Game Thread: Charlotte Bobcats at New York Knicks 11/23

[ziggy]

Remember this guy?

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w301/bobcatsplanet/raymond.jpg

I'm sure you all do. Tonight we have the first of a back to back match up against the Knicks where we will get to see former Bobcats PG Raymond Felton and current Bobcat PG DJ Augustin go head to head. A lot is going to be made of Raymond's return and his matchup with DJ, but I look at it as a golden opportunity to get 2 wins. The Knicks lead by Mike O'Antoni is a whole like the Suns in that they like to run and don't play a whole lot of defense. This should play right into the Bobcats' hands.

How do you guys see the game playing out tonight?

[ohara831]

I expect this to be a split series with the home team winning each game. But if there is a sweep, I think the Cats are in a much better position to pull it off than New York. Charlotte has been playing some pretty good total team ball, even in their recent losses to better teams.

[BigMike]

I pedict it to look a LOT like the suns game. Our 1s will hold off the knicks, keeping it close. Then our twos will run them into the ground.

[Plowright]

I think we will win in New York but they will win in Charlotte. Have no idea why, just a wierd feeling.

[Toocool]

I'm most afraid of Stoudamire. Diaw won't have the speed to go with Amare's faceup dunk in your face game. Tyrus doesn't have enough bulk to handle Amare in the low post like Diaw can, but is able to easily match him for speed. He's really going to be a handful, along with Chandler and Gallinari if they both get firing.

[spectre]

Pack the paint on Amar'e and we'll keep him to an average game. He'll still get his numbers, but nothing ridiculous. When he gets it in the high post he's going to either shoot or drive...and his handles aren't all that great. If we play him right we can get him frustrated.

IMO the danger guy is Gallo. He's been lighting it up lately and Crash is not a good perimeter defender.

[Toocool]

Pack the paint on Amar'e and we'll keep him to an average game. He'll still get his numbers, but nothing ridiculous. When he gets it in the high post he's going to either shoot or drive...and his handles aren't all that great. If we play him right we can get him frustrated.

IMO the danger guy is Gallo. He's been lighting it up lately and Crash is not a good perimeter defender.

Thing is even though his handles aren't that great, he can seriously power through pretty much everyone except the Chuckster in his prime or O'Neal when going to the rack. Gallinari is a great player, but inconsistent as crap. Might show up, and might not. I personally hope he doesn't.

[spectre]

Against one guy absolutely. Where I've seen teams have success against him is when you pack 2-4 guys in there; no matter how many there are down his head goes and he tries to go right thru them, and he never seems to pass out. A lot of teams have figured this out and that's why he either is or was leading the league in TOs.

Gallo has been on a hot streak lately...last 3 games he's 18 for 39 overall (46%) and 10 for 16 from 3 (62.5%). Crash tends to halfheartedly defend 3 pt shooters anyway, so I see this as a possibly huge red flag.

Now granted I've not watched a full game of the Knicks this season...only bits and pieces. Amar'e may have gotten better, but I doubt he's conquered that weakness so quickly.

[Talent]

I have a feeling Chandler is going to score 26.5 Points ;p

On a serious note, we can let Amare score just need to contain the "other" guys.

[ohara831]

Way to play DJ! Wish you had more help tonight. But it was an exciting game.

[ohara831]

LB says something nice about DJ, but then fawns all over Ray. Man, can we just send LB to NY so he can sleep with his lover and end this saga?!