3. Guard Play
As previously alluded to, the Brooklyn Nets will be without starting point guard Jeremy Lin, who’s nursing a strained left hamstring. Brooklyn could also be without backup point guard Greivis Vasquez, who has missed the past three games with an ankle injury.
The best case scenario for Brooklyn is that a hobbled Vasquez will play and the worst case scenario is that it’ll be forced to face the facts: there isn’t another point guard on the roster.
The Nets started rookie Isaiah Whitehead, a shooting guard who can handle the rock and facilitate, against the Charlotte Hornets. Joe Harris and Sean Kilpatrick also saw big minutes, and Randy Foye should be ready for the clash with the Knicks.
None of those players are genuine point guards, however, and none have the defensive prowess to remain in front of Derrick Rose or Brandon Jennings.
Kilpatrick is a player who cannot be underestimated, but Rose, Jennings, and Courtney Lee are the three best guards in this game. In order for the Knicks to defeat the Brooklyn Nets, they and Justin Holiday must exploit this positional advantage.
Brooklyn is very strong down low, but New York can win comfortably if it takes advantage of a rather significant perimeter edge.