NY Expiring Contracts

The Beginning of the End?

2010-11-12T16:55:00.000-05:00

Optimism is waning among the Knickerbocker faithful. Tonight's game against the inexplicable Timberwolves could be a watershed moment of this young season. Lose, and the Knicks officially suck. Win, and they still may suck, but it wouldn't be official.

Anyway, I obviously expect a win, but judging from my peers on the Realgm forums, others don't agree. Here is a sampling of prognostications from other Knick diehards:

"I expect us to lose. And I won't even be upset anymore. Let's face it. Our New York Knicks have been losers for the past decade and it's not gonna change."

"Automatic loss, I won't even be mad either"

"Have a really bad feeling about this one..."

"We will get our asses handed to us.On a platinum platter. Served with a side order of Sebastian Telfair career highs of 26 points and 14 assists. It will happen."

"Loss. Blowout loss.
Followed by more D'Antoni laughing and lame excuses with his stupid accent."

"Another day, another loss."

"LOSING STREAK CONTINUES HERE!!!!"

"Another day, another game, another losing streak and another 30 win season."

So many naysayers and Negative Nancys out there in the world of Knicks fandom. Oh well I guess I'm a contrarian thinker.

Here are my notes from the awful loss to the Bucks. I was crying too hard to type watching David Lee dismantle his former team last game.

Maggette points to the sky after every made FT.
Bucks can't miss Knicks can't penetrate the d. Bucks started 13-15 Taj Gibson then Blatche then Brand now Drew Gooden all kill Knicks in 1st. Trend?
Turiaf injured is bad news for the D.
Felton highlight alley oop to Randolph
Amare has a nice stroke from 3
Sometimes you can hear amare yelling stuff. Screamed Ahh shit after bricking a j. It's like Amar'e is mic'd up.
Does respect the game apply to guys screaming and one?
Bogut elbowed amare and amare started to pick a fight...Bogut must be thinking "scoreboard"
Problem with the NBA is the players are getting too good at tricking the refs. The new respect the game rule makes the refs less accountable for all their awful decisions.
Ohhhhh Landry fields throws down a one handed put back boomshackalacka. Unfortunately he showboated after the highlight play, despite being down 16.
Nobody guards Amar'e elbow jumper.
Maggette fools ref flops for the charge on Wil.
God refs suck
Knicks offense sucks. Stagnant one on one
Ugh Maggette king of the flops
Bogut swats Amar'e then breaks, gets through the leg pass from Jennings for the monster slam, while Amar'e jogs behind
Fields is the only bright spot
Rautins sighting, hits moz with a pinpoint feed and drains a three off the curl!

Knicks after Six, 500 heading to Milwaukee

2010-11-09T21:12:00.000-05:00

The Knicks come into tonight’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks with a respectable 3 and 3 record after 6 games. Last week the Knicks were 2-1, with wins against the Bulls (120-112)and Wizards (112-91), and a tough loss at home against the 76ers (95-106).

The game against the Bulls was a rare nationally televised game for the Knicks, and they rose to the occasion displaying the potential dynamism of their offense. They simply shot the lights out, and the Bulls, who are led by new head coach and supposed defensive mastermind Tom Thibodeau, could do little to stop the onslaught. If Thibodeau’s game plan was to stop Amar’e at all costs, then the Bulls executed their defense to perfection. The Knicks’ talisman shot an abysmal 5-21 from the field, committed 8 turnovers, and was blocked 4 times. Sounds like a recipe for disaster, but while the Bulls focused on stifling Stoudemire, the rest of the Knicks were shooting wide open 3’s, going 16-24 from downtown.

Danilo Gallinari silenced the critics by scorching the nets early, and finished with 24 points on 11 shots. The Rooster hit all 4 of his 3 point attempts, showed some athleticism with a couple dunks, and also had a block, two steals, took a charge, and snagged 6 boards. Despite this crowfest from The Rooster, Toney Douglas was the star of the game. Toney did what he does, and did it some more, dropping a career high 30 points on 14 field goal attempts, and committed larsony 4 times. This was a great win, especially considering how the media loves the Bulls this year, and how little Amar’e contributed.

I would be remiss if I did not mention the vicious two handed tomahawk jam that Derrick Rose threw down in this one. It looked like it could have been a move in Street Fighter or something. Also of note, The Bulls rookie head coach faced a dilemma when his bench squad staged a semi comeback in the fourth quarter, with Derek Rose and Joakim Noah on the pine. Thibodeau decided to stick with the scrubs, despite the Chicago crowd chanting “we want Rose!” I hope he was just spiting the fans for telling him how to do his job.

