Preseason Opener: New York vs. New Jersey

Mr. J · Oct 15, 2005

After a 33-49 season, it was clear the New York Knicks needed to do some revamping. The Knicks addressed some of their needs with an active offseason which saw many player and personnel changes. Such moves included the signing of Larry Brown and the trades for Quentin Richardson and Eddy Curry while the familiar face of Kurt Thomas and sophomore standout, Mike Sweetney, all found themselves members of different teams. The Nets also had a rather active offseason, too. Although they did lose out in the Abdur-Rahim sweepstakes, they followed it up with solid signings of Jeff McInnis, Marc Jackson and Scott Padgett. Now with all the hype surrounding both teams, the two cross-town rivals will give us a taste of what could be coming up in the regular season. Will Starbury and the Knicks wind up victorious, or will history repeat itself with it being nothing but Nets?

<div align="center"> @

New York Knicks (0-0) @ New Jersey Nets (2-0)</div>

Date: Saturday, October 15, 2005
Time: 7:30pm EST
Location: Arena at Harbor Yard, Bridgeport, CT

2004-05 Stats:

New York Knicks
Record: 33-49 (.401)
Standings: Fourth, Atlantic

PPG: 97.3..... Opponents: PPG: 99.7
FG%: 45.1.... Opponents: FG%: 46.5
RPG: 41.0?... Opponents: RPG: 41.7

New Jersey Nets
Record: 42-40 (.512)
Standings: Third, Atlantic

PPG: 91.4..... Opponents: PPG: 92.9
FG%: 42.9.... Opponents: FG%: 43.9
RPG: 39.5?... Opponents: RPG: 39.5

<div align="center">Knicks Starting Lineup

</div>

-All statistics are from 2004-05 season; rookie stats are from college or NBDL
-Bold indicates leader in particular stat.

Knicks Starters:

C:.. Eddy Curry: 28.7 MPG l 16.1 PPG l 5.4 RPG l 0.6 APG l FG: 53.8%
PF: Malik Rose: 19.4 MPG l 7.0 PPG l 4.5 RPG l 0.8 APG l FG: 44.9%
SF: Quentin Richardson: 35.9 MPG l 14.9 PPG l 6.1 RPG 1 2.0 APG l FG: 38.9%
SG: Stephon Marbury: 40.0 MPG l PPG: 21.7 l RPG: 3.0 l APG: 8.1 l FG: 46.2%
PG: Jamal Crawford: 38.4 MPG l PPG: 17.5 l RPG: 2.9 l APG: 4.3 l FG: 39.8%

Knicks Bench:
Guards:
[IMGl]http://www.nba.com/media/draft2005/nate_robinson.jpg[/IMGl] G Nate Robinson (stats from Washington)
31.5 MPG
16.4 PPG
3.9 RPG
4.5 APG
FG: 46.3%

[IMGl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/anfernee_hardaway.jpg[/IMGl] G/F Penny Hardaway
24.2 MPG
7.3 PPG
2.4 RPG
2.0 APG
FG: 42.3%

Forwards:
[IMGl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/trevor_ariza.jpg[/IMGl] F Trevor Ariza
17.3 MPG
5.9 PPG
3.0 RPG
1.1 APG
FG: 44.2%

[IMGl]http://www.nba.com/media/draft2005/david_lee.jpg[/IMGl] F David Lee (stats from Florida)
28.0 MPG
13.0 PPG
9.0 RPG
2.2 APG
FG: 52.5%

[IMGl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/matt_barnes.jpg[/IMGl] F Matt Barnes
16.6 MPG
3.8 PPG
3.1 RPG
1.3 APG
FG: 41.1%

[IMGl]http://img335.imageshack.us/img335/4436/resize2zl.jpg[/IMGl] F Otis George (Stats from Louisville)
19.2 MPG
5.5 PPG
4.9 RPG
0.8 APG
FG: 54.7%

Centers:
[IMGl]http://www.nba.com/media/draft2005/channing_frye.jpg[/IMGl] F/C Channing Frye (Stats from Arizona)
31.0 MPG
15.8 PPG
7.6 RPG
1.9 APG
FG: 55.4%

[IMGl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/jerome_james.jpg[/IMGl] C Jerome James
16.6 MPG
4.9 PPG
3.0 RPG
0.2 APG
FG: 50.9%

[IMGl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/jackie_butler.jpg[/IMGl] C Jackie Butler
1.7 MPG
3.3 PPG
0.0 RPG
0.0 APG
FG: 100%

Click here for complete Knick stats

<div align="center">Nets Starting Lineup

</div>

Nets Starters:

