New York vs. Indiana

[Mr. J]

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^made by Knicks Analyst

@

Knicks 22-33 / Pacers 26-27</div>
<font size="3">
Date: 2/26/05
Time 7:30 (Eastern Time)
TV: MSG, NBALP</font>

<font size="4">Season Stats</font>

Previous Games:
Knicks: 113-103W vs. Philadelphia
Pacers: 106-82W vs. Cleveland

Knicks
Record: 22-33 (.400)
Standings: Fifth, Atlantic
At Home: 15-12
On Road: 7-21

PPG: 96.5 Opp PPG: 99.5
FG%: .448 Opp FG%: .467
RPG: 40.8 Opp RPG: 42.0

Pacers
Record: 28-26 (.519)
Standings: Fourth, Central
At Home: 16-12
On Road: 12-14

PPG: 92.8 Opp PPG: 93.1
FG%: .438 Opp FG%: .441
RPG: 39.5 Opp RPG: 42.0


*BOLD leader in particular stat.
<font size="4">
<font color="DarkOrange">Knicks Starters</font></font>
PG: Stephon Marbury
39.8pg 21.1ppg 2.9rpg 8.2apg

Jamal Crawford
36.3mpg 18.5ppg 2.7rpg 3.8apg

SF: Tim Thomas
26.6mpg 10.7ppg 3.3rpg 1.3apg

PF: Mike Sweetney
18.2ppg 8.1ppg 5.1rpg 0.6apg

C: Kurt Thomas
36.7mpg 11.8ppg 10.2rpg 2.0apg

<font color="Blue"><font size="3">Knicks Bench:</font></font>
Jerome Williams
16.2mpg 4.6ppg 3.5rpg 0.6apg

Trevor Ariza
18.2mpg 6.2ppg 3.0rpg 1.3apg

Penny Hardaway
25.1mpg 8.0ppg 2.6rpg 2.2apg

Maurice Taylor
23.8mpg 7.8ppg 4.3rpg 1.4apg

Malike Rose
17.2mpg 6.3ppg 4.5rpg 0.8apg

Bruno Sundov
4.7mpg 1.6ppg 0.9rpg 0.1apg

Complete Knicks Stats

<font size="4">
<font color="Navy">Pacers Starters</font></font>
PG: Jamaal Tinsley<font size="4">???</font>
32.5mpg 15.4ppg 4.0rpg 6.4apg

SG: Reggie Miller
32.1mpg 12.2ppg 2.3rpg 2.3apg

SF: Stephen Jackson
36.5mpg 16.5ppg 5.6rpg 2.5apg

PF: Jermaine O?Neal
36.1mpg 25.3ppg 9.1rpg 1.9apg

C: Scott Pollard
19.2mpg 4.6ppg 4.8rpg 0.4apg

<font color="Navy"><font size="3">Pacers Bench</font></font>
Jeff Foster<font size="4">???</font>
28.1mpg 9.1ppg 9.9rpg 0.6apg

Austin Croshere
26.5mpg 9.3ppg 5.6rpg 1.6apg

Fred Jones
32.0mpg 11.1ppg 3.5rpg 2.6apg

David Harrison
19.2mpg 6.8ppg 3.4pg 0.3apg

Anthony Johnson
24.3mpg 5.7ppg 2.1pg 3.6apg

James Jones
18.4mpg 4.7ppg 2.3pg 0.7apg

Eddie Gill
13.8mpg 3.5ppg 1.4pg 1.0apg

Complete Pacers Stats


<font size="4">?</font>=Questionable
<font size="4">
<font color="Red">Injuries:</font></font>
<font color="DarkOrange">NYK:</font>

Allan Houston

<font color="Navy">IND:</font>

<font size="4">?</font>

and <font size="4">?</font>

Jonathan Bender, Michael Curry, John Edwards, Jamaal Tinsley and Jeff Foster

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<font color="Green">Matchups:</font></font>

vs.

PG: If Tinsley is playing, it will be a bash of the Brooklynites. Tinsley is a very underrated ball handler and can shake you out your shoes very effortlessly. This will be nothing for him especially against the likes of weak defenders like Marbury who put no effort on defense. Marbury should crank the defense up a notch because during the offseason, Tinsley worked on his shot that he used to have so much problems with. Now if he give him the necessary space, he will make you pay with a jumper. Tinsley can also pass as well. He is an excellent passer especially from what he is given credit for. This will be a problem for the Knicks especially with their defense. Everyone has to make an effort to play defense tonight.

vs.

Jamal Crawford is going against infamous Knick killer Reggie Miller. Reggie Miller is known for having his best games against the Knicks. Reggie has given every Knick fan nightmares. Hopefully this wont occur again especially considering his history at the garden. Reggie Miller is way out of his prime and his having one of his worst seasons of his great career, but I bet you he will have a great game today especially considering he will be playing against Crawford?s defense. Defense must be played tonight especially on this guy. Crawford can make or break this game with his defense.

vs.

