Something's gotta give on Saturday night when a New York Knicks team (3-10) coming off a troubling two-game road trip hosts a Philadelphia 76ers team (0-13) still seeking its first victory of the 2014-15 NBA season.
Projected Starting Lineups
Philadelphia 76ers
G Michael Carter-Williams – 15.4 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 5.0 apg
G Tony Wroten – 18.8 ppg, 5.7 apg
F Luc Richard Mbah a Moute – 8.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg
F Nerlens Noel – 6.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg
C Henry Sims – 8.8 ppg, 6.2 rpg
New York Knicks
G Jose Calderon – season debut
G Iman Shumpert– 12.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 3.4 apg
F Carmelo Anthony – 23.8 ppg, 5.6 rpg
F Quincy Acy – 5.0 ppg, 5.9 rpg
C Samuel Dalembert – 2.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg
What To Watch For:
Zero hour is approaching for this New York Knicks squad
A 13-game sample doesn't mean a whole lot, especially in an Eastern Conference where 37-40 wins might be able to secure a team a playoff spot. However, president Phil Jackson has made it clear that the time is now for the Knicks to start gelling, both in the triangle offense and as a team altogether. Providing the 76ers with their first win at Madison Square Garden would only serve to magnify the scrutiny exponentially.
The 76ers provide an opportunity for a defensive turnaround in New York
The Knicks have dropped nine of ten games (including losses to the Bucks and Timberwolves on this past road trip) , and are 0-9 when they give up more than 96 points. It's very possible the Knicks could get well, at least for a day, against a 76ers team last in the NBA in scoring (89.3 ppg) and 3-point shooting (29.7%). Saturday night provides the perfect opportunity for New York to work out some of the kinks and get their defensive rotations humming.
Prediction: Knicks win 101-89
Neither team has much to smile about so far in 2014-15, but the New York Knicks have the talent, the direction, and the guy named Carmelo Anthony necessary to pull away from this Philadelphia 76ers squad - especially at MSG.