C: ?Nenad Krstic: 10.0 PPG l 5.3 RPG l 1.0 APG l 49.3% FG
PF: Clifford Robinson: 7.5 PPG l 2.9 RPG l 1.5 APG l 38.6% FG
SF: Richard Jefferson: 41.1 MPG l 22.2 PPG l 7.3 RPG l 4.0 APG l 41.1% FG
SG: Vince Carter: 36.7 MPG l PPG: 24.5 l RPG: 5.2 l APG: 4.2 45.5% FG
PG: Jason Kidd: 36.9 MPG l PPG: 14.4 l RPG: 7.4 l APG: 8.3 l 39.8% FG

Nets Bench:
Guards:
[IMGl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/zoran_planinic.jpg[/IMGl] G Zoran Planinic
12.0 MPG
5.0 PPG
1.6 RPG
1.0 APG
FG: 44.8%

[IMGl]http://img386.imageshack.us/img386/3997/resize26wx.jpg[/IMGl] G Ricky Shields (Stats from Rutgers)
31.6 MPG
13.0 PPG
3.9 RPG
2.5 APG
FG: 36.2%

[IMGl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/derrick_zimmerman.jpg[/IMGl] G Derrick Zimmerman (Stats from NBDL)
30.0 MPG
8.4 PPG
4.3 RPG
5.6 APG
FG: 46.9%

[IMGl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/jacque_vaughn.jpg[/IMGl] G Jacque Vaughn
19.9 MPG
5.3 PPG
1.5 RPG
1.9 APG
FG: 44.9%

[IMGl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/antoine_wright.jpg[/IMGl] G/F Antoine Wright (stats from Texas A&M)
33.9 MPG
17.8 PPG
6.0 RPG
2.2 APG
FG: 50.1%

Forwards:
[IMGl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/lamond_murray.jpg[/IMGl] F Lamond Murray
14.8 MPG
6.0 PPG
2.6 RPG
0.8 APG
FG: 42.6%

[IMGl] http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/linton_johnson.jpg[/IMGl] F Linton Johnson III
7.5 MPG
0.0 PPG
1.5 RPG
0.0 APG
FG: 00.0%

[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/scott_padgett.jpg[/imgl] F Scott Padgett
14.3 MPG
4.2 PPG
2.8 RPG
0.8 APG
FG: 42.1%

[IMGl] http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/arthur_johnson.jpg[/IMGl] F/C Arthur Johnson (Stats from Missouri)
32.8 MPG
15.4 PPG
9.2 RPG
1.2 APG
FG: 48.6%

Centers:
[IMGl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/marc_jackson.jpg[/IMGl] F/C Marc Jackson
24.4 MPG
12.0 PPG
5.0 RPG
1.0 APG
FG: 46.5%

[IMGl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/ben_handlogten.jpg[/IMGl] C Ben Handlgten
14.1 MPG
4.5 PPG
3.1 RPG
0.6 APG
FG: 51.8%

Click here for complete Nets stats.

<div align="center">Injury Report:</div>
NYK:
G Allan Houston: Sore left knee (ruled out)
F Maurice Taylor: Strained right Achilles (questionable)

NJN:
G Jeff McInnis: Back strain (ruled out)
F/C Jason Collins: knee (questionable)

<div align="center">Match-ups:</div>

<div align="center">Point Guard</div>
Jamal Crawford??..?..??..???.???..??..????????????..????..????.Jason Kidd
[IMGl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/jamal_crawford.jpg[/IMGl] [IMGr]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/jason_kidd.jpg[/IMGr] Age: 25???..?..????...???.??????.??????..?. Age: 32
Height: 6?5? ???.??...?..?????.??????.?..?. Height: 6?4?
Weight: 190 lbs??????..??.??????..?. Weight: 210 lbs.
Experience: 5 years?.??..???.???.Experience: 11 years
Option: #2: ?????????.??.??.??..???.???. Option: #3

The match-up at point guard features two very talented point guards in Jamal Crawford and Jason Kidd. After Larry Brown deemed it necessary to utilize Marbury?s scoring ability to the fullest, and place him at shooting guard, Jamal Crawford is set to play point guard. Normally, you wouldn?t want to have a point guard whose first option is to shoot, and whose second option is to pass it to himself off the backboard, but it seems every time Crawford plays point guard during brief stretches of the game, the Knicks run smoother. The way Crawford pushes the tempo and gets everyone to run is something that not even Marbury did a great job of doing last year. His opponent, Jason Kidd, the definition of a pure point guard, likes to push the ball as well. Now that Kidd and the swingman duo of Richard Jefferson and Vince Carter are healthy, expect them to do a bit more running this year than last. It will be Crawford?s job (as well as the other Knicks), to get back and play some transition defense ? something they haven?t done much of last year. With Brown now replacing Herb Williams on the sidelines, look forward to seeing Crawford putting some pep in their steps.

