Pre-Gaming: Knicks vs. Cavs

7:30 PM @ the Garden

Lebron is worth paying to go see.

Let Exhibit A establish that as a legitimate reason why you should go to tonight's game if you've got the cash and the time. Lebron is worth paying to go see. Since I have the time but not the cash I won't be watching this one in person.

Things other than Lebron to watch for:
1. Randolph Morris and the Junkyard Gang. Will Isiah again play the end of the bench? After the way he handed away a game on Monday night he best give these young guys some run again. That loss on Monday only makes sense if it is the start of a youth movement. However, I would hope that he manages to be a bit smarter about how to utilize the roster. He can get Wilson Chandler minutes without having to bench someone like Nate with the game on the line. He can also mix youth and experience. I doesn't really do much good to put all Chandler, Morris, Collins and Rose out their together. The only way to get a good look at any of them is to mix them into a lineup that actually has some experienced players.

2. Stephon Marbury. Remember that guy? According to Berman at the Post, he'll be at the Garden tonight. It's came out in the media last week that he had been banned from the building by Isiah. The NBA Players' Association is looking into that allegation, but no one has to dig deep to see that Isiah has thrown Steph under the entire Greyhound fleet. This could get interesting if he actually shows up. I only hope that interesting doesn't segue to embarrassing.

3. Eddy Curry. Just Kidding. Although with Ilgauskas scratched due to injury it is possible that he could get some PT. Or, we could just slot the returning Randolph into the 5-spot and play small. I know which one I'd rather see...

4. Lebron James is a phenomenal talent. He is playing on a different planet from everyone but Kobe right now. He is really a cross between Magic and Michael. There, I said it. He has the desire to push the ball and distribute it that Magic did. He has Magic's size advantage over everyone else and the ability to guard virtually every position. And, he's got the end-game tenacity that Michael had. I've watched him get layups in the closing seconds of at least a half-dozen games this season. The combination of his size and his will are singular. And worth watching no matters who he is playing.

5. Nate Robinson. Before being benched in the game's waning moments on Monday, Nate was having a heck of a game. He's been a good deckhand on a sinking ship this season even if he can get a little hot-headed during the game. And, he can do this:


6. The Knicks might win. For whatever reason, the Knicks play well against Lebron. He brings out the best from Q on the defensive end of the floor and seemingly a good effort from just about everyone else. The Cavs only have one win to show for their last 6 trips to the Garden. The teams have split the two previous games this season, with the Knicks loss occurring in their very first game (in Cleveland) and only coming by a 4 point margin. Gibson killed us with late 3's and the Cavs really stole that one.