Amar'e Stoudemire is back.
The six-time NBA All-Star that the New York Knicks (21-9) began their rebuilding process with two seasons ago will be making his season debut-and in the nick of time, too-as the banged up Knicks take on rookie sensation Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers tonight at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Stoudemire has been sidelined since the preseason after undergoing surgery to remove a cyst in his left knee. Out for the last two months, the talented, yet maligned big man will be making playing tonight for the Knicks, a league source told Yahoo! Sports, reported earlier Tuesday.
Though there are questions as to what his role will be upon his arrival, the return of the athletic power forward could not come at a better time for the Knicks, with a slew of injuries having affected key players, including superstar Carmelo Anthony (questionable--hyperextended knee) starting point guard Raymond Felton (out--hand injury) Tyson Chandler (day-to-day--ankle) and Rasheed Wallace (out--foot).
Meanwhile, Lillard has been emerging as a top candidate for Rookie of the Year honors after an exciting stretch of play that has helped the Blazers win seven of their last 10 games. However, star power forward LaMarcus Aldridge may still be recovering from a sternum injury received last Friday and starting point guard Wesley Matthews is still day-to-day with a hip injury. In addition, the Blazers have a 4-10 win-loss record on the road, while the Knicks are 12-2 at the Garden.
Latinos Post breaks down the top match-ups for tonight's game:
Power forward: Kurt Thomas, Knicks vs. LaMarcus Aldridge, Blazers
Thomas will likely start for New York with Carmelo Anthony still recovering from his hyperextended knee injury against the Lakers. He's not a scorer, and at age 40, he's lost some of the old quickness he had, but he is still a grizzly defender who can play hard. He scored no points but grabbed four rebounds and blocked a shot in Saturday's heartbreaking 106-105 loss to the Kings.
He'll need to play that defensive staple he's famous for against the 6'11" Aldridge, who has been a constant threat for the Blazers, scoring 22.0 points per game in the last 10 games with 1.4 blocks and 7.9 rebounds. He's got size, skill and strength, and unless Thomas and Chandler step up to guard him, Aldridge could make the Knicks pay.
Note this: though Stoudemire's natural position is the power forward slot, given Knicks coach Mike Woodson's conservative approach to the game, it's likely that Stoudemire will start off the bench in his first game rather than be rushed back into competition.
Advantage: Blazers
Small forward: Ronnie Brewer, Knicks vs. Nicolas Batum, Blazers
Don't expect Brewer to score much. That's not his style. Being a hard-nosed defender who can hang and bang with the best of them is.
Batum, averaging 16.0 points this season for Portland, is young and fast at age 24, and his scoring ability cannot be ignored; just ask Philadelphia, against whom he scored 22 points on Dec. 29.
Advantage: Blazers
Center: Tyson Chandler, Knicks vs. J.J. Hickson, Blazers
Athletic, strong and tall, the 7'1" defensive-minded Chandler has been emerging as an offensive threat this season. Averaging 13.2 points in the last 10 games including a 21-point outing on Saturday against Sacramento, Chandler, the NBA's league leader in field goal percentage, didn't practice Monday due to ankle issues, but is expected to play tonight.
However, it still remains a question as to how Chandler will fair against the 6'9" Hickson, who he has the height advantage over but might be able to outmaneuver him if the ankle becomes an issue. Hickson, who is averaging a double-double in points (12.5) and rebounds (11.0) this season, is one player who can give a defense fits if he is allowed to.
Advantage: Knicks
Shooting Guard: James White, Knicks vs. Victor Claver, Blazers
White, playing after an injury to Felton shifts Kidd to the point guard slot, has been described as a scorer and a natural athlete from his days as a star in European basketball, though he hasn't gotten a lot of touches in the last seven games he's played with the Knicks.
The Blazers are also shorthanded here, playing with Claver, who subbed in for injured starter Wesley Matthews on Saturday. Claver, a sturdy 6'9", would provide size to the position in the meantime.
Advantage: Even
Point Guard: Jason Kidd, Knicks vs. Damian Lillard, Blazers
Keep an eye on this match-up: it could decide the game.
Kidd, filling in for All-Star contender Felton, has been as good as ever this season, but has picked up the pace in scoring in the last two games, where he has averaged 19.5 points in games against Phoenix and Sacramento last week. In the absence of Felton, the Knicks could do well to get a boost from the Kidd of old, who was once among the Top 5 Point Guards in the league in his prime.
Lillard, meanwhile, is looking like a strong favorite to win the Rookie of the Year with his remarkable rookie campaign so far. In the last 10 games, he has averaged 16.6 points and 6.4 assists, giving Portland a jolt with his quickness and finishing ability. It's experience vs. youthful vigor tonight, and whoever wins that contest may tilt the game in favor of his team.
Advantage: Even
Bench: Amar'e Stoudemire, Chris Copeland, Pablo Prigioni, JR Smith, Steve Novak, Knicks vs. Sasha Pavlovic, Jarred Jeffries, Luke Babbit, Blazers
Tonight should give us a look at what the new and improved Knicks bench should look like.
Stoudemire's return will undoubtedly provide a boost for the Knicks, if he resembles anything close to his old explosive play that generated instant offense. Smith, has been a sparkplug for the Knicks all season, while Novak remains among the game's most dangerous three-point shooters while Copeland has been showing flashes of emerging as a scoring threat. Prigioni also provides solid depth at the point guard position.
Former Knick Jeffries is a defensive specialist while the 6'7" Pavlovic provides a big body off the bench. Babbit has shown the potential to score in double-digits off the bench consecutively, but needs to be more selective with his choice of shots.
The bottom line: The Knicks are coming in with deeper reserves tonight. And if it comes down to the benches, New York could win this thing overwhelmingly.
Advantage: Knicks
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