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Thread: The Matchups

  1. #1
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    Default The Matchups

    The Matchups

    The biggest, most important game in the history of mankind — or at least since the last time the Yankees and Red Sox played — is scheduled tonight for the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, where the Nets finally get to show off their new digs to the Knicks. The game originally was scheduled to start the season for both teams but Hurricane Sandy interceded, common sense prevailed and the game was shifted to tonight.For years, the Knicks owned New York and the environs. Then a guy named Jason Kidd arrived in New Jersey and everything changed. Kidd left and things returned to normal. But the Nets waved goodbye to New Jersey and crossed not one but two rivers to Brooklyn, safe and secure in the billion-dollar pockets of their Russian owner.
    AP
    Tyson Chandler

    NBAE/Getty Images
    Joe Johnson


    “When I first came to New Jersey, there was no rivalry because the Knicks always crushed the Nets,” Detroit coach Lawrence Frank, who made four playoff runs with Kidd and the Nets, said yesterday. “It’s only a rivalry if it’s competitive, right? Then once Jason came to New Jersey, it was the other way around. … So there was no rivalry then. Now that I think both teams are on similar paths it should be interesting.
    “Obviously, you factor in a new location in Brooklyn, the fanaticism here in New York about sports and about basketball, it should be very, very exciting,” Frank added. “It’s good for the Metropolitan area when both teams are doing well. It just hasn’t happened a whole lot when both teams were good at the same time.”
    Now they are. So here is a look at the first-ever New York Knicks-BROOKLYN Nets game tonight:
    BACKCOURT
    Entering the season, “Brooklyn’s Backcourt” of all-star types Deron Williams and Joe Johnson generally was regarded as the best in the East. But Raymond Felton, exceeding all expectations (he’s shooting .444 on threes for example — his career number is .333), and Kidd, exceeding all logic for his age, have been superb for the Knicks. Kidd’s smarts are legendary as is his ability to impact a game even in short doses. Williams is among the point guard elite. Johnson started slowly, has picked up his aggression and is looking like the two-guard the Nets envisioned. Size and strength tilt it to Brooklyn.
    Edge:
    Nets
    FRONTCOURT
    Everything for the Knicks depends on which team shows up: the one evidenced yesterday in a 121-100 win over the Pistons and in the first nine games of the season, or the one that rolled over and died defensively in Texas this week. For this one, figure the former. Carmelo Anthony can score anytime, anywhere on any one. Tyson Chandler, when not being drawn from the basket on pick and rolls as Houston and Dallas did, is a ferocious defender. Ronnie Brewer is the epitome of the role player who accepts his status. Brooklyn counters with Brook Lopez, who is proving he is a top-tier offensive center. Gerald Wallace makes such a difference with his bite-ya-to-death-if-needed defense and style. Kris Humphries is a steady four, capable of a double-double nightly. Still, Anthony’s explosiveness overrides.
    Edge:
    Knicks
    BENCH
    Both are solid. The Knicks have an instant offense guy in J.R. Smith, length in Rasheed Wallace, another shooter in Steve Novak. The Nets have more depth as the Knicks still await Amar’e Stoudemire and Iman Shumpert getting healthy. The Nets have gotten tremendous play from Andray Blatche (one point every two minutes), rugged Reggie Evans (one rebound every 2.4 minutes) and guard C.J. Watson, a terrific if unheralded, signing. Then there are MarShon Brooks, Keith Bogans and Jerry Stackhouse on the wings. Each bench services the team’s needs, but the Nets go deeper until the Knicks heal.
    Edge:
    Nets
    COACHING
    There are only 30 men in the world at any given time who list “NBA Head Coach” on the line for occupation. And unless it’s a guy coaching his first season against a Phil Jackson or Pat Riley, there’s rarely a decided advantage. Both Mike Woodson of the Knicks and Avery Johnson of the Nets stress defense first. Both have been around the playoff block and both are not afraid to sit guys not performing to snuff.
    Edge:
    Even
    INTANGIBLES
    The Knicks want to show they still own New York. The Nets need to show they’ve made in-roads and have their own fan base. If orange and blue overshadows black and white tonight, the Nets are in trouble. But figure with the venue in Brooklyn, the Nets have this advantage. When the game goes to the Garden, the Knicks have the upper hand.
    Edge:
    Nets

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    Default

    Both teams are very good... I like Brooklyn in the long run...
    Knicks coming back down to earth. (kinda like the Clippers)
    Philly a big surprise without Big Baby Bynum.. glad the Lakers got rid
    of him.... but Howard so far is not much better.

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