New York looks bound for another dreadful season, having lost three of its first four games to start the year. Two of those setbacks were blowouts, while the other one was a 13-point loss at the Motor City.
As ugly as the Knicks have played, though, we can expect a different Knicks team to show up in tonight’s road game with the Bulls. And of course, a lot of the attention will be on Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah, who are returning to Chicago for the first time since being let go by the franchise.
Rose has played well with the Knicks thus far, averaging 16.3 points on 44.6 percent shooting. Noah, on the other hand, is gobbling 7.5 rebounds and a team-leading 5.5 assists. Those individual numbers may look good, but the team’s overall play is barely close to being decent.
The Knicks rank 26th overall in scoring, 29th in rebounding and 21st in shooting percentage. The same can be said with regards to their defense that’s allowing at least 110 points per game.
Well, as mentioned earlier, this date with the Bulls is no ordinary regular-season game. The tension will be high, as well as the emotions. Plus, Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis both love taking on Chicago, a matchup in which those two are averaging 25.9 and 16.8 points, respectively, so we can expect New York to put up a fight at least.
The Knicks won three of four meetings with Chicago last season.
The entire city of Chicago should still be celebrating after seeing the Cubs capture their first World Series title since 1908. But that won’t prevent Bulls fans from anticipating the returns of Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah when the Knicks come to town.
The Bulls started the year 3-0, before suffering their first loss to Boston a couple of nights ago. This matchup with a New York team that’s still searching for chemistry and answers to its defensive woes is a great opportunity to bounce back.
Rajon Rondo (7.8 APG), Dwyane Wade (15.8 PPG) and Jimmy Butler (21.3 PPG) are all thriving under Fred Hoiberg’s system. Robin Lopez, meanwhile, has been able to hold his ground in protecting the interior (1.5 BPG) and in crashing the glass (6.0 RPG).
Speaking of the interior, Taj Gibson and Nikola Mirotic will also be a troublesome pair for the Knicks. Both forwards can stretch the floor and are scoring in double-digits this season with 13.0 and 14.0 points, respectively. Mirotic, in particular, is a lethal threat behind the three-point line, where he’s drained seven of his last 16 attempts.