The Wizards then visited MSG, and John Wall wore some gilded shoes. Early on, it was the Andray Blatche show, as the chubby youngster did his best KG impression, swishing midrange jumpers left and right. Clyde pointed out his protruding belly, and it was lucky for the Knicks that Blatche is rotund and out of shape, as after the early barrage he went ice cold. Wall failed to impress for the Garden faithful, and looked out of sorts on his way to 13 measley points. The Knicks shot blocking has been a godsend this year, and they swatted away all comers and ended up with 11 blocks, led by Amar’e with 4. Wilson Chandler had the highlight of the day, make that the week, make that the year, with a vicious baseline one handed reverse slamma jamma over the giant JaVale Mcgee. The Knicks spread the wealth with 6 players finishing in double figures. The Wizards almost made a game of it behind some vintage chucking by Gilbert Arenas, but the Knicks held out. A good win over a team that they should beat every time.

The Knicks were riding high heading into the Sunday matinee against a Sixers team without their star, Andre Igoudala. The Knicks were up for most of the game after bouncing back from a hot start from the rejuvenated Elton Brand, but they blew the lead in typical fashion of the Knicks of yore, scoring just 15 points in the 4th quarter. The Sixers went to the zone, and as has been the case this whole season, the Knicks were baffled. Youngsters Jrue Holliday and Evan Turner impressed for the 76ers, and nobody on the Knicks really stood out. Also, combo guard Lou Williams looked like Paul Pierce, duping the foolish Knicks into questionable fouls with pump fake after pump fake. The Knicks have to learn to win these games if they want to be any better than mediocre.

All things considered, it was a good week for the Knicks. They went 1-1 over teams they theoretically should be beating, and 1-0 over a team that is theoretically better than them. Toney Douglas has grown into a bonafide scorer off the bench, and rookies Landry Fields and Timofey Mozgov are both contributing. The team is showing good chemistry, making the extra pass, and helping eachother on both ends of the court. Gallinari is seemingly back after his rough first 3 games, and Anthony Randolph has just been added to the mix. I can’t get over all the blocked shots I’m seeing by the Knicks. They still lead the league with 8 per game. Things are looking up, and that’s before you consider that Amar’e has yet to have a decent game. I expect a win tonight vs. the Bucks, but then again, I never expect the Knicks to lose.

3 Down, 79 to Go

2010-11-01T17:31:00.000-04:00

The Knicks are 1-2, having beat the woeful Raptors, and lost to the imposing Celtics and Blazers. Let’s take a look back at the general themes that have emerged so far in this young season.

First, as always, the bright side of things.

Landry Fields

I just picked up Landry for my fantasy team. It looks like he is determined to hold on tight to his starting 2 spot. It has been said by many, but Fields just has a knack for the game. He knows where to be, knows his role, and makes the right decision. He is an opportunistic player, never stops looking for a lane to cut into, and is always flying after offensive rebounds. He already notched his first double-double. Fields also has played solid defense (he did get abused by Brandon Roy a little, but really, nobody could have stopped his midrange artistry). To sum up my blossoming admiration for Landry’s game, against the Blazers I said “why is Gallo in the game, take him out, put in Fields!” which is borderline blasphemy for me.

Timofey Mozgov

Against the Blazer Tim showed that he can play. He defended excellently against LaMarcus Aldridge, and swatted a few shots, all without fouling at an absurd rate. Sure he has made his share of rookie mistakes, and got a technical after he got called for a cheap foul, but like a fine wine, he will get better with age (and NBA experience).

Wil the Thrill

Wilson Chandler is loving the sixth man role. He is still playing starters minutes, and is getting into the game pretty quickly. Wil has been an all around stud, scoring with ease, resounding rebounding, and blocking shots. When Amar’e and the starters are on the bench, it’s been Wil or nothing on offense, and he has carried the Knicks through some sketchy offensive stretches. And he really looks great with his new look baby fro and beard.

Effort

The Knicks eked out a close win against a plucky Raptors squad, then battled until the dying moments against the veteran Celtics. They matched the Blazers the whole game until collapsing late. The point is they beat who they were supposed to, and nearly beat the teams they weren’t supposed to. Both losses could have gone the other way. The Knicks aren’t elite, but they gave the elite Celtics and quasi elite Blazers a run for there money. Sure it would have been nice to win, but you gotta take the crookeds with the straights right?

Swats

Last year there was swiss cheese defense, now there are NO EASY BUCKETS. The Knicks are #1 in the NBA in blocks per game, with 8.3. I mean…wow….

Turiaf

How can you not love Rice a Roni? He plays so hard and swats people so much. He can also dunk off of pick and rolls, and likes to make funny faces, dance, flex, and make Amar’e say “Roni is crazy!”

