Game 9 Preview: Knicks Look To Snap Streak Against Magic

Can the Knicks finally turn it around tonight against the Orlando Magic?

The New York Knicks are currently on a 5 game losing skid, with notable back-to-back losses at the hands of the Atlanta Hawks. Tonight New York gets a shot to turn it around by taking on a fellow 2-6 team in the Orlando Magic. Both teams have gotten off to terrible starts in 2014, so there is definitely a chance to observe some bad basketball tonight.

The Magic come in with a trio of streaks: four losses in a row, then two wins, and now followed up by their current two game skid. Where the Magic thrive is in the paint with young big-man Nikola Vucevic. The center comes in averaging 18.5 points and a whopping 11.8 rebounds through 8 games. Defensively, Samuel Dalembert and Amar’e Stoudemire will have a tall task ahead of them. However, maybe they play “hack-a-Shaq” with him and force him to the line, where he is currently shooting a lowly 57%.

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Orlando’s young talent doesn’t stop at Vucevic: rookies Elfrid Payton and Aaron Gordon are contributing nicely early on for the team. While Payton is not shooting the ball particularly well, the rookie point guard is dishing out 6 assists a game. Gordon hasn’t seen a ton of playing time (15 mpg), but he is the type of active player that could give the Knicks some problems. Tobias Harris is an excellent player and has started to remind some of Carmelo Anthony. While he is not nearly as talented as Melo, Harris is more similar to last year’s power forward Melo: he is big and strong and has the ability to take his game to the perimeter. It will be interesting to watch the two match up tonight.

For the Knicks, it’s been a year of mostly negatives. They can’t seem to find any sort of consistency after playing so well in games two and three. Carmelo Anthony needs to get it going offensively as he is 37 for his last 109 shots over the 5 game skid. Tim Hardaway Jr. has stepped up the last couple of games as the starting point guard/shooting guard. The sweet shooting sophomore has earned himself extended minutes for his offensive ability only; he is still a step behind on the defensive end.

Iman Shumpert has been the Knicks best player thus far this season. Is it the contract year that is driving him to be a more complete player, or is it the fact that he is finally in a situation that best fits his abilities? I’m going with the latter because Shumpert has always showed he had potential; it was simply a matter of him putting it all together.

Injuries:

New York: Jose Calderon, Andrea Bargnani

Orlando: Victor Oladipo, Kyle O’Quinn

What To Watch For…

Defending the Paint
- Samuel Dalembert played a significant role in patrolling the paint against the Hawks. However, when he came out, the Knicks were eaten alive. One of the reserves needs to step up and play better interior defense down the stretch of games because Dalembert is too much of a liability offensively to be out there. Who will step up? STAT? Jason Smith?
Melo’s Cold Streak
- As I stated above, Melo can’t seem to make a shot lately. Shooting an ice cold 34% over the last five games. The Knicks rely heavily on Anthony’s ability to dominate a basketball game. The good news is, he is leading the Knicks in assists per game at about 4.5.
Can The Knicks Overcome the Third Quarter of Doom?
- The Knicks have not won a third quarter on this current losing streak. They have come out flat and let that quarter completely change the momentum of the game. If the Knicks can overcome this quarter, they will put themselves in a much better position to win.

The Knicks need this win, especially at home.

Recap after the game.

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