<div align="center">Shooting Guard</div>
Stephon Marbury??..?.???.???..??..????????????..????..????.Vince Carter
[IMGl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/stephon_marbury.jpg[/IMGl] [IMGr]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/vince_carter.jpg[/IMGr] Age: 28???..?..????...???.??????.??????..?. Age: 28
Height: 6?2? ???.??...?..?????.??????.?..?. Height: 6?5?
Weight: 200 lbs??????..??.??????..?. Weight: 220 lbs.
Experience: 9 years?.??..???.??.?.Experience: 7 years
Option: #1 ????...????????????..???.??.?.Option: #1

A dramatic confrontation is in store for us with Marbury and Carter going head-to-head at the shooting guard match-up. Although at a four inch disadvantage, don?t expect that to stop Marbury from doing what he loves to do most: scoring. Marbury has the perfect combination of strength and agility to become a thorn in the side of the defense. Marbury, however, won?t be judged on how many points he can score, but on how much defense he can play. Marbury?s scoring prowess is well-known, but his defense isn?t (this is mainly due to its lack of existence). While shutting down one of the league?s elite scorers who boasts the nickname Vinsanity is an unreasonable task, Knick fans will be satisfied with Marbury?s effort on the defensive end and whether he give Carter a hard time to score.

<div align="center">Small Forwards</div>

Quentin Richardson??..?..??..????????????..????..????.Richard Jefferson
[IMGl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/quentin_richardson.jpg[/IMGl] [IMGr]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/richard_jefferson.jpg[/IMGr] Age: 25???..?..????...???.??????.??????..?. Age: 25
Height: 6?6? ???.??...?..?????.??????.?..?. Height: 6?7?
Weight: 230 lbs??????..??.??????..?. Weight: 225 lbs.
Experience: 6 years?.??..???.??.?.Experience: 5 years
Option: #4 ????...????????????..???.??.?.Option: #2

At the starting three spot, we have Q-Rich and RJ who have two different games, but share the same responsibility of making an impact on their respective teams. Now that Q is finally outside of Phoenix, don?t as odd as it might seem, don?t expect him to launch too many three?s from the outside; expect to see vintage Q getting in the post and putting that 230 pound frame to work. Similar to Marbury, though, Richardson will not be judged based on his scoring (although his field goal will be taken into consideration), but rather on how much defense he can play. Just like Carter, Jefferson possesses jump-out-the-gym athleticism and with a steady improving jumper, RJ is capable of becoming a problem for any defender, especially the bad ones. It will be Quentin?s job to put his hand up to contest every jump shot, call out every screen, and try to force Jefferson to make ill-advised decisions with the ball.

<div align="center">Power Forward</div>

Malik Rose??..????.?????....??..????????????..????..????.Clifford Robinson
[IMGl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/malik_rose.jpg[/IMGl] [IMGr]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/clifford_robinson.jpg[/IMGr] Age: 30???..?..??..??...???.??????.??????..?. Age: 38
Height: 6?7? ????.????.........?..?.??.?..?. Height: 6?10?
Weight: 255 lbs??????..??.??????..?. Weight: 240 lbs.
Experience: 9 years??.?.?..?..?.?.Experience: 16 years
Option: #5 ????...????????????..???.??.?.Option: #5

The youth ends here and two veterans go head to head. Malik Rose vs. Clifford Robinson isn?t an exciting match-up, nevertheless both are valuable assets to their teams. Rose, who is no stranger to Brown?s demanding ways, might just have the upper hand in this one. The Drexel product is very undersized for a power forward, but his strong defense, bulk, and surprising athleticism for someone of his stature is what kept him in the league. His opponent, Clifford Robinson, whose better days are behind him, was inserted into the starting lineup after injuries took a toll on Jason Collins. Although Robinson is completely watered down and way passed his prime, Rose cannot forget his tough from the outside. This can become an issue if the perimeter defense of Marbury and Crawford doesn?t hold up. Other than that it will be safe to say that Rose can take advantage of this match-up without too many problems if any at all.

