Game 24: New York Knicks at Phoenix Suns

by Andrew Smith on December 15th, 2008 at 8:27 pm

When: 9:00 P.M.
Where: USAir Arena
Watch: MSG
Starting Lineups:
Suns (14-10)
PG: Steve Nash (15.2 PPG, 49% FG, 8.4 APG)
SG- Jason Richardson (18.9 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 2.6 APG)
SF- Grant Hill (9.3 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 48 % FG)
PF- Amare Stoudemire (22.3 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 56 % FG)
C- Shaquille O’Neal (15.4 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 57% FT)
Rest of rotation: Leandro Barbosa, Matt Barnes, Jared Dudley, Robin Lopez

Knicks (11-12)
PG: Chris Duhon (12.0 PPG, 8.4 APG, 88% FT)
SG: Nate Robinson (14.1 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 4.1 APG)
SF: Wilson Chandler (14.6 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 44% FG)
PF: Al Harrington (21.1 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 40% 3PT)
C: David Lee (14.1 PPG, 10.4 RPG, 56% FG)
Rest of Rotation: Jared Jeffries, Quentin Richardson, Tim Thomas

Injuries:
Suns: OUT: Alando Tucker (knee)
Knicks: OUT: Eddy Curry (conditioning) Danilo Gallinari (back)

GAME NOTES
The Knicks continue their 5-game road trip on which they are 2-1.
This is J-Rich’s 2nd game with the Suns. In Friday’s win over the Magic, he came off the bench to score 21 points. Tonight will be his first game in the starting lineup.
There has been much written on the discontent in Phoenix with the new style of play that head coach Terry Porter has instilled. D’Antoni’s “guys” Raja Bell and Boris Diaw have been traded, and there have been reports of Amare Stoudemire and Steve Nash’s unhappiness.
Look for D’Antoni to show no mercy tonight. He has earned the trust and support of his players and they will play hard for him tonight knowing how badly he wants this win.

EACH TEAM’S BEST 5-MAN UNIT
NYK: Duhon, Richardson, Chandler, Lee, Harrington (+ 6)
NJN: Nash, Barbosa, Barnes, Hill, Stoudemire (+7)

The Other Blog’s Take: Bright Side Of The Sun

Preseason Take 3 continues tonight with the circus coming to town – yes, the New York Knickerbockers with the D’Antonis, Phil Weber, Quentin RichardSun, Tim Thomas and even the estranged and abused Stephon Marbury.
The Knicks appear greatly improved. They’ve lost close games to Chicago and Atlanta but smoked a flailing Detriot team (AI, you suck!) and schooling the Nets and the SacQueens. Rememeber the Nets are the ones we let own us at home? Devin Harris looked like an all-star? In the loss to Chicago, Chris Duhon dropped 15 points, 14 assists and 9 rebounds- solid play for the Bulls cast-off. Tim Thomas is reviving himself into being the terror he was in 2005-2006, with a +20 plus/minus in the Kinick’s most recent game. In that game, the once impotent Knicks also dropped 43 in the first quarter on the SacQueens. Expect the Knicks to come out gunning and to tempt the Suns into a shoot out that only Terry Porter can hope to stop.
What I didn’t understand about our win against the Magic was Stan Van Gundy’s inability to convince his team to really force the issue on us inside. With Shaq, we should give that a shot here, before going on to see which team has the best in-your-face lauch-from-all-angles on-the-move three point shooters tonight. Maybe we’re better, maybe we’re not. Why do we have to find out right now? Let’s punish them inside and then play the outside game.

Leave the in-game banter in the comments section. Let’s go Knicks.
  • Chris Alvino

    The knicks have to get back on defense.

    They look a bit sluggish in the first quarter.

  • http://theKnicksBlog.com Tommy Dee

    I fucking hate Dan Majerle

  • harlemsdiplomat

    Man this is gona b like rocky V
    Yo do you guys pick the blog that trashes us the most? Or do every blog talk shyt about the knicks??? Man can’t wait for us to be eilte again

  • http://theKnicksBlog.com Tommy Dee

    As far as the other blogs, most teams have no idea we’ve improved so it’s still the same “knicks are a joke” mentality.

    they’ll know soon enough…

  • Knicksfan42793

    I HATE STEVE NASH!!! AND HOW COME SHAQ DECIDES TO MAKE HIS FREE THROWS TODAY. FUCK

  • Knicksfan42793

    sorry for my language

  • theghostofwillisreed

    yes they lost but you know what? this team is on its way…