Starting Lineup: Game #3

I don't know the starting lineup, but I do know that Danilo Gallinari is finally at home and in the first team. Well that didn't take long. Let's see what the Rooster can do tonight against the Sixers.

With Gallo in the starting 5, and the Garden Crowd hyped, I can't see the Knicks losing. I should have been a rooster for Halloween.

Optimistic Prediction

Knicks 122- 76ers 110 (35 points from Gallo)

Update-Gallinari is replacing Al Harrington in the lineup. I hope Al keeps it together and it motivates him to bring it off the bench.

Knicks Game 2 Recap

Game 2 was very much a typical Knicks game. The Knicks went down big early, and were losing 32-13 after the first quarter. The defense was awful, and the Bobcats were able to attack the basket at will. Shots weren't falling for the Knicks, and the offense was stagnant and uninspired.

Then something happened. Coach D'Antoni must have had a good speech after the first quarter, because after that the Knicks looked like a different team. The sneakers were squeaking and the defensive effort was noticeably better. They didn't really play well, but the Bobcats are a bad team so the increased effort was enough to get them back in the game. Gallo had a chance to be the hero at the end of regulation, but good defense by Gerald Wallace forced a tough shot and it didn't go down. Gallo was fuming afterward on the bench, dropping molto f bombs.

The Knicks took the lead in OT but in the end didn't get it done. Raymond Felton was strong down the stretch and the Bobcats got a deserved win.

Starting Lineup: Game #2

The Knicks are in Charlotte to take on the Bobcats tonight at 7. Both teams were woeful in their first games, with the Bobcats managing just 59 points vs. the Celtics, and the Knicks losing by over 20 to the Heat. If the Knicks want to be a playoff team, they must win games like this against weak teams. Coach D'Antoni hinted that the starting lineup might be tweaked, but not yet.

The starters are the same as game #1. This unit started off decently, but looked absolutely awful to start the 2nd half. Hopefully they play with more energy and determination tonight.

PG-Chris Duhon
SG-Wilson Chandler
SF-Al Harrington
PF-Jared Jeffries
C-David Lee


The Rooster will likely see more playing time after bombing 7-13 on 3 pointers last game. Nate Robinson will obviously have to play better off the bench, as he was 0-8 with one point in game one. I would really like to see Darko Milicic get more substantial minutes tonight. He moved the ball well and was great defensively last game. Also, if Duhon is asleep like last game, hopefully Coach D will go to Toney Douglas sooner and for more minutes.


The Bobcats are a very limited team, especially offensively. DJ Augustin and Raymond Felton can score, and Gerald Wallace and Tyson Chandler give the team some great leaping ability, but as was seen in game 1, they will struggle to put the biscuit in the basket. The Knicks should not have much trouble shutting down this weak offense. The Knicks will win this one easily.

Optimistic Prediction: Knicks 102 - Bobcats 88

Knicks Game 1 Recap

Score - Heat 115- Knicks 93

Record - 0-1

After months of anticipation and the building of hopes and dreams, the Knicks came out of the gates with an ugly showing, losing to the Heat by 22. The game was close for a while, but the Heat ended the first half on a 10-1 run, and the Knicks never recovered. The starters really blew it this time, looking half asleep, especially on defense, at the start of the second half. The defense was porous, allowing easy uncontested dunks, and the first team stuttered and stammered on offense. It is just one loss, but a very disappointing start to what will be a looonnggg season if the team plays like it did last night.

The Demigod of Diction - Walt "Clyde" Frazier

Well that was a rough game. With such a bad blowout, Clyde was not really able to be his ebullient, exuberant self, but he did manage to come up with some good lines and rhymes.



"If you can get it in the paint you can create"


"Now they're running and stunning the knicks"


"O'neal rejuvenated, agile mobile as he swoops and hoops"

Pure poetic genius on the last one.

The Demigod of Diction - Walt "Clyde" Frazier

Walt "Clyde" Frazier is hands down the best color commentator of all time (Even though I have not heard many others, I think this is a safe assumption). His extensive vocabulary, smooth tone, and penchant for rhyming cannot be matched. Not many guys throw out such poetic descriptions, utilizing words such as "percolate, neophyte, lilliputian, vociferous, loquatious, vivacious, vocacious, ostentatious, impetuous, gusto, ubiquity" etc.




In Clyde's honor I will be doing a best of Clyde section, highlighting some of the best quips and quotes from the Demigod of Diction himself.

Quotes to follow after tonights game. Can't Wait!

Starting Lineup : Game #1

The anticipation is mounting as we are now on the eve of the New York Knicks 2009-2010 season.

Coach D'Antoni has announced his starting lineup for the debut, and unfortunately it does not include Danilo Gallinari.

The first Starting Five for the Knicks season looks like this:

PG-Chris Duhon
SG-Wilson Chandler
SF-Al Harrington
PF-Jared Jeffries
C-David Lee


I assume that Nate and Gallinari will be off the bench early and often, along with Toney Douglas and Darko filling in the rest of the rotation. Let's hope for a blowout (in the Knicks favor, obviously) so Jordan Hill can get his feet wet in the regular season.

I think the Knicks will surprise the Heat with their new look feisty defense, forcing many turnovers and causing chaos. Dwyane Wade will most likely be guarded by Wilson Chandler, who is decently quick and has a good height advantage, but Wade will still probably put up a big game, especially when Darko is not on the floor and patrolling the paint. Toney Douglas' defense off the bench could play a big role in containing Wade. Despite a valiant effort by Wade, the Knicks will prevail with solid defense, hustle, and big points from Gallo off the bench.

Optimistic Prediction: Knicks 110 - Heat 92

Swat King

So for those of you who don't know, I was given the nickname swat king a few years ago.




http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/Video-Anticipation-Part-2-LeBron-s-block?urn=nba,197599

Coming to Broadway soon.

An Optimist's Knicks Season Preview

The 2009-2010 New York Knickerbockers' season is approaching and I feel like a kid waiting for Christmas. The sound of Walt "Clyde" Frazier's poetic color commentary is sweet music to my ears and has been missing for too long. Hope springs eternal with a new season, and I like to start with as much optimism as possible. I try to be realistic and think objectively, but as a fan I also tend to look on the bright side of things. I like to think of what could happen, not what will most likely happen. As a wise coach of mine once said, in a way Walt Clyde would be proud of, "Guys, the past is history. But the future...is a mystery."

The Knicks have a talented squad of players, but they lack a true star, and it is hard in the NBA to win without an alpha dog player. David Lee, Nate Robinson, and Al Harrington are proven high quality veterans, although they all have weaknesses and are not yet elite, and most likely never will be. They have some intriguing youngsters as well, who have shown flashes and could develop into stars. Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari, Toney Douglas, and Jordan Hill may well blossom into solid NBA players. The coaches will be important in the development of these youngsters, and I believe Mike D'Antoni will be able to inject confidence and a great work ethic into these guys. I think he is a great coach and his passion and positive attitude will help get everything out of the team. The playoffs are the ultimate goal, since a deep playoff run is admittedly rather far fetched. This team can make a run at the top 8 if some things go right and some players show improvement.

Here is a player by player breakdown of the current Knicks squad.