Game 47: Lakers at Knicks

by Myles A. Mills on February 2nd, 2009 at 1:38 pm

When: 7:30 P.M.

Where:  MSG

Watch: MSG

Starting Lineups:

Lakers (37-9)

PG: Derek Fisher

SG: Kobe Bryant

SF: Luke Walton

PF: Lamar Odom

C:  Pau Gasol

Rest of Rotation: Jordan Farmar, Sasha Vujacic, Trevor Ariza, Chris Mihm

Knicks (21-25)

PG: Chris Duhon

SG: Quentin Richardson

SF: Al Harrington

PF: David Lee

C: Jared Jeffries

Rest of Rotation: Wilson Chandler, Nate Robinson, Tim Thomas, Danilo Gallinari

Injuries:  Jared Jeffries (questionable, bruised thigh,) Andrew Bynum (sprained right knee)

 

GAME NOTES

The Knicks embark on their “dream” week or “hell week” depending on your perspective tonight with a home game against the Western Conference powerhouse Los Angeles Lakers.  Andrew Bynum may not play with a sprained knee after a collision with Kobe Bryant, so it should be easier for David Lee and Jared Jeffries to control the paint.  Pau Gasol is not a defensive stopper, but his low post offensive game can cause havoc for the Knicks.  The last game the Knicks had against the Lakers was a close one, in which they led by 15 at half but blew that lead in the second half, so we already know they can compete with the Lakers.  The last time Kobe played at MSG he had 39 points, and players like him usually love the bright lights of Madison Square Garden.  Lamar Odom is also a dangerous weapon for the Lakers as a slasher who can drive and also step out and nail a jumper.  If the bench can continue their immense production and the Knicks can get out to a good start, a win may not be as far-fetched as you’d think.  The Lakers are one of the few teams that score more than the Knicks at about 108 per, so look for a high scoring affair tonight.  

As always, Go Knicks!

About Myles A. Mills

Myles is a sophomore at The Browning School, an all-boys private school on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. He's been a Knick fan as long as he can remember, and 02-03 was the last season he could remember in entirety. He hopes to one day see the Knicks in the playoffs. Myles is also fond of the Mets, and follows them vehemently, but his the bulk of his time goes to the Knicks. Myles wants to be a radio hosts on WFAN or ESPN 1050 radio, and he hopes to write for theknicksblog.com for years to come. View all posts by Myles A. Mills →
  • jcmoney

    All I can say is Let’s Go Knicks. This is the biggest week of the season. We are right before the All Star Break, we need this week to give us some confidence, show ourselves, the fans, and the rest of the league that this team is as good as any in the East. Make NEW YORK, with no All Stars, the story of this week. Make that all that ESPN talks about. Wins this week can do this. We cannot afford slumps, mistakes, or injuries, but if we can win a few games this week we are priming ourselves to be major players.

    Every year there is a team who turns their season around right about now. This year, let it be the Knicks. Please, let it be the Knicks. The lottery pick vs playoff berth debate can end with a good week. Please, Coach, get us some wins.

  • Chris Alvino

    How about Bynum being out for 8-12 weeks?

  • Chris Alvino

    Too bad Curry is not healthy, huh? I would deal Curry to the Lakers for just about anybody.

    Radmonovic would be a nice fit here. So would Vujacic.

  • greatman42001

    Chris I was thinking the same exact thing.
    I was also thinking though this might be the perfect time to trade Lee, although I am not for it, if they are planning on making a trade now is the right time. Lee is a perfect solution for the Lakers a guy that they could keep around if they like and if they don’t he is gone after this year. Lee would probably be happy to play along side Gasol and Kobe and would be willing to sign long term. I was thinking Lee and we get rid of Jefferies and Curry for Odom ( a nice fit for D’Antoni) Jordan Farmer ( a nice backup pg, who if Duhon bolts for huge backs can be the pg of the future) and a future 1st round pick.
    I think it’s a win win all around.

  • Chris Alvino

    I would not deal Lee to the Lakers. I hear what you’re saying, but I would want more than a backup point, an expiring contract, and a very, very low first round pick.

    There are better deals out there for Lee. I do not think that Lee gets dealt.

  • BiggieSmalls

    Odom coming home to NYC might just spark him .. he expires this year too..

    great trade proposal 42001

  • Chris Alvino

    I would love to get Odom. I have always liked Odom, but that is more of a salary dump than anything else.

  • BiggieSmalls

    the salary dump aspect has benefits as well.. It would clear 15 some million in 10/11 money ..

    you could maybe get Odom for under 10 mil a year in the off season.. on a come back to NYC contract.. then with Eddy and JJ off you would still have room to go hard after two whales in 10/11

  • Mucha

    We’d have to get a lot more for David Lee than an expiring contract, a back-up PG and the 29th pick – even if we dump Jeffries in the process. A lot more. We’d have to get at least a talented young player who could be a starter for the next 5 or 10 years.

