Perhaps the most exciting first round match up features the Knicks and Celtics. Now I'm not guaranteeing that it's going to be a great series, just the most anticipated due to the star power present on both teams. First a quick recap of the season series between New York and Boston. The Celtics swept all four games from the Knicks. For what it's worth New York fans, your Knickerbockers gave Boston all they could handle. The last meeting between the two teams doesn't count due to all the starters that were rested in what turned out to be a meaningless exhibition game. But if you really get down to it, one can only look back to March 21st meeting. I'm disregarding the first two games because those Knicks teams were completely different than the one presently constituted. In the third meeting between the two teams, New York outplayed Boston for the majority of the game. But in the end, the Knicks completely fell apart, while the Celtics showed their championship pedigree down the stretch. I have a feeling we're going to see more of the same next week. Anyway, let's get to it. Here's my position by position breakdown of the series.
Point Guard: Chauncey Billups vs. Rajon Rondo
First of all Chauncey is shot as a defender. He can still bring it on the offensive end, but he lacks the quickness he once had to keep up with a guy like Rondo. Unless 'Antoni decides to put Douglas on him, it's going to be a long series on the defensive end for 'Mr. Big Shot.' I expect Rondo to pick the Knicks defense apart and rack up assist totals. He should also be able to penetrate and get to the basket at will against the Knicks Swiss cheese defense. In order for Billups to keep Rondo honest, he needs to limit the turnovers and keep the bad shots(that 'Antoni's offense encourages) to a minimum. Edge: Celtics
Shooting Guard: Landry Fields vs. Ray Allen
Another bad match up for the Knicks. While what Fields has done has been nothing short of a remarkable for a second round draft pick, he seems to have hit the rookie wall since Dolan traded for Melo. Even at the age of 35, Jesus Shuttlesworth is still one of the best shooters in the game. 49.1 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from three is simply incredible. Allen is going to get his, that's a given. What Fields needs to do is get back to what made him the back-to-back Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month; taking high percentage shots, hitting the open three, playing solid defense, rebounding the ball, and hustling like a mad man.
Edge: Celtics
Small Forward: Carmelo Anthony vs. Paul Pierce
This should be the most exciting one on one match up of the series. It looks like Melo has finally hit his stride and has seemingly taken his game to the next level. What has surprised Knicks fans however is how well he's played on the defensive end during their 7 game winning streak. The amount of effort he's been giving on both ends of the court seems to have rubbed off on the entire team. Not defensively, but in overall cohesiveness. The team seems to be playing with more energy since he's taken off. As a Knicks fan, that's all you could ask for. Then there's Paul Pierce. What more needs to be said about the man? I fully expect him to raise his level of play and relish the challenge of having to guard Melo. Despite Pierce's playoff experience on the big stage, Melo has proven that he loves playing in high pressure situations as well. He's led the league with 16 go-ahead field goals with 10 seconds or less since 2003-2004 season, including 3 during his current tenure with the Knicks. It should be fun watching those two go at it.
Edge: Even
Power Forward: Amar'e Stoudemire vs. Kevin Garnett
Another great individual match up. When Amar'e is on, he's a nightmare to defend. What often gets overlooked is his ability to consistently knock down the 15-18 foot jumper. When STAT is hitting from the perimeter, it opens up the rest of his offense. But we all know he can score. The big knock on Amar'e is his ability to defend and rebound. Unfortunately he doesn't do either particularly well. While KG's best days are behind him, he's still one of the most intense players in the league. Not to mention one of the best defenders. To put it simply, KG is the heart of the Celtics. STAT is going to have to take it to him on the offensive end if his team is going to have any kind of success against Boston.
Edge: Even
Center: Ronny Turiaf/Shelden Williams/Jared Jeffries vs. Krstic/Shaquile O'Neil/Jermaine O'Neil/Davis
Even at the twilight of their careers, Shaq and JO are light years better than anything the Knicks have to offer at the center position. Hell, even Krstic and Davis can look beastly against New York. I know a lot has been made about how badly the Celtics will miss Perkins come playoff time, but I honestly believe his absence won't be felt in this series. I wouldn't be surprised to see 'Antoni play small ball and have Amar'e exploit certain mismatches. Unfortunately, it will kill them on the boards and defensive end. If 'Antoni is smart(highly unlikely), he'll give Turiaf and Shelden Williams the majority of minutes at the center position and play Jeffries as sparingly as possible.
Edge: Celtics
Bench: Toney Douglas, Shawne Williams, Jeffries, Shelden Williams, Anthony Carter, Bill Walker vs. ShaquilleDelonte West
One thing's for sure, Boston will have a huge edge in size over New York and it should show. While Green hasn't exactly found his niche with the Celtics, he still has the ability to hurt the Knicks off the bench. If New York is going to stay competitive in this series, the bench has to perform the way they've been playing the last couple of weeks. 'Antoni needs to stop being stuck in his ways and expand the rotation to 9-10 deep. He's also going to need huge contributions from everyone, in particular Douglas and Shawne Williams.
Edge: Celtics
Coach: Mike D'Antoni vs. Doc Rivers
This one is a no brainer. Doc Rivers is the better coach of the two. It's no secret amongst those who know me, on how much I've grown to dislike 'Antoni. I refer to him "'Antoni" because what does he know about the "D." If the Knicks weren't coached so poorly, I honestly believe they could have won 50 games. But I digress. His substitutions and rotations have been nothing short of baffling at times. This is a man that failed to give Anthony Randolph any significant playing time, but continues to give Jeffries the majority of the minutes at center. It makes no sense considering the fact that Shelden Williams is better in practically every facet of the game. Unless 'Antoni somehow comes up with some sort of master game plan, I expect him to be fully out coached by Doc in this series.
Edge: Celtics
Knicks' Keys To Victory:
Run, run, run. New York is going to have to control the pace and prevent Boston from making it a half court game. Shooting well from the outside is a must. When the Knicks are hitting their threes, they're difficult to stop. If not, it's going to be a nightmare of a series for Knicks. STAT and Melo are going to have to step up and prove why so much was invested in them. New York is going to need major contributions from their bench because there's only so much that their big three can do. Carter and Douglas are going to have to work hard on the defensive end to keep Rondo honest.
Celtics' Keys to Victory:
Boston must slow down the pace. For the most part, New York struggles when they have play in half court sets because the ball doesn't move as fluidly. The Celtics must impose their size and out-rebound the Knicks(this should be a given). Rondo needs to perform the way he did in last year's playoffs. If he does, then the Celtics could very well make this a very short series.
Overall I expect a semi-competitive first round match up with most of the games being toughly contested. Melo should have his moments and will probably have one huge game at Boston. But in the end, the Celtics depth will be too much for the Knicks to overcome. New York's lack of size, defense, and impact players off the bench will be their undoing.
Prediction: Celtics in 6.
No comments:
Post a Comment