| Marty Burns' Breakdown |
|---|
| New York |
|
Toronto |
| At age 37, Patrick Ewing can no longer carry the Knicks on his
shoulders, but he can still play defense and rebound. As long as he avoids the
temptation to dominate the ball in the low post, this old warrior is an asset to
his
club. |
CENTER The Edge:
None |
Though undersized in the pivot, 6'9" Antonio Davis knows Ewing
well from his many playoff battles as a member of the Pacers. However, neither
Davis nor veteran Kevin Willis possess enough low-post game to create offense
for
teammates. |
|
| In Larry Johnson and Latrell Sprewell, the Knicks don't have a big
frontcourt, but they get the job done. Sprewell is the game's best open-court
player and a good defender -- though he has struggled mightily this season
against Vince Carter. LJ is a shell of his former self in terms of
explosiveness, but uses his savvy and toughness to compensate. |
FORWARDS The Edge:
 |
Vince Carter has torched New York for 33.0 points per game in four
contests this season, and will need to continue attacking for his team to stand
a chance. Just as important, he must step up his defense, a weakness at times
this season. Meanwhile, look for power forward Charles Oakley to play like a man
possessed against his former
mates. |
|
| Point guards Charlie Ward and Chris Childs will defend well and make
occasional big shots, but they're turnover prone. Shooting guard Allan Houston
is an All-Star capable of taking over a game, but if he doesn't snap out of his
late-season shooting slump, the Knicks will be in huge
trouble. |
GUARDS The Edge:
|
The Raptors' big backcourt of point guard Doug Christie and shooting
guard Tracy McGrady can cause problems on defense, but they rely too much on
jump shots on the other end. Still Christie is a ball-hawk on defense, and
McGrady a terrific shot-blocker. They should give New York all it can
handle. |
|
| In 6 '10" forward Marcus Camby the Knicks possess one of the
league's best Sixth Men, a skywalker who can change the game at both ends.
Camby, a former Raptor, has been battling a sore right knee but should be able
to play. Kurt Thomas and Childs contribute steady defense in the frontcourt and
at point,
respectively. |
BENCH The Edge:
 |
With Willis, point guards Muggsy Bogues and Dee Brown, and three-point
specialist Dell Curry, the Raptors have plenty of veteran leadership. To upset
the Knicks, however, they're going to need to make some shots as well. |
|
| Say what you want about the Knicks, but they are a hard-headed veteran
crew that plays its best when the chips are down. Having been embarrassed by the
Raptors this season -- and then hearing about in the New York tabloids -- they
will come focused and ready to play.
|
INTANGIBLES The Edge:
|
Just a few weeks ago they were in a free fall, pointing fingers in the
locker room and holding three-hour team meetings. To their credit, they righted
the ship. But you have to wonder how a team whose two key players have never
before played in the postseason will hold up in the crucible of a first-round
series with the defending conference
champs. |
|
| After years of battling Michael Jordan, Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy
and his staff have ample experience devising game plans to slow a high-scoring
superstar such as Carter. The Knicks sometimes tune Van Gundy out during the
regular season, but they'll listen to him
now. |
COACH The Edge:
|
Butch Carter deserves credit for getting the Raptors to their first
playoff appearance, but his grip on the team is tenuous -- as evidenced by
recent public criticism of his play-calling by some of the team's veterans. In
short, he still has a lot to prove. |
|
| Camby, who missed a month with a sprained right knee earlier this
season, is now battling soreness in the same knee caused by a collision in a
game late in the season. If he's not healthy, New York is a different team. |
'X' FACTOR The Edge:
|
Like Jordan, the player to whom he's so often compared, Vince Carter has
shown an eerie ability to meet the moment (see Slam Dunk '00). Will this be his
Garden coming-out party, à la Michael's show in Boston in the '86
playoffs? |
| Burns' Prediction: Knicks in 4 |
|---|
| |
