Knicks at Blazers: 5 Questions With a Blazers Expert
As the run to the NBA postseason continues, the New York Knicks tip off a four-game road trip on Thursday night against the Portland Trail Blazers (10 p.m. ET, MSG).
Thursday's game gives the Knicks a chance to end a couple of dubious streaks: New York (37-28) hasn't won consecutive games since getting nine in a row between Jan. 17 and Feb. 1 and also hasn't swept Portland in a two-game set since 1999-2000. The Knicks took the first matchup by a 122-84 final back on Jan. 9 and are coming off three straight games of holding their opponent under 80 points.
In anticipation of Thursday's game, All Knicks spoke with Blazer's Edge contributor Brandon Goldner to find out what to expect from the reeling Blazers ...
What's been the biggest surprise in regards to the Blazers season up to this point?
BG: They didn’t make any moves at the deadline. For a team that’s firmly tanking, it felt like a foregone conclusion at the start of the year that Malcolm Brogdon, Robert Williams, and maybe a handful of others would have had new homes by March. Maybe it was the NBA marketplace being relatively cool or maybe Williams’ season-ending injury made bigger deals harder, but I wouldn’t have expected the Blazers to have stood pat.
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If the Blazers win Thursday, what would be the reason why?
BG: As obvious as it sounds, the Knicks’ best players not showing up. Seriously, New York is a much more talented team, especially with OG Anunoby coming back on Tuesday. I’m not sure there’s any one thing you could possibly point to that would allow the Blazers to win. It would have to be a combination of several factors, including getting better games from Anfernee Simons than we’ve seen lately, another monster game from Deandre Ayton, and having some combination of Jerami Grant, Scoot Henderson, Duop Reath, and Toumani Camara pop at the same time … all against a Knicks defense that ranks eighth in points per possession and is even better defensively today than it was to start the year. I don’t see it.
What’s one thing people should know about the Blazers that they couldn’t find in a box score?
BG: How hard Scoot Henderson tries on defense, especially lately. Take a few possessions and just focus on Scoot and nobody else. He’s engaged, in a stance, and will even stare down his opponent or clap his hands if he keeps position as they’re trying to lose him. This doesn’t mean he’s a good defender – he’s not – but it’s so fun and inspiring to see that a 20-year-old guard who was picked third and is expected to be an important piece of a franchise’s future try so hard on defense.
What's a matchup that you are looking forward to seeing?
Henderson vs. Jalen Brunson. Since his return from a core muscle injury one of the most interesting things about Portland right now is how Henderson is growing, learning, and developing, particularly in individual matchups against elite players like Brunson. To the point before about his defense, I can guarantee he will take this matchup personally.
What's your prediction for Thursday's game?
Knicks 111, Blazers 87
