Knicks 11-10 vs. Pistons 10-13 <font size="3"> Date: 12/17/04 Time 7:00 (6:30 Cannon Business Solutions Knicks Gamenight) TV: MSG </font> <font size="4">Season Stats</font> Knicks: Record: 11-11 (.500) Standings: First, Atlantic 3rd seed in the Eastern Conference At Home: 7-3 On Road: 4-8 PPG: 95.9 Opp PPG: 96.9 FG%: .442 Opp FG%: .459 RPG: 43.0 Opp RPG: 41.9 76ers Record: 9-12 (.429) 8th seed in the Eastern Conference Standings: Second, Alantic At Home: 6-2 On Road: 4-8 PPG: 94.7 Opp PPG: 98.6 FG%: .425 Opp FG%: .432 RPG: 42.0 Opp RPG: 44.1 <font size="4"> <font color="DarkOrange">Knicks</font></font> PG: Stephon Marbury 19.9ppg 2.9rpg 8.7apg SG: Jamal Crawford 19.3ppg 2.7rpg 3.8apg SF: Tim Thomas 9.0ppg 3.3rpg 1.0apg PF: Kurt Thomas 11.8ppg 10.6rpg 1.5apg C: Nazr Mohammed 12.5ppg 9.5rpg 0.2apg <font size="4"> <font color="Red">Sixers</font></font> PG: Allen Iverson 26.0ppg 3.7rpg 7.4apg SG: Kyle Korver 20.5ppg 3.8rpg 3.8apg SF: Andre Iguodala 8.0ppg 5.4rpg 2.3apg PF: Kenny Thomas 8.3ppg 6.7rpg 1.3apg C: Samuel Dalembert 5.4ppg 6.6rpg 0.7apg <font size="4"> <font color="Red">Injuries:</font></font> NYK: Penny Hardaway, Jamison Brewer PHI: Glenn Robinson, Kevin Olie, Kedrick Brown <font size="4"> <font color="Green">Matchups:</font></font> PG: Stephon Marbury PG: Stephon Marbury 19.9ppg 2.9rpg 8.7apg 19.9ppg 2.9rpg 8.7apg PG: Marbury is playing "The Answer" Allen Iverson. Iverson is able to elude anyone off the dribble so this is always a tough matchup. What Marbury and the Knicks need to do at Philadelphia, is play good defense. Iverson's shot selection is questionable already so along with that and good defense he will have a tough time. Last year, the Knicks held Iverson to 11 points on 2-21 shooting. But, that was last year. This is this year and we need to see what happens. We had Iverson drop 29 on us last meeting hopefully we can play better defense at Philladelphia SG: Jamal Crawford will have to play great defense against Hamilton. Hamilton's midrange jumpshot requires guarding. No question. He is very quick off screens and can find a way to score off the dribble as well. These are thetimes when I really miss Shandon Anderson. Crawford can ill-afford to take bad shots today. Every posession is crucial for us if we plan to win the game today. Hamilton isn't a great defender he's just a decent one. Crawford can score but, he will have to definitely do more than just score for the Knicks to win this game against the Pistons. SF: Please TT take advantage of your size and muscle. Prince is a real skinny dude upfront so, if TT utilizes his strength upfront he can take advantage. TT has the tendency to get sloppy after making a good move and be stupid with the ball thus causing a to or ill advised shot. Prince is no joke on defense either. With that wingspan he can block many shots and TT will not be an exception tonight. PF: Kurt Thomas will need to play very great defense tonight against Rasheed Wallace. He can post up, shoot the rock so Thomas will need to be all over the court. Kurt Thomas also needs to make that midrange jumper today. When Wallace doubles after a penetration Kurt has to make him pay no question. JYD is a great option for Rasheed Wallace because of his, speed, hustle, and heart. C: Nazr Mohammed will have the hardest challenge that he will have in the whole season. Ben Wallace is a two in a row defensive player in the league and knows how to play defense against the best of them. Wallace can rebound very well as well. His offensive game has been improving as well. If Mohammed can bring some of that defense vs. NJ we will be in good shape. If Mohammed can give us a double double on decent fg% we will know for sure 100% Mohammed is here to stay and is a top C in the East. Mohammed will definitely have his hands full today. Let's see what he can do! <font size="4"><font color="Green">Key Matchup:</font></font> The Key Matchup is at the PG position. Stephon Marbury Chauncey Billups These two are top offensive weapons for their team as well as their leaders. Their performance (especially Marbury) can definitely effect the outcome of the game. Marbury and Billups are very experienced floor generals that have to get their team involved on both ends of the floor. Look for them to go at eachother tonight. <font size="4">My Prediction:</font> This is a really tough prediction. The Knicks will be playing the world champion Detroit Pistons tonight. I am going to go with the Knicks by 2. The homecourt advantage and the recent mommentum @ NJ, and vs. Denver will prove crucial to them. The Pistons always had a tough time at the Garden and hopefully they will again tonight. I think the Knicks guards are really going to propel them tonight and get a win vs. Detroit. The Pistons have also struggled recently and are curently only at .500. I really hope the Knicks will pull out this game. I am going with them 96-94. Please don't let me down Knicks.
