With their loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night, New York dropped to 19-30 on the season and will bring their 7-15 road record into the Q on Saturday night. Cleveland is darn good on their home court and New York is even worse than normal on the road. Let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves here but ten straight victories without last year’s starting backcourt does not bode well for the Knickerbockers.
Nate Robinson v. Daniel Gibson
Since breaking in to Mike D’Antoni’s lineup, Nate Robinson has been playing great basketball. He’s averaging a smidge under 13 points with about 3.5 assists a night. Daniel Gibson, though, has gone seven straight games posting double figures and has played stellar ball since Mo and Delonte went down with injuries.
Delonte may or may not be back for this one tonight so Boobie’s playing time may go down a bit. But I expect Gib to be just as productive as he has been lately, especially when you consider the lack of effort Robinson puts in on the defensive end.
Advantage: Daniel Gibson
Danillo Gallinari v. Anthony Parker
Gallinari puts up better than 14.5 points a night for the Knickerbockers and continues to shoot the ball at a high percentage. However, Anthony Parker’s biggest value to this Cavaliers team is his ability to lock down perimeter threats and completely remove them from the game. Let’s not forget that AP has quietly sank open jumpers at a high percentage as well this season. I’m just waiting for him to have one of those lights out games that leaves us thinking, “Well dang. That guys pretty good.”
Advantage: Anthony Parker
Wilson Chandler v. LeBron James
Chandler’s 13 points a night rank him third on the team. He snatches about five rebounds a night but it’s not every day that you go up against a guy like LeBron James. As if he wasn’t incredible during his MVP season last year, ‘Bron has improved every part of his game again this season and is hands down the top candidate for MVP again this season. The guy has done things lately that I don’t even think would’ve been possible in Space Jam! He blocks game winning shot attempts, steals weak behind-the-back passes, posterizes his good friends and dances his way to greatness each and every night on the floor.
Advantage: LeBron James
Jared Jeffries v. JJ Hickson
Jared Jeffries has been anything but impressive throughout this year (or throughout his career for that matter) and will be matched up against one of the hottest young players on the Cavaliers. On Thursday night, Hickson threw the hammer down on Dwyane Wade and then pounded his attempt to get even. He has finished very well around the rim and has been a key player in the Cavs’ recent win streak.
Advantage: JJ Hickson
David Lee v. Shaquille O’Neal
David Lee is one of the best young forwards in the league today and posts a double-double night in and night out for the New York Knicks. However, he’s just another forward that Mike D’Antoni has allowed to get pummeled under the basket on the defensive end. Lee is way too small to handle a guy like Shaquille O’Neal and it doesn’t help that the Shaqalier has been playing with a little bit of fire lately. I don’t expect that streak to end against New York.
Advantage: Shaquille O’Neal
New York Bench v. Cleveland Bench
New York is 19-30. Cleveland is 40-11. That right there says it all. Cleveland’s bench has been magnificent and has won several games for the Cavaliers this season. Cleveland is arguably the deepest team in the league and may be getting back another weapon tonight in Delonte West.
Advantage: Cleveland Bench
Prediction:
The Cavaliers have posted convincing victories in the last five games beating teams by an average of more than 18 points a game. With New York’s struggles on the road (and pretty much everywhere) this season, I don’t really expect them to give Cleveland much competition on Saturday night. The Cavs are just playing way too good to be stopped by a team playing under the D’Antoni failosophy.