    We can’t count on free agency, we have to be sure that – if we can’t get the free agents that we are willing to sign next year – we’ll have enough young talented players to be a good team by ourselves. That’s why I’d IMMEDIATELY make a deal with Nate Robinson in order to get ANTHONY RANDOLPH. That IS the priority in my opinion, because in that case we would have our forward spots set for the next ten years with Anthony Randolph, Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler. THEN we could move Lee and Jeffries just to make a salary dump because we’d at least have talent at the 4 spot.

  • BiggieSmalls

    the proposal Dumps CURRY and Jeffries.. and gets us back a serviceable, cheap point guard, a 29 year old expiring forward who has averaged 15 and 10 and is a home town boy.. not to mention an asset in a number one draft pick..

    Chances are we can resign him for a reasonable deal in the off season.. if not it represents more expiring dollars to add another player in 09/10//

    Getting far enough under the cap in 2010/11 to be players for two super stars is the goal. Getting rid of Curry’s albatross contract is an impediment to that plan..

    Id do this deal.. you can play Al, Odom, Gallo, Chandler up front and then Farmer, Duhon, Nate with Q swinging between 2 and 3.. then you can sign PE Jr. to fill out the roster and get some minutes..

    Having the extra number one this year will allow you to possibly trade up or grab another sleeper player..

  • BiggieSmalls

    Mucha.. Our whole plan is built around the 2010 free agent class.. getting enough room to take advantage of the most significant free agent class ever..

    There are press reports that D wade and Bron want to play together.. Bosh is making waves up in T Town..

    It takes two superstars — and I mean SUPER STARS>> to win the chip.. super stars dont grow on trees.. everyone has potential to be an all star.. those that play above the level of others around him become game changers..

    WE aint winning anything by taking pot shots with young uns .. This is NYC.. plays like Bron are chomping to get here.. A Randolph could be a nice player.. its all roulette right now.. Keep your eye ont eh prize.. TWO Whales in 2010/11 is the way to a chip.

  • Mucha

    Alright I’m sorry for that.

    That would would be a great deal in my opinion IF we can make a trade for Anthony Randolph before that, because that’d allow us to fill the void at the 4 spot with a talented young player who could be a star one day.

    That would leave us with :

    Duhon – Farmar – Richardson
    Anthony Randolph – Chandler – Gallinari – Harrington – Odom – Thomas

    My trade suggestion being Anthony Randolph to the Knicks, Nate Robinson to the Bucks and Joe Alexander to the Warriors.

  • Mucha

    I know BIG, I support the 2010 plan that’s why I’d immediatly trade Nate Robinson in order to get Anthony Randolph. I still believe that we could dump either Curry or Jeffries next year but I really like that trade suggestion regarding Odom and Farmar if we can make a move for Anthony Randolph before that.

    Those two trades together would be great for the franchise. This Odom/Farmar suggestion gets my vote (if LA’s willing to make it happen), but we’ll need to campaign for Anthony Randolph as well because that could turn out to be a GREAT move.

  • Mucha

    Wait. Hold on I’m sorry.

    This Odom/Farmar trade is not getting my vote because I believe that we’ll be able to move either Curry or Jeffries next year, and that we can’t count on free agency anyways. If that trade ever happens I would be like “Ok, cool” but that’s it. Anthony Randolph is the priority in my mind and he would actually help us to add talent to the roster and a perfect contract for 2010.

  • BluEandOrange

    Wilson Chandler should just go straight to the hoop looking to throw it down every time. I am tired of this non-contact persona that the Knicks have had for the last 7 years.

    When its a fastbreak, look to jam it home instead of trying to be fancy. The Knicks have had at least 4 missed shallow opportunities because of their inability to attack the rim.

  • greatman42001

    Thanks Biggie,
    I would argue the point more, b/c I really think this is 100% the right move, especially since Jefferies and Curry then get off the books, but at the same time getting Odom who I think can flourish like Harrington has and players such as Diaw and Marion have done in the system.
    Farmer gives us wiggle room with Duhon in the present and in the future, and pick 29 can still get you a nice player (a.k.a David Lee) a player that reminds me off Lee that will be around that late is Jeff Adrien.
    The goal is 2010 and this plan allows us to be competitive and in my opinion more complete while still allowing us to go full swing in 2010. Also I remind you that having Odom around makes Harrington less of a priority and as Biggie said Odom might be willing to take a pay decrease to win a championship in his hometown something I’m not sure Harrington would be willing to do. While people are enthralled with getting draft picks back, those draft picks are hit and miss, Farmer and Odom are proven players, granted they are not superstars but thats why we have the plan for 2010