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If I’m Mike Miller and you’re lame ducking me... we’re gonna start playing smaller and using the guys who project to be part of the future a lot more. Wayne Ellington, Taj Gibson, Bobby Portis and Elfrid Payton are not getting up off the bench. I need Frank Ntilikina, Damyean Dotson and Mitchell Robinson to lace them sneaks nice and tight. Julius Randle is gonna spend a good chunk of time at the five.
The Knicks (17-39) face the high powered Rockets (36-20) tonight. Mike D’Antoni might be done after this season, I’m sure he’ll want to settle his various scores around the league, and the Knicks jerked him around pretty hard. Houston is fully assimilating to James Harden and Daryl Morey ball. Even Russell Westbrook is starting to be his best self, functioning on offense much like a power forward’s nightmare. Ok you’re on an island with a guy that is much faster, jumps higher and is worryingly more aggressive than you, what do you do? Oh and if the ball gets to James Harden he’ll dribble it like a laser pointer until you swipe your paw and then he’s shooting or blowing by you with no one protecting the rim.
That was against the Jazz. The Knicks are not going to fare well tonight. Oh and if they do manage to keep pace for some reason, here comes an abysmal case of the flops.
Projected Starters
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Frank Ntilikina is either not allowed to play more than 12 minutes or incapable of doing so without busting open his groin. He’s questionable tonight along with Elfrid Payton who still has a little ankle bender. Mitchell Robinson came up a bit gimpy late in the game against the Pacers but he is considered probable.
Mitchell Robinson (sprained left ankle) is probable for the Houston game, per the Knicks. Frank Ntilikina (sore groin) and Elfrid Payton (sore right ankle) are questionable.
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) February 23, 2020
Eric Gordon was held out of the starting lineup for the Rockets’ win over the Jazz on Saturday. Should be good to go today.
Keys & Predictions
You know how Julius Randle just can’t figure out how to keep tabs on his assignment if they are outside of the paint and don’t have the ball? If the Knicks play like scrambled eggs, Rockets gonna cook ‘em.
Just let James Harden travel. Who cares?
— A Certain Horatio Sanz (@ThomasAwful) February 24, 2020
Knicks by -34.
Warm Up Music
Only chance they got is if they get buck.
I’m rooting for it honestly.