Dec 2 at New York

[ucatchtrout]

The Blazers play the second game of their five game trip in the Big Apple against a Knickerbocker team that has gone through more than a few changes in the last few months as well as the last few weeks.

Gametime 4:30 pm Pacific Time

Since this is our first look at the Kincks this season here is a video preview of their team. Their roster has been changed substantially since the beginning of the season with the departure of ballhog Zach Randolph.
Video preview of this seasons New York Knicks.
http://www.nba.com/video/channels/n...1024_nyk_preview.nba/index.html?player=nba_tv


Projected starters
Portland Trailblazers

Steve Blake -PG
Brandon Roy-SG
Nic Batum-SF
LaMarcus Aldridge-PF
Greg Oden-Center





Projected starters
New York Knickerbockers

Chris Duhan-PG
Cuttino Mobley-SG
Wilson Chandler-SF
David Lee-PF
Al Harrington- PF

I thought Starbury would be ready to play for this game after refusing to to play earlier for Mike D'Antoni and suggesting he wouldn't trust Coach Mike to walk his dog. But after things went from bad to worse in Knickerbockerland and its unlikely at this point he will ever play for New York again. Look for buyout discussions to heat up Monday and Tuesday between his agent and Donnie Walsh. A deal may even get done before the game with the Blazers.

Speaking of that game the Knicks have been off since their Saturday pounding of the Warriors. Whereas the Blazers come waltzing into the Big Apple after beating exBlazer Rasheed Wallace and the Detroit Pistons on Sunday evening. Its a nice way to start our road trip, beating the Pistions like that, but we'd better not overlook the Knicks. Mike D'Antoni has his run and gun style firmly entrenched in this team now, and the trade with Golden State brings in more legs used to playing in a fast paced system. I think arrangements have been made to keep Starbury away from everyone and everything, and its up to Coach D'Antoni to get whats left of his roster to focus on Tuesdays game and forget the drama.

He'll be in for a challenge Tuesday night against a Portland team that is truly red hot and rolling. The Trailblazers who are unbeaten at home this year have also proven to be tough to beat on the road. Look for them to march into Madison Square Garden planning to make a statement with their play. They have the the Knicks out matched and out gunned at every position 2 deep, and if they keep their wits about them they should control the game from start to finish and beat the Knicks by at least 7. They'll have to bring that defensive game they used in Detroit Sunday night though if they want to slow this New York team down. D'Antoni likes his guys to toss up shots every 7 seconds. Even though we are capapble of outscoring the Knicks, I'm sure Nate will want us to play D and try to slow them down a bit. Otherwise we lose some of our advantages.

http://www.clubblazers.com/blazers-gameday/dec-new-york-t1134.html

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Like the game plan against Bulls we've gotta pound that ball into the post.

 

[andalusian]

Like the game plan against Bulls we've gotta pound that ball into the post.

Something tells me this has a chance of having the same kind of outcome as the Bulls game - a blowout in MSG would be sweeeeeet.

 

[Further]

I really feel like the Blazers can do anything right now. I want a blowout, but will be pleased with any type of win. I am really surprised that the Knicks are doing as well as they are this season and I hope the Blazers don't overlook them.

 

[Shooter]

I'll be at the game, and I can't wait! I'll file a first-hand report as soon as I get home.

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

Like all D'Antoni teams, you just have to learn how to control the tempo of the game.

 

[andalusian]

Like all D'Antoni teams, you just have to learn how to control the tempo of the game.

Nah. Previous D'Antoni teams had talent on the roster. Chris Duhon as your upgrade in the PG? Q-Rich? The only player that is really nice on that roster is David Lee and maybe the wounded Italian kid - and they will probably have to deal him (Lee) for the 2010 plan.

We lost to GSW because Morrow was doing his 2 game impressionism of Reggie Miller, GSW could not miss a free-throw and the Refs had a strange problem with the disease effecting their eyes and thought everyone on GSW's roster had "Wade" on the back.

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

They're still run and gun, or at least to be based on their scoreboard. Just control the tempo of the game, and as you stated, they do have less talent than the suns so might get discombobulated easier.

You've got to watch out to get burned by Al Harrington, who is a very talented player.

Again, if the Knicks do just run and gun, they can put a bunch of points on the board, which you have to stop. David Lee is a good player at scoring in transition with dunks and layups.

 

[Minstrel]

Blazers should win this game easily. Their front court should utterly dominate the Knicks' front court. Their only real big man is Eddy Curry, and he may be the worst big man defender in the game. Oden and Przybilla should continue to put up a dominant combined line and Aldridge needs to totally exploit Harrington.

The Knicks have no point guard that should give Blake or Rodriguez trouble. Roy should effortlessly dominate.

Every match up is favourable to Portland, really. Batum and Lee are the closest match up, and I'd call that about even. Lee is a better scorer, but Batum is a better defender. This would be a huge let-down to lose, really.

 

[whatsmyname]

eddy curry is not going to start...period

 

[TradeNurkicNow]

Seriously. Curry hasn't even played this year, why would he start?

