4/15/12: Miami Heat @ New York Knicks (L 85-93)

[rtn393]

Please post all pre-game predictions, in-game observations, and post-game analysis in this thread, but start separate threads for topics not directly related to the game.

During the game, we encourage you to stop by the new and improved NYKFP Chat Room.





PROBABLE STARTERS

PG: Mario Chalmers vs. Baron Davis
SG: Dwyane Wade vs. Iman Shumpert
SF: LeBron James vs. Landry Fields
PF: Chris Bosh vs. Carmelo Anthony
C: Joel Anthony vs. Tyson Chandler





INJURY REPORT

Probable: Iman Shumpert (sprained ankle)

Out: Jeremy Lin (sore knee), Amar'e Stoudemire (bulging disc)

[rtn393]

Iman says he's day-to-day with the ankle. We're really, really gonna need him against Wade.

[mikeaman]

Joel Anthony vaguely resembles Edward Curry.

[BenNY89]

Even with Amare and Lin out...I still feel that we have more depth than the Heat. 1st round playoff preview, perhaps?

[Sundov=NextMJ]

If Shumpert isn't playing we will have to promote JR to our starting lineup. Our bench will then be beyond awful. We need Shumpert to have even a chance to win this one.

[transient]

Would be a downer if the Heat become the first team to defeat the Knicks at MSG since Woodson took over.

[KnicksRUs]

LOL

Good luck with Fields on Lebron.

Can we stop the gimmick and please put Jefferies in the starting lineup?

[noypi]

I'm disappointed this game would not be on local cable tv considering it is a possible first round playoff series. It's hard being exiled in the mountains with rare internet connections and even nba games. Rooting for the knicks baby!

[Mase in your face]

The heat have been struggling on the road....lost 4 of their last 5 games.

we also went 1-1 against them last year at the garden. we lost that first game back when we still had galo and company.

We're in prime position to beat them tomorrow. Shumpert's health will be a big factor. fuckin wizards.

at least the heat are dinged up too. Wade will play but his ankle is not 100%, and mike miller is being held together by duct tape. haslem has a stomach virus

[bigloley]

I'm disappointed this game would not be on local cable tv considering it is a possible first round playoff series. It's hard being exiled in the mountains with rare internet connections and even nba games. Rooting for the knicks baby!

Aww that sucks - the game is on ABC though and I think most of the playoffs are going to be on ABC. Do your channels work with ABC or do local channels show games independently?

[transient]

Had the good fortune to find this article on Grantland. Pertinent points quoted below:

22. I mean … have you been watching Miami???? Their supporting cast might be worse than it was last year. How is that possible? They played Ronny Turiaf 30 minutes last night. Not a typo. Shane Battier, Mike Miller and Udonis Haslem are sharing one fork for three backs. Chris Bosh has turned into a taller Brandon Bass. And the LeBron/Wade dynamic has never been icier or more dueling banjos-ey; last night in Chicago, they did everything but scream "MY TURN!" like my kids do when they're fighting over the same iPad game. El Heat couldn't look more vulnerable.5 Which leads me to …

23. Right now, the Knicks are trailing Philly by one game for the seventh playoff spot. They feature a suddenly hot scorer (Carmelo's last 10 games: 28.5 PPG) who truly believes he's on the same level as Wade and LeBron, as well as a defensive stopper who knows how to beat them (Chandler), an elite perimeter defender who can defend both Wade and LeBron (Iman Shumpert), and a bloodthirsty crowd that will absolutely, unequivocally show up in full force for Games 3, 4 and 6 (the Knicks fans). It's giving me goose bumps just thinking about it. Imagine the Knicks improbably taking a 3-2 lead home for Game 6, and imagine THAT crowd. On a scale of 1 to the "Boom Goes the Dynamite" Guy, how terrified do you think LeBron will be during crunch time of that game? Even the chance this might happen has me fired up. Let's see it once and for all, LeBron … do you have "it" or not?

[nbafreak724]

I wonder if Carmelo is going to request that he guard Lebron for the entire game? You just know he's dying to make a defensive statement with that challenge, especially with his recent resurgence.

[rtn393]

Shump is apparently moving well at practice. He'll play tomorrow afternoon.

Al Iannazzone ‏ @Al_Iannazzone
Shumpert will play tomorrow.

Al Iannazzone ‏ @Al_Iannazzone
Shumpert is moving well, without a limp. But they're just shooting, not scrimmaging.

http://twitter.com/#!/al_iannazzone

[mikeaman]

If we split the next two, I think the 6 seed is in reach. Lose the next two and it becomes that much harder.

[n8 the gr8]

If anyposter wants to do me a favor and send me a link where I can download/watch the game after it's over, I would really appreciate it. Preferably on a site where I can watch the game without seeing any spoilers, because I really want to watch the game without knowing who won, but I can't watch it live.

Whether I get to watch it or not, this is a hollywood game.

[mikeaman]

Will Woody give up games to break-in Stat? Needs to strike the perfect balance that doesn't cost us wins.

[bobhait]

Will Woody give up games to break-in Stat? Needs to strike the perfect balance that doesn't cost us wins.

Amar'e won't be available for this game anyway, and most likely not ready for Boston either. after that we have 5 games remaining on the schedule of which the one against the Clippers looks like the only really tough match-up (well, maybe the one against the Hawks as well), but considering it will be the game before last for us and the last one for LA, it may turn out to be a meaningless game for at least one of the parties.

even if Amar'e plays in all six games (again, I'm going by latest report that list STAT as out for the Heat game), breaking him in against the Celtics, Nets, Cavs, Hawks, Clippers and Bobcats is not likely to cost us more games than present predictions would anticipate. we should go 4-2 to close the regular season out, at worst. with the right focus and a couple breaks going our way we could actually win them all.

[Koopa Troopa]

last time the knicks played the heat it was pretty awful to watch........

its kinda hard to try and predict a win here but it would be nice

[Mase in your face]

If we split the next two, I think the 6 seed is in reach. Lose the next two and it becomes that much harder.

We have 4 fairly tough games, i think we probably need to go 3-1 in those games to get the 6th seed, MAYBE we can make it with 2-2. Miami, Boston, Atlanta, Clippers.

I think this game will definitely play a big factor in terms if that happens or not. Hard to see us losing this and then beating all those other teams.

[thewatcher]

LOL

Good luck with Fields on Lebron.

Can we stop the gimmick and please put Jefferies in the starting lineup?

Jeffries has medical clearance to play 15 minutes a game max.