So it's official, Knicks vs. Celtics in the first round. Gets me all the more nervous for Wednesday's game.
Absolutely want to put up a fight and end the season strong, but I'm worried about giving the C's extra motivation in the series if we take the game in Boston.
I hope they dont go all out Wednesday and have someone get hurt.
Are the celts really 9-11 in theis last 20? Man, this could not have broke better for us. Not sayin we'll win, but I wouldn't be shocked. Atlanta pushed a younger stronger celts to 7 a few years ago (celts title year if I'm not mistaken). Hottest team in the league vs. an aging veteran club still stinging from losing a team favorite player. I'll take it.
Fact 1: Celtics have thee worst offense since the all-star break.
Fact 2: Shaq hurt himself while doing nothing on a basketball court after 5 minutes of action.
I hope they play that fat motherfucker in the game. If Sheldon Williams can stifle D. Howard in his prime, he can slow down an almost immobile Shaq. I'm not in the least bit worried about him. They put in Shaq, I go with TD, Billups, Melo, Amare, and Shawne Williams. Lets see his fat ass chase somebody up and down the court. I'd go at Shaq super aggressively with he pick and roll.
What I'd do is go with this starting lineup...
Billups
Douglas
Melo
Amare
Jeffries
That way I could have Douglas on Rondo, Billups on Allen, Melo on Pierce, and Jeffries on Garnett. Either that or I play play Shawne Williams and try to run them off the floor if Shaq is there. What the Knicks need to do though is neutralize Rondo's dribble penetration and take him out of the game or make him take jumpers. TD is better equipped for that then fields.
As far as this matchup goes, it's a tough one for the Knicks, but it will certainly answer a lot of questions. I can't wait to see it.
Defensively I'd focus on Ray Allen. I think Pierce/Melo is a wash. Same with KG/Garnett. I don't think Billups is better than Rondo, but I'd rather Billups shoot that Rondo, so I'll say that's a wash. Allen vs. Fields/TD is where the team falls short.
Then there is the matter of the Knicks bench versus Boston's. Glen Davis and Jeff Greena re better than any Knicks combination. Jermaine O'Neal had a big night last night too. He should be rested headed into the playoffs.
This is a bad matchup for the Knicks
SupremeCommander wrote:Defensively I'd focus on Ray Allen. I think Pierce/Melo is a wash. Same with KG/Garnett. I don't think Billups is better than Rondo, but I'd rather Billups shoot that Rondo, so I'll say that's a wash. Allen vs. Fields/TD is where the team falls short. Then there is the matter of the Knicks bench versus Boston's. Glen Davis and Jeff Greena re better than any Knicks combination. Jermaine O'Neal had a big night last night too. He should be rested headed into the playoffs.
This is a bad matchup for the Knicks
Yeah the Celtics are a tough team to deal with, but if we had to play them the best approach is to stay on the attack and don't let them keep the game totally in the half court. More than the Heat they want to play slower to preserve their older stars. We can't let them catch their breath. We've got to keep the pressure on them and keep pushing the pace at all times.
TD and Shelden need to start. Rondo can't be allowed to get in the paint and give the Celtics easy baskets all game and you can't let the Oneils just sit in the paint waiting to rough up Amare on the boards.
Jeffries will play a key role in the series defending both Rondo and Pierce. If Melo can make Pierce work on D, then NY can beat them assuming, Shaq is not the force he once was
Knicks in Six!
GoNyGoNyGo wrote:Knicks in Six!
I like it!
SupremeCommander wrote:Defensively I'd focus on Ray Allen. I think Pierce/Melo is a wash. Same with KG/Garnett. I don't think Billups is better than Rondo, but I'd rather Billups shoot that Rondo, so I'll say that's a wash. Allen vs. Fields/TD is where the team falls short. Then there is the matter of the Knicks bench versus Boston's. Glen Davis and Jeff Greena re better than any Knicks combination. Jermaine O'Neal had a big night last night too. He should be rested headed into the playoffs.
This is a bad matchup for the Knicks
DOn't sell Melo short. Last game Melo was abusing and I mean abusing Paul Pierce. We collapsed in the4th but part of that was Amare didn't play well and Melo caught an elbow to the eye which basically sidelined him. We can beat BOston.