SF: Double T is coming off a game in which he punished the Sixers for a season high 27 points. Unless he?s dropping 27 again, he better play some defense on Jackson. Jackson is a very capable scorer and will humiliate someone who doesn?t stick D on him. He has 2 inches on him and a couple of more pounds on him so let?s see how he utilizes it today. I hope he does his thing agains like he did on Thursday.

vs.

This will be interesting. Sweetney will be playing against an elite power forward in the league. This test will show us how effective Sweetney is to a certain extent. What I am just worried about is how often he will be used. Usually Sweetney is effective he just isn?t fed the ball. Sweetney is a bit foul prone and I can see someone like Jermaine O?Neal getting him in quick trouble. He has to play smarter defense and not always go for everything. On the flipside of things, Jermaine is very foul prone as well. He averages 4 fouls a game so perhaps Sweetney?s slick moves can get him 2 early fouls and they?ll put someone else in.

vs.

C: He might be called a scrub or whatever, but he?s actually he?s pretty solid. He can rebound a bit and goes after lose balls. He doesn?t put up good numbers, but he is a solid role player?just not more than Kurt Thomas. Kurt Thomas averaging a double-double, and who killed the Sixers with the midrange jumper, is looking to continue his great play tonight. If that midrange jumper is working along with newly acquired Maurice Taylor?s, we?d be a pretty solid team. He is at a height advantage, but the post defense I?m sure will hurt Indiana. We?ll see momentarily.

<font size="3"><font color="DarkOrange">Knicks Bench Summary</font></font>
Very interesting acquisitions we have. We get Malik Rose a solid role player, and Maurice Taylor as well. Many people confuse their contracts with what they can do on the court. We also have Ariza, Jerome, and Penny as well. Basically anyone we throw out there is solid. Well, maybe except Bruno, but we have more reliable options in them instead of Brewer, Moochie, and Baker.

<font size="3"><font color="Red">Pacers Bench Summary:</font></font>
Well they have been hampered by injuries, and the loss of Ron Artest is huge for them so their bench got thin because of that. Still, Foster (if playing) solid player, Croshere as well. Former Slam Dunk Champion, Fred Jones is giving them a solid 11 points off the bench. The Pacers bench is underrated so, the Knicks can?t underrate them tonight. I?m curious to see our bench and theirs battle.

<div align="center"><font size="4"><font color="Green">Key Matchup:</font></font>
Flash From The Past (Hopefully Not

)
Crawford

vs.

Miller
This one is key in my opinion. You have a former superstar who gave the Knicks so many hard times. So many bad nights, now out of his prime however, at the World?s Famous Arena. This will definitely be interesting to see what he does when he has thousands of fans including Knicks Analyst booing him! Hopefully the game doesn?t go into Miller time?then this game might be more key than I thought.</div>


<font size="4">My Prediction:</font>
Well we?re at home and I think Mo Taylor and Malik will try and show this was a good move by the Knicks. I think we?ll win this one 100-96. Just for the simple fact that we are playing at home against such a big rival. Hopefully it will go our way. I think NY can pull this one out.
<font color="RED"><font size="4">THIS GAME IS AT 7:30 EASTERN TIME!!! </font></font>

 

[KnicksUK]

Nice preview man.

Lots of people were doubting Rose before but 8 rebounds and 2pts in the 2nd quarter alone seems to show some promise especially since he didn't play in the 1st (as far as I'm aware anyway).

 

[Mr. J]

^Thanks, KnicksUK sorry it's not as in depth. I didn't have as much time.

Yeah, Rose was killing. I didn't realize how good he was. His numbers are very decieving, but then again, he's playing behind Tim Duncan and finds a way to put up decent numbers. Mike Breen said last season, when Rose started due to injuries or things like that, in I think 15 games, he averaged 15 points 8 rebounds, and the season before, 16 points and 9 rebounds. Very good game by him. He hustles and creates many scoring opportunities and he is a great defender! I guess that's what happeneds when you practice against Tim Duncan on a regular basis. Anyway, I like Rose and his defense and overall game, might surprise everyone in this trade might not look so bad afterall for some people.

 

[Tribute to H2O]

I'm watching the game, looks like we're going to win this one and I just want to know one thing...why? Why do we have to win games and move ourselves further away from the number one pick? I just dont get it. If we throw this season away we'll have so much going for us next season but instead we have to win games and ensure ourselves that we dont get a high lottery pick. I keep getting the feeling that we're going to make the playoffs and miss out on the lottery. So can someone please tell me why the Knicks continue to win and attempt to make the playoffs?

 

[JWohl]

we won ... again

WE DID IT!! we actually won 2 in a row!! and against a good team too

Lets see if we can keep it going ......

 

[Mr. J]

Rose looked great out there. Good overall effort by everyone. I don't want to make the playoffs either and especially if we fall short at a run and end up with the 14th pick

Anyway good game and I'm interested to see what Rose does for us in the near future.

 

[Penny]

This is a good win, 2 in a row!

But here is the problem, even if the New York Knicks make the NBA Playoffs I really question how far they can go in the first round, at best they'll make the 8th seed and they really don't have a fair chance against the Miami Heat.

