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This is the sixth and final installment in a series of posts
breaking down the match-ups between the Knicks and Heat position by
position. The last match-up will be
between the bench units.
Coming into the season, both the Knicks and Heat had
question marks about their second units.
The Knicks were looked at as a team with only two scoring options and a
bunch of other guys. The Heat had that
problem last season and looked to alleviate it with the addition of Shane
Battier to go along with a healthy Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller. But now that the playoffs are actually here,
it is the Knicks who have the more secure bench and Heat with question marks.
If the Knicks are looking to actually make noise in the
series, the bench is going to have to gain a distinct advantage over the
Heat. If you go by the regular season
numbers that is exactly what the Knicks should be able to accomplish. The Knicks bench averaged a solid 30 points
per game compared to 26 for the Heat’s bench.
There is a real possibility that number can skyrocket for
the Knicks though based on the personnel and make up of each team’s second
unit. The Heat’s focus is to stop the
dribble drive of opponents, and that is something the Knicks should be able to
take advantage of. If the slashers on
the second unit in Landry Fields and J.R. Smith are able to attack the paint it
will create open looks for the Knicks shooters.
It will then fall on the shoulders of Steve Novak and J.R. Smith to
knock down their open jump shots and make the most of the opportunities given
to them.
Novak has been deadly all season from 3 point range and
everyone knows how capable Smith is of going off at any moment. If Fields is able to regain any of his
shooting form from last year in addition to the hot streak Carmelo Anthony has
been on the Knicks will be deadly. Any
threat the Knicks can work up outside of Novak and Smith will be a huge.
Where the Knicks may struggle some with the bench squad is
on the defensive end. Jared Jeffries is
questionable at best because of a sore knee which has bothered him for much of
the past eight weeks. Jeffries isn’t
expected to play more than 15 minutes a game for the Knicks, leaving them with
a huge void on the defensive end.
The worst part is that the Knicks do not have a clear
decision of who will pick up the slack for Jeffries. Dan Gadzuric was signed last week because of
the concerns over Jeffries, but he looks out of shape and incapable of picking
up any sort of meaningful minutes right now.
Josh Harrellson has shown the ability to play well, but seems to not
have the full trust of Mike Woodson.
Woodson will have to get creative in filling the void left behind by
Jeffries.
The advantage for the benches goes to the Knicks. Novak and Smith are capable of knocking down
shots in bunches and can turn a series quickly in favor for the Knicks. The Knicks bench has come a long way this
season, and actually is a big reason the Knicks have made it this far, in
comparison to the Heat who have yet to find consistent production from their
bench unit even with the additions they have made.
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