Preview: Knicks at Houston

[Knicks Analyst]

November 18th 2004. 9:30 PM ET

VS

<font size="4"><font color="Teal">Starting line-ups.</font></font>

New York:
<font color="Navy">1G: Stephon Marbury
2G: Jamal Crawford</font>
<font color="DarkOrange">SF: Tim 'moron' Thomas
PF: Kurt Thomas
C: Nazr Mohhamed (*Sigh*)</font>

<font color="Red">Houston:</font>
<font color="DarkSlateGray">1G: Charlie Ward
2G: Tracy McGrady</font>
<font color="DarkRed">SF: Jim Jackson
PF: Maurice Taylor
C: Yao Ming</font>

Key Match-ups:

1G--- Marbury should be able to perform well against Ward offensively. Ward's defense to his left has been rather poor throughout his career and all Knicks fans know that Marbury can cut to either side well. Ward may get his share of assists, however. As Marbury's defense hasn't been 'stellar'.

2G: Let's just say that there won't be a lack of scoring from either T-Mac or Jay-Cee.

SF: Jim Jackson will fall in love with TT's poor defense early. I think that Jackson will start and finish strong with TT putting out his usual drek defensive performance.

PF: This game lies in the hands of Kurt Thomas, my friends. It's all a matter of how well Taylor studied his film. If the pick-and-roll option is there expect to see some big numbers in KT's statline as well as Marbury's.

C: One of two things will happen. Either Nazr has one of those nights where he is simply electric and performs wonderfuly (15 to 1 odds).
<font color="DarkRed">OR</font>
Yao will completely dominate Nazr on both sides of the floor. (Even odds)

<u>
Major stats to look for</u>
+ Jim Jackson will have 18+ points and 5+ rebounds

+ Yao Ming will get at least 15 points and 8 boards with some scattered assists (even though his passing hasn't been to great thus far).

+ Marbury will get over 18 points and will get 8 or so assists.

+ Tim Thomas will play poorly on defense and offense. 10-13 points with about 3-4 rebounds. He will also get at least 4 TO's and some early fouls.

+ Kurt Thomas will have a strong game tonight. He will finish with a good number of points and boards. (Not sure of the numbers, they rely on Taylor's defense)

Players of the game.

<font size="5"><font color="DarkRed">NYK: Stephon Marbury
Houston: Jim Jackson</font></font>

Predicted final score: 91-89 KNICKS

This victor will come despite the usual poor performance out of TT. And it will be a result of superb passing from Marbury and good ball distribution and scoring from Crawford. Look for KT to possibly perform excellently, it's very possible.

 

[Mr. J]

We will really going to have trouble against Yao Ming. All of our bigs are going to have to step up their game tonight. McGrady is containable I don't see him as the real threat. I think the Knicks might try and double him sometimes and he'll be able to give it to role players like Jackson. I'm predicting a strong effort by the Knicks giving them a win over Houston: 93-88.

 

[Tribute to H2O]

The Rockets have been struggling. This game we should be able to win. We'll have to double up on Yao alot so he doesnt butcher us. McGrady will probably get 20 points but the Rockets will lose anyway. Our bench will be the deciding factor with electrical Ariza and potent Sweetney leading the way for our bench players. It'll be a close game but I give the Knicks the win 90-81.

 

[Henacy]

Charlie Ward despite him use to being a solid defender is really having trouble guarding people off the dribble because of his Knee injuries over the years. So I think Steph has really got to take advantage of the matchup he is gonna get against Lue & Ward.

On defense, I think if the Knicks can find away to keep Mcgrady out of the lanes, then their defense wont look as terrible as it normally does, because the Rockets dont get much dribble penetration from anyone on that team outside of T-Mac. Jim Jackson, Charlie Ward, etc all settle for alot of perimeter jumpshots, so they problem will lets the Knicks weak perimeter D off the hook in alot of situations. But containing T-Mac, off the dribble will be key.

If Iam the Knicks I probably worry about the production potential from the Rockets PF spot as much as I do Yao Ming. Only because the Rockets power forwards can put points on the board Mo Taylor & J. Howard. And for the Knicks to win games I think its always important that they win the scoring match at the power forward spot with Kurt Thomas & Mike Sweetney because the Knicks arent going to get much production from the center spot. So K.Thomas & Mike Sweetney must outplay Taylor & Howard, for the Knicks to have a legit chance at pulling this game out.

I think that if the Knicks plan on walking out of the Texas triangle with at least one victory, this is the must win game against a Rockets team that hasnt gel, yet. Dallas is going to be a hard team for the Knicks to beat since their defense cant contain D offense. So they have to beat a low scoring team like Houston.

 

[Ming637]

Good preview. Man, I hope T-mac isn't healed enough to blow us out. Nazr and KT will have to double and contain Yao, if they would want to win it. I think the Knicks can pull it off 94-86

 

[Knicks Analyst]

I am dead wrong so far.

LOL

 

[Knicks Analyst]

Well, my player predictions are turning out pretty damn well.

Now lets get to work on patching up that score!

