Nets @ Knicks

[JWohl]

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Date: April 1st 2005
Time: 8:00 Eastern Time
TV: MSG, YES, NBALP
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Previous Games:
Knicks: L 117-107 vs. Lakers
Nets: W 97-78 vs. Clippers<font size="2">

Team Records:</font>
<font color="Orange">Knicks</font>
29-41
4th Atlantic Division
21-14 at Home
8-27 on the Road
6-7 in division
3-7 Last 10 Games

<font color="Navy">Nets</font>
34-38
3rd Atlantic Division
20-16 at Home
14-22 on the Road
5-5 in division
7-3 Last 10 Games

Statistics:
<font color="Orange">Knicks</font>
96.8 PPG
99 PPG allowed
44.9 FG%
77.2 FT%

<font color="Navy">Nets</font>
89.98 PPG
93.11 PPG allowed
42.3 FG%
77.0 FT%

Note: Taylor and Rose?s stats are season totals not just with the Knicks
<font color="Orange"><font size="3">Knicks Starters</font> </font>
PG: Stephon ?Starbury? Marbury
40.1 MPG, 21.8 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 8.2 APG

SG: Jamal Crawford
37.2 MPG, 16.8 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 4.3 APG

SF: Tim ?Stupid? Thomas
28.0 MPG, 12.2 PPG, 3.5RPG, 1.4 APG

PF: Michael Sweetney
18.9 MPG, 8.1 PPG, 5.3 RPG, .6 APG

C: Kurt Thomas
36.4 MPG, 11.8 PPG, 10.4 RPG, 2.0 APG

Knicks Key Bench Members

Trevor Ariza
17.6 MPG, 6.0 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 1.1 APG

Malik Rose
18.6 MPG, 6.9 PPG, 4.6 RPG, .8 APG

Maurice Taylor
20.8 MPG, 7.0 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 1.2 APG

Jerome Williams
15.0 MPG, 4.3 PPG, 3.4 RPG, .5 APG

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<font size="2">Nets Starters</font></font>
PG: Jason Kidd
36.2 MPG, 13.6 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 8.0 APG

SG: Jacque Vaughn
20.0 MPG, 5.4 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 1.9 APG

SF: Vince Carter
36.4 MPG, 23.3 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 4.2 APG

PF: Nenad Krstic
25.0 MPG, 9.3 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 1.0 APG

C: Jason Collins
31.9 MPG, 6.4 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 1.3 APG

Nets Key Bench Players

Cliff Robinson:
24.1 MPG, 7.8 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 1.5 APG

Rodney Buford:
22.4 MPG, 7.7 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 1.0 APG

Injuries:
NYK: Allen Houston and Penny Hardaway

NJN: Richard Jefferson and Ron Mercer

<font size="2">Matchups:</font>
PG: Here we have Kidd and Marbury squaring off. The two point guards are from opposite ends of the spectrum. Kidd is a pass first point guard while Marbury is a point guard that looks for his shot first. Of course, Kidd was traded for Marbury in NJ. I see Marbury having a somewhat off night scoring-wise with the larger Kidd guarding him but I see him picking up 10 assists this game. I see Kidd having a above average night going for 15 / 10 / 8.

SG: Here is a position that can be very interesting this game. Obviously Crawford is a better player than Vaughn. However (to quote Stephen A. Smith) Crawford has been in a slump over the last few weeks. I see him having a big game tonight going for 25 points and 5 assists.

SF: This is a lopsided matchup if I ever saw one. The quick, aggressive Carter against the stupid Tim Thomas. Watching TT try to guard Vince will look like something out of a three stooges routine. Watch Vince go for at least 28 as he schools TT who will have around 10 points.

PF: Two young, promising players go head to head here. Sweetney looks to have the upper hand here, that is if Herb Williams keeps him in the game. Look for Sweet to have a big night going for 15 point and maybe even playing in the fourth quarter.

C: Two primarily defensive players matchup here. Look for them to both have big nights on the boards as neither of these teams is shooting particularly well of late.

MY PREDICTION:
I can?t see the Knicks winning this one or even keeping it close. The Nets have a reason to play and have been playing well of late. Vince will have a big night trying to will the Nets into the playoffs. Final Score: Nets 97, Knicks 83.

Random Movie Quote:
From the Big Lebowski:
Donny, you?re out of your element.You have no frame of referance here. You?re like a child who walks into a movie and asks what goin on.


BTW this is my first preview so please be critical so I can learn how to improve, thanks.

 

[Mr. J]

Don't worry about it, Wohl. My first preview wasn't as good as yours. Once you get the hang of it, they will improve and you'll be able to add more of your style. Overall it's good. I disagree with the PG matchup though. I don't see Marbury struggling against Kidd, I see the complete opposite. I think Marbury willhave 25+ points this game. I see Crawford struggling again. Kristic and Sweetney might be the most entertaining. Two promising futures of two franchises. I see Sweetney dominating Kristic (if he doesn't get into foul trouble). He has all the muscle post moves and the MSG crowd on his side.

