Okay, so folks wanted to know how I went about figuring out my prediction for the Hornets vs Knicks game. It wasn’t anything super scientific, just my usual routine when I look at matchups.
My Process Step-by-Step
First thing I did was grab my coffee and sit down. I needed to get a feel for where both teams are right now. It’s not just about the season record, you know? It’s about how they’ve been playing lately.
So, I started with the Knicks. I pulled up their recent game logs. Watched some highlights if I could find quick ones. How’s their energy? Are they hitting shots? Are they playing defense? The Knicks, they usually play hard, especially at home in MSG. That garden energy is real.
Then, the big thing: injuries. This is huge in the NBA. I specifically checked the Knicks’ injury report. I already knew Randle was out long-term, which is a massive piece missing. Then I looked closer – any other key guys banged up? Brunson okay? Anunoby? You gotta know who’s actually gonna be on the court.
Next up, the Hornets. Did the same thing. Looked at their recent games. Let’s be honest, they’ve been struggling most of the season. But you still gotta check. Sometimes bad teams get hot for a stretch or pull off an upset. I looked for who’s carrying the load for them. Is LaMelo Ball playing? He’s their main guy but seems like he’s always hurt. Checked their injury list just as carefully. A team that’s already struggling can really fall apart if more key players are out.
Putting It Together
Okay, after looking at both sides, I started comparing:
- Recent Form: Knicks looked generally more solid, despite injuries. Hornets were inconsistent, mostly losing.
- Key Players/Injuries: This was the tricky part. Knicks missing Randle is significant, but they still have Brunson leading the show. Hornets potentially missing Ball (or him not being 100%) is arguably even more devastating for them because they rely on him so much.
- Home Court: Knicks playing at Madison Square Garden is a definite advantage. Crowd gets loud, team seems to feed off it.
- Matchup History: Had a quick glance at past games between them. Didn’t put too much weight on this, as rosters change, but sometimes you see a pattern.
So, weighing all that up, even with the Knicks’ injuries, they just felt like the more complete, more motivated team, especially playing at home against a Hornets team that’s been having a rough year and dealing with their own injury problems.
My thinking was, the Knicks’ system and coaching, plus Brunson’s ability to carry the offense, should be enough to overcome a weaker Hornets team, even without Randle. The Hornets just don’t seem to have enough firepower or defensive grit consistently, especially on the road.
Therefore, my prediction landed on the Knicks winning the game. I thought they’d likely cover the spread too, depending on what it was set at, just because the Hornets’ offense can be really stagnant without Ball fully healthy and running things.
And that’s pretty much it. Just breaking down the recent performance, checking who’s healthy, considering the location, and making a call based on that. Nothing fancy, just looking at the practical situation. We’ll see how it actually plays out tonight!
