Carmelo Anthony will return to action as his New York Knicks are slated to take on the Chicago Bulls in the Windy City.
- New York Knicks (29-48)
- Chicago Bulls (38-39)
- NBA, Tue., April. 4, 8:00 p.m. ET, MSG Network
- Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York
The New York Knicks are gearing up to play the Chicago Bulls, the number seven team in the eastern conference. The last time the Knicks played Chicago, they came away with a great win. Tip-off is set for 8:30 p.m. ET.
The Knicks will be playing in their 77th game on Tuesday. Carmelo Anthony is set to make his return to the court against the Chicago Bulls, the very same Melo who missed the last three games because of a back injury. Without Melo, New York went 1–1.
The Knicks will start Ron Baker at the point guard on Tuesday because of Derrick Rose‘s absence to a meniscus ending season surgery. Baker scored four points and dimed three assists in 28 minutes as a starter against the Boston Celtics on Sunday.
The Bulls’ Jimmy Butler was named NBA Player of the Week in the conference on Monday. He averaged 32.5 points (second in the East) and 6.0 assists in three games.
The Knicks will try to continue their tanking process. Entering this game, the Knicks are 29–48 with the sixth worse record in all the land.
Knicks hold the 2–0 series over the Chicago Bulls this series. Bulls are playing to stay in the playoffs while New York is playing the role of spoiler.
Without Rose (meniscus) and Joakim Noah (suspension), the matchup with the Bulls would not be as hyped. Rose was traded away from Chicago and Noah signed with the New York after playing for the Bulls.
The matchup is usually satisfying to watch because Rose and Noah return to their old team to get revenge. This game will be the first time this year Rose will not play against the Chicago Bulls.
Key Matchup: Jimmy Butler Vs Carmelo Anthony
Jimmy Butler is one of the best two-way players in the game right now. He is also coming off his first all-star game in his sixth season.
Butler is averaging 23.9 points, six rebounds and five assists.
Carmelo Anthony is averaging 24 points against the Bulls this season. Overall he is averaging 22.5 points and five rebounds.
Even though Butler is one of the league top defenders, he will have a tough time covering the 2013 scoring champion on Tuesday.
Off the court, Carmelo Anthony let the world knows that he’s going to say everything that went wrong about him and President Phil Jackson. Melo told Stefan Bondy of New York Daily News “the cards will be on the table.”
“The chips will be on the table in that meeting,” Anthony said, smiling.
“I’m just glad people are speaking up,” Anthony said Monday. “Whether it’s good or bad, people are speaking up having their opinion rather than me trying to convince or not convince people of the situation of what’s going on and I can just play basketball. Everybody sees what’s going on. So they’re going to have their own opinion.”
"It was written." But how will it turn out? #Knicks pic.twitter.com/qiLL6LoLEN
— Elite Sports NY (@EliteSportsNY) April 4, 2017
Phil Jackson did everything he could to embarrass Melo this season. Maybe Jackson tried to sabotaged Anthony into waiving his no-trade clause. Regardless of what Jackson did, Melo is still in New York.
Carmelo Anthony also told Bondy that he has not been enjoying playing for the Knicks this year. Maybe this was another one of Melo signs that he will waive his no-trade clause over the offseason.
“The time I’m out there on the court, I’m going to play basketball. It’s the game I’ve always had fun and enjoyed,” Anthony said about the remaining games this season. “Although it hasn’t been as fun as I would’ve wanted it to be. Try to find the joy in playing the game again.”
There has not been any update on Derrick Rose. However, a New York reporter told me that The Knicks would try to sign a point guard regardless of drafting a point guard.
ESNY’s Chip Murphy: Murphy enlighten us on why Carmelo Anthony doesn’t appear to know what the future holds for him with his current team.
ESNY’s Michael Dolan: Dolan told us why he thinks Kristaps Porzingis Junior season will be a make it or break it.
Up Next:
The New York Knicks continue their home stand as they face the Chicago Bulls (37–39) on Tuesday, Apr. 4, at 8:00 p.m. ET.
