Pre-Game Reconnaissance: Wizards at Knicks—10/13/17

The Knicks are rounding out their preseason slate today against the Wizards!

The two have played once before in the preseason and that game was the closest the Knicks came to a win in the five-game exhibition schedule. The Wizards won behind 19 points by John Wall against a Kristaps Porzingis and Frank Ntilikina-less Knicks rotation.

The winless Knicks are probably going to end the preseason without a win. But fear not. Remember the 2008 Detroit Lions? They went 5-0 in the preseason and finished the regular season 0-16.

Knicks winnin’ the title, baby!!!

The Foe:

The Wizards are coming off a two-point L against the Miami Heat that was described as a “thriller” by SBNation Wizards site, Bullets Forever’s Chris Grenham.

Now, I haven’t seen any of this game, but I’d assume the most thrilling part of it was Jason Smith’s 20 point, 4-5 from beyond the arc performance. Jason Smith is bad at basketball.

In reality, Washington lost on a buzzer-beating three ball by Miami’s Jordan Mickey.

Luckily for New York, Washington will sit Wall tonight, giving Trey Bu Tim Frazier the start. Excuse me, I mixed up my former Big Ten point guards.

For some more in-depth analysis of the 2017-18 Washington Wizards, Bullets Forever’s Michael D. Sykes II provides that, here.

The Knicks:

So, the Knicks won’t have KP or Ntilikina again tonight. According to Marc Berman of The New York Post:

Ntilikina had a contact-less practice Thursday. It appears the 6-5 rookie will miss his fourth straight preseason game when the winless Knicks (0-4) finish up the exhibition schedule Friday against Washington.

That will mean Ntilikina, suffering from a bruised right knee wrapped in a big blue sleeve, will go into the regular season next Thursday in Oklahoma City with just one preseason game under his belt.

Along with Ntilikina, Hornacek indicated Kristaps Porzingis probably will also sit out the preseason finale because of his sore right hip. But the 7-3 Latvian got in enough games during the European Championships that his rust is not a concern.

This precautionary move by Hornacek is a good one. KP has shown he’s ready for the regular season to start and Ntilikina is going to look rough whether he played every minute of every preseason game or played none at all. For him to have an optimally healthy regular season for the sake of future development is the key.

Some things to look out for tonight are New York’s use of recently signed point guard Trey Burke in the suddenly crowded rotation at the 1 and the rotation at centre. We at P&T, however, don’t believe this should be a tough call. Look at these numbers:

Expect more of the same from the Knicks in terms of starting lineup. Sessions, Tim Hardaway Jr., Courtney Lee, Michael Beasley and Enes Kanter. Or something like that.

MISC:

This hastily put together and slightly late (sorry!) PGR is NOT brought to you by Squarespace.

I am still very disappointed that the jersey sponsor won’t be Clyde’s Wine and Dine. I feel like this is a golden opportunity, missed.

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Game is at 7:30 PM EST on MSG! And now you’re ready for Knicks-Wiz!