Preview Details: Who: (19-17) vs (16-24) Where: Madison Square Garden When: Fri, Jan 16th, 4:30pm TV: None Projected Lineups: PG: Brent Barry/Antonio Daniels/Luke Ridnour SG: Ray Allen/Ronald Murray/Richie Frahm SF: Rashard Lewis/Vladimir Radmanovic PF: Vladimir Radmanovic/Reggie Evans/Vitaly Potapenko C: Calvin Booth/Jerome James/Vitaly Potapenko Coached by Nate McMillan PG: Stephon Marbury/Frank Williams/Moochie Norris SG: Allan Houston/Anfernee Hardaway SF: Keith Van Horn/Shandon Anderson PF: Kurt Thomas/Othella Harrington/Mike Sweetney C: Dikembe Mutombo/Michael Doleac/Kurt Thomas Coached by Lenny Wilkens Injury List: Nick Collison: shoulder, season. Ansu Sesay: left ring finger sprain, on IL. Knick Injury List Cezary Trybanski: left patella tendinitis, on IL. Analysis: A crucial game for both sides. Seattle, still clinging onto a playoff seed in the West, are currently on the two game losing streak. Against the Warriors they threw away chances to win the game, and against Cleveland they were undone by rookie phenom LeBron James, and shooting too much from the perimeter. New York will give them shots, but can they take the chances they are given? For New York, the addition of Stephon Marbury has certainly added some spice to Brooklyn basketball, and has made New York a higher scoring team. If they want to make the playoffs from here on in, games like this at home need to be won. Good Times: Legendary Seattle point guard and then Championship coach Lenny Wilkens adds some spice to this one. Wilkens starred for the Sonics in the role of player/coach from 1968-1972, and returned to coach them in 1978 through until 1985, guiding Seattle to their first and only Championship to date in 1978/79. [quoteright]"Lenny has a quiet style. What I appreciated, and I was a young player at the time, is he stated what he expected of you and what you needed to do, and then gave you some room go out and do it." Seattle assistant Jack Sikma, who played under Lenny Wilkens in the mid seventies.[/QUOTERIGHT] Key Factor: Containing Marbury is the key here. Since he has landed in Madison Square Garden, Marbury has taken control of this team and shown himself to be an unselfish floor leader, averaging in double figures assist wise. On his day he can and will tear apart any team on the offensive end, and it remains to be seen whether or not Seattle have the match-ups to stop him. Blessed with a great jumper and the speed and ball handling to get past any defender, he promises to give the Sonics problems all night. Antonio Daniels will see plenty of time on him, as Brent Barry give away too much in terms of floor speed and defense. If Marbury gets hot early, then not only does it put Seattle back defensively, it means Luke Ridnour will likely see few to no minutes, which puts back Seattle's transition game. Key Matchup: Rashard Lewis vs Keith Van Horn While Marbury may be the danger man, this is potentially the most important match-up on the floor. Both play very similar games, both have similar stats on the season and a big night from either will likely coincide with a win. Lewis, frustratingly enough, continues to be inconsistent. At his best, Lewis can take a defense apart, and as always the key to his form is getting him early touches. Van Horn may yet be the biggest beneficiary of Marbury's arrival, despite their spotty past. Marbury likes to penetrate, Van Horn likes to work his way around the perimeter and cut through the key, so Lewis will have to stay focused defensively or Marbury will find him for easy buckets time and again. X-Factors: Antonio Daniels - could be his most important game since joining Seattle. Daniels has firmly entrenched himself as 6th man in coach McMillan's rotation and will see plenty of time on Marbury. As per usual, he needs to hit his shots so Marbury can't play off him and look to fast break. Kurt Thomas - once courted by the Sonics, Thomas remains underrated and should have a ball against a weak Seattle team inside. A real banger, he will crash the boards and look to score down low all night. <font size="1">Player photos and logo images courtesy of NBA.com </font>
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Sir Desmond:</div><div class="quote_post">Sun, Jan 11th</div>? I say Knicks by 6ish.
Great preview Des, hmmm hard to say, now that Marbury is there, the matchup seems pretty even to me. I don't have an estimate but I'll say Sonics by 9.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting allnet:</div><div class="quote_post">Someone explain to me why If Sonics win it will be an upset? Can't fiqure that one out.</div> I was just about to ask that. Great preview Dez, as always. One small mistake, check your PM's. I think that the Sonics will win this one by 13. Yes, a big margin but Ray has been playing great and everyone feeds off of him.
lol, you guys are too nice. Knicks at home where they have been playing better with a more aggressive Marbury. Lenny's return to coaching, place will be packed and loud. The Sonics play no sort of defense and shoot too many 3's. While the Knicks don't play D either, they at least have Mutombo, so if he does not get in foul trouble he can play a big part, even if Seattle never attacks the basket. When Seattle wins, they must be very hot from outside, and that can be tough in this environment.
The way I see it,The Sonics are a playoff team in the tough western conference while the Knicks will battle for the 8th seed in the east,they are still 8 games under 500.Ray Allen will be the best player on the court tonight,normally when the talent around you is pretty much equal the team with the best players normally come out on top in this situation.No doubt the Knicks are a good team with Marbury and could well win this game but to suggest a Sonics win being an upset is out of order.
Well you were all very generous, Knicks are up 14 just before halftime and shooting almost 60% from the field. Sorry about the date, that was a bad typo.
Seattle 42, New York 60 @ the half folks Ray is the only Sonic in double figures with 19 Marbury has 4, 2, and 10 assists Van Horn has 19, Houston 11 New York has 12 bench points to the Sonics 3
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting allnet:</div><div class="quote_post">See KJ,I told you not to underrate the Knicks.They are good at home </div> lol! I saw this coming mates, this is the "win one for Lenny" game. Actually before Lenny, against Dallas at home they shot the ball very well too, this may be a trend we see with these "highj scoring" Knicks. Who would have thought that we would say that this year?
I still think they'll go back to their normal ways, it's the Knicks we're talking about remember Still they played a great game tonight. Van Horn was huge, Marbury did whatever he wanted - I hope Nate drills them tonight and gets them in the right frame of mind for Washington tomorrow, I would be insulted if I was him at that performance. Enough said. <font size="1">Box Score courtesy of NBA.com. </font> Next Game: @ Washington, tomorrow
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Sir Desmond:</div><div class="quote_post">I still think they'll go back to their normal ways, it's the Knicks we're talking about remember </div> Yeah, not like thay made any drastic changes or anything
Stephon Marbury finished with 17 assists,he even sat out the final 9 minutes of the 4th quarter I believe.Simply awsome display by the Knicks,Keith Van Horn could hardly miss from deep.
holy crap....17 asts...he's a monster...but then again he only had 8 pts...too bad no double double or anything...
