alright first off thanks Coleman for giving Sundov some props haha. Like the top symbol-record thing but the match up is a little big.
on that note its the return of my MATCH UP PREVIEW. Heres the Key (+) good for us (-) bad for us (e) even....pretty simple here we go MAGIC-KNICKS edition...
CENTERS Kurt Thomas vs Kelvin Cato--Cato does have a 2 inch height advantage here BUT thats going to happen in most to every game the knicks play with Kurt as center. We have been playing the last 3 games with Kurt undersized by 2-4 inches but guess what boys we WON the last three games. Cato outweighs Thomas by a good margin almost 50 lbs and thats where I see are advantage. Kurt mite not oversize or outpower, or out block (1.6 per game) Cato but he surely will beat him to the punch. Kurt also averages 4.5 ppg and a little less than 3 rpg more here....
RATING (+)
POWERFORWARDS Mike Sweetney vs Dwight Howard--Sophmore vs Rookie. Another situation where we get outsized this one by 3 inches. Now Sweetney will overpower this kid BUT clearly doesnt have any advantage. Dwight Howard unlike Cato has that quickness to back up his size. Cant really go by average stats because Howard has been a year rounded starter but when starting they average around the same in points and rebounds. Sweetney will have a tough time defending Howard and getting shots off (1.6 blocks per game)...Sweetney will foul out early unless he comes up with a game plan in defending him before hand....
RATING (-)
SMALLFORWARDS Tim Thomas vs Grant Hill--In stats Hill overwhelmingly concurs Thomas. But Tim does have everything working in his favor. If he plays how he has been and defends as he could and has been this will be a sure cut plus for the team. Tim is 2 inches taller, has a much wider wingspan and is flat out more athletic. Not to state the obvious (but thats what im doing here haha) Hills knees/age will catch up with him and theres no way he can match up with the athleticism of a one Tim Thomas. you cant rule out the possiblity of Grant Hill succeeding in this match up hes overcome a lot and is a great player BUT this for now is a rare....
RATING (+)
SHOOTINGGUARDS Jamal Crawford vs Doug Christie. Not a horribly uneven match up. Crawford beats Christie in ppg 11+ more on average. Christie definitly is a good defender and good at the steals BUT we have to take in a account that Crawford is a remarkable ball handler (my second favorite right behind my boy Skip to My Lou, thats a shot out haha). So where Christie excels Crawford excels on the opposite side. I think if crawford does what i honestly thinks he does best and drives to the lane and breaks down his opponent hes got this one. Im just afraid with Christies defense Craw mite get scared and go for the lazy, run and gun, out of the blue shot that were used to that gets him that 39fg%....was going to go even here but....
RATING (+)
POINT GUARDS Stephon Marbury vs Steve Francis. I LOVE let me reitirrate that LOVE watching them play each other. Even before Steph was a Knick I think they push eachother to the limit and defend, try to one up eachother every time they play. Its a pleasure watching much like an Iverson/Marbury matchup but to another degree. Not saying Francis is better than Iverson by any means BUT if your familiar with the Steph/Steve matchups your with me on this. Both have similar stats, similar size. Just will be a pleasure to watch simple as that, and even though Francis is still not 100%....
RATING (e)
on the starting line ups were going out there under sized (5 inches all together) and out rebounded (6.3 rpg) ...BUT according to this unsignificant tally lol, well win this game...this here is the rubber match 1-1 this season...this will (knock on wood or :wallbash: ) but this will make the series 2-1 and the knicks 4th consecutive win!!!!