12B
Monday, January 13, 1997
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Knicks record to be tested during forthcoming stretch
New York to confront both Miami, Chicago
By Chris Sherldan The Associated Press
NEW YORK — Jeff Van Gundy looked at the boxscore listing the Knicks' 26-9 record and quickly dismissed it.
"People might laugh, but I thought we had a chance to be undefeated going into the new year." Van Gundy said. "That would be 35-0."
Sometimes it's hard to detect Van Gundy's wry sense of humor, and it was hard to tell how serious he was being when he made that statement. But there was no mistaking the challenge he was about to issue to his team.
"The real season starts now," he said. "We've had a real easy schedule, and we're in first place, but we've got eight games in the next 12 days, six on the road and a game against a Miami team that beat us like a drum."
Up next is a three-game trip to the Southwest to play Houston, San Antonio and Phoenix, then a one-game homestand before playing Chicago, Indiana and Charlotte on the road.
It will be a precursor for several tough
stretches during the remaining 14 weeks of the season. The schedule includes four games each against the Bulls, Pacers and Cavaliers, three against Cleveland and two against Miami and Orlando.
"Bring 'em on," Patrick Ewing said.
"There are some tough games, but we feel we can get it done. These games will tell how good we are, especially the first one against Houston."
If the first 35 games of the season have proven anything, it is that the Knicks continue to be a team capable of going only as far as Ewing can take them. He had his sixth 30-point game of the season against the Celtics and has done enough to justify the starting spot in the All-Star game that the fans seem ready to bestow on him.
As for the rest of the new-look Knicks, there has been as much bad as good.
Larry Johnson has often been a shadow of his former superstar self. His leaping ability is gone. He has been tentative shooting his jump shot, and the offense has come to a halt when he has found himself isolated with the ball in one-on-one situations.
Chris Childs has played well at the point, but he has already missed 12 games.
Allan Houston has been the biggest disappointment of the major acquisitions from last summer. He has a silky smooth jump shot, but he is not a stellar one-on-one
New York, New York
Standings in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference after yesterday's games.
| | W | L | Pct | GB |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| New York | 26 | 9 | .743 | — |
| Miami | 25 | 10 | .714 | 1 |
| Washington | 19 | 15 | .559 | 6 |
| Orlando | 13 | 18 | .400 | 11 |
| New Jersey | 9 | 23 | .281 | 15 |
| Boston | 8 | 25 | .242 | 17 |
| Philadelphia | 8 | 26 | .235 | 17 |
player. He's a poor defender, and he struggles to find his shot most nights.
Rookie Wallace may be the best newcomer of the bunch, but his work ethic and his defense have come under constant scrutiny from Van Gundy.
If there is a key to the Knicks other than Ewing, it may be John Starks coming off the bench as the sixth man. He has shown himself to be the only player capable of firing his team, and he gives New York an asset—an explosive scorer off the bench.
"It is going to be a mentally stretch," Starks said. "We have a lot of back-to-back games for the rest of the month, and we're playing against quality teams. We have to come prepared night in and night out."
Cavaliers experience defensive woes
The Associated Press
CLEVELAND — Somebody must have tinkered with the rims. How else could the Cleveland Cavaliers' opponents be filling them with 90 points per game?
The Cavs' once-impenetrable defense has allowed at least 90 points in six of seven games. Cleveland has lost three straight and four of those seven games, dropping to fourth place behind the Atlanta Hawks in the Central Division.
The Washington Bullets are averaging 100 points in three games against Cleveland, including a 98-85 victory Saturday night.
Head coach Mike Fratello has been credited with turning the undermanned Cavaliers into one of the most competitive, frustrating teams to play in the NBA. A trip
to Gund Arena is known as a test of patience, a challenge to achieve a once-common NBA feat—100 points.
"This team has only had three teams score 100 against them," said Chris Webber, duly noting that the Bullets, Pistons and Bulls are Cleveland's only opponents to hit the century mark. "This is a tough team."
