Spurs vs Knicks NBA Handicapping
Amare Stoudemire has never been shy about telling you exactly how he feels about anything that happens to pop into his mind, so it was hardly a surprise when the Knicks’ veteran big went off on former coach Mike D’Antoni just as he was returning to the lineup in New York.
San Antonio Spurs (26-8) at New York Knicks (21-10)
Thursday, Jan. 3
Madison Square Garden, New York
7:30 p.m. EST
Spread – Knicks -1 at GTBets
O/U – 206.5
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“I think having a defensive coach for the first time in my career is going to help,” Stoudemire said. “I’ve never been taught defense in my whole career. So to now have a coach who actually teaches defense and teaches strategies and knows positioning and posture and how to guard different plays, it’s going to be helpful.”
So much for the “If you can’t say something nice about someone” philosophy.
According to hoopshype.com, Stoudemire is the fifth-highest paid player in the NBA, hauling down $19,948,799 a year. That someone who plays so little defense was able to sign that kind of a contract was due in large part to being a feature part of a wide-open offense in Phoenix and new York when Stoudemire played for . . . Mike D’Antoni.
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Stoudemire may enjoy biting the hand that once fed him, but the Knicks are happy to get him back and start working him into the lineup again after pre-season knee surgery. They wouldn’t mind getting a little more than his 6-point, one-rebound effort that Stoudemire turned in in 17 minutes of play on New Year’s Day. No doubt Stoudemire will continue to come off the bench until he gets his bearings. [ad-6571516]
His new coach, Mike Woodson, hopes that will be soon. The Knicks have run into a small rough patch, with two straight losses (Sacramento, Portland) and three in the last four games. Nothing to consult Dr. Phil about, but with the Knicks you always have to worry that the whole doesn’t equal the sum of its parts. And when Stoudemire comes back he’ll be looking for the ball, and the guy who usually has that ball is Carmelo Anthony.
So keep an eye on Stoudemire tonight against the Spurs, who have shaken off their own mid-December doldrums and have now won seven straight, including a 117-110 decision last night over the Bucks in Milwaukee in a game in which San Antonio raced off to a big first-half lead and then coasted home.
Tim Duncan went off for 28 points, 13 rrebounds and three blocks, a box score line that should give Stoudemire plenty to think about if and when they match up tonight.
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When the Spurs get on rolls (four or more wins in a row), as they have three times this season, it takes a team effort to beat them. They can figure out ways to defeat opponents which rely on one of two players to carry the offensive load. Even though the Spurs are on the second night of a back-to-back, SA to win as NY continues to sort things out.
