Game 31: Pacers at Knicks

by Tommy Dee on January 2nd, 2009 at 5:05 pm

When: 7:30 P.M.
Where: MSG
Watch: MSG
Starting Lineups:
Pacers (10-21)
PG: T.J. Ford
SG-  Marquis Daniels
SF- Danny Granger
PF-Troy Murphy
C- Roy Hibbert
Rest of rotation: Jarrett Jack,  Rasho Nesterovic, Jeff Foster, Brandon Rush,

Knicks (12-18)
PG: Chris Duhon
SG: Quentin Richardson
SF: Wilson Chandler
PF: Jared Jefferies
C: David Lee
Rest of Rotation: Nate Robinson, Tim Thomas, Al Harrington

Injuries:

Pacers: N/A
Knicks: OUT: Eddy Curry (conditioning) Danilo Gallinari (back)

GAME NOTES

Another test that the Knicks must pass as yet another sub .500 enters the Garden and must exit with an L. Watch out for Danny Granger, he’s what we hope Wilson Chandler becomes, in fact that was my “best case” for Wilson coming out of DePaul.

And for those of you high on Hasheem Thabeet, check out Roy Hibbert’s ability to compete at the speed tonight.

EACH TEAM’S BEST 5-MAN UNIT
NYK: Duhon, Robinson, Chandler, Lee, Harrington (+ 5)
IND: Ford, Daniels, Granger, Murphy, Nestarovic (+35)

The Other Blog’s Take: Indycornrows.com

“…The Indiana Pacers ring in the new year at MSG Friday night when they take on the New York Knicks. The Knicks won their previous game at Charlotte on Tuesday to break a then 6-game losing streak.

Former Indiana Mr. Basketball and Bloomington North standout, Jared Jeffries, has started the past two games at center for the Knicks. That’s some small ball, people. Kind of funny, since Jeffries played more shooting guard than center when he was in high school at Bloomington North.

The Pacers use of small ball usually works better when they dictate the lineup change. Attempting to match other athletic, small lineups has not worked so well this year. I guess it all depends on what Roy Hibbert and Rasho Nesterovic bring to the Garden party. I actually think the Pacers could go small and matchup well with the Knicks. If JJ is at center, and Roy can’t expose the size matchup to the Pacers’ advantage, I wouldn’t mind seeing Josh McRoberts get a little run. With his athletic game he would still have a size advantage to work with against the Knicks.

Here are the Pacers.com matchups. Al Harrington has had some huge games since coming over New York from Golden State, but recently moved to the bench, now playing a sixth man role. The Pacers appear to be back at full strength (albeit without Mike Dunleavy) with T.J. Ford slated to start after dealing with back issues for the past few games…”

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

    I think that D’Antoni has to get Al back on track. I am unsure if bringing him off the bench is the best way to do that.

    Jack looks better than I remember in Portland. I have liked him since his days at Tech and I thought he was a late 1st round steal, but he looked pretty good in the 1st half.

    Jeffries would not be able to shoot in a high school game, but he is doing a nice job of keeping the ball alive for the Knicks.

  • Chris Alvino

    These turnovers are killing us.

    Granger is really good.

  • Myles A. Mills

    Jarret Jack? Really? Heartbreaker

  • Wolf

    Harrington is good but he just chucks shots up there sometimes. He’s got to reign it in a little bit. I’m glad he wants to be the man but he just throws up some bricks sometimes.