Pacers-Knicks Preview 10-4-09
By Josh Dhani
The Indiana Pacers, who have yet to win the game as they’re stuck at 0-3, will be traveling to New York to face the 1-3 Knicks. The Knicks are coming off a surprising win while the Pacers come off a dull loss to the Nuggets. This looks like a good game. So let’s break this down!
Point Guards: T.J. Ford vs. Chris Duhon
Ford hasn’t been doing well so far, but hopefully he can improve and turn back into his right shape from last season, or be better than that at least. For has been averaging 7.7 points per game with 1.7 assists and 1.3 steals. Duhon has been playing much better, with 10.3 points, seven assists, and 1.5 steals per game. This looks like an evened up matchup pretty much.
Advantage: New York
Shooting Guards: Brandon Rush vs. Larry Hughes
Brandon Rush is coming off a great rookie year but hasn’t come off to the start many expected. He has 5.3 points per game with two assists and two rebounds. Larry Hughes has been impressive with 19 points, 5.5 rebounds, four assists, and 2.5 steals. Hopefully, B-Rush can turn around his game today and put up some shots.
Advantage: New York
Small Forwards: Danny Granger vs. Danilo Gallinari
Now this looks like a fun matchup. Granger has been looking good for the past two seasons, and he has been looking better than ever right now with 23.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.3 steals. He’s been amazing and I see another All-Star spot reserved for him. Meanwhile Gallinari has been looking pretty decent with 19.3 points and four rebounds. But seriously, it’s Granger and he’s looking great!
Advantage: Indiana
Power Forwards: Troy Murphy vs. Wilson Chandler
Murphy has been decent with his 8.7 points and 9.7 rebounds. Chandler has been putting up 12.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists. If Murphy can put up some rebounds and get some of his jumpers and behind-the-arc shosts, I think the Knicks are in trouble.
Advantage: Indiana
Centers: Roy Hibbert vs. David Lee
Right now, Hibbert has a huge problem of commiting fouls. If he keeps this up, this is an easy win for David Lee and he’ll be putting up some nice statistics. Roy has been averaging 9.3 points, nine rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game. Lee has 19 points and ten rebounds. If Hibbert and put up some blocks on Lee and some rebounds over him, he’ll be good to go. But he’s going to have to be careful.
Advantage: New York
Bench
The bench has been looking very good with both teams. Dahntay Jones has been flat-out spectacular and continues to shine as well as another newly-acquired free agent in Earl Watson. The Knicks have had some love coming out Al Harrington. Everything is looking good with NY, but Indy has a great second team as well.
Advantage: Indiana
The Pacers are going to have to come up strong in this game and I really hope they do. The Pacers can do this and I think we’ll see the first win of the season from them. I really do.
Prediction: 107-102, Pacers
The Pacers can win this easily.
“It’s a combination of everything, a little combination of the injuries, the new guys, everything like that,” Troy Murphy says. “We’ve got to figure it out quick or we’re going to be in a deep hole, too deep a hole for us to dig ourselves out.”
I think they will figure themselves out. And if they can, we’ll finally see some W’s on the schedule and not as much L’s.