Probably, the best way to neutralize Rondo is to play him the same way LA did last year. Whoever's guarding him should play 5-6 feet off him and dare him to shoot. He really can only score inside on drives to the basket since he still hasn't developed anything resembling an outside shot.
agree with killa. pierece v. melo is not a wash, its a knicks advantage.
C's have the experience but both teams have big question marks.
rondo will kill us for the first 46 minutes of every game, but he always fades at the end b/c he's afraid to take the last shot. this is where billups excels. i'd give the knicks a slight advantage at PG because of it. lets not forget MR BIG SHOT has a finals MVP and a chip on his resume.
i think douglas will get a LOT of time. he can annoy rondo and pressure the ball, and billups on allen isn't really a mismatch since all allen does is shoot Js. fields will likely see less time.
let's hope STAT is well-rested and ready to go. we have the most clutch player in the league wearing BLUE and ORANGE. if we can get one in boston i like our chances, because the garden is going to be RAUCOUS baby!
BigSm00th wrote:agree with killa. pierece v. melo is not a wash, its a knicks advantage.C's have the experience but both teams have big question marks.
rondo will kill us for the first 46 minutes of every game, but he always fades at the end b/c he's afraid to take the last shot. this is where billups excels. i'd give the knicks a slight advantage at PG because of it. lets not forget MR BIG SHOT has a finals MVP and a chip on his resume.
i think douglas will get a LOT of time. he can annoy rondo and pressure the ball, and billups on allen isn't really a mismatch since all allen does is shoot Js. fields will likely see less time.
let's hope STAT is well-rested and ready to go. we have the most clutch player in the league wearing BLUE and ORANGE. if we can get one in boston i like our chances, because the garden is going to be RAUCOUS baby!
I agree with everything, especially fields seeing less time.
But KG and Amare are a critical matchup for us. How does Amare play? Is he aggressive to the rim bullying his way into the paint and drawing fouls. Who wins the rebounding battle? On paper its them but I like Sheldon Williams vs. Big Baby.
key to this series is winning OUR home games. i think if we can beat them once in boston, we can win this series.
Killa4luv wrote:SupremeCommander wrote:Defensively I'd focus on Ray Allen. I think Pierce/Melo is a wash. Same with KG/Garnett. I don't think Billups is better than Rondo, but I'd rather Billups shoot that Rondo, so I'll say that's a wash. Allen vs. Fields/TD is where the team falls short. Then there is the matter of the Knicks bench versus Boston's. Glen Davis and Jeff Greena re better than any Knicks combination. Jermaine O'Neal had a big night last night too. He should be rested headed into the playoffs.
This is a bad matchup for the Knicks
DOn't sell Melo short. Last game Melo was abusing and I mean abusing Paul Pierce. We collapsed in the4th but part of that was Amare didn't play well and Melo caught an elbow to the eye which basically sidelined him. We can beat BOston.
I'm not selling Melo short. I was and have been one of the most vocal supporters of the trade on this board. What I'm not doing is elling Paul Pierce short. I think Melo is better, but how much better? Whatm is Melo the favorite, 55% to 45%? It's a virtual coin flip about who will perform best.
Don't discount Paul Pierce
nyk4ever wrote:key to this series is winning OUR home games. i think if we can beat them once in boston, we can win this series.
Winning one of the first two in Boston is HUGE.
Playofffs cliche of the day: "The series does not start until one team wins in the road"
Markji wrote:GoNyGoNyGo wrote:Knicks in Six!
I like it!
Hatter!! Knicks in 5!!
wow... lot of optimism. Man I just dont see it. I would have loved a matchup with the Heat as I honestly think we can beat them. Of all the top 4 seeds I think this is the WORST matchup for us. Rondo kills our PGs on defense. While Amare has his moments and will KG always seems to win in the end. I dont care how good or bad the Celtics play, they are an elite team and have the ability to clamp down and find ways to win. I hate this matchup. Sorry boys... I know the Knicks are hot and the Celts are not but this smells like a 4-1 Celtics win and that one win is probably a game 4 meaningless win where the Celtics get complacent.
I hope like hell I'm wrong... but this was the nightmare matchup I wanted to avoid. Against the Heat, Magic, evem Bulls... I felt good, like we at least have a gunslingers chance. Celtics are too good and that chemistry those 4 guys have in crunchtime (Rondo, Pierce, KG, Ray) is uncanny and I dont see us breaking that down.
Walsh said you find out what you have and dont have come playoffs. I'm sure that will reveal itself, but I'm not optimistic.
