Cavaliers @ Knicks 11/21: Preview/Game Thread

[Ming637]

@

Date: Sunday November 21st
Time: 7:30
TV: MSG, NBATV

Previous Games

Knicks: Loss against Celtics 93-91
Cavaliers: Win against Bobcats 106-89


Probable Starters

Guards

Stephon" target="_blank">http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/jeff_m...is.jpg">Stephon</a> Marbury/Jeff Mcinnis

Jamal Crawford/Ira Newble

Tim Thomas(sigh)/LeBron James

Kurt Thomas/Drew Gooden

Nazr Mohammed/Zydrunas Ilgauskis


<u>Injury List</u>

Knicks: Allan Houston

Cavaliers: Luke Jackson and Anderson Varejao

Key Players

Kurt Thomas will have to heat up his mid-range shot, if the Knicks want to win. Kurt's mid-ranger has been efficent against Houston shooting 11-20 and shot 8-14 last night against Dallas. Kurt will also have to play good D against Drew Gooden.

LeBron has averaged 27.4 points a game. LeBron James will easily run over Tim Thomas in the game, so expect him to score big against the Knicks.


My Prediction

Cleveland is on a 5 game winning streak and expecting to bring more hype tommorow when they face the Bobcats tonight. If the Knicks play efficiently and guard LeBron James carefully, I think they can pull off a win.

Knicks win 97-89.

 

[Mr. J]

The Knicks will have trouble down low with Ilgauskas. All of our big men again have their hands full. I hope we can give James a rough night. There is nothing worse than someone making highlights in your house. The Knicks despite going 1-2 on the triangle, we still got major confidence that will be vital especially when we arrive back home. I'm predicting a 95-85 win over tha Cavs.

BTW, the Knicks previous game was a loss at Dallas 103-101.

 

[Knicks Analyst]

Nice job. The key to the game in my mind is Crawford. He will have to perform well today if we want to dominate the backcourt. If we can easily win the backcourt battle, the game is a lock.

Knicks: 94
Cavs: 83

 

[STC]

LeBron will go for over 30 in this game against Tim Thomas. No way he can hang with LBJ.

Knicks : 94
Cavs A: 89

 

[Tribute to H2O]

Crawford has been performing well lately so I'm worried about how he'll perform against the Cavaliers. I think you all know what I mean. Big Z will give us headaches if we dont double up on him but I'm not worried about Drew Gooden at all. Lebron will be more than a headache...we havent a person who can stop him. Were going to need a good deal of production from our bench win this one. That means feeding Sweetney in the low post and letting him work. Penny and Ariza has to put up points as well. That will be the difference maker,our bench. I predict a tough one:92-87 Knicks

 

[jbbDavid]

Nice Preview!

 

[JWohl]

Game tonight

As much as I love my Knicks I see them having real trouble in this game. LBJ will rip Tim "the idiot" Thomas apart, and Ilgauskus will have a field day with Nazr on him. Unless we get huge performances from Marbury and Crawford it could be a long long night.

 

[BigBlueFan]

I really think the Cavs will win this one. The Knicks don't really have anyone to matchup with Big Z. This will be a close one, that the Cavs will barely pull out...

Cavs-95
Knicks-91

 

[Glen Infante]

Im not too worried about Jamal with Ira guarding him. LeBron will walk all over Tim Thomas. Nazr needs to be on his A game to stop Z. The only problem I see here is Marbury, but we have Eric Snow to try to slow him down. And Drew Gooden needs to box out Thomas for he will be all over the glass. The Cavs are very confident and so am I. Cavs win 100-96 in free throw mahem.

BTW: Madison Square Garden=LBJ Showtime. Ready to see that triple double yet? I am.

 

[Mr. J]

Not in my house he's not getting a triple double. Ira can't stop Crawford and neither can Snow stop Marbury. Too quick and too great of ballhandlers. Z and LBJ might put up some decent numbers but, they have no one else. NY is too happy to come back home and have more confidence on the road trip to lose. Defeat is written all over the Cavs on Sunday.

 

[Glen Infante]

LBJ LOVES Madison Square Garden. He might not get that triple double, but I hope he comes close to it. It dosen't matter how well of ball handlers your back court is really, Ira and Snow are great defenders and have the ability to shut down any great offensive player. Ira has been doing that all last season and he is much improved this season. He is healthy and in better shape. Not to take away from your back courts talent. They are a great duo. But don't over look our defenders because they have mad handles.

 

[Mr. J]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Infante:</div><div class="quote_post">LBJ LOVES Madison Square Garden. He might not get that triple double, but he will I hope he comes close to it. It dosen't matter how well of ball handlers your back court is really, Ira and Snow are great defenders and have the ability to shut down any great offensive player. Ira has been doing that all last season and he is much improved this season. He is healthy and in better shape. Not to take away from your back courts talent. They are a great duo. But don't over look our defenders because they have mad handles.</div>
They might be great defenders but, two handlers slashing and penetrating is devasting to the defense. Because of this Crawford has been shooting a career high 418 3p %. Marbury is pretty much virtually unstoppable one on one vs anyone. Ira Newble still isn't that great of a defender to guard Crawford. His quickness doesn't match.