With the Knicks coming home playing against their rivals across the river, I see them wining this game (ON ESPN

) by a score of 95-88.

 

[Knicks Analyst]

I'm really torn between a loss or a win. I think, Wohl, that you made a good point concerning Sweetney and his playing time. If Sweetney is playing at his usual level and Herb finally lets him play in the 4th I have New York having a chance. However, I doubt Herb will do that so I have New York falling to New Jersey 96-88.
Good preview, I'm off to the game, so I won't be able to chime in until possibly tommorow morning (maybe later tonight).

 

[Tribute to H2O]

Nice preview although I felt you could have gone into a little more detail about each match up. They'll probably play Collins on Sweetney since Collins is their best low post defender and to keep Kristic out of foul trouble. Sweetney could possibly dominate the paint if he stays out of foul trouble and doesnt get constantly double teamed. But then again Collins and Kristic are both seven footers so they might be too big. Also look for Ariza to get more minutes to play defense on Carter.

The Knicks should come out intense and pumped for this game. It's the Nets and their still in the playoff hunt that should be reasons enough to come out with some desire. I want the Knicks to win this game and mess up the Nets chances of making the playoffs. And I want someone to give Carter a nice hard foul when he tries to make a highlight reel. I hope they dont disappoint me in this game like they did for the entire season.

 

[Mr. J]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Tribute to H2O:</div><div class="quote_post">I hope they dont disappoint me in this game like they did for the entire season.</div>
Especially since it's nationally televised on ESPN too!

 

[crazyrussianz]

its not on ESPN its actually on YES my MSG went out yesterday which is BS it was working fine, but now there is a black screen

 

[Mr. J]

What a way to end the first quarter! Marbury with the exciting bank 3 off of a defensive play. Hopefully this inspires him to do more of it

 

[Mr. J]

<font size="7">Halftime</font>
Knicks 42

<font size="4">My Prediction:</font>
The Knicks have been playing erratic thus far. They started slow, than played very well and then struggled in the 2nd half. Seeing how close the game is, the deciding factor for us is we are playing at home amongst the MSG crowd which is making me choose the Knicks 96-88 over the Nets. I think we'll be able to finish this game up and get our 30th win of the season.

 

[Tribute to H2O]

I want to just shake Herb Williams!!!! TT cant do ANYTHING with Carter!!! Why does Herb act so stupid??? He should have put Ariza in much much sooner to guard Carter. We're turning into a perimeter team now just taking jumpshots instead of getting the ball to Sweetney who has hit his last two shots against Nenad Kristic. Unless we start getting into the paint we're going to lose. And it looks like Carter is about to take over the game.

 

[NJNetz]

wow that was a close and excitin game. one the last shot, i was prayin the knicks would miss

big game today but it didnt come easy.good effort by the knicks

 

[Mr. J]

A very close one. I was not disapointed like I would have been. I'm happy because of a draft pick! I thought TT was fouled at the end, but what the hey, Tiago Splitter or Gerald Green or a long shot on Bogut, here we come!

 

[VintageNYK]

Damn, I wish we won. Not really that dissapointed though. And even if I'd rather the Knicks win this game, Im happy for the Nets, because they are only a half game outta the 8th spot. I hope they make the playoffs, they are an exciting and fun team. And since the Knicks arent making it, why not root for the Nets?

 

[Tribute to H2O]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting NYK Pride:</div><div class="quote_post">And since the Knicks arent making it, why not root for the Nets?</div>

Because their the Nets sounds like a pretty good reason not to root for them.

Anyway Herb Williams asked for this loss. There is absolutely no excuse for him to keep TT in the game defending Carter especially when TT isn't even doing anything on the offensive end. We didnt get Sweetney involved enough in the second half. In fact I dont think he played in the 4th quarter at all and considering the foul woes the Nets were having he could have gotten to the line quite a bit. But he decided to stay with Rose for some odd reason instead of playing our best low post threat. Not giving Sweetney a bigger role in the offense today and not giving Ariza alot of minutes is the reason why we lost today. Herb did a terrible coaching job.

 

[Mr. J]

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">why not root for the Nets?</div>
Because they're not the Knicks!

 

[VintageNYK]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting mrj18:</div><div class="quote_post">Because they're not the Knicks!</div>

lol

mrj18, you KNOW Im a Knickerbocker for life and normally I want Nets to lose all the time during the season, and the only reason for that is because I want the Knicks to do good, but now, Knicks are out of the playoff race, and living in New Jersey and liking VC on the Nets and crap, I might as well root for them.

 

[JWohl]

nets

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting NYK Pride:</div><div class="quote_post">Damn, I wish we won. Not really that dissapointed though. And even if I'd rather the Knicks win this game, Im happy for the Nets, because they are only a half game outta the 8th spot. I hope they make the playoffs, they are an exciting and fun team. And since the Knicks arent making it, why not root for the Nets?</div>
why not root for the Nets? becuase they are our rivals!! becuase of all the Knicks fans they stole from us. because they are "fogazey", most importantly!!