Live Thread: Knicks @ Cavs

It’s opening night, and the Knicks are visiting the Q. The Cavs, only team in the history of the NBA Finals to come back from a 3-1 deficit, are getting their championship rings before the game starts. And, unlike a year ago, the Cavs, also the only team that has beat the Warriors two times in a row in the past year, are starting healthy.

Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love will both be starting on open night along with Tristan Thompson, LeBron James, and J.R. Smith. The team may have won the title last year, but they have a very good chance to perform even better this year. There is almost no pressure on the King this season. The constant talk about trading Kyrie and Love should be done too. This season the guys get to just play basketball.

The Knicks now have Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah. Had this team somehow gotten the 2010 version of Rose and Noah, I could believe Rose’s summer statement about them being a super team.

“I mean, with these teams right now, they’re saying us and Golden State are the super teams….”

Right now, New York seems like a long shot to make any noise in the playoffs. They will be starting Carmelo Anthony at the three and Kristaps Porzingis at the four. Both of those guys need to play up a position to be as effective as possible. They can both stretch the floor, but when they’re paired with Noah, they are forced into positions they struggle to defend and struggle to take advantage of on the offensive end. And, New York will be running the triangle sometimes. The triangle was great before defenses were freed up by changes to the zone defense rule, an old rule that essentially made soft doubles and sagging down to help illegal. When new coach Jeff Hornacek isn’t running the triangle, the team may have more success. Running pick and rolls with bigs who can shoot, pass, and finish, see Melo and the Zinger, has worked wonders for teams, see the Warriors and Cavs.

Things to watch this game:

-It should be noted that the Cavs are playing across the street from the Indians for the first time in October since the late 90s’. The Indians play game one of the World Series at Progressive field at 8:00. The start time for the series is why the Cavs game time was moved to 7:30.

-The Knicks guards, Rose and Brandon Jennings, are great at getting into the paint. Kyrie needs to show the world he can play like he did in the Finals all the time. He has to stop penetration.

-The team needs to have fun. Watch for touchdown passes, elaborate high fives, and general jovialness all season.

-Kevin Love looks to be in the best shape of his career since joining the Cavs. He bulked up a little and got to enjoy a full off-season of good health. Kevin may get some time running the second unit from the post. Watch for him to post up at the elbow and look for guys slashing when LeBron and Kyrie sit.

-In the preseason game against the 76ers, Iman Shumpert and Kyrie had some nice two man action going on. One of them would pass the ball to the other (near the elbow), and then run baseline taking a screen from a big before getting open near the corner. They then received the ball with space to drive or shoot. This could be a nice little play to get both of these guys going if they struggle.

Enjoy the atmosphere tonight. It’s not too often that two Cleveland teams have a chance to win on the same night.

Also, get your shirt orders in. Nate Smith did a wonderful job designing a shirt to celebrate the championship run.