New York Knicks: Key matchups against the Memphis Grizzlies

The New York Knicks are coming off of a huge confidence builder against the Brooklyn Nets. Now, they travel to Memphis to face the lowly Grizzlies.

The New York Knicks need to win tonight. These are the games that derail seasons. When the NCAA tournament committee evaluates a college basketball team, they look at the big wins, and the huge losses.

Losing to the Grizzlies tonight would be a circled loss by NBA standards. The Grizzlies are two games out of being the worst team in the league, and I refuse to believe that the Grizzlies are better than the Knicks.

Lets stack the top three players side-by-side and see who’s better. I’m going to take comparable players from both the teams and we’ll see who has a better three.

Matchup No. 1

Player A: 19.6 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 4.8 APG, 1.07 SPG, and 0.3 BPG, on 46.7 FG%/40.3 3P%/79 FT%

Player B: 18.0 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.26 SPG, and 0.2 BPG,  on 42.4 FG%/31.8 3P%/79 FT%

Matchup No. 2

Player C: 23.7 PPG, 6.9 RPG,1.3 APG, 0.7 SPG, and 2.3 BPG, on 43.4 FG%/38.5 4P%./81 FT%

Player D: 18.4 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 4.0 APG, 0.7 SPG, and 1.5 BPG on 41.8 FG%/33 3P%/84  FT%

Matchup No. 3

Player E: 13.4 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 1.3 APG, 0.5 SPG, and 0.5 BPG, on 60.3 FG%/ 0.0 3P%/ 86 FT%

Player F: 10.0 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 1.2 APG, 0.6 SPG, and 0.3 BPG, on 47.3 FG%/ 37/9%/ 71 FT%

The Reveal: Matchup No. 1

In the first matchup, we have Tyreke Evans as Player A and Tim Hardaway Jr. as Player B. Hardaway’s stats are taken with a grain of salt, as he has missed 31 games during the 2017-18 season.

Evans, on the other hand, has revitalized his career. Labeled as a bust in the years that followed his stellar rookie season, we the people were quick to write Evans off as a bad basketball player.

Evans is solidifying himself as the trade chip of the season, as he will likely be moved to a more competitive team that’s hoping to bolster their bench.

This is a statistically lopsided matchup, as Evans’ splits have been better than Hardaway’s across the board.

Grizzlies: 1

Knicks: 0

The Reveal: Matchup No. 2

The second matchup is a lot closer. The two studs of each team, Kristaps Porzingis as Player C, and Marc Gasol as Player D, should see time against one another.

This is a marquee head-to-head battle. Two European giants with unique skill sets. Let’s breakdown each stat to pick a winner.

In scoring, we have to give nod to the Uknickorn. Porzingis’ offensive arsenal is one of the most feared in the league. He’s a million and a half feet tall, and can shoot from half court. Point Porzingis.

Rebounding may seem a lot closer on the scorecard, but Porzingis has struggled to get rebounds. Gasol isn’t elite in that category, but he has the advantage. Point Gasol.

Gasol is a better passer than Porzingis; we don’t need to dive too deep into that. What Porzingis is superior at, however, and what ends up with him winning this head-to-head is his ability to protect the rim.

Porzingis leads the league in blocks, and is a force on the defensive side. Gasol is going to have a tough night.

Grizzlies: 1

Knicks: 1

The Reveal: Matchup No. 3

The third and last significant matchup, to me, is the most lopsided. Player E is the Turkish delight, Enes Kanter, and Player F is Grizzlies big man JaMychal Green.

Kanter never leaves the paint, so I’m not concerned with his three-point percentage, but what did surprise me was his free throw percentage. I’m embarrassed to admit that I didn’t know

Luigi

Kanter was that good from the free throw line.

Kanter is the double-double machine, and should win this matchup.

Grizzlies: 1

Knicks: 2

With this logic, the Knicks are going to win this game. Yet, anything can happen, especially when the Knicks are playing on the road. 5-15 over their last 20 away from the Garden, with wins coming over the Cavs (!!!), the Nets twice, the Mavericks, and the Pelicans.

The Grizzlies have won five of their last 10, but that comes on the heels of losing 19 of 21. Yikes.

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The New York Knicks should win if they compete like they were in November.