[Tommy]

The New York Knicks will be looking for answers Saturday night when The Answer comes to town. New York is off to a 3-8 start under new coach Larry Brown while one of Brown's former teams, the Philadelphia 76ers, has followed the lead of Allen "The Answer" Iverson to an Atlantic Division-leading 7-6 mark.

The record was much more impressive (6-3) before the Sixers dropped three of their last four games. The club began the year with three straight losses, won six in a row and now is in another tailspin with the latest loss coming in Milwaukee Wednesday night by a 108-97 count.

The Sixers have had two days off to think about that one and get set to take on the Knicks. Philadelphia is 2-3 on the road this year with its last road win coming a week ago Wednesday over woeful Toronto 121-115. The Sixers then lost at Miami 106-96, let a lead slip away the following night at home versus Cleveland in a 123-120 loss then defeated New Orleans/OKC 103-91 at home before the Milwaukee loss.

Iverson, averaging 32.8 points/game on the season, scored 45 in the loss to the Bucks. Chris Webber had been averaging 20 points/game for the Sixers but scored just 11 in the Milwaukee loss. Webber has also been pulling down 10.1 rebounds/game as the Sixers have played the entire season without starting center Samuel Dalembert.

Despite its winning record Philadelphia is getting outscored by an averaged of 105 pts/game to 103.9. It is losing the battle of the boards, too, by better than five per game: 43.5 to 38.3.

The Knicks numbers are nothing to brag about either as you might surmise from their 3-8 record. In their defense they have played just three of their first 11 games at home and are 1-2 in those contests. They scored their first home win of the season Sunday when they beat Portland 103-92 but then went back on the road and were beaten by the Charlotte Bobcats Wednesday night 108-95.

For the year the Knicks are being outscored 92.1 to 88.8 which is not bad considered the amount of road games they have played. They are winning the battle of the boards 43.6 to 41.0. They need to find more scoring pop though as right now pointguard Stephon Marbury is the team's leading scorer at 16.3 points/game. He leads in assists as well with 6.5/game but that too will need to go up if the Knicks are to improve on their woeful 43.2% field goal shooting.

Rookie Channing Frye is the Knicks second leading scorer with 13.1 points/game and Jamal Crawford third at 12.8. The Knicks have yet to get what they envisioned from off-season acquisitions Eddie Curry and Quentin Richardson.

This is the first meeting of the year for the Knicks and Sixers. The Knicks had their way last year, winning three of the four games and going 4-0 ATS. Here at home the Knicks won 96-88 and 113-101. Both times they were favored by three points. The Knicks have won and covered the last four at home versus the Sixers.

The oddsmaker opened this contest as a Pick Em with a total of 194. To get the winner of this contest, be sure to check out the Vegas Experts Guaranteed Selections, and pay only after you win!

[naught33]

knicks got off to a horrible start in this one, have come out strong in the 2h....sixers down 2 w 1 min to go..dalembert to the line...misses the first...stay tuned

[naught33]

we are going to OT folks....94-94

[naught33]

what a game! watch out for nate robinson folks, best game as a knick...including the game winner in OT...the good guys win for once, nice job knicks, 105-102

[Tommy]

Yeah Naught. Good game. Nate and Channing were good, very promising for the Knicks.

Sixers would definitely be a contender in the East if they could put teams away. 4 out of their 7 loses they had double digit leads and 1 lose they had a 9 point lead in the game LOL. They need to rebound better, it has been awful. Dalembert 1st game back, he was a liability today, as time goes on and he gets his legs, it should help thier rebounding and defense overall. I still think Sixers are a .500 or a little better team and the Knicks will win about 35 this year, a little less than .500. Curry will make them better when he gets back but not that much better. Who knows what will happen though. The trade deadline both teams could make moves and be better.

[naught33]

yeah knicks have been very inconsistent so far...they play like they did in 2h today they can beat anybody, but they just dont put 48 min together..i finally liked what i saw from steph today he was more aggressive, something the knicks need esp with curry being out...dont forget both our FA centers are out right now...and qrich still is battling a hammy injury from preseason...once the knicks get healthy and gel i think they will be fine..they wont be winning the ATL division but i certainly think they get at least the no 7 seed in the playoffs...good game many more to come this yr big