 

[B-Roy]

I'm a tiny bit worried. We have trouble against a fast tempo game. Hopefully we can slow it down and hope they don't get hot on the outside.

 

[YugoslavianMtnHound]

Curry hasn't played all year and its doubtful he will play any time soon.

Knicks may only have seven guys like they did against Golden State. In any event their biggest guys are David Lee, Al Harrington and Tim Thomas.


Good game to wear them out and dominate inside.

 

[ucatchtrout]

Seriously. Curry hasn't even played this year, why would he start?

My mistake.... got it from ESPN

Knicks will start 3 forwards.....Al Harrington, David Lee and Wilson Chandler

 

[Nikolokolus]

Knicks will almost certainly play Lee at center and Harrington at power forward.

I know the Blazers "should" win this one on Tuesday, but things could get out of hand in a hurry with the way D'Antoni runs things. The Blazers just have stay committed to playing good team defense and being brutally efficient on offense -- hopefully LMA, Oden and Przy put Lee and Harrington into early foul trouble.

 

[TradeNurkicNow]

I'm with everyone else, this game has me worried.

 

[BrianFromWA]

I seriously think we could pull a 140-110 type win. That's not my prediction (yet), but we're going to get more possessions just b/c they're shooting more. Look at last year's games in Denver, but add that we are the ones with the inside presence now and the Knicks aren't close.

If NYK is hitting 3's (and I think Nate will have the wings playing tight, so it'll be tough), then it could be close. We can basically shred their transition D anytime we want. If they're not hitting 3's, they're not going to outrebound us and they're going to get crushed.

Bayless might be our leading scorer. Oden/Joel might get 40 rebounds.

 

[C_note]

Duhon is playing pretty well this year. He racked up 22 assists against GS.

 

[gambitnut]

Blazers should win this game easily. Their front court should utterly dominate the Knicks' front court. Their only real big man is Eddy Curry, and he may be the worst big man defender in the game. Oden and Przybilla should continue to put up a dominant combined line and Aldridge needs to totally exploit Harrington.

The Knicks have no point guard that should give Blake or Rodriguez trouble. Roy should effortlessly dominate.

Every match up is favourable to Portland, really. Batum and Lee are the closest match up, and I'd call that about even. Lee is a better scorer, but Batum is a better defender. This would be a huge let-down to lose, really.

I'd say they do have a PG that could give Blake or Rodriguez trouble, but he is in the middle of a huge fight with the front office and coach, so we probably don't have to worry about him playing.

 

[Masbee]

Jeezus. Look at that bizzare Knicks lineup.

If we don't wipe the floor with that motley crew I will not be happy.

The thing is, with a Dantoni offense, if his team is hitting their jumpers, there is NOTHING you can do to win that game.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Jeezus. Look at that bizzare Knicks lineup.

If we don't wipe the floor with that motley crew I will not be happy.

The thing is, with a Dantoni offense, if his team is hitting their jumpers, there is NOTHING you can do to win that game.

It's not just them hitting their shots, it's the Blazers hitting theirs; if the Blazers are taking and missing jumpers, leading to NY rebounds and long outlet passes we could end up looking really, really stupid tomorrow night. If the Blazers can successfully play inside out and collect any of the misses at a high rate they'll mow the Knicks down.

 

[LittleAlex]

Portland will win as long as they do exactly the opposite of what they did in Golden State a couple of weeks ago. If they use the same game plan as they did in that game, they will get beat by 20.

 

[Petey]

I'll be at the game, and I can't wait! I'll file a first-hand report as soon as I get home.

Me too. Where are you sitting?

-Petey

 

[Foulzilla]

I don't think Portland will have any problem with this game. Sure, they could come out flat and NY hot. But that's pretty much required for NY to win.

Seriously though, Curry hasn't played at all this year? I knew Marbury hadn't, but I didn't know Curry was in the same boat. I know he's not a D'Antoni player, but I was under the impression he wasn't quite the huge knucklehead that Marbury is and thus would at least get some token minutes. Interesting.

 

[SheedSoNasty]

This New York team scares me a little more than the Raptors. They're streaky and can get hot in a hurry. However, the Blazers have been playing great ball lately and we're far more talented than they are. Should be a good one.

 

[hasoos]

This game will be all about pace. Whoever controls the tempo will win.

 

[number 10]

why's everyone so worried about the game's tempo? The faster it is the better, because it means more possessions for each team, and the Blazers easily have the more talented roster.

 

[THE HCP]

I know our bigs will have to chase Harrington and Lee around, but they will have to go down low and bang with our bigs! How is Lee going to guard Greg? I hope he has a great game in front of this media circus!

 

[PapaG]

I know our bigs will have to chase Harrington and Lee around, but they will have to go down low and bang with our bigs! How is Lee going to guard Greg? I hope he has a great game in front of this media circus!

He'll flop, just like Maggette did against LMA. If the refs want to allow flops, it will be a bad night for the Blazers. If they call it legit, the Blazers should win easily.

 

[MARIS61]

NY has gutted their roster of talent and is doing everything they can to lose, lose, lose and get a lottery pick.

Their only wins since Zach departed came against defenseless teams with similar aims.

We can't possibly lose this game.