Dark Clouds

Amar’e

Yeah he is scoring a lot, but I think he was the culprit on a lot of those Blazer backdoor cuts that burnt the Knicks over and over. One time you could hear him yell “hey, what’s going on here” as the Blazers completed another backdoor layup. He has had some emphatic rejections, but needs to be more aware and guide the defense better. Also, he needs to recognize his limitations. Amar’e is not so good at dribbling, and it is painfully obvious to me, and opposing defenders, when a steal is coming. One or two dribbles should be his max. Also, Amar’e probably shouldn’t shoot contested 3’s, until he has proven he can nail some open ones. He has played decent, but needs to shoot a higher percentage from the charity stripe, and especially cut down on the turnovers.

Gallo

Danilo has looked extremely bad. Preseason, I shrugged it off. The first game, meh just one game. Now it has been 3 games, and Danilo is shooting 20% and 18% from 3. My favorite player looks like a shadow of his formerly cocksure self, and I am afraid. Afraid Landry Fields and Wilson Chandler will take over most of the swingman minutes, and Gallo will drift into oblivion. Now, he is supposedly nursing a bad wrist, and also, it has only been 3 games, but whoa he looks bad. He is playing scared, and bricking shots he usually swishes. The Knicks desperately need a 3 point gunner to space the floor and open up some room for the pick and roll, and I hope Gallo will return to form. With an in form Gallo, no doubt the Knicks would be 3-0.

That’s really it for the dark clouds.

Let’s looks at some interesting stats from the first 3 games.

Wilson Chandler is averaging 21 and 10, a steal and 3 blocks
Unfortunately, Wil is shooting 26% from downtown, and attempting 6 per game.
Amar’e and Landry Fields lead the team in 3 point shooting, at 40%. Not a good sign.
The team is shooting 68% from the line. Not good
The Knicks have the 2nd highest 3 point rate (3 pointers attempted/FG attempted), not surprising. Only the Magic shoot the 3 ball more often.

That’s all for now. Overall the first 3 games have been mildly encouraging, and mildly disappointing. We will surely learn more about the team this week, when the Knicks face off with the Magic, Bulls, Wizards and 76ers. They should get at least 2 wins.

Game 1: Knicks @ Raptors

2010-10-27T14:29:00.000-04:00

It is finally here! Almost... Tonight the Knicks take on the Boshless Raptors in Toronto to open up the 2010-2011 NBA season. This is the first season of the D'Antoni/Walsh era where the emphasis is on winning and not clearing cap space and acquiring this blog's namesake (expiring contracts). Let's hope it starts off with a bang.

The Knicks will start new PG Ray Felton, Rookie SG (who is actually a SF) Landry Fields, SF Danilo Gallinari, new PF Amar'e Stoudemire, and new C Timofey Mozgov. 4 of the starting 5 are new to the squad, so this could be interesting.

The Raptors will apparently start the fab 5 of Jarret Jack (watch out, he's a Knick killer), DeMar DeRozan, Linas Kleiza, mauler/backstreet brawler Reggie Evans (kinda looks like Kimbo Slice), and Andrea Bargnani.

Kleiza is returning to the NBA after plying his trade in Europe last season. He now sports a beard and this will indubiously lead him to put up a career year. I'm thinking 18 and 8 for the Lithuanian.

Anthony Randolph sprained his ankle yesterday so he is out. Look for Douglas, Chandler, and Turiaf to get a bunch of time off the pine, and maybe Bill Walker will get some burn.

Anyway, obviously I think the Knicks will win. Let's say 115-101. Raptors got no D.

Opening Night Eve

2010-10-26T11:34:00.004-04:00

It is Knicks Opening Night Eve, and once again I feel like a kid waiting for Christmas. It has been a long wait and hopefully the season will bring a modicum of success to MSG. I am not much for the business of prognosticating and predicting, and prefer instead to reflect and analyze on what has actually happened. So now that the real thing is on deck, it is time for the foolish crystal ball reading to end and time to let the games begin.

The new look Knicks have completed the preseason and there were many bright spots, but the realist in me must also acknowledge the potential dark clouds still looming over the franchise.

The Bright Side http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHPOzQzk9Qo

Amare’s Leadership

Amar’e has come to NY and has taken over the Knicks. What we have seen from him so far is that he is embracing the chance to steer the ship, and wants to captain it to glory. You know about work ethic, shooting countless jumpers after practice, but in the Knicks training camp show on NBA TV, we saw that he is a vocal leader and is setting the tone for the whole team. Hopefully the culture of losing has been washed away and Amar’e can instill a new franchise wide attitude, and continue his winning ways in the NBA.

