Live Thread: Cavs @ Knicks
2015-02-22
The Cavs are taking on the Knicks today at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks are without top scorer Carmelo Anthony (24.2 ppg), who is out for the season due to knee surgery, and top rebounder Amar’e Stoudemire (6.8 rebounds), who was bought out because he just didn’t feel New York anymore and New York wasn’t feeling his salary. In their places, Cleanthony Early and Lou Amundson, respectively, are now starting.
Yes, former Cavalier Lou Amundson is now a starter after not being able to earn serious playing time even during Wine & Gold blowout wins.
Stuff to think about today:
-Before looking at anything about this game, I tried to think of who the starters for the Knicks would be. I only knew two: Jose Calderon and the guy who makes tons of mid-range shots and helped the Knicks beat the Cavs on their opening night, Jason Smith. This might be the least known team in the league right now (Langston Galloway (who?) will be starting at shooting guard for New York).
-If the Cavs win today, this will be their 16th win in 18 games.
-This is the first game former Knicks J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert get to play on their old home court.
-All five Knicks starters combine to score 36.3 points a game. That’s about the combined score of Cavs starters LeBron James and J.R. Smith who average 37.8 total points a game.
-Jason Smith is the master of the inefficient game.
He shoots 68.3% of his shots from that mid-range zone, but at least he makes 45.7% of them. That might be among the top in the league.
What are your thoughts about the game today? Predictions?
The Cavs are predicted to win by 16.5 points as of now according to ESPN.com. I’m actually going to say they win by 7. It’s New York City, so I’m sure most of the team had a little bit of fun last night. There might be some J.R. Smith tour of New York clubs induced hangovers.
@PhilJackson11: Today’s game vs Cavs gave bb gods heartburn and those that know what “it” takes/means a smh.
Phil Jackson looked really old when they cut to him today watching the game… He may have been a great coach, but he’s proving to be a lousy GM…
Also, I find it laughable that Jackson has the stones to call out the “Knicks” since he’s the one directly responsible for the miserable line-up that graced the floor against the Cavs today…
What a joke the “Knicks” organization is… MSG might be the “mecca of basketball” but Phil has defiled it with his can of blue and orange spraypaint…
bucks vs Hawks is getting good!
Both the Bucks and Pistons making it interesting!
Gotta love the free league pass! Bucks are scary when they are clivking
Pistons really taking it to the Wiz now… Drummond is just a BEAST
Yeah what a turn of momentum! Great closing of 1st half by the Pistons.
Drummond on your fantasy team and you win rebounds just with him!
He is on my C:tFL fantasy team and has been killing it nearly all year!
Mine too good fg% as well, but not on CtB tho maybe next year
Only downside with him is the FT… can be brutal…
Wizards may have a hangover/demoralized after what the Cavs did to them..
They were up by as much as 14 in the first half though…
Were they? Dang… I also noticed Reggie Jackon’s made some shots.
Yeah, Reggie was 1-9 in the first half, but has gone 4-6 in the second…
Bucks and Hawks is a see-saw… Bucks will be even better when they get back to good PG play with MCW
Really interested to see how they turn out, can’t believe they didn’t fold after Parker went down.
Korver starting to get hot though and Hawks are pulling away…
Just don’t have the offense it seems… OJ Mayo what happened to you?
Bucks defense failing them in the 4th as well.
The Pistons and bucks are not going to be easy outs in the East. Entertaining games ahead! Wizards are plummeting
Indy knocked off the Warriors too. Unfortunate for Bosh but given his situation I’m not so sure Indy doesn’t claim the 8th seed.
Especially if they get PG-13 back anytime soon…
Free trial on league pass this weekend if that helps anyone! Go Cavs
Thanks for the info Gregg!!! That’s AWESOME! GO CAVS!
Man these two later games (DET/WAS and ATL/MIL) are awfully ugly, low-scoring affairs…
I actually think that bodes well for some upsets… I’m worried MIL and DET both can’t get it done though because of a lack of continuity that came with the trades.
Well… MCW isn’t playing yet for the Bucks and Reggie Jackson is currently 0-7 for the Pistons… so you’re probably right…
That’s unfortunate… hopefully a 2nd half rally is in store!
