What to Watch for: New York Knicks vs. Washington Wizards

The New York Knicks will be back at it tonight as they will be hosting the Washington Wizards at Madison Square Garden. Here are some things to look for tonight when they take the court.

Matchup of the Game: Shane Larkin vs. John Wall

Tonight will continue a string of tough matchups at the point guard position for the Knicks. After facing off against Kyrie Irving, Derrick Rose and Kemba Walker, they will now tango with Wall.

Oct 22, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) drives past New York Knicks guard Shane Larkin (0) during the first quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

Wall has begun proving that he is one of the top point guards in the NBA. The lightning-quick ball handler can take the ball coast-to-coast at a moments notice, blowing by the defense before they even know what hits him. His one area of concern has always been his jump shot, but even that has begun to improve there, making him a difficult guard for any player. He’s currently averaging 21.7 points and 11.0 assists per game in dominating performances.

The player to try and slow Wall down tonight will be Larkin. Larkin has done an admirable job as the starting point guard, stepping in for the injured Jose Calderon. He currently leads the Knicks with 4.3 assists and 2.7 steals per game. Pablo Prigioni should also get opportunities to try and slow Wall down.

-Return of Paul Pierce

Pierce will be making yet another trip to Madison Square Garden, a place he has tormented the Knicks at for plenty of seasons. This time around it will be in a different situation as Pierce is playing his first season with the Wizards. In his career, Pierce has averaged 22.6 points per game against the Knicks, the fifth most against any team in his career. Outside of a bizarre ejection over the weekend, Pierce has had a strong early season debut with his new team.

-Starting Lineup Changes?

Derek Fisher has gone with the same starting lineup of Larkin, Iman Shumpert, Carmelo Anthony, Quincy Acy and Samuel Dalembert the last two games. Could a change be coming tonight?

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Acy landed weird Sunday against the Charlotte Hornets after he was fouled hard, and is listed as probable for tonight’s game. Fisher expects Acy to suit up, but he has yet to announce a starting lineup for the game tonight.

-Continued Continuity Offensively

After a poor performance to open the season against the Chicago Bulls, the Knicks bounced back with two strong offensive performances. The ball movement has been exceptional, as they have 53 assists on 76 made shots. That’s a 69.7 percent of shots assisted on, a huge jump up from last season’s 54.2 percent. Can the Knicks keep up the good ball movement? It will be imperative to their success as they continue to learn the nuances of the Triangle Offense.

Next: Did Knicks Make Right Decisions Regarding Larkin, Shumpert?