a loud yelping noise. <font color="Red"><font size="4">Don?t Forget:</font></font> <font size="3">THIS GAME IS AT 6:00 PM EASTERN TIME!!! 3:00 PM IN SEATTLE</font>
Hmm, I thought this was the second of a back to back set, but it's not which is ok as New York is on the other side of the country. An absolute must win here. We've dropped three winnable games in a row, and we can't let it escalate any further, especially against a lotto bound team like the Knicks. Denver have to play in San Antonio today as well, so if they lose that, then it's a good chance to extend that lead over them back out, as they are one the NBA's hottest team right now.
Yes, Supersonic is 100% right - a must win!!! I think that when our perimeter guys can drain their shots then we will win it! But if we have another subpar shooting night and our bigs can't rebound us to win then it will be difficult game.
Another loss would be devastating. Nate needs to talk to the guys and get them all on the same page. Our bench needs to be more productive tonight and our shooting needs to vastly improve. Hopefully Nate can rally the troops and the Sonics can come away with a win.
How many games must we lose in a row before Nate goes deeper in his bench? I've been wondering this entire season how this team would react to a large losing streak. This is the longest one this season and I'm already see some finger pointing going on. I'm rooting hard for us to turn it around tonight. If scoring from the bench is the excuse of choice right now, why don't we remedy the situation by giving some well deserved minutes to #22? Doesn't seem like too wild of an adjustment.
Oh, Shieky. I'm all for giving more minutes to Flip if it makes sense in the flow of the game. What I really want is for Collison to get more involved in the offense. And for Rashard to start posting up again.
I really don't understand either why Nate is so afraid of playing Flip. He is a prolific scorer and proved that he can be consistent last year when Ray Allen was hurt. We need to give him more of a chance!
We needed a win and we got one. Not too many positives that I can take from this game other than Nick Collison playing very well down the stretch. Nate is searching right now for a combination that can generate consistent offense, defense, and rebounding. For a large stretch in the second half we had a line up of Daniels, Lewis, Vlad, Nick, and Fortson. At times I think Nate is more concerned about the rotation than he is coaching the game. The Knicks couldn't have played a worse second half than they did tonight. Had we played against any other team we probably would have lost tonight. Ray Allen is really not playing like he wants a contract extension. Considering how we haven't been able to put together a long stretch of quality play of late I'm wondering whether or not we are going to become content w/ winning even when we play as poorly as we did today.
A win is still a win. The best teams still win when they're not at their best. We'll walk away from this one thinking "Hey, we played badly tonight, but we still won in a place where no-one has been able to win in the past month, and a place we haven't been able to win at in five seasons." You've gotta be taking confidence from that, regardless of how it was won. Rashard was big again down the stretch, as he continues his post All-Star good form, and Big Nick outplayed the man taken two spots above him in Mike Sweetney. Denver have a tough home game against the Suns right now. They lose that, and the division lead stretches right out again.
We needed this win in a big way,and we did get the win. But we are still playing quite poorly. I'm really starting to get concerned. Ray and Vlad are in a really bad shooting slump right now, and, our bench as a whole hasn't been performing as well as it was earlier in the season. Ridnour's play has also been alot worse as of late, and overall the team just seems to be getting away from got them to where they are are right now. Time for the good, Lewis was big for us in this game, Nick played great in limited minutes today and Evans was a monster on the boards as always We really need to start stringing together some good wins to get back on track.
Chicago and Detroit next two, both on the road. With Phoenix, we are the only team to have lost less than 10 games on the road, cureently at 21-8.
Sonics best formula, early in the year included one big offensive quarter, usually in the mid 30's and usually in the first half, coupled with one big defensive quarter, holding the opponent under 20, usually in the second half. November had four exceptions that I found, San Antonio (just bad early SA offense), Nets (just really bad 1st half NJ offense), Toronto (4 solid offensive quarters) and Indiana (4 good defensive quarters). The formula was true for 9 of the 13 wins. In the three losses they had only one game with a solid defensive quarter, holding the opponent below 20, but that quarter was offset by na lack of a 30 point offensive quarter and a 38 point defensive surrender (this was the Portland loss) which means all the losses still meet the formula. In December they had 5 win exceptions. The Dallas win had no defensive quarter, but 1 strong and two solid offensive quarters. The Lakers win had three solid offensive quarters and one 20 point defensive quarter. The Nuggets win had no huge offensive quarter for the Supes, but they held the Nuggets below 20 points in two quarters. The Utah win offered no 30+ quarter for the Supes, but they held Utah at 21 or below for three quarters. The Charlotte win had three strong offensive quarters, but they never held the Bobcats below 20. That is not as good a match, with only 4 of 9 wins fitting the formula. The three losses all fit the formula, with the defensive quarter missing in each game. Two of those losses still could have been wins without the defense, except the Supes either gave up 2 30+ quarters or were held below 20 for 2 quarters. In fact, while the Sonics seem to find ways to win all season without the formula, they have only lost one game all season when they meet the criteria. There has only been one game where they had at least 30 points for one quarter and held the opponent below 20 for one quarter where they still lost the game. Even this one was awful close to missing the formula, and it needed an overtime decision. This was the Jan 18th loss to the Nuggets. The sonics scored 30 points and held the Nuggets to 19 points in the 2nd quarter (only one point within each formula stat). That left the door open to an OT victory by the Nuggets when they scored 21 points in the 5 minute overtime to the Sonics 15 points (argh to Earl Boykins). Think about it. All they have needed is average offense for 3 quarters with one strong quarter, and 3 quarters of average defense with one strong defensive quarter, and they don't lose. They have been able to overcome the lack of an offensive quarter by 2 or more quarters of defense, and have overcome defense laziness through 2 or more better than average quarters. Jack up shots in the first and shut the opponent in the 3rd and they could win all their remaining games (or at least 94% of them)!!! Ok, realistically, I just meant to point out how little it takes for the Sonics to win. The have been able to win games where they were held below 20 for 2 quarters, where they have given up 28+ in 2 quarters, as long as they have one good offensive quarter and one good defensive quarter.
Can you find out how often we've blasted an opponent after halftime? I seem to remember a lot of wins where we came out of the locker room after halftime and blew teams away in the third period.
hot 2nd half numbers <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Supersonic:</div><div class="quote_post">Can you find out how often we've blasted an opponent after halftime? I seem to remember a lot of wins where we came out of the locker room after halftime and blew teams away in the third period.</div> it is midnight here in tokyo...and I can't sleep yet...so I actually looked it up for you... 20 of the wins had 50 or more points in the 3rd+4th quarters (i excluded ot points) and 10 of the losses had 50 or more 3rd+4th quarters. That doesn't do much for the team. They lose 1/3 of the games where they have a 50+ point second half. I think the key to the offense and defense is that the big offensive quarter can be overcome by the opponent if you don't clamp the D down for at least one quarter, but if you shut them down for 12 minutes...you will have a great chance of winning as a scoring team.
