Brian DiMenna

In many ways, the Hornets are a perfect team for the Knicks to face right now because they are a bad team, but not an untalented one. It’s a game they should win, but certainly one they could lose, and how they play could go along way to telling us just how deep a funk this team is in. With Eric Gordon and Anthony Davis back healthy, New Orleans does have players who could pose problems for New York, but even given the Knicks’ injury woes it’s a team they should be able to handle.

New York got some good news this week when Iman Shumpert was cleared for a return in next week’s game against Detroit in London, but they’ll still be without him this afternoon.

Sunday, we’ll be looking to see if the Knicks can keep Davis and Gordon in check, along with containing Ryan Anderson off the bench, while also keeping a close eye on how Mike Woodson handles the Knicks’ lineup. It’s almost beyond question at this point that the Knicks have had their greatest success this season with Carmelo Anthony playing heavily at power forward, something they’ve gotten away from given all the reshuffling of the lineup to account for their consistent injury woes.

Naturally, all will still be looking to see how Amar’e Stoudemire continues to progress as he makes his way back. Stoudemire’s return has gone a little along the lines of everyone’s worst fears, he’s looked awkward and a step slow and hasn’t really found a way to make a significant contribution, but he’s showed enough flashes to earn a certain amount of leeway.

Bottom line, Knicks need a win, folks.

Update (11:09 am): Looks like Anthony will be back at the four this afternoon, along with James White and Chris Copeland in the starting lineup. It’s kind of an interesting lineup, as White and Copeland have both impressed on the offensive end of late, but it’s certainly something we didn’t really expect to see as this season began. 

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