Nice end of the half by the pistons!
LBJ passed Iverson today for 22nd in all time scoring… Next up… Ray Ray. Even more incentive for him to come back… LBJ can say “Come on man… don’t let me pass you!”
He will pass Ray in mid to late March.
He’s only 137 points behind Ray… he’ll probably do it in 5 or 6 more games…
I thought AS wrote “he will pass to Ray in mid to late March” and did a double take there . . .
@JasonLloydABJ: Shawn Marion said he is not traveling to Detroit, will instead return to Cleveland for an MRI on his ailing hip.
Get well, Matrix… We’ll need you for the playoff run!
This was KLove’s 29th double-double of the season… Hard to complain about that…
Was just looking it up and LBJ is averaging a career low minutes per game this year at 36.4… Plus he’s also played the fewest games of any year in the league…
It has gotten a lot better as the season has progressed. Just need him healthy for the playoffs!!!
Shump had 7 assists. Maybe he’s can be an emergency point guard. He does see the court well.
Atlanta Milwaukee should also be a good watch today…
Thought the same thing… I wonder if the Bucks can pull it off. Also curious about DC/DET…
Rare rainy Sunday in LA… probably will flip back and forth on both games up until the Oscars…
Scout ’em up if you can, EG!
Wish I had league pass.
Free trial this weekend
During KLove’s interview with Allie, she mentioned he just passed 5K rebounds for his career already… That’s impressive…
“jeff you painted a perfect picture in your statement that you made”-campy russell, painting us pictures with the statements that he makes
HAHAHAHA… that was pretty funny. Bob Ross of language Jeff is.
Opponents in the last two games have been held to 4-35 from three…
Great defense again today, 3rd stringer didn’t play as well defensively today as they did against DC, but at least they don’t have as much trouble scoring as they did earlier in the year.
Haywood missed that shot by 5 feet…
Last shot of his career?
goin down guns blazin
I’d feel sorry for him . . . but he makes 10 Mil!
no he makes 2.2 mil this season (which is still a lot for shining the bench with his rear), he will never ever sniff that non-guaranteed 10 mil next year. he will probably be traded 10 times this summer before he gets cut for cap relief so that 10 teams will have a 10 mil brendan haywood trade exception
Haha nice air all Haywood!
“Air ball” damn autocorrect!
I’m going to watch the Pistons/Wiz game later to see how Reggie Jackson does… Should be an interesting game on Tuesday…
Hopefully Perkins will be there to help with the big men.
That would be good… Drummond has been a beast lately…
I’m back to liking James Jones again. At least to limited minutes or garbage time.
I think Blatt’s pushin all the right buttons now…. Jones and Harris should be the garbage men, not Miller/Matrix.
Once Matrix is healthy again I’m fine with him getting some run. Miller should be the permanent cheerleader.
I could get with that, Arch.
he’s not healthy?
No, hip injury… nagging one at that apparently.
oh really? guess that explains why he’s been ridin pine
he looks smooth
JAMES FREAKING JONES!!
JAMES JONES with the fadeaway!
Lotta Cavs fans there cheering for Joe when he hit that three…
LBJ gave a shoutout to Harris fans in DC from UVA!
Harris has seemed to lose all his confidence.
And as I say that he hits a 3.
Thanks for the jinx Arch!
It’s the reverse jinx.
Very savvy there, Arch!
Nice drive Harris… Finally attacked the basket.
Missed the free throws though…
Made up for it with the 3 hahaha!
Bargniani looks like an All Star… against Haywood…
Have no idea what Brendan is still doing in this league. Not a clue
Haywood rrelishing the last playing time of his career?
They’ll keep him around for the contract though, right?
Yeah but. Gotta think he’s not gonna be active. Can only dress 13.
Good point… he probably won’t
they should give him some post-ups, see what happens
he cant be much worse than perkins on offense….
ok i should have been careful what i wished for
i take that back he might be worse than perkins. kinda feel bad for him, he was good on those wizard teams
You’re editions here are pretty funny Bimmy! HAHA!
Cavs were up by 19 after 1 qtr.
Delly with the strong move and pull up!
DELLY FLOATER!!! Good ball movement again!