Hawks @ Knicks: Preview/Game Thread

[Ming637]

@

Date: Tuesday November 30th
Time: 7:30
TV: MSG, NBATV

Previous Games

Hawks: Loss against Bobcats 107-92
Knicks: Won against Raptors 108-102

Team Standings

<font color="blue">New York Knicks, 6-6 1st in the atlantic</font>
<font color="red">Atlanta Hawks, 2-11 5th in the southeast</font>

Probable Starters

Kenny Anderson/Stephon Marbury

Josh Childress/Jamal Crawford

Al Harrington/Tim Thomas

Antoine Walker/Kurt Thomas

Jason Collier/Nazr Mohammed

<u>Injury List</u>

Hawks: Chris Crawford, Royal Ivey, and Kevin Willis
Knicks: Allan Houston and Moochie Norris

Hawks leaders

Points: Antoine Walker with 21.1 per game
Assists: Antoine Walker with 4.2 per game
Rebounds: Antoine Walker with 8.2 per game

Knicks leaders

Points: Stephon Marbury with 19.7 per game
Assists: Stephon Marbury with 9.3 per game
Rebounds: Kurt Thomas with 10.7 per game

Key Players:

Kurt Thomas- All he needs to do is play great D and heat his midranger up for an easy win.

Antoine Walker-He's been leading the team in all categories and the knicks target to keep an eye on.

My Predictions

Our only threat would be Antoine Walker, which I hope Kurt Thomas covers him carefully. Marbury and Crawford will score 20+ points and hopefully Tim Thomas will score a decent game. The Knicks will win it, 104-81

Obiecent: Knicks by 11
Ace2k2: Knicks by 13
Trip: Knicks by 20
FSSBasketball: Knicks by 22


Enjoy the Game!

 

[Trip]

The Hawks are obviously no match for the Knicks, and it would take a miracle for the Hawks to pull off the upset. Although the frontcourts match up evenly, the Hawks' guards cannot guard Crawford and Marbury. Expect them to have good games tonight.

 

[Diesel]

nice preview

The Knicks offense of Starbury, Jamol, and Kurt Thomas will be too much for the hawks and will overwhelm them, Only reason I only said the Hawks will lose by 13 is because it's their homw court. Antoine Walker isn't doing that bad a job of leading this team and won't be as bad as you may think

Prediction: 93-80

 

[Knicks Analyst]

Look for Al Harringto to score at will. I see a big game for Marbury, Crawford, and Nazr Mohhamed, and I mean a big game from each.

Al Harrington has a great game, but the Knicks will win, 107-86

 

[Mr. J]

I am taking the Knicks 105- 88 because the Hawks are simply no match. I see Marbury and Crawford will just simply abuse their defenders. Not in the post of course, but, with quickness ballhandling, znd their esp. The Hawks will be playing slightly better just because they're at home but, that doesn't matter because the Knicks are still looking to be over .500 since 2001 when they were 10-9. New York is destined for victory tommorow.

 

[jbbPrimetime]

Correct me if I am wrong wasn't the New York Knicks previous games a win against the Toronto Raptors?
Anyways ..... I cannot see the Atlanta Hawks winning this, or at least they shouldn't. This is a big game for the New York Knicks, a chance to establish themselves over .500 against a team they "should" beat. I actually expect this game to be close, though I think the New York Knicks backcourt should take over.

New York Knicks 102
Atlanta Hawks 98

 

[Moo2K4]

Harrington and Walker will have big games....too bad for the Hawks that's all they have. Childress isn't quite there yet, but he's getting better. Too bad for him he's going to get abused on the defensive side by Jamal and might get worn down, therefore making him less of an offensive factor. Overall, I look for Jamal to have a huge game, taking full advantage of the rookie Childress on defense. Marbury will likely go for about 20 pts and 10 assists, and Kurt Thomas will get around 10/10, maybe better. All in all, a blowout for the Knicks, as the Hawks just don't have the offenisve firepower to keep up. Knicks by 18.

 

[Mr. J]

What is up with the D. Atlanta is a bad team and all but, man! The Knicks just aren't trying to play defense. This needs to stop in the second half. Marbury is killing with 21 in the first half. I like those moves that he used. Especially that behind the back then fadeaway on Diaw. I need to do that in the park. I already took a lot of Marbury's moves, why not another?

