Bullets Forever - Wizards vs Knicks: New York rains threes in 120-99 victory"Ain't No Luck"https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48097/BulletsForever-fv.png2013-04-10T11:22:38-04:00http://www.bulletsforever.com/rss/stream/39705972013-04-10T11:22:38-04:002013-04-10T11:22:38-04:00Recap roundup: Wiz blown out in MSG
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<figcaption>Al Bello</figcaption>
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<p>Rounding up reaction to last night's 120-99 blowout loss in the Big Apple.</p> <p>Here's your recap roundup for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/">Washington Wizards</a>' 120-99 blowout loss Tuesday to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.postingandtoasting.com/">New York Knicks</a>, who with the win secured their first Atlantic Division crown in 19 years. Head over to <a href="http://www.bulletsforever.com/2013/4/9/4206556/wizards-vs-knicks-nba-2013" target="_blank">our StoryStream</a> for more coverage and be sure to check out these postgame interviews with <a href="http://www.monumentalnetwork.com/videos/randy-wittman-postgame-4-9-13/index.jsp" target="_blank">Randy Wittman</a>, <a href="http://www.monumentalnetwork.com/videos/john-wall-postgame-4-9-13/index.jsp" target="_blank">John Wall</a> and <a href="http://www.monumentalnetwork.com/videos/aj-price-postgame-4-9-13/index.jsp" target="_blank">A.J. Price</a>, courtesy of Monumental Network.</p>
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<p><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/wizards-vs-knicks-john-walls-33-points-a-lone-bright-spot-as-washington-routed-in-new-york/2013/04/09/83ca17f4-a152-11e2-82bc-511538ae90a4_story.html" target="_blank">Washington Post gamer</a></p>
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<p>Wall had been waiting for an opportunity to showcase how much he has improved since his last visit to the Garden nearly a year ago. And with a near-capacity crowd anxious to see the home team extend its winning streak to 13 games and clinch its first Atlantic Division title in 19 years, Wall did steal occasional cheers with his ability to zip past defenders for layups and dunks.</p>
<p>But aside from Wall, there were few other offensive options for the Washington Wizards, who were overwhelmed by the three-point barrage of <span>Carmelo Anthony</span> and the hot-shooting Knicks, 120-99.</p>
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<p><a href="http://www.csnwashington.com/basketball-washington-wizards/talk/instant-analysis-wizards-99-knicks-120" target="_blank">CSN Washington recap</a></p>
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<p>SF Carmelo Anthony, who had a team-high 36 points on 13 of 21 shooting, eight rebounds and six assists, scored 21 on eight of 11 shooting during a seven-minute stretch as the Knicks led 95-71 entering the fourth quarter. It was Anthony's fifth consecutive game of scoring 35 points or more as the Knicks (51-26) won their 13th game in a row and clinched their first Atlantic Division title since 1994. Wall finished with a team-high 33 points on 11 of 19 shooting. He also made 11 of 14 free throws.</p>
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<p><a href="http://wizofawes.com/2013/04/09/john-walls-spectacular-effort-not-enough-in-new-york/" target="_blank">Wiz of Awes</a></p>
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<p>Virtually no one besides <span>John Wall</span> put up a fight against the surging Knicks. Wall scored 33 points in 33 minutes, and often dazzled the Madison Square Garden crowd with an array of layups. John Wall has finally begun to learn how to use his speed in the half court. The short handed Knicks squad had no match for Wall. This was probably one of the best games John Wall has had this season, in terms of penetration. He got anything he wanted by attacking the basket. <span>Jason Kidd</span>, <span>Raymond Felton</span>, and <span>Iman Shumpert</span> just couldn't keep up with Wall. Sadly, Wall's teammates struggled to contribute to his efforts.</p>
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<p><a href="http://dailywizdom.monumentalnetwork.com/wall-shines-but-the-knicks-were-lights-out/index.jsp" target="_blank">Daily Wizdom</a></p>
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<p>The Wizards had a 21-10 advantage in made free throws. It didn't matter. The Knicks were 20 of 36 from three-point distance. Reigning NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week Carmelo Anthony played three quarters and scored 36 points. Anthony scored 21 of his points in the third quarter when the Knicks outscored the Wizards 37-28.</p>
