Knicks (0-0) at Celtics (1-0) Preseason Game #2 10/8/14

[FLCeltsFan]

at
New York Knicks (0-0) at Boston Celtics (1-0)
Wednesday, October 10, 2014
7:30 PM ET
PreSeason Game #2, Home Game #2
TV: CSN-NE, MSG, NBA-TV
Radio: None
XL Center, Hartford, CT



Possible Starters

Marcus Smart, Avery Bradley, Evan Turner, Jared Sullinger, Kelly Olynyk

Off the Bench

Phil Pressey


Marcus Thornton, Rodney McGruder, Tim Frazier


 Gerald Wallace, James Young


 Brandon Bass, Erik Murphy, Dwight Powell, Christian Watford


Tyler Zeller, Joel Anthony

Injuries
Rajon Rondo (hand) out
Vitor Faverani (knee) day to day
Jeff Green (calf) day to day




Possible Starters

Jose Calderon, JR Smith, Carmelo Anthony, Andrea Bargnani, Samuel Dalembert

Off the Bench

Pablo Prigioni, Shane Larkin


Tim Hardaway Jr, Langston Galloway

Travis Outlaw,  Cleanthony Early


Amare Stoudemire, Quincy Acy, Orlando Sanchez, Travis Wear


Jason Smith,  Cole Aldrich

Injuries
Iman Shumpert (hamstring) day to day

Game Notes
The Celtics host the New York Knicks at the XL Center as they look to improve to 1-0.  This will be the first game of the preseason for the Knicks, who will be looking to improve under their new head coach Derek Fisher.  In their first preseason game, the Celtics faced a young and inexperienced team.   They will face some very good veterans like Carmelo Anthony, JR Smith and Amare Stoudemire in this game.  However, the Knicks lack a lot of depth and will need to develop some of their young players if they hope to make the playoffs. 

Derrick Fisher is facing his first season as head coach, after a long and productive playing career.  Hopefully jumping immediately from player to coach will work out better for Fisher than it did for Jason Kidd last year,  or the Knicks are in for a long season.  As with all of the preseason games, both coaches will be experimenting with lineups, trying to determine the best combinations to go with,   Fisher more so than Stevens. 

Jeff Green did not practice on Tuesday and is still considered day to day.  Vitor Faverani also remains on the injured list with soreness in his knee.  For the Knicks, Iman Shumpert did not practice with a minor hamstring injury and is also considered day to day.

Players to Watch

Marcus Smart got off to a good start defensively in his first game but struggled on the offensive end.  If he can get his offense to catch up with his defense, he is going to turn a lot of heads this season.

Evan Turner did a little bit of everything in his first game and it will be interesting to see if he can continue to impress in his second game and beyond.


Word is that with Phil Jackson in the front office, the Knicks will be running the triangle offense through Carmelo Anthony this season.  A lot will be on his shoulders as the Knicks seek to get back to the playoffs. 

Amare Stoudemire has stated that he wants to return to being an All Star this season.  If he is going to make good on his promise, he will need to start in the preseason.  But can he get back to that level? 

Keys to the Game
Strong Start The Celtics got off to a slow start against the Sixers in their last game and had to play catch up after going down by 10.  They could do that with the Sixers, who are also a young team.  But, the Knicks are a veteran team and won't be so easy to catch up to if they surge out to a lead. 

Defense  Defense is always important to getting a win.   The Celtics played good defense against the Sixers and they have to continue to make that a priority.

Pace and Space - The Celtics made good on Brad Stevens promise to run and to up the pace this season.  If they can continue to run, they will give themselves more opportunities to win as they wear some of the veteran teams out. 

[Tr1boy]

No Jeff Green?

bc i would be ok with that. I'd like to see what this lineup can do again

[hwangjini_1]

I predict the Celtic win by 50..... But then, i've been drinking. 


Goooooooooooooo Celtics!!

Oh, and thanks for the thread once more.

[BASS_THUMPER]

gonna be fun to watch
looking forward to evans to do a lil sumthin sumthin

[FLCeltsFan]

No Jeff Green?

bc i would be ok with that. I'd like to see what this lineup can do again

Jeff Green is still listed as day to day and didn't practice on Tuesday.  Not sure if he will play or not.  He's listed on the injuries list

[Mazingerz]

Can't wait to test our youngins against Melo and Amare;

[bello_man09]

hope uncle jeff plays...oh well its pre season..would like to see marcus smart but a little better on offense...

[Tr1boy]

“This crew here is a little more seasoned (than the 76ers),” Marcus Thornton said of the Knicks. “A lot of veterans; guys that actually know how to play and have been at the top, with (Carmelo) Melo (Anthony) and J.R. Smith. So we have to approach this game a little bit different.”

I wonder how the 76ers feel about the comments above

[azzenfrost]

This next one will be a good test. Looking forward to watching the game.

[jpotter33]

Good Lord, New York has no depth at all lol

[manl_lui]

“This crew here is a little more seasoned (than the 76ers),” Marcus Thornton said of the Knicks. “A lot of veterans; guys that actually know how to play and have been at the top, with (Carmelo) Melo (Anthony) and J.R. Smith. So we have to approach this game a little bit different.”

I wonder how the 76ers feel about the comments above

angry, but he does make a point, even as much as I dislike Melo and JR, I have to say they have the "been there, done that"

they made it to the Western Conference Finals once together in Denver, and played against the 2x NBA champion Miami Heat in the playoffs (once in 2013, and once in 2012?)

They have more playoff experience and a top 10 player vs a team that missed playoffs the last 2 years.

[makaveli]

Good Lord, New York has no depth at all lol

i saw a melo press conference, he was talking about his team and bla bla bla, all i could see on his face/eyes was: i got paid baby, i'll take million shots, possibly be a top scorer and hang my head down in excuse for having bad teammates for the next 5 years, or till i get traded

easily most disliked player in the league IMO

[SHAQATTACK]

I think ...

The Knicks are cocky group .....not sure who is really a leader or on court motivator . Melo is a diva , Smith a jerk off.

If they lolly gag around , smile , laugh a lot and don't take the young C's serious

Knicks might get beat.

[Who]

Carmelo is the best defensive player in that Knicks starting lineup.

Calderon, Bargnani and Dalembert. That is a really bad defensive group. Calderon a below par defensive PG. Bargnani one of the worst defenders in the league. Dalembert a below average defensive center nowadays. Doesn't have the legs (mobility & quickness) anymore. Should be a bench player at this junction in his career. Two slow big men and a slow PG at point of attack. That is going to cause a lot of problems for New York.

[j804]

Why is Young being listed as out?