The Knicks have not looked good during the first week of the regular season. But things should improve over the next few days as the Bobcats come to town tonight, and then the Knicks travel to Charlotte on Friday. Both teams are 1-2, but one look at each roster is enough to know which is the better club. Here are three reasons to believe the Knicks are primed for a two-game winning streak.
Ailing Al
The Bobcats added Al Jefferson in the offseason to bolster their frontcourt, but he’s been limited to one game this season due to an ankle injury. He won’t be out there tonight, and his status for the teams’ next meeting is unknown. His replacement, Bismack Biyombo, is not a threat on offense. That makes the Knicks’ job a whole lot easier, especially for Tyson Chandler.
Primed to break out
Just three Knicks — Carmelo Anthony, Raymond Felton and Iman Shumpert — are averaging double figures in scoring, and even Melo has posted just 63 points through three games. It’s part of the reason the team ranks near the bottom in points per game. There’s too much scoring talent on this team for that trend to continue. Look for Melo to erupt for 30 or more in at least one of the two matchups.
De-fense, de-fense
Although the Knicks haven’t scored much themselves, at least they’re keeping other teams in check. Yes, the Timberwolves dropped 109 points on the Knicks on Sunday night, but before that, the Bucks and Bulls scored just 83 and 82 points, respectively. Don’t expect Kemba Walker or Ramon Sessions, Charlotte’s only healthy double-digit scorers, to spark an offensive outburst any time soon.