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<p><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/news/knicks-win-1st-atlantic-division-073304933--nba.html" target="_blank">Associated Press</a></p>
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<p>Anthony stayed right on the blistering pace that won him Eastern Conference player of the week honors after averaging 41.8 points while inching ahead of <span>Kevin Durant</span> for the NBA scoring lead last week. He sat out the fourth quarter after going 13 of 21 from the field.</p>
<p>''We know he's hot and we tried to get the ball out of his hands, but he's very efficient and can score in various ways,'' Wall said. ''Hats off to him.''</p>
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<p><a href="http://www.nba.com/wizards/game-recap-wizards-99-knicks-120" target="_blank">WashingtonWizards.com</a></p>
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<p>The Knicks came out on fire in this one and really never cooled off. They shot 56% from the field and 55% from three point range. The Knicks jumped out to a 13 point lead at the end of the first quarter and really never looked back, as they opened the game 10 of 14 from three. The Wizards looked like they might cut into the lead before the half as they pulled within eight with a minute to go, but the Knicks closed the half on a 7-0 run to push the lead back to 15. The Knicks clinched their first Atlantic Division title since 1994 and also got their 13th straight win. This is also the Knicks longest winning streak since 1994.</p>
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<p><a href="http://www.wizardsextreme.com/2013-articles/we-game-recap-wizards-at-knicks.html" target="_blank">Wizards Extreme</a></p>
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<p>The combination of Nene and <span>Emeka Okafor</span> once again had a poor showing. Despite <span>Tyson Chandler</span> sitting with an injury, the duo started slow and failed to give a meaningful effort, even when the outcome of the game had been decided.</p>
<p>Each player scored fewer than 10 points and Okafor struggled early with turnovers, poor shots, and getting pushed around in the paint.</p>
<p>Considering the investment the Wizards have in their front court, this trend is truly concerning.</p>
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<p><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wizards-insider/wp/2013/04/10/the-wizards-defense-rests-and-never-wakes-up-in-new-york/" target="_blank">Washington Post sidebar</a></p>
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<p>Washington knew exactly what it needed to do to have any chance of defeating the Knicks and snap a nine-game losing streak in New York. But the Wizards did let Anthony get loose for a game-high 36 points - including 21 in the third quarter alone - and left three-point shooters wide open as the Knicks to match their franchise record with 20 shots from beyond the arc. They also continued a disturbing trend of embarrassing losses in New York, where the Wizards lost both road games this season by 21 points.</p>
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<p><a href="http://www.csnwashington.com/basketball-washington-wizards/talk/wizards-loss-knicks-better-forgotten" target="_blank">CSN Washington sidebar</a></p>
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<p>With the loss, the Wizards can't reach double-digit wins on the road. At 7-32, they have two left -- at Brooklyn and at the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blogabull.com/">Chicago Bulls</a> next week.</p>
<p>"They shot the ball extremely well from the 3 and then they took us off the dribble," Wittman said. "We didn't do a very good job of doing either one of those things."</p>
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<p><a href="http://www.postingandtoasting.com/2013/4/10/4206862/knicks-120-wizards-99-atlantic-division-champions" target="_blank">Posting & Toasting</a></p>
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<p>Tonight was that last thing. Everybody hit everything. Carmelo Anthony passed brilliantly out of the post-- waiting, surveying the floor, attracting help, throwing not just swing passes but direct cross-court assists-- while <span>Pablo Prigioni</span> and Raymond Felton created adeptly off the dribble. Those three propagated great ball movement that found open looks for everyone. The Knicks hit nine threes in the first quarter (the most in any quarter this season) and tied a franchise record with twenty on the night.</p>
