Game Info
- Tip Off: 7:30 PM PT
- Television: CSN-BA
New York Knicks Team Profile
- Offensive Efficiency: 108.1 (3rd in NBA)
- Defensive Efficiency: 102.8 (14th in NBA)
Leaders
- Points: Carmelo Anthony, 28.2 PPG
- Rebounds: Tyson Chandler, 11.2 RPG
- Assists: Raymond Felton, 5.8 APG
- Steals: Jason Kidd, 1.7 SPG
- Blocks: Tyson Chandler, 1.2 BPG
- Field Goal Percentage: Tyson Chandler, 64.7% FG
- 3-Point Field Percentage: Steve Novak, 43.5% 3PT FG
Scope the Opposition: Knickerblogger.
Preview: The New York Knicks (38-22) will welcome Carmelo Anthony back into the lineup tonight at Oracle Arena when they take on the Golden State Warriors (35-29).
Despite his absence in the past three games, the Knickerbockers still managed two victories with the most recent one being a rout of the Utah Jazz (32-31) at Madison Square Garden.
Their lone defeat came at home in a nationally televised game against the Oklahoma City Thunder (47-16). While many expected New York to easily fold without Melo on the hardwood for this contest, the Knicks were extremely competitive and even had an opportunity to win the game late.
J.R. Smith missed a tough contested jumper that would have propelled his team to a win, but he was impressive in the contest nonetheless with 36 points.
In his last five games, Smith is averaging 22.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game on 40.4 percent field goal shooting. As bad as that shooting figure is, it was worse prior to the games against the Jazz and Thunder.
Indeed, in his last two games, the Knicks’ reserve has converted 24-of-47 shots. If not for those impressive outings, his shooting figures in this last stretch of games would be well beneath 40 percent.
The return of Anthony certainly limits the damage that Smith can inflict on his own team given that it recalibrates the shot distribution of all the players.
It’s worth pointing out the last time these two teams met, Stephen Curry’s 54-point eruption was the main topic of conversation regarding the contest. Lost in Curry’s amazing night was Melo’s complete and utter destruction of Golden State’s perimeter players.
No one could guard him.
Harrison Barnes, Klay Thompson, Richard Jefferson and Draymond Green all took turns at him but the former Olympian simply could not be stopped.
Anthony finished the contest with 35 points and 15 free throw attempts. He simply parked himself on the low block and went to work on a host of defenders that could not stop him.
The quartet of players primarily assigned to defend Anthony combined for a total of 16 fouls.
Mike Woodson will probably employ the same strategy and dare Mark Jackson to find a method to limit Melo’s ability to score near the basket.
The Warriors’ coaching staff might start off the contest with Thompson defending Anthony given that he did the best job on him in their previous contest. Klay forced him to his help and managed to bother him just enough that Anthony occasionally had to step out to the perimeter to catch the ball.
Of note, with David Lee serving a suspension for a scuffle in Indiana against Roy Hibbert, the Dubs gave up 16 offensive rebounds to the Knickerbockers on February 27th.
If he can go tonight, it will be a huge boost for the Warriors. He is currently listed as questionable and will be a game time decision.
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