 

[Tribute to H2O]

Was anyone else disgusted by that first half?? This is not the way it should be happening. We should be up by at least 10 points right now. Instead somehow were in the midst of a basketball game. I just dont get it. Let me see what went wrong. TT is sucking but that's normal for him. Marbury is getting himself alot of points. Nazr is having a decent game. I'm guessing the problem is on the defensive end. It's like Marbury isnt even there on the defensive end! This is getting embarassing. Sweetney didnt play yet and Ariza barely played although TT is doing nothing and Penny is doing little more than TT. I'm getting impatient with management. And it doesnt look like Crawford is doing a whole lot out there either.

 

[Mr. J]

I still don't know why Sweetney didn't play. Why is it as of late Sweetney isn't getting a fair shot to do his thing? I don't think the his pinkie is that bad. Lenny what are you doing?

 

[Knicks Analyst]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting mrj18:</div><div class="quote_post">Lenny what are you doing?</div>
That's the question I was screaming at my TV throughout the first half.

To sum up the half I use two words and two words only:

<font size="4">'FIRE WILKENS!'</font>

 

[Mr. J]

<font size="7">Halftime:</font>

<font size="4"><font color="DarkOrange">Knicks: 56</font></font> <font size="4"><font color="Red">Hawks: 55</font> </font>

<font color="DarkOrange"><font size="3">NYK Leading Scorers:</font></font>
Stephon Marbury 21
Nazr Mohammed 14
Jamal Crawfor 7

<font color="Red"><font size="3">ATL Leading Scorers:</font></font>
Antoine Walker 18
Tony Delk 14
Kevin Willis 8
<font size="4">
<font color="Red">Hot At The Half:</font></font>

Obviously Stephon Marbury lighting it up with 21 points. He should continue to take advantage because obviously no one out there is any match for him. Marbury's defense needs to be better he left Delk open many times for open jumpshots. The Knicks can still win this won in a blowout if they just play good defense. No one can stop their offense so they should continue it.

<font size="4">My Prediction:</font> The Knicks were becoming a bit lazy and I think that they will step it up this half. They were getting a bit too relaxed thus the Hawks were able to come up and peck the Knicks and trail by only one. I'm going Knicks 100 to 84.

 

[Ming637]

Game tied at overtime, 98-98. Can't believe it.

 

[Tribute to H2O]

Finally we won! This game should not have been this close. There is no excuse. Crawford's performance was dreadful. Penny wasnt alot better. We played poor defense. And most of all the coaching sucked...hard. Sweetney and Ariza didnt play and that zone defense of theirs hurt us. I think that just about sums up the game.

 

[Mr. J]

Man what a disgusting W! The game went into OT?!?! How could that happen? The Knicks are really killing me defensively. They left this guy Diaw open twice and he made us pay. So why would we leave him open? If Crawford never made that clutch 3 we would have probably never won the game. The only bright spot I saw was now I really think Crawford is clutch that's it. Antoine Walker had I believe 36 points. Knick fans I am getting this weird feeling Isiah will try and bring him here. I really hope this doesn't happen. Walker is a ballhog, and shoots bad shots. His 3point shot comes and goes. Prior to today he was 28% from there. This game was not at all satisfying and it almost has the same effects to me as a loss.

 

[Beat]

Nazi mohammed is looking better to me every game. Its gotta be the shoes!
And they said he wasnt better than that other guy

 

[Henacy]

The Knicks got lucky Walker was so horrible in big spots both in the 4th quarter and overtime. His shot selection was just as bad as Jamal Crawfords and he had about 3 or 4 turnovers in big situations that problably would have put the Knicks away. And then he went to the free throw line in OT and choked.

I dont care that Crawford hit the game winnig shot, wasnt all that impressive to me. If you keep chucking you'll eventually make one. And lucky for him it came at the perfect time. But the two trips before that he bricked long perimeter shots. Steph was the real clutch performer knocking down those two big free throws to tie the game at the end of regulation. And him breaking down the D in overtime led to a alot of good things for the Knicks. 1st, in the open court he got the layup attacking the hoop. And then a few minutes later he drove the open court again sucked all the hawks defense to him, he missed the shot but created the easy follow for Nazr. And then his drive & kick to the free throw line area drew the defense so Crawford could get that good of a look from the perimeter.

But really like I said the Knicks just got lucky the Hawks dont know how to win a game. The only bright spot for the Knicks was the play of Mohammod. He is really getting better downlow and his offense board work is getting better as well even tho he went through a period in the 2nd half where he didnt do much.

