Tonight at 8:00 p.m. ET the New York Knicks (4-15) will host the Cleveland Cavaliers (9-7) at Madison Square Garden. Watch the game on TNT or live stream it free by clicking this link. Knicks fans can listen to the game by turning their dials to 98.7 ESPN New York, while Cavaliers fans can catch the radio broadcast on WTAM 1100.
Earlier this season the Knicks hit a high point, upsetting the Cavaliers on their home floor in LeBron James' grand return to Cleveland. While the Cavs have experienced highs and lows already this year, they have been far better than the Knicks, who are currently riding a five-game losing streak.
These are squads heading in opposite directions right now, and LeBron James is not likely to forget his spoiled homecoming. But a bigger reason for Cleveland's recent run of four straight wins is improved play from point guard Kyrie Irving, who was reportedly clashing with James a short while ago.
"He's patient, he knows how to run the team, he knows what he needs to do to run the team, how to get himself and others involved," James said of Irving. "He's just very patient and I think he has a lot of confidence, not only himself but he has a lot of guys around him that can help him so he doesn't have to press, and I think that's very key."
The Knicks, meanwhile, have adapted badly to the Triangle offense. They're giving up slightly fewer points than Cleveland defensively, but those issues are magnified because of their inability to score. Despite rostering one of the NBA's premier scorers, Carmelo Anthony, the Knicks are averaging just 93.4 points per game. They are allowing 99.1.
"If we were 4-15 and every time you watch us play, we couldn't beat the other team, I'd be concerned," head coach Derek Fisher said, seemingly banking on the idea that more time is needed for the new philosophies on both sides of the ball to click. "But we're seeing enough to let us know that if we just control the parts that we can control, we can actually win some of these games.
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