Saturday, December 8, 2012
Pre Game News and Notes
New York Knicks vs. Chicago Bulls
After winning in Charlotte Wednesday and
Miami Thursday, the Knicks look to finish their road trip strong and undefeated
with a victory over the Bulls tonight. Tonight
will be another tough task for the Knicks, as the Bulls have played well in
winning four of their last five games and are sitting atop the Central
Division. Here are some things to watch
for in the game tonight:
-Carmelo’s Status
After sitting out Thursday night’s win
over the Heat, Carmelo Anthony’s status for tonight’s game is up in the air
again. Once again, he is questionable
and will be a game time decision with the laceration to the middle finger on
his left hand.
While testing the injury Thursday
against Miami, Anthony was able to shoot the ball well but was unable to catch
the ball cleanly, using mostly his one good hand.
The Knicks proved that they can play
without Anthony if players like Raymond Felton, J.R. Smith and Steve Novak step
up, blowing out the Heat by 20. Tonight
may be a different story though, as the Bulls are much stronger on the
defensive end than the Heat, having the top-ranked defensive efficiency in the
NBA compared to 23rd for the Heat.
-Contain Joakim Noah
Joakim Noah is in the middle of a career
year for the Bulls, being a driving force behind the Bulls being a top ranked
rebounding team. Noah is playing a career high 39.6 minutes and making the most
of them, putting up career numbers across the board with 10.8 rebounds, 13.9
points, 4.3 assists, 2,2 blocks and 1.4 steals per game.
The onus will fall upon Tyson Chandler,
who is having a career year in his own right, to slow down Noah. Chandler will need to make his presence felt
on both sides of the court as he has been recently, averaging 15 points and
11.4 rebounds in his last five games.
Chandler will need help in the paint
tonight though, especially is Anthony doesn’t suit up, as the Bulls employ a
much bigger team than the Heat did.
Rasheed Wallace will need to use his veteran savvy and stay closer to
the basket and not gravitate towards the three point line. Look for Kurt Thomas to again start if
Anthony is out and get some minutes against a team whose main focus is defense
and rebounding.
-Can Felton Keep it Up?
Raymond Felton has been having a nice
bounce back season, highlighted by the amazing performance he put on against
Miami Thursday with Anthony absent. If
Anthony sits out again, look for Felton to be the vocal point of the offense
once again.
The Knicks have the advantage at the point
guard spot with Derrick Rose being out combined with Felton’s red hot
play. Felton is averaging 22.3 points
and 7.7 assists per game, hitting 11 of 24 three points in the Knicks last
three games; all Knicks wins.
Throw in Jason Kidd and the Knicks have
a major advantage in the backcourt over the Bulls combination of Kirk Hinrich
and Nate Robinson. The Knicks should be
able to control pace and tempo, a must in a game their star player might sit
out and against a team that is as dominant in one area as the Bulls are.
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