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<p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/10/sports/basketball/knicks-rout-wizards-to-win-atlantic-division-title.html?ref=basketball&_r=0" target="_blank">NY Times</a></p>
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<p>They rained 3-pointers, deployed backcourt traps and generally treated the Washington Wizards like a minor nuisance blocking their path to glory. When the final buzzer sounded at Madison Square Garden, the Knicks had a 120-99 victory - their 13th win in a row - and, at long last, a division championship in hand.</p>
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<p><a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/back-top-melo-tear-continues-knicks-clinch-atlantic-division-article-1.1312273" target="_blank">NY Daily News</a></p>
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<p>"We win a division, that's accomplished. But the big picture is winning a title," <span>Mike Woodson</span> said. "I'm only in it for one thing, man. The division is great, because that's what we set out to do as a team, but the big picture is trying to win a championship. We're headed in the right direction, but we still have a ways to go."</p>
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<p><a href="http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/knicks/streaking_knicks_spank_wizards_for_RIkKBxwXxDnDPVW4nC7B6N" target="_blank">NY Post</a></p>
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<p>"It was our No. 1 goal," said <span>J.R. Smith</span>, one of six Knicks in double figures with 17 points. "Coming into camp, we kept talking about it, and the coaching staff put it in our minds we can do it and we will. Fortunately we did. It's a great thing to achieve one of our main goals; now we just have to go get that gold ball. We still have so much to prove not only to everybody else but to ourselves. We want to be a great team.''</p>
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<p><a href="http://www.newsday.com/sports/basketball/knicks/knicks-win-first-atlantic-division-title-since-1994-with-win-over-wizards-1.5042040" target="_blank">Newsday</a></p>
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<p>The Knicks won their 13th straight. Next on their agenda is getting the No. 2 seed in the East, which would give them the home court edge for at least the first two rounds of the playoffs. They remain 21/2 games up on Indiana and reduced their magic number to clinch the second seed to three with five to play. The Knicks will open up the playoffs at the Garden April 20 and could play Boston, Atlanta or Chicago.</p>
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<p><a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/knicks/post/_/id/40798/knicks-nab-atlantic-division-title" target="_blank">ESPN New York</a></p>
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<p>"It's just one little step. One building block," Jason Kidd said of the Atlantic crown. "One of our goals when we started the training camp in October was to win the division. We did that this evening. But that doesn't mean anything. We still have a long ways to go."</p>
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<p><a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324504704578413524051093746.html?mod=rss_newyork_main" target="_blank">Wall Street Journal</a></p>
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<p>Carmelo Anthony, the reigning NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week, honored Bernard King-who was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame on Monday-by tying his franchise record with five consecutive 35-point performances. Anthony finished with 36 points on 13-of-21 shooting. He's hit 17 of 29 3-pointers over his last five games.</p>
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<p><a href="http://bucketsoverbroadway.com/2013/04/10/washington-wizards-vs-new-york-knicks-grading-the-knicks-after-13th-straight-win/" target="_blank">Buckets Over Broadway</a></p>
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<p>The Knicks shot 56.3 percent from the floor on the night and despite being small, outrebounded Washington 39-38.</p>