 

[Knicks Analyst]

This game never should've gone into OT, just as those above me have said. The defense in the game was flat-out pitiful. There was no intenisty no will to win was exhibited. Wilkens has been such a horrible coach.
How about Mohhamed though? They've really coached him, he's a completely new player, it's almost as if he lives with Aguire. Mohhamed's play has been all-star level the past few games and if he can keep it up, he will be an important component later in the season in the last 20 games and the playoffs That's not to say he isn't important now, but a good center gets to be an important position to be stron in later on.
Wilkens can't coach this team, he never was a good coach, and I say it's a matter of a couple of weeks until he's fired.

 

[02civic]

why is it that everyone blames the coach...they havent shown any heart since JVG. And besides, the players on the team have never been heart players. Crawford, Tim Thomas, Nazr? Not exactly images of clutchness and intensity.
I dont think you guys can blame the coach. Get a new coach in here and they'll still be inconsistent, lax and play the worst defence in the NBA.
just my 2cents

 

[Mr. J]

First of all, what Jamal Crawford has shown us Knicks fans is that he is clutch. That shot against Houston, and that shot yesterday were all very clutch. He has also stepped it up usually in the 4th. Nazr has been playing well this season averaging 13ppg and 9rpg. Nazr has been instrumental in many rallies and last second plays since last season so, I still don't know what you mean.

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Get a new coach in here and they'll still be inconsistent, lax and play the worst defence in the NBA.
just my 2cents</div>

What is it with you hating on the Knicks? No way they play the worst defense in the league.

 

[Knicks Analyst]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting 02civic:</div><div class="quote_post">why is it that everyone blames the coach...they havent shown any heart since JVG. And besides, the players on the team have never been heart players. Crawford, Tim Thomas, Nazr? Not exactly images of clutchness and intensity.
I dont think you guys can blame the coach. Get a new coach in here and they'll still be inconsistent, lax and play the worst defence in the NBA.
just my 2cents</div>
Wow. You really haven't watched many Knicks games since Lenny was hired, have you?

I don't only 'blame the coach', I blame Isiah Thomas for hiring this coach (and putting this group of guys together-and putting them under this coach). We should've hired Fratello, once Fratello was hired, we should've kept Van Horn on the team, so this way the chemistry wouldn't be altered and we'd have, literally, the <u>perfect </u>coach for the team at that time. However, Isiah Thomas, being the racist that he has shown himself to be, had to hire Lenny Wilkens. Please note that I have nothing against african-american coaches, in fact I like most of them, and I agree with them often more than I do many white coaches.
But I honestly feel as if Isiah Thomas hired Lenny Wilkens for the following three reasons:
<ul>
[*]Lenny Wilkens was the safest option, this is the case because he is the winningest coach in NBA history. If he failed as a coach, Isiah could say something along these lines: "We hired the coach with the most wins as a coach in NBA history. A hall of fame coach, I beleived at the time that he was the perfect fit, but it turns out that he wasn't able to acheive what we were looking for as an organization for some reason"
[*]Lenny Wilkens is not a rough guy, he's soft and pretty quiet. Isiah wanted that. Isiah wanted a coach who would follow his orders. Lenny Wilkens was simply the 'figure head' as a coach. Isiah is running the team.
Fratello wouldn't take that from Isiah, Fratello wouldn't want that nonsense. If Fratello is hired as the coach, he runs the show, he wouldn't even take Isiah's suggestions.
[*]Lenny Wilkens is an Afrcan-American. Isiah has shown us that he doen't really have a love for white people. Now I don't know what Isiah Thomas's past was like in terms of dealing with white people, but he really doesn't seem to care for them. Isiah has but one guy on the Knicks right now who is 'white', Bruno Sundov. We got rid of Trybanksi (trash), Doleac, and Van Horn. Van Horn, at the time was playing extremely well. Isiah said that he did this trade to acquire the talented center, Nazr Mohhamed. I am starting to see what Isiah saw in Mohhamed, but at the time the trade seemed to make no sense, and even now it doesn't make much sense.
[/list]

So you see I don't only blame the coach, but also Isiah.

And back to the issue of Mohhamed, Crawford and TT not being clutch.
I'm sorry to tell you this: But there is scientific and mathematical evidence that there is in fact, no such thing as a clutch player. This is due, in part to the rule: The Reversion of the Mean. If you need me to, I can supply you with a link to this rule/law so that you can look over it for yourself.
I agree that TT and Mohhamed don't make shots down the stretch for the most part . In fact TT never really makes good shots at anytime. But you simply can't say that is the case for Crawford-it's just completely wrong.