Game Preview: Knicks vs Hornets, 4/20/2021

And you wonder how they dealt with stress so well. The Knicks are puffing a whole lot of steam behind Player of the Week, Julius Randle. Keeping the coals ruby hot builds pressure as the wins pile up. Higher degrees of difficulty manifest each game and the increasing indignation of the next opponent- and the next- starts to squeal. Nobody wants the shame of getting beaten by the (lol) Knicks! Those pretenders.

This team hit’s different though. They don’t canoe. Here in the early spark of a six-game home stand, the Knicks have some golden opportunities to set their own course and Julius knows it. To hell with any piss-piddling streak. If they swat the injury addled Hornets they’ll inch closer to clinching a playoff berth in grand fashion.

At this rate, it’s very possible the Knicks could find themselves opening at home in a 4-5 matchup with the Hawks! I’d very much like to see that. Hottest team in the league right now and it goes deeper than just the win streak.

Julius Randle Mountain has erupted and the lava flow is pouring over every franchise in his path. Would be a shame to let some small fries come in and handle you.

Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

Projected Starters

A crucial injury-scape in Charlotte, but a ray of light came out yesterday, as LaMelo Ball is healed and he’s able to resume individual basketball crap. He could be ready in as little as a week! Good news for the Hornets, and he’s not playing, so thats good news for the Knicks. That guy the Knicks elected not to overpay this past offseason, Gordon Hayward, he’s hurt, as per the norm. Hayward has at least a few more weeks on the shelf. Who’da thunk it? The other pickled peppers that makes ya worry as a Knick fan, Devontae Graham, is considerd questionable with a quad injury and Malik Monk has been ruled out (bum ankle).

Elfrid Payton v Terry Rozier

Reggie Bullock v Caleb Martin

RJ Barrett v Miles Bridges

Julius Randle v Jalen McDaniels

Nerlens Noel v PJ Washington

Health is wealth and I cannot stress it enough, the injury concerns make this Hornets roster super thin. Just because their diminutive, doesn’t mean they aren’t pesky and troublesome. This is a well coached group and they can still give an inattentive team trouble.

Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

Keys & Predictions

I’m sure you’ve heard, the Knicks’ defense is their calling card but there are plenty of things they could tweak to get the offense humming.

Miles Bridges has been throttling the rim lately, absolutely detonating on Clint Capela.

Here he hurdles Carmelo Anthony’s lay-down defensive tactic.

I guess CJ McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic as your backline defenders isn’t ideal when you have the Melo fellow at the point of attack here. The Knicks ain’t exactly so kind around the iron. Nerlens Noel has been denying posters of late and this fire and water matchup has the chance to be the best King Kong versus Godzilla of the year.

If you come at the Knicks, you best not...

Better go big if you go at all.

Game is at 7:30, Knicks by -1.

Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

Parting Shot

Ever feel small? I mean really, really small.

Then you look at your hands and they’re too big or are they too close?

Hey it’s legal now. Go smoke some dope. Also happy birthday to my dog. If you get stoned, pet a furry friend for a while. If you don’t get stoned, still do that.

Listening to some Mittoo is literally the only worthwhile way to get me too’d. Smoke and hang out with your puppy, shuffle around and drink some rummy juice. Sit on your couch and suede away. Have fun watching the game, you cheeba hawks.

Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images