<p>The only negative on the night is the fact that they were torched by the opposing point guard once again as John Wall finished with 33 points, but it didn't really matter as the Knicks led comfortably most of the night.</p>
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https://www.bulletsforever.com/2013/4/10/4208770/wizards-vs-knicks-recap-roundup-washington-blown-out-as-new-york-winsJeff Newman2013-04-09T22:06:46-04:002013-04-09T22:06:46-04:00Wizards allow 20 3's in 120-99 loss
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<figcaption>Al Bello</figcaption>
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<p>The Knicks have been absolutely on fire in recent weeks. That didn't change Tuesday night against the Wizards. </p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.postingandtoasting.com/">Knicks</a> were just straight up feeling it Tuesday night. When your opponent is that scorching on the offensive side of the court, you hope to buckle down, play with intensity and make some runs to keep things competitive.</p>
<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/">Wizards</a> just couldn't quite provide that effort.</p>
<p>Letting the game get out of control from practically the beginning, Washington got picked apart in a 120-99 beatdown Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden. It's the franchise's 10th consecutive loss in New York, a streak dating back to 2006.</p>
<p>Winning games on the road has been an issue for the Wizards all season. Facing a red-hot Knicks team looking for its 13th consecutive victory, getting one Tuesday night was always a long shot with New York constantly playing small and Washington missing key perimeter plays in <span>Bradley Beal</span> and <span>Trevor Ariza</span>.</p>
<p>Once the Knicks found their shooting rhythm from three-point range early, it was lights out for Washington.</p>
<p>With starting center <span>Tyson Chandler</span> sitting out, New York's offensive strategy clearly focused on scoring from the perimeter. Whether the offense initiated with a pick-and-roll or post up, the Knicks spaced the floor and moved the ball quickly to find open shooters beyond the arc.</p>
<p>On the night, New York shot 20 of 36 from three-point range.</p>
<p>Leading the way once again for the Knickerbockers was <span>Carmelo Anthony</span>, who continues to simply torch teams from all over the court. After finishing Tuesday with 36 points on 13 of 21 shooting, he's now averaging 40.6 points on 61 percent shooting in his past five games.</p>
<p>No other player on the Knicks scored more than 18 points, but four other players hit multiple shots from 3 land.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The Wizards have generally defended the three well this season, allowing the fifth-lowest three-point percentage in the league, per NBA.com. Still, this was one of those games when the team needed to step up against an opponent focusing its game plan on long distance shots.</p>
<p>As hot as New York was throughout the game, many of the shots came with little in the way of defense. Playing against a smaller lineup, the Wizards didn't rotate quick enough, didn't switch enough, and didn't close out enough on guys whose scouting reports essentially read, "THREE POINT SHOOTER DUH."</p>
<p>When you let that kind of team repeatedly get open shots, the results will typically be disastrous.</p>
<p>Even an exceptional night from <span>John Wall</span> couldn't keep things close. The point guard finished with 33 points on 11 of 19 shooting, but his fourth 30-point game in the past 15 days felt ho-hum as the rest of the offense stalled.</p>
<p>Looking back, this may end up being the Wizards' worst loss of the season with Wall in the lineup. With just a few games left this season, one has to imagine everyone involved is trying to figure out what's causing this team such issues away from home.</p>
<p>Washington is now 7-32 away from Verizon Center this season. Only the Bobcats have fewer road wins.</p>
https://www.bulletsforever.com/2013/4/9/4207106/wizards-vs-knicks-final-score-recap-2013Satchel Price2013-04-09T19:36:55-04:002013-04-09T19:36:55-04:00Your Wizards-Knicks game thread