If the recent defensive letdowns continue, though, Cleveland is in trouble. Point guard Terrell Brandon has been the Cavs' top scorer in 23 of 34 games. As Charles Barkley recently noted, Cleveland plays defense with the best of them, but, "They can't score enough points to beat the top teams in this league. They can't put you away."
It will take a lot more defensive lapses to ruin the Cavaliers' league-best average of
allowing 85 points per game. However, it should be noted that the teams to score 90 against Cleveland in this stretch were no pushovers: the Pacers (twice), Suns, Timberwolves, Bullets and Bulls.
Cleveland actually scored 100 points itself in consecutive wins against Minnesota and Phoenix.
"Cleveland always contains people and lets teams play their game — slow tempo, set play and work the clock," Juwan Howard said.
But in beating the Cavs for the second time in three games, the Bullets seem to have found a secret.
"We made them play our game, which is up tempo," Howard said. "We had fastbreak opportunities. That kept us loose."
Whatever went wrong, Fratello wants it to stop.
HOROSCOPES
Today's Birthday(Jan.13)
You know a lot, but you don't know everything yet. This year, fill in the gaps. Put your experience to work in January. Try something crazy in February. Practice makes perfect in March. Put in the corrections close to home in April. Push to finish a big project in June, and your career will benefit. You get another big chance in October. You'll find out the rest of the story in December.
Arles (March 21-April 19) - Today is a 5.
You're being forced to do something you've been putting off. Stop struggling, and it'll be a lot easier. Learn a new skill from your partner this evening. It will help you triumph over an adversary who's blocking your forward motion.
Taurus (April 20-May 20) - Today is a 9.
You're in a good position today. A friend can help you get the money you want. A distant relation comes through for you, too. Be willing to try something you previously thought was too hard. You've grown a lot since then.
Gemini (May 21- June 21) - Today is a 6.
There's a complicated game going on.
This is not your specialty, but you're lucky.
Go ahead and give it a try. Your sweet-
heart will be impressed if you show good
sense today. That means you should stay
within your budget and announce the fact.
Cancer (June 22- July 22) - Today is an 8. Empower your partner to take the lead. He or she has most of the aces anyway. If you're feeling tense, a call to a distant friend will calm you down. Don't get stuck in the details. If you look at the big picture, you'll notice you're winning.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Today is a 4.
If you do the work, you'll get the money.
Keep that in mind if it stops being fun.
This is all part of making your dreams come true, remember? The lesson for today is: Perseverance pays. Also, let your friends know what you need.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) - Today is a 9.
You're looking good today, especially to somebody you care about a lot. Make some private time for an intimate discussion this evening. A partnership agreement you make today could work out well. This is true for love or business or both.
You're busy today, but it's okay. You have a lot of jobs you don't like. Don't complain. You have a secret advantage. All this drudgery is going to work in your favor. Years from now, you'll be glad you did this.
Libra(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)-Today is a 6.
Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Today is an 8.
You're sharp as a tack today. Use this extra brainpower to finish up some stuff that's been nagging at you. Clean out those closets. Also, let a bureaucrat know what you need. Those people are supposed to be working for you, remember?
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) - Today is a 4
If you're going shopping today, only buy stuff you need for the house. If you do that, your number goes up to a 6. Otherwise, you'll get in big trouble. You've made too many promises; now you have to follow through.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)-Today is a 9.
You are exceptionally attractive today. One person in particular thinks so. Even better, this person is willing to let you make the decisions about what you're going to do tonight. Have a fabulous time while you're at it.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Today is a 4.
You're being pinched in a wise right now.
You have to pay somebody back, but you don't have enough money. What to do?
Sell something or offer your services to work it off. This could turn out OK after all.
It might even lead to a new source of revenue.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) - Today is a 9.
You are so sweet and gentle. That's why all your friends like to have you around.
One of them might need your soothing embrace tonight. If you don't have a true love yet, this could lead to just such a relationship. If you don't, he or she is the one who needs you.
Note: Horoscopes have no basis in scientific fact and should be read for entertainment only.
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