Young, Hungry Talent

The Knicks are among the youngest teams in the league, and there is a lot of competition for spots that hasn’t been present the last couple years. Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallinari may be the incumbents at the 2 and 3 spots, but Toney Douglas, Landry Fields, Andy Rautins, Billy Walker, Anthony Randolph, and (eventually) Kellenna Azubuike are desperate to prove themselves, earn a role in the rotation, and show they deserve big minutes. Nobody can relax and play laid back (Duhon) or chuck away ill conceived 3 pointers (Harrington), or suck at offense (Jeffries) and expect to play. Add in Mozgov, the mysteriously promising 7’1” Russian import, who by all accounts is a quick learner, astute, diligent and an elite athlete, and finally the Knicks have some promising prospects. These guys are scrappy and hungry, but they also have some skills. Gallinari, Douglas, Rautins, Walker, and Azubuike are all capable of shooting 40% from 3. Randolph could be a rebounding, shot blocking, slashing force like Shawn Marion, and Mozgov can protect the paint like David Lee (miss you) never could. The competition between these guys should raise everyone’s game to a higher level and create a more focused and determined vibe throughout the team.

A Real Team

The Knicks finally have got past the salary cap purging era of yesteryear, and now have built an out and out team. Nobody has to worry about being shipped out anytime soon(unless Carmelo or Chris Paul are involved), and the team can grow together knowing that they were brought to the Knicks for their skills and who they are as players, not for their cap number in the books. This is great from a fan’s perspective, as we can all cheer for the team and hope for this season, instead of pining for money saving trades and dreaming of the possibilities of the offseason. Also, the team’s chemistry will undoubtedly be better, since the players know they are in it together, playing for the team, and not just mercenaries playing for themselves.

Eddy Curry (Being Injured)

I think it is finally safe to say we have seen the last of Eddy Picante. It is sad, since he was once so awesome (I witnessed him score 24 points in a first quarter at the Garden a few years ago, and really thought he was going for 100.) But it is not sad, since he would not have helped the Knicks if he were healthy. Recently Coach D has mentioned that Eddy could resume basketball activities soon, but no worries, this just means his next calf injury is on the way.

The Moz

I love Europeans, actually, all foreign players, especially one’s over 7’. From Pavel Podkolzin, to Diop, to the Sene Train, to Darko, to the great Yao and Yi, I have a soft spot for mysterious big men from across the pond. Most of the time, as illustrated by the previous list, these guys crash and burn in the NBA, but this will not be the case for my main man Mozgov. This guy excels in the pick and roll, has a slick post game, is aggressive, strong, and fast, and blocks shots with ferocity. He seems to have the complete package (minus defensive rebounding) to be a solid if not excellent center, and as usual, my optimism is through the roof on this guy. Plus, just look at him…

Landry Fields

From an unheard of 2nd rounder, to a potential opening day starter, Landry’s stock has been ever on the rise. He is a do it all small forward, with a heady game and a knack for doing the right thing. He can shoot a little, skies to the rim for rebounds and layups, and has quick feet on the defensive end. The dude scored 22 ppg for Stanford last year, to go along with 8 boards, so he is capable of big numbers. The only downside to Fields is he looks very similar to Gallo on the court, with his number 6 jersey, fauxhawked dark haired dome and light skin; it is hard to tell who is who. Also, is he black, white, caublinasian? Anybody know?

Defense

The Knicks are going to challenge, disrupt, and block a lot of shots this year. Gallo, Chandler, Amar’e, Turiaf, Mozgov, and Randolph are all likely to block over a shot per game. No more swiss cheese defense! No easy buckets! Add Toney Douglas, Ray Felton, and maybe Andy Rautins pestering ball handlers up the court, and we may have an average, or maybe even above average defensive team.

DWTDD

Speaking of defense, Toney Douglas…The man is an idol for defensive specialists like myself, and he has shown a marked improvement on the offensive end as well. His shot has always been pure, but now he is finding rollers and orchestrating the offense with aplomb. Toney will play a much bigger role this year, either as the 1st guard off the bench or as the starting 2 guard. The backcourt combo of Felton and Douglas, although small, is tough, quick, and ferocious, and will be a joy to watch.

A Real NBA Point Guard

People may not be over the moon about the Ray Felton signing, but I love it. I myself play point guard, and watching Chris Duhon at the reigns of the team was absolute torture. Felton has shown he has a developing understanding with Amar’e, and also showed how he loves to push the pedal to the medal and get out on the break and get the offense going. He defends well, has an edge that New Yorkers tend to enjoy, and I think he will prove himself to be more than just a decent NBA point guard this season.

The Rooster

How could I not mention Danilo Gallinari? Last year was essentially his rookie season, and he dropped 15 and 5. Now we get to see if The Rooster is just scratching the surface, peeling of layers of his onion, or if he is what he is going to be. I obviously think he will make another huge leap forward in his second full season. I predict game winners, frequent trips to the foul line, stifling defense, and upgrades in rebounding and assists. We’ll have to watch to find out what caliber of player Gallo is going to turn into.