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Discuss tonight's game here.</p> <table cellspacing="5" border="1" align="center" cellpadding="5"><tbody> <tr><th align="center" style="text-align: center;" bgcolor="silver" colspan="3">2012/2013 NBA Regular Season</th></tr> <tr> <td width="240"><center><img src="http://www.underconsideration.com/brandnew/archives/wizards_alt_logo_hand.gif" height="72" width="80"></center></td> <th align="center" width="20">@</th> <td width="240"><center><img src="http://michaeldoret.com/doret/artwork/knicks.gif" height="72" width="80"></center></td> </tr> <tr><td align="center" style="text-align: center;" bgcolor="silver" colspan="3"><strong>April 9, 2013</strong></td></tr> <tr><td align="center" style="text-align: center;" colspan="3"><strong>Madison Square Garden</strong></td></tr> <tr><td align="center" style="text-align: center;" colspan="3"><strong>7:30 p.m.</strong></td></tr> <tr><td align="center" style="text-align: center;" colspan="3"><strong>CSN, 106.7 The Fan</strong></td></tr> <tr><th align="center" style="text-align: center;" bgcolor="silver" colspan="3"><strong>Projected Starting Lineups</strong></th></tr> <tr> <td align="right" style="text-align: center;" width="240"><span>John Wall</span></td> <th align="center" width="20">PG</th> <td style="text-align: center;" width="240"><span>Raymond Felton</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" style="text-align: center;" width="240"><span>Garrett Temple</span></td> <th align="center" width="20">SG</th> <td style="text-align: center;" width="240"><span>Pablo Prigioni</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" style="text-align: center;" width="240"><span>Martell Webster</span></td> <th align="center" width="20">SF</th> <td style="text-align: center;" width="240"><span>Iman Shumpert</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" style="text-align: center;" width="240"><span>Nene Hilario</span></td> <th align="center" width="20">PF</th> <td style="text-align: center;" width="240"><span>Carmelo Anthony</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" style="text-align: center;" width="240"><span>Emeka Okafor</span></td> <th align="center" width="20">C</th> <td style="text-align: center;" width="240"><span>Kenyon Martin</span></td> </tr> <tr><th align="center" style="text-align: center;" bgcolor="silver" colspan="3"><strong>2012/13 Advanced Stats</strong></th></tr> <tr> <td align="right" style="text-align: center;" width="240">92.1 (15th)</td> <th align="center" width="20">Pace</th> <td style="text-align: center;" width="240">89.8 (26th)</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" style="text-align: center;" width="240">100.2 (30th)</td> <th align="center" width="20">ORtg</th> <td style="text-align: center;" width="240">111.0 (3rd)</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" style="text-align: center;" width="240">102.4 (4th)</td> <th align="center" width="20">DRtg</th> <td style="text-align: center;" width="240">106.3 (13th)</td> </tr> <tr><th height="20" style="text-align: center;" colspan="3" bgcolor="silver">Also see: <a href="http://www.postingandtoasting.com">Posting and Toasting</a> | <a href="http://www.bulletsforever.com/2013/4/9/4206556/wizards-vs-knicks-nba-2013">StoryStream</a> | <a href="http://www.monumentalnetwork.com/videos/wizards-fast-break-4-9-13/index.jsp">Fast Break</a> </th></tr> </tbody></table>
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<p>No <span>Bradley Beal</span>, no <span>Marcus Camby</span>, no <span>Tyson Chandler</span>, and Kenyon Martin is on a minutes restriction.</p>
<p>Let's see if the <a href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Wizards</a> can beat their own road woes and a red-hot Melo at the same time. If you can't make the playoffs and cant' get a top-5 pick, you might as well try to play spoiler, right?</p>
<p>Go Wizards!</p>
https://www.bulletsforever.com/2013/4/9/4206866/wizards-vs-knicks-game-time-tv-schedule-and-open-threadAmin Vafa2013-04-09T18:04:52-04:002013-04-09T18:04:52-04:00Chandler will sit with neck injury
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/">Wizards</a> will catch a break as they try to snap the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.postingandtoasting.com/">Knicks</a>' 12-game winning streak. <span>Tyson Chandler</span> will not play for the Knicks tonight as he deals with a bulging disc in his neck. Via the Knicks.</p>
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<p>Starters for tonight versus Washington: Felton, Prigioni, Shumpert, Anthony, MartinCamby and Chandler are out.</p>
— NY_KnicksPR (@NY_KnicksPR) <a href="https://twitter.com/NY_KnicksPR/status/321744256274403328">April 9, 2013</a>
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<p>That's <span>Kenyon Martin</span> starting in Chandler's place, and that's <span>Marcus Camby</span> sitting in addition to Chandler.</p>
