New York Knicks Vs New Orleans Hornets Preview

by Ben Chayon on November 2nd, 2009 at 3:52 pm

Tonight the New York Knick’s square off against the New Orleans Hornets at 7:30pm. New Orleans has gotten off to a rough start (1-3) and are looking to take advantage of the Knick’s recent struggles. It will be a pleasure to watch the best point guard in the game Chris Paul work his magic on the court.

If the Knicks fall down big like they did against Philly there will be no coming back in this game. The Hornets are simply too good despite their slow start. Look for Gallinari to continue his breakout season and drain a few more treys. While the Knicks have preached defense throughout the pre-season and early games during the actual season they let up 119.3 PPG. To combat this they are scoring 106.7. Therefore they have lost by an average of about 12 PPG during the first three games of the season. What happened to the Knicks from last year? Despite the fact their record was far from impressive at the very least they were in almost every game. Although the Knicks pushed it to overtime against the Bobcats and the 76ers they were out of most of the game. This simply isn’t exciting basketball. Tonight they must come out of the gate from the opening tip! Since when are the Knicks better in the clutch then during the beginning of the game? Let’s keep in mind the Knicks haven’t started 0-4 in over 7 seasons. So a loss tonight would be truly devastating.

Al Harrington‘s attitude has been very positive. In response to his demotion to coming off of the bench he had this to say… Via Nba.com “”If coach wants me to come off the bench, I’m going to be the best at it,” Harrington told the Knicks’ official Web site. The team needs to look to him for leadership because clearly he is up for the position. However, the NBA hasn’t been happy with Al over the past few days…

Courtesy of Nba.Com…
New York Knicks forward Al Harrington has been fined $25,000 for publicly criticizing game officials, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations. Harrington was fined for comments he made on Friday, October 30.

It should be a good game tonight with the Knicks going for their first win of the season. The most important thing is to improve on their awful defense and as Chris Duhon said “we need to be the ones throwing the first punch instead of always getting hit first.”
  • Laydenstinks

    I don’t know if I would classify tonight as devastating if they lose, but it’d be dissapointing to say the least. Devastating, in my opinion, is saved for worse losses like a being eliminated from the playoff hunt or eliminated from a series. This squad hasn’t had many big meaningful games in recent years and the “knick watching numbness” is in full effect for me. I think we both agree that it’d be a shitty outcome regardless.

    I really don’t expect much from this team but at the very least I’d appreciate it if they weren’t down by double digits in the blink of an eye. It’d make these games much more watchable.

  • Bob

    by “RECENT STRUGLES” do you mean the last 8-9 years ?

  • Magik_Trick

    Hopefully we’ll be within 5 points the entire time…watching Knicks games get so frustrating when I know that a touch of a remote will tune me in to an exciting Nets game..

  • CircleLimit4

    I would rather have CP3 than Lebron. I can live with Chandler, Gallo, Harrington at the 3/4. I can’t live with Duhon running the point.

    Chris Paul threw a hissy fit in the game against Boston. Partially because of Rondo, but also because he knows his team is not built to contend, now or in the future. Despite his best efforts, he won’t see the big stage, at least not in the western conference.

    Maybe, just maybe, if we take the Hornets down, Paul will snap and he’ll demand a trade!

    Paul for Harrington, Nate and a 2nd round pick.

    Let’s hear it for mental breakdown! I’ll get back to dreaming.

  • Laydenstinks

    yup…i don’t even count the cameo in the 03 playoffs.

    sad to say but its been a while…

  • Mucha

    Gallinari’s percentages will drop one day or another, he’ll have to develop his midrange game and his ability to go to the line. Hopefully he’ll play well tonight, Stojakovic is an interesting match-up.

    The Knicks will miss Nate Robinson against Chris Paul. He made many bad decisions against him last year, but at least Paul had to guard somebody. Either Gallinari, Chandler or Harrington will have to pick up the slack and have a monster night.

  • joetheknick

    I, too, dream of Chris Paul as the Knick for the future. I could see New Orleans letting Paul and Okafor go as a salary dump. Any combination of expiring contracts could do it. Question is do you take Okafor who is owed 60+ million in the bargain. Interesting.

  • DinnerDog

    Can anyone say Larry Hughes?! Oh man, that is depressing to write. But hey, he does seem to me to be one of those Tim Thomas type guys who can have a really good contract year.

  • HaS

    Once again I feel like a zombie in Dawn of the Dead returning to the mall like a creature of habit.

    Instead I’m a Knick fan, not a zombie and I’m tuning into MSG to watch the game, not returning to the mall.

  • Myles A. Mills

    Actually they started off 0-6 under LB if I’m correct.

  • HaS

    Watching _’antoni Year 1. This should be comedy.

  • DinnerDog

    Luckily the Yankees can win the world series tonight. So hopefully that happens, and then I wont be as upset when I watched a taped version of the Knicks game.

    Hahn just reported that the starting line-up is going to be:

    Duhon-Hughes-Gallinari-Chandler-Lee

    At least it will be high scoring!

  • dino2008

    why doesnt chris duhon walk the talk. he freakin stinks….. is absolutely horrible. granted, he is a backup pg and its not his fault he is starting but if your gonna talk about how the knicks need to improve atleast improve your own game… it doesnt look like he is half of the player he was in the first half of last year.

  • DaGawD_KnowLedge

    they started of 0-5..

  • DaGawD_KnowLedge

    i like that line up hopefully they play good.

  • Mucha

    I like it, we’ll see how Chandler and Gallinari play together from the get-go.

  • DaGawD_KnowLedge

    if the knicks lose tonite they will be 0-4
    they could beat indy if not that 0-5
    then the cavs which i think lebron might go for 80
    then they got the bucks which i think they should beat if not that’s 0-7

    we will just have to see but i think these knicks can break the 23 win record
    pardon my realness but sometimes u gotta face he facts..

    the players are bad but the coaching is worse..