 

[Glen Infante]

Crawford is playing great ball, he is really impressing me. But Ira has shut down guys better than Jamal. If JC has a great night, I wouldn't be suprised because of his talent. Ira Newble is extremely underrated. You don't notice how well his defense is until he sits on the bench.

 

[Ming637]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Infante:</div><div class="quote_post">You don't notice how well his defense is until he sits on the bench.</div>

You don't notice how well his karate is either.

LOL

 

[Mr. J]

I hope he doesn't do that to Jamal! But seriously he has Steph along with him so when players get beat off the dribble such he will most likely get doubled leaving Jamal open for a good looking shot. Newble might be a good defender but, Jamal shakes even better defenders such as Ginobili. Even without Crawford our bench is too deep for the Cavs.

 

[jbbPrimetime]

Lets hope the New York Knicks bench can pull this one out, both starting line-ups are almost equal.
Penny Hardaway, Trevor Ariza, Mike Sweetney, really got to hold their own and make impacts, I'm sure they all will, but lets see what happens ay.
No turnovers! or its all over, cannot let Lebron James put on a show.

New York Knicks 98
Cleveland Cavaliers 91

Bench plays too well for the New York Knicks to lose.

 

[TnNeG]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Infante:</div><div class="quote_post">BTW: Madison Square Garden=LBJ Showtime. Ready to see that triple double yet? I am.</div>

:thumbsdow sorry buddy, i doubt that will ever happen at madison square garden.
i only have one thing to say:
LET'S GO KNICKS!

Knicks win it by 6.

 

[Mr. J]

At the half so far so good. I'm also pleased LeBron did not really have that much of an impact and not that many highlights. Also I'm glad that half court even didn't count. Phew!

 

[Knicks Analyst]

Looking so strong thus far. I'm really loving Sweetney's game recently. My man Crawford has played with such specatacular enthusiasm and with such amazing talent. A really wonderful first half. James really hasn't done much contrary to Infante's earlier comments. Anyone notice the spin Marbury has been putting on the ball has changed? Much faster it seems more effective.

Let me just say that I feel sorry for all the Cavs fans that had their hopes up and all. With the schedule they had so far, to come into New York where they had the upper hand last year and got some serious production out of Big Z and James, this is has to be tough.
Good for me and my fellow Knicks fans, though.

 

[STC]

Good first half from the Knicks. LeBron really hasn't done anything. He's already turned the ball over. Gooden has had a good first half, but thats about it for the Cavs.

For the Knicks, no real standout guys. Looking at the box score, all the Knicks starters have 6 points, and Penny has 7 off the bench.

Everytime LeBron touches the ball, defenders swarm him. Great job.

For some reason, I have a feeling LeBron is going to come out real quick, and get his team right back into the game.

 

[Mr. J]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Knicks Analyst:</div><div class="quote_post">Looking so strong thus far. I'm really loving Sweetney's game recently. My man Crawford has played with such specatacular enthusiasm and with such amazing talent. A really wonderful first half. James really hasn't done much contrary to Infante's earlier comments. Anyone notice the spin Marbury has been putting on the ball has changed? Much faster it seems more effective.

Let me just say that I feel sorry for all the Cavs fans that had their hopes up and all. With the schedule they had so far, to come into New York where they had the upper hand last year and got some serious production out of Big Z and James, this is has to be tough.
Good for me and my fellow Knicks fans, though.

</div>

Yeah, they were getting way too happy playing teams like Charlotte, and Washington. And that steal on Snow was great. He's only 24 and will be here for many years to come.

 

[Glen Infante]

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">LeBron really hasn't done anything</div>

10/8/8

 

[Glen Infante]

Turnovers turnovers turnovers. Great game by the Knicks. Crawford and Thomas drilled the Cavs with their jumpshots. Great effort today by Drew Gooden with another double double and James with a solid 13/10/9. I was close!

 

[Mr. J]

He was shooting horribly though.

It got a little scary when the Cavs tried to make that run but, I never doubted my Knicks. Great 4th quarter by Jamal Crawford. He really stepped up making him more dependable in situations like this. Hardaway and Kurt Thomas also had solid contributions. I'm soooo glad LBJ didn't get a triple double although he was one rebound a way. Things will only get better when Allan Houston returns. I knew Cavalier fans were getting too excited but, they still are very young and inexperienced. Good game by NY. Finally I thought I saw Crawford giving a pound to Jay-Z or was that my eyes playing me?

 

[Tribute to H2O]

Am I the only one who gets headaches when Crawford takes those bad shots?? But they were going in tonight so I cant really complain. We stopped Lebron from putting on a show and Big Z was a nuisance but nothing more. TT had a half decent game as well. Nazr is growing on me very slowly. I wonder though why didnt Lenny play Sweetney and Ariza much? They both did great when they were in there. And oh yeah I love the JYD!

 

[Knicks Analyst]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Infante:</div><div class="quote_post">10/8/8</div>
I was talking about the outstanding game you were preaching. He finished incredibly but not as much of a game as you had predicted.

 

[Mr. J]

JYD is really valuable to this team. He's untouchable in my eyes. Crawford had going in the 4th and was feeling it so I'd give it to him too. Would you guys trade Mohammed for Curry. Mohammed has been playing well as of late and seems to be fitting in the chemistry a bit.