GameThread Magic @ Knicks 3/28/12

[Beast From The East]

 

GameNight Specifics

NBA Coverage: Game Info

Date: Wednesday, March 28

Time: 7 p.m.

Location: Madison Square Garden (NEW YORK, NY)

Radio: FM 96.5 and AM 580 WDBO, AM 1270 WRLZ

Television: FS Florida, ESPN

 

 

 

GAME PREVIEW

 

 

(STATS) The injury bug may have hit the New York Knicks at the wrong time as they cling to the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

 

With Amare Stoudemire out and Jeremy Lin and Carmelo Anthony questionable to play Wednesday night, New York hosts the surging Orlando Magic, who have won seven of the last eight meetings.

 

Stoudemire is out indefinitely with a bulging disk, and Lin may miss a second consecutive game with a sore left knee. Anthony scored a game-high 28 points in an 89-80 win over Milwaukee on Monday despite a strained right groin, but it's possible the injury could keep him out Wednesday.

 

Anthony said he felt the need to contribute more without Stoudemire and Lin, and he helped the Knicks (25-25) extend their slim lead over Milwaukee for the last playoff spot.

 

New York has won seven of eight since interim coach Mike Woodson took over March 14.

 

"I've just got to step my game up," Anthony said. "We've been winning. As far as scoring the basketball, we really haven't been needing that. It's been pretty much spread out but now with them two guys, there ain't no telling what's the situation with them. So it's just time for me to step my game up in all aspects."

 

The Knicks have averaged 87.8 points over their last four, but they've won three times while allowing 83.5 points per game in that stretch.

 

Woodson has helped New York transition from the run-and-gun offense of former coach Mike D'Antoni to a defensive focus, which he said is most important if the Knicks are to contend.

 

They are allowing an average of 86.0 points under Woodson compared to 96.5 under D'Antoni.

 

"There are going to be nights where we bust loose and make shots and put up big numbers," Woodson told the team's official website. "What has to be a given has to be our defense. We have to continue to defend and rebound. If we do that, we will put ourselves in position to win games."

 

New York will have its work cut out against an Orlando team that tied its season high for points in a 117-101 win over Toronto on Monday.

 

Ryan Anderson hit a career-high eight 3-pointers and finished with 28 points. He fell two points shy of the career-high 30 he scored in a 102-93 win at Madison Square Garden on Jan. 16, when he hit seven 3s.

 

Dwight Howard scored 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds Monday for the Magic (32-18), who have won three straight.

 

"Dwight was dominant inside and they were leaving Ryan open on the perimeter so it was pretty easy to get shots," coach Stan Van Gundy said.

 

Anderson has hit an NBA-best 143 shots from 3-point range.

 

"That's amazing," Howard said. "I'm happy for him. We all love the way he's been playing."

 

Howard scored eight points in the first meeting with the Knicks, ending his string of nine straight double-doubles in the series, during which he averaged 25.4 points and 16.3 rebounds.

 

Anthony scored 33 points in that game and is averaging 28.6 points lifetime against the Magic - his best versus any team except the 29.9 he averaged against the Knicks while with Denver.

[Stock]

we win.

Amare out and maybe Lin and Anthony as well.

Let´s gooooo Magic :happypuppy:

[Joseph_Kuhr]

All of them? What a waste of a game.

[Levenhagen]

what? seriously? they are all out?

 

oh god let's hope this game doesn't go like the one against the rose-less bulls, or both games against the celtics without rondo and ray, or the one against the tired, after 10-game road trip, hawks without joe johnson

[Shock Phantom]

Melo is playing, Lin and Amar'e are not. Jameer didn't do shootaround because he was sick but said he was gonna play. We'll see.

 

The Knicks are going to play hard since they are fighting with MIL for the eighth playoff spot, so we have to come out ready to play.

 

I think we win but Melo goes off and doesn't make it easy.

[Beast From The East]

Seeing the Bucks in the playoffs would be cool

[NameLess Scrub]

Magic lose due to some random bench warmer lighting them up for 30 points.

[Shock Phantom]

Magic lose due to some random bench warmer lighting them up for 30 points.

Baron Davis comeback game.

[Joseph_Kuhr]

And then smith knocks down 17 hand in the face jumpers for 34 points.

[COLOMBIANO]

And then smith knocks down 17 hand in the face jumpers for 34 points.

 

So he won't get a single FT?

 

That would be odd

[Franchero MVP]

Baron Davis comeback game.

 

You know it's a sad state when this happening wouldn't surprise me.

[Beast From The East]

 

 

“To me, only the most gullible fans would believe that this was about loyalty,” Jeff said of Dwight’s decision. “I think it was about power and control. … I don’t know what they agreed to, but anybody who doesn’t think senior management and Howard have come to an agreement on either trading players to get people he (Dwight) likes or changing the coach or changing the general manager or changing the marketing of him. … Whatever they agreed to, there’s been an agreement made.

 

“… What the Magic senior executives are doing right now is unbecoming. The groveling and begging is hard to read and watch. His (Dwight’s) opinion should matter, but the strong organizations stand for something rather than fall for anything.”