Knicks Return Home to Take on Warriors

The New York Knicks return home from a long Western road trip to take on the Golden State Warriors at The Garden tonight at 7:30 p.m. After suffering through injuries and fatigue, which played a big role a string of recent losses, the Knicks hope to get a major shot in the arm from being back at home and having their entire lineup available tonight against a Warriors team that is also under .500.

Winning tonight would help restore the obvious confidence and swagger that marked earlier wins at MSG over Minnesota and Denver. Even some of the recent road losses have been a cause for optimism, because a depleted Knicks roster had a chance to win those games in their closing stages.

“It’s been like that for us for a couple of games,” said Knicks assistant coach Herb Williams. “… But, like I say, the one thing that you have to take from that is that we were in position to win basketball games. So guys have to go from there from there … we have to try to build on that.”

Although the Knicks have slipped of late, the recipe for success is still there. Eddy Curry and Zach Randolph are already comfortable together and are capable of dominating in the paint. In fact, the duo is averaging 37 points and 21 rebounds per contest, and Randolph has churned out a double-double in every game he has played.

David Lee has also played extremely well and is averaging 10 points and nine rebounds in 27 minutes, giving the Knicks a very strong front line.

“You know what you’re going to get from him on the court,” Williams said of Lee. “Once he’s on the court he’s going to rebound the ball for you, he is always going to be around the action, he’s going to make plays for you and we like that.”

Though the Knicks are taking on a 2-6 Warriors team, their opponent Tuesday night promises to give them a very difficult game. Golden State started the season 0-6 before winning their last two games. Despite the rough start, the Warriors average almost 109 points per game, good for second-best in the league. The team is led by Baron Davis, who averages 24 points, nine assists and almost five rebounds per game.

When a squad nets 109 points per game, however, there are plenty of points to go around. The Warriors currently boast seven players who score in double-digits, including Al Harrington who puts in 20 per game. Davis and Harrington are aided by Kelenna Azubuike, who adds in 17 per contest along with strong defense aided by his long arms.

Andris Biedrins, who averages a double-double and who will present a tough matchup in the post for the Knicks, had 15 points and 14 rebounds in Golden State’s recent win against Toronto.

Among the other high-scorers is Stephen Jackson, who began the season by serving a seven-game suspension but is back in the lineup now. Jackson is yet another weapon for one of the league’s highest-scoring teams. In fact, he netted 17 points and 5 rebounds in his first and only game back, a win against the Raptors on Sunday.

Jackson’s return is good news for the Warriors as it provides the team with more options on offense. He can run the offense, allowing Davis to play off the ball and perhaps score even more. Plus, Jackson can post up as well as create off the dribble.

The play of Jackson and Davis requires that Knicks guards, particularly Stephon Marbury, Jamal Crawford and Nate Robinson, have good games if New York is to win tomorrow night. Marbury and Crawford have proven to be a strong backcourt, averaging 32 points and 11 assists per game. Robinson has been a consistent spark of energy off the bench, averaging 9 points a game thus far.