The Dark Clouds

Lack of Rebounding

The biggest thing the Knicks will miss about David Lee is his incredible rebounding. Fans complain that he never boxed out, that he stole rebounds from teammates to stuff his stats, but the fact remains that David Lee was a force on the glass. Replacing Lee with Amar’e means the rest of the squad is going to have to pick up the slack in the rebounding department. In the preseason, the Knicks were dominated on the glass, illustrated by nearly being doubled in rebounds in a loss to the Wolves. It is a major cause for concern. Stoudemire, Turiaf, and Mozgov might be average rebounders. Gallinari and Chandler are decent, but could, and need to be better. Toney Douglas and Ray Felton will have to chip in. The one bright spot is Anthony Randolph, whose per minute stats show him to be a potential vacuum cleaner on the boards. It is a bit concerning that he did not crash the boards in the preseason like I expected he would… Double digit rebounds per game for Randolph would be extremely welcome, and beneficial to the team.

Lack of Cohesion

The Knicks added Felton, Rautins, Fields, Randolph, Stoudemire, Mozgov, Turiaf, Azubuike and Mason Jr. to the team. That’s 9 new players who will likely all play a role for this team. They return Douglas, Gallo, Chandler, and Billy Walker. Reports from the preseason say that while team chemistry is generally good, there is still a lot of uncertainty with regard to roles, tendencies on the court, and comfort level between players. In Real Training camp, we saw Amar’e hit a wide open Turiaf under the basket with a pass from the top of the key. Unfortunately, he hit Roni in the back of the head. I watched the 30 for 30 “Once Brothers” on ESPN, and what stood out to me the most was the footage of the Yugoslavian national team dishing. The chemistry was really like nothing I’ve seen before. Like Dino Radja said, they could have played with there eyes closed. When the defense thought Kukoc was about to lay it up, he’d drop off a dish to Vlade Divac. Divac would then dupe the defense, and lay off a pass to Petrovic, who would then find Radja for the dunk. To everyone it looked like the shot was going up, but the Yugoslavs knew where and when to find their teammates, and it led to easy buckets, and opponents with their shorts around their ankles. Team chemistry is something that grows organically, and the Knicks don’t and can’t expect to have it yet. We can only hope it develops, and soon.

Anthony Randolph

I like to look on the bright side and the bright side of Randolph is blinding as the sun. Unfortunately, his preseason play was very disconcerting. He may have skills and talent, but he doesn’t know what to do with it. He shoots out of rhythm, travels often, and never seems sure of himself. I have faith that Mike D will be able to extract the sweet nectar that is his untapped potential, and hopefully it will be soon. Since the ‘Bockers are so short on rebounding, it would be nice if Anthony could figure it out and slot in at starting center, since he is probably the most capable rebounder on the team.

My Season Preview from Last Year

http://expiringcontracts.blogspot.com/2009/10/optomists-knicks-season-preview.html

Yes I believed the Knicks would make the playoffs, and win a few post season games at that. Obviously I was wrong. This year I have even more belief in the team than I did last year, but I also have an inescapable feeling that my optimism is delusional. Am I a homer? Of course, my love for the Knicks keeps me from truly being objective. But does that mean I’m wrong in my optimism? This is a sport, and in sports, crazy, unexpected things happen. I think the Knicks can grab the 4 spot, behind Miami, Orlando, and Boston.

Looking into my crystal ball

ESPN’s team of NBA experts had the Knicks finishing about 2nd in the Atlantic, and 7th or 8th overall. I’m sure we’d all be thrilled with this, but on the bright side of things, I think the Knicks can reach the dizzy new heights of 4th place. Of course it is the general consensus that The Heat, Celtics, and Magic will be atop the East, but after them it is a little more murky. The Bulls should be good, the Bucks are getting some love, and of course the Hawks can’t be looked past, but it is my belief that the Knicks can topple these teams, with a record of 49-33. A first round matchup against the Bulls will bring the passion of playoff hoops back to the Garden, and a second round meeting with the Heat will spread NBA fever throughout the greatest city in the world. Could the Knicks get revenge after being shunned by LeBron? It is unlikely, but possible nonetheless. I may be dreaming, but what better time to be optimistic than Opening Night eve?

The NYC Factor: Amar'e Gets it

2010-07-15T19:18:00.003-04:00

For years, the Knicks have been missing a superstar and former Phoenix Sun Amar'e Stoudemire has arrived to fill that void. The Knicks have not had this good a player with this big of a personality since The Legend himself, Walt Clyde Frazier. Amar'e is primed to take over New York City, and he knows it too.

