Friday, November 16, 2012
Pre-Game News and Notes
New York Knicks vs. Memphis Grizzlies
The Knicks will look to run their season
record to a franchise tying 7-0 with a victory tonight against the Memphis
Grizzlies. The Grizzlies are winners of
six in a row and 14 straight at home, as this game matches the two best records
in the NBA together. Here are some
things to keep an eye on in tonight’s heavyweight matchup.
-Control the Paint
The Grizzlies sport one of the top front
lines in the NBA in Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol. Randolph leads the NBA in rebound with 14 per
game and 6.1 second chance points per game.
Gasol is no slouch, averaging 14.6 points per game, being super
efficient in the paint both scoring and passing.
Tyson Chandler will again have his hands
full tonight and will need all the help he can get from Carmelo Anthony,
Rasheed Wallace and Marcus Camby. It will
take a concerted team effort to control the paint, as the Grizzlies average 46
points per game in the paint, third best in the NBA. The Grizzlies are also fifth in the NBA in
rebounding rate, compared to last for the Knicks.
-Set the Pace
The Grizzlies are one of the fastest
paced teams in the NBA, liking to get in transition for easy paint baskets and
for open perimeter shots for Wayne Ellington, Jerryd Bayless and Quincy
Pondexter, who have combined to shoot 31 of 54 from behind the arc. The Grizzlies
average 97 possessions per 48 minutes, good for seventh in the NBA.
On the other hand, the Knicks play at a
much slower pace averaging 93.41 possessions per 48 minutes, ranking 26th
in the NBA. If the Knicks can limit the
Grizzlies fast break opportunities and keep the game to half-court possessions
it would bode well for them as the Knicks are averaging an NBA best point per
play in half-court offensive possessions and is where their defense thrives.
-Melo Match-Ups
If Carmelo Anthony stays at the power
forward position, it will be the third consecutive game that he is matched up
against a player that is much bigger than he is in Randolph; the physical
toll will start to add up on the Knicks scoring leader and star player.
If Anthony is not matched up against
Randolph, he will most likely be given the task of chasing around Grizzlies’
small forward Rudy Gay. No matter the
match-up, Anthony will have his hands full on the defensive end.
No matter who guards Anthony, he will be
looking to get back on track on offense.
Anthony struggled against the Spurs Thursday night, scoring only nine
points but was picked up by his teammates.
Even though he struggled on offense, Anthony had a major impact in other
parts of the game and will have to continue doing so for the Knicks to be
successful.
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