Friday, March 1, 2013
Can Knicks contain Wall?
By Tom Carpenter
The last time that John Wall took at least 10 field-goal attempts in a game and hit at least 42 percent of them was the last time he faced the New York Knicks three weeks ago. The Wiz beat the Knicks by 10 in that game and Wall accounted for 21 points (8-18 FG -- 44.4 FG%) and nine dimes, though he turned the ball over six times. Wall has hit a rough stretch heading into tonight's rematch, averaging only 10.2 points on 29.6 percent shooting and 4.6 turnovers over his past five games.
Although Carmelo Anthony called Friday's tilt a "payback game," ESPNNewYork.com's Ian Begley notes that the Knicks may have trouble keeping Wall in check:
Ian Begley
Anthony: It's payback time in D.C."[I]t's fair to wonder whether the Knicks' porous perimeter D can cure what ails Wall. If we've learned anything over the past few weeks, it's that the Knicks have a problem defending point guards. The latest example came Wednesday, when Stephen Curry went off for an otherworldly 54 points in Madison Square Garden. Jrue Holiday had 30 for the 76ers in a Knicks win in the previous game. The issue, it seems, is on the pick-and-roll. The Knicks have struggled to contain penetration off the play and have had a tough time containing the mismatch that results from switches. Wall took advantage the last time out against the Knicks. Can they make the necessary adjustments to slow him down on Friday?"