<div align="center">Center</div>

Eddy Curry???????.?????....??..????????????..????..????.Nenad Krstic
[IMGl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/eddy_curry.jpg[/IMGl] [IMGr]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/nenad_krstic.jpg[/IMGr] Age: 22????.?..??..??...???.??????.??????..?. Age: 22
Height: 6?11? ????.????.........?..?.??.?..?. Height: 7?0?
Weight: 285 lbs??????..??.??????..?. Weight: 240 lbs.
Experience: 4 years??.?.??...?..?.?.Experience: 1 year
Option: #3 ????...????????????..???.??.?.Option: #4

Perhaps the most intriguing match-up, Curry against Krstic will definitely be something to play close attention to. After rumors of having a potentially fatal heart condition continue to swarm around Curry, the young Chicago center will try and prove doubters he can still produce at a high level. Curry, yet another contract year success, is a force on the low block. Curry even presented a problem to the Pistons? frontcourt ? a defensive powerhouse. With the likes of Richardson and Crawford spotting up behind the arc, Curry?s double-team-drawing presence will create open shots for them. But even more importantly, Curry will have to put more effort into his rebounding and defending. Now with Davis and Chandler not playing next to him, Curry has no excuse not to haul in more boards. His defense and rebounding is what?s separating him from the next level to being one of the game?s most dominant centers. He will have to play the rookie surprise last season, Nenad Krstic. Krstic has some solid post moves and good agility for a 7-footer. He is also a shot-blocking threat as well, so Curry will have to watch out for that.

Knicks Bench Summary:

Although both teams are still feeling out their rosters, you can get a sense of the major bench factors. For New York, all of the players will have to step up, however, high-energy players such as Nate Robinson, David Lee, and Trevor Ariza will have to keep the Knicks active when they get lethargic. Also, expect to see Channing Frye and Jerome James playing at a high level in search of a possible starting spot.

Nets Bench Summary:

The Nets have played two preseason games and so far, and guys such as Planinic, Murray, and Scott Padgett have become great contributors. One of the Nets major strengths off the bench is their versatility. Their big men are very good passers and aren?t afraid to take the midrange jumper, in some cases, even the long-range one, too! The Knicks must guard the perimeter and the post effectively in order to stay in the game.

<div align="center">Key Match-up</div>
<div align="center">Watch out for?</div>

[imgr]http://www.nba.com/media/knicks/itpgal_050407_steph.jpg[/imgr]Starbury vs. Vinsanity:
Marbury and Carter will end up as the key match-up and possibly as the best 20 minutes of the preseason so far. With these two going at it, expect to see crossovers, nifty lay-ups, perhaps some flashy dunks, and plenty of ooing and awing from the crowd. These two won?t affect the game too much because they?ll be seeing limited action, but when they are on the floor, they?ll give us a very good glimpse of what?s in store for the regular season. Marbury will look to kick off the preseason with a good performance while Carter will look to continue his scoring well with his averages of 13 points in only 19 minutes of action.

Keys to the Game for New York:

Defense!: I know, I know, I sound like a broken record, but one of the Knicks? main flaws last year was how badly they defended. If the Knicks can play some defense, offense won?t be much of a problem for them, especially if they can create off turnovers for easy transition baskets. Whether they can effectively focus on defense will not only decide the victor of the game, but it will also decide whether or not the Knicks can make it to the playoffs.

Feed The Post: Now with Eddy Curry, the Knicks have a very legitimate post player. Feeding the post early will stir can stir up some confidence and will also help Curry adjust to the a system different from Chicago. The results of an effective post player are inevitable: it spreads out the floor and creates open shots for teammates. With the Knicks having shooters on the wing (even more if/when Houston returns), Curry?s presence will be needed.

Pass The Rock: You have Marbury, Crawford, and Richardson ? three players who love nothing more than to launch up a shot. Now with more options ? these three players who carry a lingering reputation for being selfish ? will need to learn how to distribute the ball better and play unselfishly. Although all three are capable of hitting your average players ?tough? shot, a kick out to the open teammate is what Brown will be looking for.

Keys to the Game for New Jersey:

Run V-J-R: Not quite like your classic Warriors trio Run T-M-C, nevertheless, the triple threat of Vince, Jason, and Richard will have to get it done. With injuries decreasing their playing time together, preseason will be the perfect time where these three stars can develop some chemistry.

Get Out On The Break: With the Knicks struggling to get back on defense last year, now is the perfect time to test them and see how much better they?ve gotten. Sure, Brown can help somewhat, but you?ll have to think having a new, different coach will cause them to struggled at least a little bit during the game.

Don?t Be Scared To Take It In: With Jerome James being severely foul prone throughout his entire career, and Channing Frye looking to take a similar path, if the Nets can get them into some foul trouble, the Knicks will have no choice but to send their undersized big men, or their less experienced ones. This should lead to a much easier time dominating the paint for the Nets.

<div align="center">Prediction:</div>

The Nets have started off perfect in the preseason with a 2-0 record which included a game winning layup and a 19-point blowout to the Charlotte Bobcats. With the Knicks facing some injuries and still learning to adjust to a new system as well as new teammates, I think the Knicks will unfortunately kick off the season opener with a close, 95-90 loss against the New Jersey Nets.

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Preseason Opener: New York vs. New Jersey

Mr. J Triple Up

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Preseason Opener: New York vs. New Jersey

Mr. J Triple Up

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