https://www.bulletsforever.com/2013/4/9/4206630/tyson-chandler-injury-knicks-c-wont-play-vs-wizardsMike Prada2013-04-09T13:19:47-04:002013-04-09T13:19:47-04:00Previewing Wizards-Knicks
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<figcaption>Debby Wong-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>Carmelo Anthony has been on fire lately, yet Washington has two players who have been able to stymie him in the past. Does the Knicks' twelve game winning streak end tonight?</p> <p>The Washington Wizards head to New York to play the Knicks for the last time this year. New York has been on fire lately, having won 12 games in a row. With Tyson Chandler battling a neck injury and unlikely to play, this might be as good a chance as any for the Wizards to steal one at the Garden.</p>
<p><b>Where and when?</b> Tip off is at 7:30 p.m. at Madison Square Garden.</p>
<p><b>Are they good?</b> Yes, finally. After years spent in the NBA's wilderness, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.postingandtoasting.com/">Knicks</a> are finally looking like a legit contender, largely on the strength of a peaking <span>Carmelo Anthony</span>, <span>Tyson Chandler</span> and the team's bevy of shooters. They're 50-26 on the year and currently riding a 12 game winning streak. Not too shabby for a team that spent most of the last decade pining their hopes on players like <span>Stephon Marbury</span> and <span>Eddy Curry</span>.</p>
<p><b>Who's out?</b> For the Knicks? <span>Kurt Thomas</span> (40) and <span>Rasheed Wallace</span> (38) and <span>Amare Stoudemire</span> (one knee) are out, while <span>Kenyon Martin</span> (no knees, 35), <span>Marcus Camby</span> (38) and <a href="http://www.postingandtoasting.com/2013/4/9/4204924/tyson-chandlers-neck-is-acting-up-again" target="_blank">Chandler (neck problems) </a>are day to day. <span>Bradley Beal</span> is out for Washington, while <span>Trevor Booker</span> is day to day with a bruised tailbone.</p>
<p><b>Who has the best selling jersey in the NBA now?</b> <a href="http://espn.go.com/new-york/nba/story/_/id/9151090/carmelo-anthony-new-york-knicks-supplants-lebron-james-miami-heat-atop-jersey-sales-list" target="_blank">Meloooooooooooo!</a></p>
<p><b>What are they good at?</b> Putting the ball in the hole. Anthony isn't quite the natural passer that Lebron James or even Kobe is, but he draws a ton of defensive attention and New York is perfectly set up to take advantage of this. Because everyone else on the team other than <span>J.R. Smith</span> and Chandler is essentially a three point specialist, the Knicks are second in the NBA in three pointers attempted, sixth in three pointers made and first in turnover percentage. That tends to happen when guys like <span>Steve Novak</span> and <span>Chris Copeland</span> are finding themselves open in the corner a dozen times a night.</p>
<p><b>What are they bad at?</b> Playing defense, especially against athletic teams. In case the injury report above didn't clue you in, the Knicks are absurdly old and no one on the team other than possibly Chandler could be described as an elite athlete. Even <span>Iman Shumpert</span>, whose taken over designated stopper duties from <span>Ronnie Brewer</span>, isn't as quick as his elite hops might have you believe. The Knicks are 16th in the NBA in defensive rating, but you have to wonder how much better they'd be if they weren't so vulnerable to quick and springy players.</p>
<p><b>WWID (What Would Isaiah Do)?</b> Probably trade Chandler for <span>Joe Johnson</span>, trade a first rounder to Boston for <span>Jason Terry</span>, trade another first rounder for <span>Ben Gordon</span>, extend Amare and find a way to sign JJ Hickson to a max deal.</p>
<p><b>Who wins tonight?</b> New York was a nine-point favorite this morning and is playing at home. Then again, Chandler's battling neck problems and could be absent or limited, plus <span>Chris Singleton</span> and <span>Trevor Ariza</span> have both had success in the past matching up physically with Anthony. Considering Washington is battling injury problems of their own, this one could be tight, but I've got to go with Wall leading the Wizards to an upset win.</p>
<p><b>Where else can I read about the Knicks?</b> Check out <a href="http://www.postingandtoasting.com">Posting and Toasting</a>.</p>
<p><i><b>What are your predictions for tonight's game? Sound off in the comments and vote in our poll!</b></i></p>
https://www.bulletsforever.com/2013/4/9/4205314/washington-wizards-new-york-knicks-preview-april-9Thomas Pruitt