Pre-Game: Raptors vs. Knicks 7:30 PM

The New York Knicks will play the Toronto Raptors tonight at Madison Square Garden. After losing against the Lakers and Warriors the Knicks were able to blowout the Sacramento Kings on Saturday night. Amare Stoudemire didn’t play due to a left ankle sprain and the Knicks replaced him with rookie Josh Harrellson. The rookie was able to produce more than the Knicks imagined as he scored 14 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. His ability to score and grab rebounds will make him a valuable asset for the Knicks. Amare Stoudemire’s status right now is a game-time decision.

Tonight the Knicks will play a division foe who hasn’t played well enough to get wins. Jose Calderon and Andrea Bargnani have been playing very well for the Raptors despite their 1-3 record. Who ever coach Mike D’Antoni puts on Bargnani, they will need to stay up on him and not allow him to get off shots.

In the last game the Knicks looked much better on the defensive end and hopefully can bring that defense edge into this game. It is very important that the Knicks win this game. The Garden will be loud and filled with energy unmatched by any other arena. The Knicks should blow the Raptors out simply because they don’t have much fire power on their team.

Carmelo Anthony will have a big game simply because the Raptors have no one who can guard him. Anthony is coming off a 23 point game in which he looked better, but wasn’t very accurate. Anthony made six shots but was able to get to the free throw line to score eleven points. His ability to draw fouls allows him to score points that keeps his scoring average up.

The play of Toney Douglas and Landry Fields really helped the Knicks. Both players scored the ball and played great defense. Douglas really looked comfortable on the offense as he was able to get 8 assists. This is what the Knicks want from him, just that ability to get the offense involved. He doesn’t see that his role is more important that he thinks. Once he gets the offense going the Knicks will win most of their games.

This team has shown that they can score the ball and defensively they have done better. So far this season the Knicks have allowed 100 points in just one game this season. That came against the Boston Celtics on opening day. The Raptors can score, but expect the Knicks to play great defense against them. Tonight’s game can be watched locally in New York on MSG.