Mr. J
Triple Up
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This isn?t the conventional way to write a preview, but it?s better than nothing. Today at 7:30 the New York Knicks will be playing the Charlotte Bobcats, the team currently with the worse record. We?re not far behind at all, so for our pride and dignity we have to create more of a distance and hopefully end up as at least the fifth worst team in the league by season?s end.
The Bobcats can be a dangerous team despite their deceiving record. One notable thing about this club is the passion they play with every game, a tradition likely to continue. The team always goes for the hardworking types hence their draft selections over the past couple of years. Speaking of draft picks, Emeka Okafor and Sean May are both out with injuries while rookie Raymond Felton has been playing sensational basketball earning the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month award.
Meanwhile Gerald Wallace, who had a solid season last year, is making a strong case for the Most Improved Player award. He?s an efficient, all-around player who is only 23 years of age. I wonder why the Kings let this guy go. They certainly can use him, especially on the defensive end where he is #1 in the NBA in steals per game. The Bobcats still allow 100 points per contest, but mostly because of the absence of Emeka Okafor, one of the league?s better defensive bigs.
This has been especially bad on the on the boards. They only average 39.8 rebounds per game and with the Knicks being consistently aggressive on the glass, this could become a backbreaker at the end of the game.
This won?t be a cakewalk for the Knicks?no team is. After a blowout win against Indiana, and a four game vacation, it?s easy to treat this as such. The Knicks must remain competitive and show that same type of hunger they exuded during their last four games. They also must take advantage of the Bobcats? misfortune with the subtractions of May and Okafor. In addition, the Bobcats? backcourt of Felton and Knight is extremely undersized. Knight is undersized and Felton is barely above six-feet. Marbury and Francis must take advantage of these mismatches and Curry must take Brezec to school since there is absolutely no shot blocker in the paint (Gerald Wallace doesn?t count).
Q-Rich has stepped up his play as of late and usually when he has a good game, we win. Hopefully he has another good game. He just looks much more comfortable now that he knows what his role is and isn?t constantly coming in and out of the starting lineup.
I don?t know what will go on, but don?t be surprised if it?s a close game. Charlotte is a pretty hardworking team. I?ll go ahead and say the Knicks win this one 99-87 since I liked what I saw out of them the past few games. We?ll see what happens though. Hopefully they don?t disappoint me.
The Bobcats can be a dangerous team despite their deceiving record. One notable thing about this club is the passion they play with every game, a tradition likely to continue. The team always goes for the hardworking types hence their draft selections over the past couple of years. Speaking of draft picks, Emeka Okafor and Sean May are both out with injuries while rookie Raymond Felton has been playing sensational basketball earning the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month award.
Meanwhile Gerald Wallace, who had a solid season last year, is making a strong case for the Most Improved Player award. He?s an efficient, all-around player who is only 23 years of age. I wonder why the Kings let this guy go. They certainly can use him, especially on the defensive end where he is #1 in the NBA in steals per game. The Bobcats still allow 100 points per contest, but mostly because of the absence of Emeka Okafor, one of the league?s better defensive bigs.
This has been especially bad on the on the boards. They only average 39.8 rebounds per game and with the Knicks being consistently aggressive on the glass, this could become a backbreaker at the end of the game.
This won?t be a cakewalk for the Knicks?no team is. After a blowout win against Indiana, and a four game vacation, it?s easy to treat this as such. The Knicks must remain competitive and show that same type of hunger they exuded during their last four games. They also must take advantage of the Bobcats? misfortune with the subtractions of May and Okafor. In addition, the Bobcats? backcourt of Felton and Knight is extremely undersized. Knight is undersized and Felton is barely above six-feet. Marbury and Francis must take advantage of these mismatches and Curry must take Brezec to school since there is absolutely no shot blocker in the paint (Gerald Wallace doesn?t count).
Q-Rich has stepped up his play as of late and usually when he has a good game, we win. Hopefully he has another good game. He just looks much more comfortable now that he knows what his role is and isn?t constantly coming in and out of the starting lineup.
I don?t know what will go on, but don?t be surprised if it?s a close game. Charlotte is a pretty hardworking team. I?ll go ahead and say the Knicks win this one 99-87 since I liked what I saw out of them the past few games. We?ll see what happens though. Hopefully they don?t disappoint me.
