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Good evening! After a couple days off, the Knicks have some basketball to play tonight. They'll face a team in a somewhat similar situation. The Warriors are having a terrific season, but have fallen off a bit lately, especially on the road. I learned from Golden State of Mind that the Warriors have won just one away game-- narrowly over the Wolves-- this month, having been swept on a difficult Western road trip a couple weeks back. They lost in Indiana last night and, because of all the shovin' that went down, won't have David Lee in uniform tonight. That's good for the Knicks, since David Lee could have hurt them from the field and on the glass, but kinda sad because I would have liked to see him get a warm welcome from the Garden crowd. (Wait, we all have at least lukewarm feelings about David Lee, right? I'm not the only one who still loves the guy?). Stephen Curry, unfortunately, did not get suspended, so he, Klay Thompson, and serial Knick-killer Jarrett Jack will all be available to dismantle New York's perimeter defense. Andrew Bogut is still out with back issues.
Knicks stuff: Pablo Prigioni, like Bogut, has come up with some back spasms and is a game-time decision. Carmelo Anthony is probable despite missing shootaround with what the Knicks called a stomach virus. If Prigioni can't go, Mike Woodson will move Jason Kidd into his back-up point guard role and change the starting lineup:
Mike Woodson said he will change his starting lineup if Pablo Prigioni can't play. Says Jason Kidd would come off the bench in his place.
— Nate Taylor (@ByNateTaylor) February 27, 2013
Mike Woodson said he's not sure who would start if Jason Kidd has to be the backup PG.
— Nate Taylor (@ByNateTaylor) February 27, 2013
So, we'll see about that.
I don't have good feelings about this one. Golden State's backcourt is monstrous. If John Lucas and Alan Anderson can douse the Knicks defense in pick-and-rolls and open threes, the Warriors' guards might very well set some records tonight. On the other hand, New York's defense-- including against the pick-and-roll-- has been more aggressive lately, and Golden State's frontcourt is pretty depleted without Lee and Bogut. If the Knicks attack the rim to finish and draw fouls, get a decent performance from Melo and his tummy, get Tyson Chandler involved, and/or get a big night from Amar'e Stoudemire, they should be able to score plenty. Whether that "plenty" will be more than the Warriors' plenty...we'll see.
Game thread in a bit!
Update: Oh yeah, this is Mark Jackson's first time coaching at Madison Square Garden.