 

[Mr. J]

That game was amazing. I'm still jumping from that buzzer beater from Crawford. What an exciting win for us. Everyone played big for us and it really payed off at the end. Spectacular finish!!!!!!

 

[jbbPrimetime]

YES! We won!
Haha yes!

Jamal Crawford ......... yeah baby.

Much props to Stephon Marbury, Penny Hardaway, Jamal Crawford and the M.V.P Kurt Thomas.

YES!
Good times ahead, 1-2 in the Texas Triangle, that is about right, thoughts my fellow New York Knick fans?

 

[Ming637]

OMFG. Jamal Crawford is tha man!!! That was so unpredictable, man my legs are still shaking, lol. I am glad because Yao Ming had a great game and my favorite team the Knicks won.

 

[jbbPrimetime]

For those who saw the game on TV not on Game Stats Live (ie - myself), could someone briefly describe how the final play went, after the timeout, all I remember seeing the supporting rule, and then I started jumping for, I honestly think 1 :30.

Man I wish I can get highlights from somewhere.

 

[Ming637]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Primetime:</div><div class="quote_post">For those who saw the game on TV not on Game Stats Live (ie - myself), could someone briefly describe how the final play went, after the timeout, all I remember seeing the supporting rule, and then I started jumping for, I honestly think 1 :30.

Man I wish I can get highlights from somewhere.</div>


Sportscenter, local sports news or maybe online.

 

[Tribute to H2O]

That was good. I feel better now. All the weight has been lifted off my shoulders. Crawford is the man. It was a prayer...but he's still the man. Crawford' contract is for 56 million dollars(I think). The looks on Yao's, McGrady's and Van Gundy's face...priceless. I can go to sleep truly happy. Let's see if we can do that again tomorrow night! Houston is my favorite player but tonight... Crawford is the man. No doubt about it. We won a game in the Texas Triange!! Long Live The Knicks!

 

[jbbPrimetime]

Haha I wish it was that easy, first off I live in Australia, and there is very limited coverage, unless of course you have ESPN, which I don't.
Anyways, I don't mind at least the New York Knicks won!

 

[Henacy]

As horrible as Crawford's shot selection was all night especially for settling for so many 3 mainly in the 4th quarter, he was going to get killed in the local papers. And by everyone talking about the game tommorrow. But now he is a quick folk hero or at least to the tip off of the Dallas game. Anyway, good miracle win by the Knicks gives us something to talk about tommorrow. But it still didnt cover up alot of the weakness that will haunt this team for the long run.

The Knicks are still a very poor defensive team. They gave up good looks to the Rockets all night. They are just lucky the Rockets arent a good offensive team. And Jeff Van Gundy's style & system lets teams stay in the game. The Knicks still have terrible shot selection. I dont understand why Crawford & Steph(especially JC) always take perimeter shots, when nobody in this league can guard them off the dribble. Anyway, maybe the Knicks can carry their 4th quarter momentum into Dallas and pull off a shocker. I like the lineup that Lenny Wilkens used alot in the 4th with Steph, Penny, Ariza, and then Sweetney, Kurt Thomas, & Mohammad rotating in for each other between the two power positions at the 4 & the 5. That lineup gave them the best balance of offense & defense, Coach Wilkens should use it more during games.

 

[Beat]

I didn't see the game but Nazi did have 17 rebounds?

 

[Knicks Analyst]

Well my prediction was ok.

Kurt was just great, and TT was horrific and Ariza played strong.
and..... CRAWFORD!!! Now you guys know why I wasn't on after the game, I was screaming 'CRAWFORD!!' For about 15 minutes and then fell asleep. lol.l

And my Marbury prediction was OK too. But KT, man he's just great to have on the team.

 

[VintageNYK]

OMFG THAT WAS INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!

When he first took the shot I was thinking to myself "what in the hell are you doing?!" Because it was a difficult shot and he still had some time remaining,plus it didnt look to me like it was going in, but praise the lord that it went in! Dang right, WE KNOW DRAMA!

 

[Mr. J]

Kurt really stepped up tonight and had one of those 20pt. games. Ariza was BIG, and Marbury and Hardaway really stepped up in the 4th quarter. The only thing I didn't really like about the game is McGrady putting on those dunks on us. I think he had about 3. It doesn't really matter though we came up with the win. McGrady and the rest of Houston had to be really embarassed after they gave Crawford an off balance, leaning 28 foot jumpshot, and he banked it in! That had to be on the top 10 plays on SC.

 

[nsxtreme]

Wow amazing buzzer beat by Crawford. Why is Marbury so quite today?

 

[N4S]

Why the hell don't the Knicks just give up on TT and play Ariza. This dude looks like the more time he gets on the court the faster he'll blossom. You can see that JO in Philly is doing it with AI2.

 

[Knicks Analyst]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Need4Sheed:</div><div class="quote_post">Why the hell don't the Knicks just give up on TT and play Ariza. This dude looks like the more time he gets on the court the faster he'll blossom. You can see that JO in Philly is doing it with AI2.</div>
That's what I've been saying for weeks now.

*Tell mrj18