He simply has big things written all over him. He has a big social media presence, will be a major role model in the community, gives great interviews, and isn't afraid to be candid and honest unlike most cliche spewing athletes. He is an impressive, larger than life character, and he rides around in a custom Maybach (I'd love to hear what Clyde thinks of that). I just watched an MSG special on him, and some of the dunks he throws down will blow the roof off of MSG this winter. He is a nasty, mean finisher, and we all know New York Knick fans love players with an attitude. Amar'e set the trend and saw the big picture when choosing NYC and the Knicks, and set the precedent for future stars to call the big apple home. Don't be surprised when this guy starts popping up with major endorsement deals and is all over your TV.

The Knicks have a team full of charismatic, energetic, and entertaining players this season. Felton, Turiaf, Randolph, Gallinari, Stoudemire, and Douglas all are (or will surely soon be) fan favorites, and I think the chemistry on the court will be at an all time high. Stoudemire is showing his desire to lead the team to greatness, and seems committed to the mission and to the Knicks. It could all be PR stunts, but I really believe in his ability to become a leader. Maybe Steve Nash and the Phoenix vets were holding this back in Amar'e. He's a grown ass man now and is ready to lead a squad and become a Knicks and NYC legend. I just hope his defense is ready too.

Gonna Fly Now

The Knicks Should be a Playoff Team

2010-07-12T17:18:00.000-04:00

The Knicks did not land LeBron, but they are an improved squad. This years roster has loads of potential and should be much better than last years team. Then again, I thought that about last years team vs. the year before that, so my optimism may be foolhardy.

That being said, for the first time in a while the Knicks vessel will be steered by a legitimate NBA starting point guard in Ray Felton. They finally feature a go to scorer who demands double teams (Amar'e), and are flush with sharpshooters (Gallo, Buike, poss. Rautins) and big men who can block shots (Turiaf, Timofey, Randolph).

The main key to the team's success is how quickly the team gels, and how the chemistry develops. Who will be the team leader? Will Gallo step up and make it his team, is Amar'e fit to lead, or is Felton going to raise the level of those around him and be the floor general Mike D hasn't had since Nash? Will the chemistry between Felton and Amar'e be there? Say what you will about Duhon but he knew how to find D Lee on the crucial pick and roll.

The way I see it, the team should be solid, and there are a few x factors that could vault them to near 50 wins. Last year I thought the x factor was Darko. If he would have turned out to be the shotblocking center to back up Lee, maybe the Knicks would have made the playoffs. Clearly he didn't work and the team faltered.

This year, the Knicks need to see Gallo step up yet again and assert himself as a star, and not disappear for weeks like last season. They need Felton to master the pick and roll with Amar'e. They need Randolph to be a rebounding and shot blocking force (which he has been in limited minutes). Lastly and maybe most importantly, the Knicks need to play solid defense as a unit. This year the team is full of hard working players who are committed to defending, as opposed to last year when we had role players with superstar attitudes. 50-32 may be a stretch, but it is not out of the realm of possibilities.

Three Comforting Thoughts for Knicks Fans

2010-07-09T14:16:00.001-04:00

1. At least we will still be able to get cheap tickets on craigslist.

2. We have 2 of the most talented youngsters in the league, Gallo and Anthony Randolph, who are both 21 years young.

3. It is possible that there exists a "Lost" like alternate universe going on right now in which LeBron joined the Knicks and everybody goes to heaven.

Wait, so Walt was really young LeBron all along?!?

Moving on

2010-07-08T21:46:00.001-04:00

Oh well, I can't blame LeBron for choosing to play with Wade and Bosh if they are really tight friends. It must have been an excruciating decision to make. The saga is over, LeBron chose to form the ultimate big 3, which will certainly have a spiffy nickname before long. Pat Reilly will unleash LeBron in the form of Magic Johnson of the showtime Lakers, and the Heat will win. I don't care about the Heat though, this is a Knicks Blog, and the Knicks are who I care about. Screw LeBron.

The news now is the impending sign and trade featuring David Lee. If Lee signed off on a lucrative offer to Golden State, then we may be hailing the arrival of some pretty intriguing players from the Warriors. Anthony Randolph has some serious skills, rebounding and blocking shots with aplomb, and could be see his potential tapped by the offensive mind of Mike D'Antoni. He was stifled on the bench by Don Nelson for unknown reasons. Also, Ronny Turiaf would provide a big defensive presence in the paint that the Knicks have been sorely lacking, and is a high motor player who will help make up for the rebounding vacuum left by D Lee. Kelenna Azubuike is a solid guard, who i believe can play some defense. With this trade the Knicks would have some depth and still maybe a few million more for a second tier free agent. It wouldn't make them instant title contenders, but it would be a good step toward building a solid team and softening the blow of LeBron's decision. Like i said before, I still believe the Knicks will turn out to be a playoff team next year and Amar'e is capable of elevating his game for NYC.He would have been huge in NYC. Oh well.

Our roster could shape up like this:

PG-Douglas, or FA's Ridnour, Felton, etc.

