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The Knicks (4-13) have been playing with a 12-second shot clock in practice. That should really help against this pack of psycho Raptors (12-4). Toronto is keeping stride with the top of the East despite losing Kawhi Leonard. They still heat up the ball and they force lazy teams to make bad decisions. Somehow they managed to retain an MVP candidate with Pascal Siakam sprinting into the new year. The gangly big man is now initiating sets, clearing out for 1-4 isolations and kicking on the afterburners to get to the hoop. Have a peek at this artist depiction of Siakam heading to the paint.
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The Knicks do have one hope and it’s in the coaching staff. Apparently Nick Nurse does not watch Knick games.
Raptors coach Nick Nurse, who is 12-4, didn't get enough credit outcoaching Steve Kerr in NBA Finals. On Toronto native RJ Barrett, Nurse said yesterday, "He's a scorer and has the ball quite a bit. And he does multiple things with it. They will let him bring it.''
— Marc Berman (@NYPost_Berman) November 27, 2019
Yea they won’t.
Projected Starters
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The Knicks are all busted up and unwell. Despite sore privates, crusted snot boxes and scuffed quads, you don’t have to worry, Canada, you’ll get your native son.
All unhealthy Knicks lottery picks will play. Knox. Ntilkina. Barrett.
— Marc Berman (@NYPost_Berman) November 27, 2019
Perhaps even an unhealthy dose. Pass the Maalox.
Because of Canadian media crush, RJ Barrett will be brought into press conference room after Knicks morning shootaround at AirCanada Centre. He first must explain Duke's home loss last night to some school named Stephen F. Austin.
— Marc Berman (@NYPost_Berman) November 27, 2019
Key Matchups & Predictions
Who knows what the Knicks intend to do with Siakam. Probably just try to eat his razor-clad chop attacks to no avail. Julius Randle will be squared up against him because David Fizdale loves to test his guys’ mettle. If there’s any consolation to Randle’s totally appalling defensive brain sharts, it’s that he actually does his move his feet well and that’s fortified by the ox force he employs whenever there’s a little blastula of chest to chest action.
Something tells me we’ll see a heaping helping of this:
This sequence is amazing pic.twitter.com/fztFfNKH5r
— Duncan Smith (@DuncanSmithNBA) November 26, 2019
Randle is Ben Simmons (just ask him). The Knicks are about to face a lot of talented teams. No more waste-oids like the Spurs and Nets. The good teams always have something to play for.
The Raptors have won 32 straight home games vs Atlantic Division opponents, dating back to Dec. 2015. With a win over the Knicks tonight, they would set a new NBA record for longest home win streak vs the team's own division. They're currently tied with Golden State (2013-2017).
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) November 27, 2019
Knicks by -24.
Warm Up Music
Whether traveling or welcoming travelers, this is a quality chance to wish one another a very Happy Thanxgrieving! Maybe you’re out there somewhere with no friends or family to lean up to. An unwelcome spotlight on whatever chapter you’re on. The holidays can be harsh. Especially if you’ve had to contend with some of that good old fashioned American trauma! So just remember some rambling asshole’s saying: no pain, no gain. Whatever you’ve been through, it got you here. And shit, maybe you can drag some tired old crank through the darkness that brings the dawn.