MSGKnickz33
The Gold Mac
New York Knicks(8-23) vs Houston Rockets(16-17)
January 5 at 8:30pm ET, live on MSG
January 5 at 8:30pm ET, live on MSG
Welcome to the MSGKnickz33 pregame show, Im your host Jazzy Jeff and Im gonna get right to talkin about tonights game in Houston. The Rockets are currently the 5th best team defensively in the NBA. Tracy McGrady and former Knick Steve Francis will both be out for this game and Bonzi Wells is listed as day to day. If Bonzi plays, he is capable of putting up impressive scoring numbers and he is an above average defender. Lets go take a look at the unofficial starting lineups.
STARTING LINEUPS
The Houston Rockets
pg-Rafer Alston
sg-Bonzi Wells
sf-Shane Battier
pf-Chuck Hayes
C-Yao Ming
AND NOW YOUR NEW YORK KNICKS!!!!!!!
BACK AT POINT GUARD, STEPHON MARBURY!!!!!
AT SHOOTING GUARD, JAMAL CRAWFORD
AT SMALL FORWARD, QUENTIN RICHARDSON
AT POWER FORWARD, ZACH RANDOLPH
AT CENTER, EDDY CURRY
Tonights Key Matchup: Eddy Curry vs Yao Ming
Will Eddy Curry be able to match last nights performance tonight against Yao Ming? Here are the averages for the last 4 head to head matchups:
Eddy Curry: 9.8pts, 5rbs, 3TO
Yao Ming: 25pts, 9.3rbs, 4.5Blks
Hopefully history doesnt repeat itself tonight. If Eddy can match Yao Ming on offense the Knicks will have a good chance of winning this game. The Rockets arent that good of a team from the perimeter so without T-Mac there going to look to Yao Ming for some points. Eddy needs to use his size to keep Yao away from the basket.
MSG33's strategy:
- Look to double and trap Yao Ming on the baseline: Make sure to cut off passing lines!!!
- Let Marbury run the team!!!
- No more excuses, Eddy. Even with Z-Bo back, Eddys gotta do what he did last night and cant allow Randolph to continue to effect his play.
- Cut back on Q' minutes!!! Richardson has not really been a factor, its time to play Balkman.
The Knicks need to be concerned with 2 players who come off the bench for the Rockets, and they are Luther Head and Mike James. Although Mike James is only shooting 33% from the perimeter when he gets hot he hit all his shots and same with Luther Head whos 3pt field goal percentage is 37%. It is the perimeter players who kill the Knicks but with Marbury back, they have one guy who can defend on the perimeter. Theres another good perimeter defender on this team but for whatever reason he hasnot seen much playing time this year. Im talking about the plastic man, Renaldo Balkman who I'm hoping will see some minutes tonight. Shane Battier is the best 3pt shooter on this team (39%) and its not a good idea to put Quentin Richardson on him.
Thats it for my pregame show, I thank everyone for joining me, the Rza of Knicksonline.com and remember to watch the Knicks and the Rockets tonight at 8:30 on MSG.
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