SG-Azubuiki/Chandler/Gallinari

SF-Anthony Randolph

PF- Amar'e

C- Turiaf (think Joakim Noah role)

Not too shabby.

Lebron Day Diary

2010-07-08T21:28:00.001-04:00

July 8th 2010. 8:02 PM: Today's date could be looked back upon as the day LeBron James signed for the New York Knicks. Think about that for a second. A New York Knicks dynasty could begin in an hour. The excitement at the garden on opening night will be unprecented. With LeBron, Amar'e, the Rooster, and Ill Wil as the top 4, the Knicks will perennially win 60 games and contend for the title. This is the most important day of my life...

The word on the street is that LeBron is going to the Heat, and MSG stock prices are tanking. I do not believe any of the rumors, because yesterday everybody said it was probably going to be New York. The modern sports media means we get rumors from anonymous sources that are very often not true. Every team has been rumored to be in the lead for LeBron at different points in this search, which may be a media ploy to keep every teams hopes up and thus keep viewers interested. I like twitter because you get a more personal relationship with the players, but I hate it for all the rumors that it leads to.

Despite the Miami talk, my gut says he is going to be a Knick. Broussard says 80% but says his gut says Cleveland. He basically just admitted his sources are not reliable and he thinks it will be Cleveland. Ugh i wish it was 9:09! Mike D'Antoni is on a plane, but he probably has Wifi and will be watching ESPN3.com or at least he will be actively emailing. Donnie Walsh quipped that he is going to be watch a movie, but his blackberry will be buzzing right after the announcement.

Right now I feel optomistic, but I'm not getting my hopes up. The possibility is good enough for me right now. If it doesn't happen, we will move on and try to build a playoff team for the upcoming season. Sure it will be disappointing if the Knicks are shunned, and especially so if the Heat land LeBron. I still believe the Knicks will turn out to be a playoff team next year and Amar'e is capable of elevating his game for NYC.

This is the Optimistic Knicks Blog after all.

8:57 PM

Just went for a jog in Central Park. I couldn't just sit here and wait around for the announcement. Everyone apparently still says Miami, but my stance remains the same. My gut says LeBron still, but I'm getting a little sad thinking about the chance that me might say Miami or Chicago or Cleveland and not New York. If indeed the King says no to the Knicks, I hope at least he goes somewhere surprising like the Clippers, the T Wolves, or get sign and traded somewhere out of the blue.

9:00 PM OK shit shit gotta watch this it's starting. This is so lame I wish LeBron never did this stupid special. It is so dramatic but it is drama for the sake of drama. Maybe he is so undecided about what he wants to do, he had to set this huuuuge deadline to force him to make up his mind. Let's see what happens, the announcement should come within 10. My head is going to explode.

9:13 PM

They said the announcement would be at 9:10!!! Ugh dirty rotten liars! This better not drag on for much longer. I can't stand all these predictions. Broussard is waffling saying his mind says Cleveland, his sources say Miami, ugh. This is lame, but the big M Night Shyamalan twist is coming up!

9:18

Jim Grey and Lebron! Here come thes big...vitamin water commercial with headless LeBron! F! The announcement must be soon, ESPN be damned.

9:22 No more Stuart Scott please...

9:23 How is Jim Grey asking LeBron any questions besides "What'll it be LeBron?"

9:26 This is the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen. These questions should be for after the reveal, not before. He has to answer everything without spilling the beans...F this.

I hope he picks the Knicks!

9:27 PM

Noooooooooooooooooooo!

Thank You Celtics!

2010-05-14T12:45:00.000-04:00

Wow, what a game the Celtics played last night to oust the favored Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James. The Celtics were dominant, and straight up stifled the Cavs offense. LeBron tried his best, but every avenue to the lane was cut off, nobody else on his team wanted the ball, and Coach Mike Brown could not figure out a way to get things going for his team. The Celtics imposed their will on the game, shared the ball, played with gusto, and as Doc Rivers adamantly urged, they did it "Together".

The Cavs were simply outplayed, and I was rooting hard for the Celtics, which made me feel a little dirty. By the end of the game I had to remind myself I was a Knicks fan again, and it was time to rejuvenate my hatred for the Celts. I think this embarrassing series loss is the best thing Knicks fans could have hoped for. The media storm will only continue to brew and build, and will easily surpass Brett Favre levels of endless, repetitive, uninformative rumor mill hype. Until July 1st (and likely for a while after), the world will only be able to speculate, and we will. As your optimistic Knicks Blogger, I am confident that last night's result will lead to the beginning of the LeBroKnicks, and it is very exciting.

Here are some more thoughts about the game and what it may mean for the future:

KG was great. I thought he was washed up, but he put on a throwback display last night. 11-19 shooting, 22 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, 0 turnovers and great defense.

