I'd like to say, the line is absolutely terrible with the Nets giving ANYTHING on the road. Deron Williams is STILL questionable as I type preventing me from fully capping this game. I was hoping for a full write-up but without knowing his status, I cannot do that.
But given the start times, and given the 3 game losing streak of the Knicks on MLK day (at home no less) and given the Nets recent winning run of 6 in 7 with wins against the Heat and Warriors you have a team surging and another back to slumping so I have to go with the Nets here, even laying 1.5 on the road (which kills me but I'll have to do it).
Lastly, and this is very important for aging stars like KG and Pierce, the Nets have played ONE game (in London) since January 11th. It is January 20th. That is one game in NINE days.
Yes there is travel fatigue, but not game fatigue, and those two are drastically different. |
There is a last little wrinkle here. Prigioni is playing today and Woodson wants to go small today for the first time in a long time. Knicks have had success going small at the point (15-1 with Felton and Prigioni in the backcourt) but this kind of lineup tinkering has an adjustment period. It is a bad time to do that in a game like this vs. a crosstown rival.
Also, Amare and Kenyon are out. While I've called both a nonfactor in other threads, they were beginning to mesh into this offense after the JR fallout, especially Amare.
Now Amare out and JR has been ridiculed. JR had a strong performance last game but you can't turn to JR and say "Give me all you've got" when you didn't even communicate why he'd be benched a couple games ago.
I still think that affects JR and the team chemistry mentally and going small-ball today with Prigioni in the back court is an indication the Knicks are trying to tinker too much with a dysfunctional frontcourt of Bargnani, Chandler and Carmelo (now without a Amare).
I look for the Nets to give everything to come out of the Garden with a win after their a** whooping at home by 30 last time out. There is no better way to revenge than giving it to them on their floor.
It's a moderate play but I'm taking the Nets here. It is an AWFUL line which prevents me from going bigger spotting points on the road with the Nets, but given the above, I'll have to a lay the 1.5 with the Nets knowing they will be the
first game televised nationally and they will make a story of the
beating they took last game. |
Moderate Play:
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