The NBA Playoff schedule features two Game 6 matchups that are do or die for the New York Knicks and Golden State Warriors. It's the San Antonio Spurs vs. Knicks and San Antonio Spurs vs. Warriors. Both teams up against the ropes are at home. Can there be more games on the schedule as these two series can possibly conclude Thursday evening?
Game Time: 8 p.m. ET- Knicks vs. Pacers
The Pacers have dominated the paint and offensive rebounds and as a result they are leading the series 3-1. The Knicks can blame Carmelo Anthony for not being amazing. However, they can also blame J.R. Smith for being completely off his game. Chances are the Knicks are not passing around the blame, which is good for the health of their sometimes weary locker room.
Props has to be given to the Pacers who are making it tough on the Knicks. New York has stayed away from three-point line and that's the main way they were able to win 54 games this regular season. The only way the Knicks can win this game is by giving shooters like Steven Novak and Chris Copeland. Jason Kidd has provided nothing on the offensive end and he's not going to stop David West, Roy Hibbert or Paul George from getting rebounds. The Knicks aren't knocking down shots so it's not like Kidd is getting assists.
Lose tonight and the Knicks join the other six playoff casualties. Win today and they push the series to Game 6.
Game Time: 10:30 p.m. ET- Spurs vs. Warriors
The home teams in these games are in trouble. With a loss, the Warriors could see all the work they've done in this series simply fly into their pockets as experience for their future. The math is simple for the Warriors, if they don't sink their outside shots they are going to get creamed. Another fact: if Stephen Curry or Klay Thompson are off, they can't win. The Warriors now know that Harrison Barnes is a sort of unstoppable force who goes after loose balls and can work the perimeter as well get into the paint.
The Spurs are in trouble too. They have proven that they can't provide the big blows to pull away in the game early. The Warriors weren't playing great basketball in Game 5, yet the Spurs' struggles allowed them to hang around. The Spurs have to come out with intensity as this Warriors team does not want to be eliminated at home.
