Finally, after 3 relatively lifeless home games, we will have some excitement, suspense, and intensity from the home crowd. With that being said, it is too bad that it takes an opposing player to get the fans excited about the team. Oh well I will take what I can get. I have been to Knicks vs. Lakers for the past two years, and was a witness to Kobe's 61 point masterpiece (I was very close to the Lakers bench, and pre game yelled at Kobe "You are going to have a terrible game Kobe, Q-Rich is gonna SHUT YOU DOWN!", I was wrong), but have never seen LeBron in personand am very geeked up to see what Lebron will do to follow up last years 50 point near miss of a triple double, in what could be his last time to the Garden on the visiting side (fingers crossed). As much as I want to see LeBron and his grandeur in person, I am more excited for the Knicks opportunity to upset the Cavs, coming off a tough loss last night to the Chicago Bulls.
The Knicks will have some tough matchups coming into this one. The Knicks have been playing smallball, starting David Lee at center and Wil Chandler at power forward. The lack of size could be a big problem against a frontline for the cavs featuring 7'2" Shaq, 6'11" Anderson Varejao, and 7'3" Big Z, Zydrunas Ilgauskas (I spelled his name without checking, I was 8th grade spelling bee champ, hope I got it right.) There is a silver lining to these size mismatches, because the Knicks will have a considerable advantage in speed and agility. Shaq is notoriously bad at defending the pick and roll, and David Lee will play a huge part, by either banging open mid range j's with Shaq reluctant or too slow to close out, or burning the Diesel to the hoop off of pick and rolls. If only the Knicks had a point guard who could attack the basket and get layups off the pick and roll to force Shaq to hedge a little.
If the Knicks do stick with the lineup of Duhon, Hughes, Gallo, Wil and Lee, who guards LeBron? Hughes is the best defender, but is much smaller than the King, Wil is the best fit, but then Gallo will be on the tough banger Varejao, and Gallo has length but would foul out in about 3 minutes guarding James. It is not going to be easy, that is for sure.
The Garden is a magical place when it is packed and the fans are into the game, and tonight should be absolutely electric. Will the fans cheer loudest for LeBron? Probably, but I'm sure the De-Fense chants will be roaring as well. I look forward to some "we want LeBron" chants too. The Knicks are cleary the inferior team in this matchup, but the Cavs are on the second game of a back to back, LeBron twisted his ankle and hurt his thigh last night going into the stands, and maybe Shaq will be extra tired and lazy. Let's just hope for a close one, and maybe even a duel down the stretch between Gallinari and LeBron.
Optimistic Prediction:
Gallinari lights it up going 7-11 from beyond the arc, and scores 15 in the fourth to seal the victory for the Knicks.
Knicks 101 - Cavs 98
LeBron declares he will be joining the Knicks next season (i can dream)
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