New York Knicks: Five Keys To Defeating Cleveland Cavaliers

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Nov 13, 2015; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) drives past Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Carmelo Anthony vs. LeBron James

Whether fair or foul, the New York Knicks will be relying upon one individual to lead them to victory in Cleveland, Ohio. It’s not as much of a statement about how New York can only win with Carmelo Anthony going off than it is a testament to the vitality of this matchup.

Anthony will be matched up with friend and rival LeBron James, which creates the immediate potential for an unforgettable game.

Anthony and James have played 26 head-to-head games. Anthony has gone 12-14 against James, posting averages of 23.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.5 3-point field goals made on 38.2 percent shooting from beyond the arc.

12-14 is merely one different result away from an even split, which creates reason to believe that Anthony and the Knicks can pull this victory out.

Anthony and James often play one another well, which is likely a product of the fact they’ve been compared for more than 14 years. Both were in the running to go No. 1 overall in the 2003 NBA Draft and both play small forward.

The question is: can Anthony make an early statement against the player and team whom he’ll be competing against to win the Eastern Conference crown?

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The pressure is already mounting.

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