Lakers @ Knicks! 8 ET, Friday (2/10/12) | The True Test!

[KnicksScholar24]

IMO, the Knicks can beat the Lakers. The area of the game I'm concerned about is rebounding. If the Knicks bigs don't box out Bynum and Gasol, it'll be a long day. The Knicks don't have a good rebounding option at PF, and if Chandler gets in foul trouble, the Knicks will be exploited inside and on the glass. Otherwise, the Knicks are very capable of beating the Lakers, unless Kobe goes for an efficient 50+ points. Maybe Balkman can get some time this game, as he plays Bryant decently.

I don't believe the Knicks are at some disadvantage because they don't have Carmelo or Amar'e. Anthony and Stoudemire have been inefficient this year, and Melo hasn't really bought into the ball movement concept. This current group of players play the best team ball and the best defense, and until STAT & Melo prove they can fit in without holding the ball and hindering the team's play the Knicks are stronger now without them. The Knicks are basically playing like the Rockets/Pacers/Sixers now. With Anthony and Stoudemire, if they buy in, they can put the Knicks into unstoppable territory, which will be necessary in the playoffs. Then you add Harrellson, Davis, and possibly Smith, the Knicks look very good on paper (with Lin at point).

Also Amar'e is going to have to be more of an attacker and less of a ball mover when he gets backs. He needs to move the ball, if he gets in a situation where he has to go one-on-five, but if Lin is getting him in positions were he can take one dribble, two steps, and finish, that's when he'll be at his most dangerous for this team.

[KnicksNYankees]

I Think if Novak can have another say 15-18 ish point game with Lin doing his thing behind an electrifying MSG crowd we can pull off a win. But we need Fields and Shumpert to bring their A game and limit stupid mistakes.

Telling you right now, the only thing Fields is going to do is pump fakes...

And throw wide alley oop passes to Chandler lolz.

[playteamball]

Have to find a way to stop easy baskets and putbacks by the huge Bynum/Gasol frontline. Artest and Kobe are tough in the lane too. Lakers are stacked compared to the injured Knicks (don't forget we are missing Jorts).

I say pack the lane and let the Lakers shoot outside other than Fisher (who can still hit an open shot) and guard Kobe outside only if Kobe gets hot.

This is going to be a very tough game. Don't know if Lin can will the Knicks to another undermanned victory. Would hate for Lin to get ripped just because game is on ESPN/national tv for once if Lakers beat him into the ground. WIth all the people ready to bash Lin when the Knicks finally lose, this feels like some horrible video game or movie where the hero gets put into all kinds of impossible challenges, except it's real and you only get one life.

[KnicksNYankees]

Have to find a way to stop easy baskets and putbacks by the huge Bynum/Gasol frontline. Artest and Kobe are tough in the lane too. Lakers are stacked compared to the injured Knicks (don't forget we are missing Jorts).

I say pack the lane and let the Lakers shoot outside other than Fisher (who can still hit an open shot) and guard Kobe outside only if Kobe gets hot.

This is going to be a very tough game. Don't know if Lin can will the Knicks to another undermanned victory. Would hate for Lin to get ripped just because game is on ESPN/national tv for once if Lakers beat him into the ground. WIth all the people ready to bash Lin when the Knicks finally lose, this feels like some horrible video game or movie where the hero gets put into all kinds of impossible challenges, except it's real and you only get one life.

Or he can keep proving us wrong when we point out to a game where he will finally falter. Unleash once again the "Is this real life gif's" if we win tomorrow night.

[NoMoreThrees]

im thinking kobe goes for 50.

fisher gunna get torched by lin. hope he can keep going at this pace.

[playteamball]

im thinking kobe goes for 50.

fisher gunna get torched by lin. hope he can keep going at this pace.

I'd like to see Kobe/Lin go back and forth ala Bird-Dominique for those of you old enough to remember

[Deeeez Knicks]

Going to the game with the rest of the Linamanics. I picked up tickets at the right time for this one (pre-Linsanity)

[DocZaius]

quintuple team Kobe ftw

[Houstonrox]

We are pretty huge underdogs for this game. I'm just hoping for a good game. If we somehow pull this one out though, the garden is going to go CRAZYYYYY.

[NBA Fan 1234]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fXc34xO3Gw&ob=av3n[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjS7hFgVYyg[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEUYeiJIEn4[/youtube]

Massacre on (at) Madison (Square Garden)

[Knicksfan20]

I Think if Novak can have another say 15-18 ish point game with Lin doing his thing behind an electrifying MSG crowd we can pull off a win. But we need Fields and Shumpert to bring their A game and limit stupid mistakes.

Telling you right now, the only thing Fields is going to do is pump fakes...

Fields has been much better as of late.

[ITGM]

The big boy = Kobe and the Lakers

The whore on the floor = Lin and the Knicks

OUR ANUSES BETTER BE PREPARED

[Clyde_Style]

Going to the game with the rest of the Linamanics. I picked up tickets at the right time for this one (pre-Linsanity)

FYI, an international committee has decreed that all time in calendar years will from this point forward be measured as Pre-Lin and Post-Lin, thereby abolishing the designations B.C. and A.D., effective immediately. That makes this Year Zero P.L.

[Jan_Sobieski]

You just know Kobe is going to guard Lin after Fish gets lit up. My god is this real life? When's the last time a team doubled a guy on a 10-day let alone me predicting Kobe will be guarding him.

Kobe cannot guard Lin.

[aohus]

Kobe is stat padding this season. Honestly, Knicks will win this.

[No35]

The big boy = Kobe and the Lakers

The whore on the floor = Lin and the Knicks

OUR ANUSES BETTER BE PREPARED

Refer to this post in event of upset.

[DocZaius]

The big boy = Kobe and the Lakers

The whore on the floor = Lin and the Knicks

OUR ANUSES BETTER BE PREPARED

the phuck??????????????????????????

[N8isScofield]

The big boy = Kobe and the Lakers

The whore on the floor = Lin and the Knicks

OUR ANUSES BETTER BE PREPARED

We really didn't need to see you getting your diabetes on in a club bro.

[NBA Fan 1234]

Kobe is stat padding this season. Honestly, Knicks will win this.

Kobe is stat padding? Lol. No.

Without Melo and Amar'e, I don't have much hope. Prepare for the worst but hope for the best.

[Red Vines]

Looking ahead to his next three matchups, it seems as if the opportunity is certainly there for Lin to keep it going:

Feb. 10 – Lakers: Should the Lakers try to guard Lin with Derek Fisher, the young point guard may be able to put on a show against the older, slower veteran. If Fisher stays close to Lin, he will be able to overpower him physically, but the chances of him being able to keep up are slim. All bets are off if the Lakers swing in a second defender to help out against Lin (which would really qualify as an amazing amount of respect to a player with 41 career games and 2 career starts.) If that happens, the open looks for the similarly-hot Steve Novak may increase, so the Knicks may still be in business. Let’s just not think about how many points Kobe Bryant may score against this currently hobbled Knicks team.

http://offthedribble.blogs.nytimes.com/ ... ee/?src=tp