Denver was on the road Saturday night, and lost to the Spurs. It will be a tough game, but the Knicks are more rested.

http://www.nypost.com/sports/knicks/16714.htm

ALLAN GETS GREEN LIGHT FOR TONIGHT

By MARC BERMAN

February 29, 2004 --
DENVER — The season starts anew tonight. Captain Allan Houston is back.

With the Knicks season drowning, Houston represents their life raft. "It's the biggest game of the year," Stephon Marbury said.

Ending his 41/2-week rehab assignment in which he missed 13 straight games, Houston makes his long-anticipated return tonight at Pepsi Center against the Nuggets. The Knicks, no longer a lock to make the playoffs, have lost five straight. They have 22 games left as they finish their hellish, four-game western trip.

After his first scrimmage in which he gracefully knocked in his sweet jumper from all angles, Houston said his knees feel better than they have since last June's surgery. Often downcast during his rehab, a bubbly Houston had to contain his emotions yesterday.

"It's not pain," Houston said. "It's a little stiff but it's not limiting me to where I want to go. It's about timing now. I'm excited. I don't want to get overanxious about it. It's ready to play a game. I'm ready to move with the team the rest of the season without being worried about having setbacks."

From Houston's lips to the basketball god's ears. Even the normally stoic Marbury was grinning yesterday. His penetrations have been met by gangs of defenders.


"Nobody can help [out] now," Marbury said, referring to his paint forays. "It's impossible. When you have him, it's automatic."

Houston and Tim Thomas will share the court for the first time. "It's going to help Tim in the post," Marbury said. "It's harder to double."

Lenny Wilkens said he'll play Houston about 25 minutes. The fear is the Knicks will be worse defensively without Shandon Anderson. That's been their recent problem, giving up an average 105 points on the 0-3 trip.

"I think in terms of confidence, I'll help, from hearing everyone talk," Houston said. "I'm not going to make every shot. They feel I'll help the flow of the game better. That's enough for me to know my teammates are feeling we'll be better with me out there."

Forget that the Knicks are still tied for sixth place in the East. More important, they're only 11/2 games better than No. 9 Cleveland, which owns the tiebreaker, and just 21/2 games ahead of 11th-place Boston.

"It's the saving grace, we're still there [in playoff position]," Wilkens said. "Now it's time for us to do something positive. It's time for us to make a run."

*

Dikembe Mutombo feels the Knicks' defensive woes stem from his recent demotion.

Despite Mutombo's impact in the fourth quarter Friday night in L.A., Wilkens won't give him his job back. He's starting Kurt Thomas again at center with Othella Harrington at power forward.

Mutombo believes the club is hurt by not having a shotblocker. "I realize my teammates got used to having someone in the back," he said. "I think we're confused defensively because of it. The adjustment guarding your man going all the way to the basket, they think a big man will be there and he's not."

When Mutombo played just seven minutes in Phoenix, the Knicks were outrebounded worse than they have been in more than 30 years.

Denver's Marcus Camby, whom Isiah Thomas drafted and could be free agent, will play tonight despite groin strain. Michael Doleac will face Knicks for first time since deadline deal.

I'd prefer to have a line up of :

Marbury,
Houston,
T Thomas,
K Thomas,
Mohammed

yeah..they better play their asses off tonight because I don't want to hear the "we put up a good fight, they were just the better team tonight" garbage. We have to go on a winstreak now!

Posted by keyindabox:

Its possible with the teams we are gonna verse now. And with Allan back and healthy, there's more of a chance to win and go on a streak.

Knicks Game Notes says Allan's not playing, or starting at least

yea they are always a lil slow to catch on.

woohoo!! now we're talking! Our low post game is gonna be the ****! I just hope Nazr is backup PF and Deke is backup center!

Posted by FrenchKnicks:

Sweets didn't really make the msot of his chance... well, he wanted to do well.. picked up two quick fouls

and he missed that wide open layup. doh!

Denver is shooting 9-13... ouch