Celtics _ Knicks Preview Analysis

[Way Of The Ray <wayray@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Tonight your mighty Shawmut Celtics meet the impotent
Knicks in a game that should be a replay of the 2001 - 2002
glory years of Coach Conehead O'Brien's Celtics. For the Knicks,
like most of the Eastern Conference teams the Celtics faced last season,

are injured and in turmoil, while the Celtics are happy, footloose, and
fancy free.

POSITIONAL MATCHES

CENTER

If they can bail him out of jail in time, the underrated and hard
swinging Kurt
Thomas will start at center for the Knicks, whereas Boston goes with the
fragile-
egoed Toni Battie, who disappears, if he has to come off the bench. Also
seeing
plenty of action will be a rejuvenated and slimmed down Vin Baker, who's

looking to -- and at least should in the short run -- resurrect his
career, and
Michael Doleac, a decent backup center.

Edge: Celtics


POWER FORWARD

Antonio McDyess returns from injury to begin his career with the Knicks.

McDyess, if  healthy, provides inside scoring, rebounding, and
shot-blocking,
and is a more prototypical and effective power forward than his opponent
Walker,
whose zest for twenty shots a game and low assist numbers, despite
having the
offense run through him, hinders the team's ball movement. Also seeing
action will
be 7-3 Perimeter Big Man Bruno Sundov, an intriguing prospect, who would
benefit
far more by having someone teach him low post offense and defense, than
shooting
three-pointers all game long. As to the Knicks backups, the wily
Clarence Weatherspoon
and Othella Harrington give the New Yorkers, one of the deepest set of
PFs in the NBA.

Edge: New York



SMALL FORWARD

It's the league's worst starting small forward Eric Williams versus the
highly
overpaid but somewhat talented Shandon Anderson, who is likely to get
the start,
because of teammate Sprewell's hand-breaking yacht vomiting incident.
Also
offering moral support for the Celtics, because he apparently isn't
going to crack
the 8-man rotation anytime soon is Jordan Junior. As to the Knicks,
Clarence
Weatherspoon may also see some time here, or perhaps even start..

Edge: Celtics


SHOOTING GUARD

The Celtics best player Paul Pierce will be guarding someone from the
Knicks.
Due to injuries, we just don't know at this moment., um, perhaps Toby
Bailey,
or maybe they'll play Anderson here.

Edge: Celtics


POINT GUARD

IT'S ATTACK OF THE CRAPPY POINT GUARDS,  as the C's trot out
some of the worst PGs in the entire NBA, with the Knicks PGs
being more serviceable, though not great. Actually Howard Eisley would
be a vast
improvement over what is at PG for the Celtics. Meanwhile, Celtics
fans will want to keep an eye on JR Bremer to see if he has a long term
future.

Edge: Kincks


And the winner is: The Boston Celtics
Ray