So do you keep trying to make the NBA Playoffs as they are clearly trying to do or sit back and pack it in?
I cannot understand why they are trying to make the NBA Playoffs, because they just won't beat Miami Heat 4 times, and thus they can't really do much with a weak draft pool in my opinion, especially with a 10+ pick, and really no improvement come the 2005/06 NBA season. But maybe the New York Knicks have too much pride to just pack it in, but I just don't see the point of getting whooped in the 1st round.

 

[Platehpus]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Tribute to H2O:</div><div class="quote_post">I'm watching the game, looks like we're going to win this one and I just want to know one thing...why? Why do we have to win games and move ourselves further away from the number one pick? I just dont get it. If we throw this season away we'll have so much going for us next season but instead we have to win games and ensure ourselves that we dont get a high lottery pick. I keep getting the feeling that we're going to make the playoffs and miss out on the lottery. So can someone please tell me why the Knicks continue to win and attempt to make the playoffs?</div>
Hey, guy, there's a little thing called pride...the Knicks have it. Perhaps we're finally tired of underachieving? I'd like to have a high draft pick, but I'd rather see the team play well and have a miracle push towards the playoffs.

 

[Mr. J]

Well, Penny people were sayinng the same thing about the Knicks and Heat 6 years ago

 

[Platehpus]

Mrj is right. I know most of the posters on this forum would rather see the Knicks secure a top 10 draft pick, and they most likely will. Two wins in a row show promise, but in reality who knows if the Knicks can turn it into something. However, if they get a 5 game winning streak going...who knows what could happen.

 

[Knicks Analyst]

Come on, Tribute. Show some spirit.
I was there, good game from the veterans. JYD was the anchor, and we did a good job on defense. Even though Indy didn't have Foster and Tinsley, they were on a run. Good game from the vets, but Sweetney and Ariza looked awful and thei youth bled through in their play.

 

[Shapecity]

Big win for the Knicks. They took advantage of a flat Indiana team and controlled the game from start to finish. The Knicks are 2-0 since the trade and with the way the Lakers are playing, I can see the Knicks winning 3 in a row. The trade has given the Knicks a spark and Malik Rose gives them another energy guy off the bench doing the little things for the team. He grabbed 8 board in 9 minutes, including 4 offensive rebounds. With him and JYD coming off the bench they are going to give the Knicks a better chance to win by creating second chance opportunities on the offensive glass.

 

[Tribute to H2O]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting mrj18:</div><div class="quote_post">Well, Penny people were sayinng the same thing about the Knicks and Heat 6 years ago

</div>

Well that was a little different. I mean we did actually play defense back then and were considered one of the best if not the best defensive team in the league. Plus we actually had winners on the team. Experienced veterans who knew how to win. Whereas now we have Marbury leading the way.

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Knicks Analyst:</div><div class="quote_post">Come on, Tribute. Show some spirit.</div>

I am. I'm calling for them to do the smart thing, tank the season and regroup. I thought you were with me on this one. Think on this if we're capable of making the playoffs now then if we get a lottery pick imagine how much better we would be in the short term and in the long term. We win the Atlantic we could make it past the first round, with Houston make the second round a series without Houston become a four game pass to the Eastern Concerence Finals to some other team.

I understand the Knicks are a proud team. That's part of the reason why they lost to the bad teams but beat the good teams. There's nothing wrong with pride. But the Knicks are being proud to a fault. We're being shortsighted and not thinking about the future. This is the same shortsightedness that has brought about our ridiculous payroll, Houston's bad health, disposed of building blocks Frank Williams and Lampe and is responsible for the general sad state of affairs we're in now. There are guys in the lottery that we can build the future foundation of this franchise around. I love the Knicks and I hate to see them lose but right now losing is the best thing they can do. The Suns did it and look at them. So I'll just show my faith and loyalty to the Knicks and hope they end up in the lottery so they can be a serious threat next season and in the future.

 

[Platehpus]

Sorry to say this H20, but I just simply don't agree with you. I love a good rebuilding more than anyone (I salivated when the Mets did it after the 2000 season, Reyes Wright and Beltran baby) but the state of the Knicks is just so bad right now that rebuilding simply won't cut it, especially with Isiah at the reigns. Maybe he's this brilliant guy who will have us all praising him in a few years, but I seriously doubt he has this amazing plan. All we can hope for now is to win...be proud of what we have now, a bunch of underachieving black dudes with big hearts who have suddenly gotten the message Williams (and Wilkens) have been trying to get through all year. It's an exciting time to be a Knicks fan, even if it's nothing special...yet.

 

[Tribute to H2O]

Number one things can never get so bad that rebuilding wont work. And two, I dont want to rebuild. I want us to tank the season. I want to get Bogut and/or Splitter so that we can be a serious threat next season. Between Bogut/Splitter and Sweetney we could be a serious force in the paint. There's no point in making the playoffs just to get smacked in the first round. We will walk away with nothing. By tanking the season we give ourselves a good, young nucleas that just may give us a championship. I'm not saying become a terrible team for six years. I'm saying give up on this season so that we can have a brighter future.