KG's jumper was pure all night

LeBron's triple double was the most underwhelming I've ever seen. Granted I haven't seen many, but he just seemed flustered the whole game. He would try to turn it on, show a noticeable extra pep in his step, then turn it over and resume his sulky, underwhelming play.
LeBron frequently didn't try on defense after he or a teammate screwed up on O.
Antawn Jamison and Delonte West seemed petrified to screw up. This is not a good way to play hoops. They were so passive and indecisive, and just wanted to hand off the ball to LeBron as quickly as possible. LeBron played poorly, but he needed some help. Mo Williams tried at least, but it wasn't enough. The team shot 38%...
The last point makes me wonder how The Rooster, Ill Wil, Toney Douglas and whoever else may team up with LBJ next season will be able to handle the pressure of playing with the King. Gallo was reluctant to shoot when the likes of Al Harrington and Chris Duhon wanted the ball. Will he keep developing his aggressive play sharing the court with the almighty LeBron? It seems to be quite a burden trying to help get a ring for the King.
I believe Mike D'Antoni would have been able to figure out a way to get LeBron some better looks.
Hat tip to Bill Simmons for getting the New York Knicks chant going when LeBron was at the charity stripe. Last night was like a Bizzarro world where Boston fans chanted for the Knicks and I was giddily rooting for the Celtics.
Shaq's next career move should definitely be to the WWE. He debuted his would be signature move, the Diesel Drop, on Kendrick Perkins last night. This move is basically a belly flop to the face. Perk is so badass he wasn't even fazed though.
One possession, Big Baby had the ball on the elbow, guarded by Big Z. Rondo, who clearly didn't like what he foresaw, could be heard shouting emphatically for the ball. Big Baby ignored his phenomenal point man, pump faked and recklessly and fruitlessly drove to the lane for a missed layup. The ensuing trip down the court, while a player on the Cavs shot foul shots, a Celtic off-screen (presumably Rondo) was berating Big Baby for the selfish play. Big Baby flipped, on camera, and started pounding his chest in frustration and shouting in a steady crescendo, clear as day for a primetime national audience to hear "I F#$*ed up, I F#$*ed up, I F#$*ed up, I F#$*ed up!!!!" Ok psycho...
Rondo is an amazing point guard and one of my favorite players. His combination of defensive tenacity, court vision, shaking and baking, swooping and ooping, and driving and thriving is quite impressive. Imagine if he had a jump shot and could hit free throws...21 points, 12 assists and 5 steals for the rangy, raging Rajon.

Rondo Penetrating and Devastating

I am very upset Rajon Rondo signed an extension this year. I wish the Knicks had a shot at a Rondo and LeBron pairing. Wow that would be an unstoppable pair.
Tony Allen had one of the most amazing dunks I've ever seen. He pulled his arm so far back behind his head before throwing it down. That guy is both amazing and terrible at the same time. Check it out. Boomshakalaka
Seriously, has there ever before been a time when a guy gets 27, 19, and 10 with 3 steals and a block and it is considered a bad game. LeBron just did it. 9 turnovers helps illuminate what a struggle it was for LeBron. He must have just thrown a pass to the wrong team 3 or 4 times.
Did this game make me want LeBron a little less? Yes. But he is still by far the #1 target and the best player in the league.
Finally, down 9 with a little over a minute to go (I think), the Cavs decided not to foul, and to give up hope. They most likely were going down, but this collective quit by the team was curious and rare to see. It would seem as though they accepted defeat well before this point in the game, and you would hope that LeBron would be able to lead them out of such a mindset, but he seemed to be resigned to the fact that they were going down as well. It is this lack of fight and passion in the face of defeat that is the biggest reason I think LeBron is about to kiss Cleveland goodbye. His teammates gave up, and he had no faith in them in this big game. I think the damage is irreparable, and he will be a Knick.

Lebron has a lot of pondering to do...

Knicks Stink vs. Suns

2010-03-27T16:54:00.000-04:00

The Knicks played the Phoenix Suns last night and really stunk up the joint. Playing in front of a lifeless and half full Phoenix crowd, the Knicks brought no energy or focus on defense and were diced and sliced by Steve Nash and were absolutely dominated by the Phoenix big men. The Knicks lost 132=96, so nothing really important happened in the game, and it was clear from the start, it would be the Suns' night.

All that really matters right now are the young players and guys who might be on the Knicks next season, so that'll be my main focus.

Toney Douglas looked lost out there. He is having some downs but the ups will come and it is important that he gets some experience as the season comes to a close. He needs to learn to run the pick and roll better, and he needs to learn to pass it to Gallo when he is wide open for 3.

Gallinari seemed to have got the message that he is a star in the making, and played with a vigor that is rarely seen from the Rooster. Hopefully his little duel with Carmelo Anthony lit an inextinguishable fire in Gallo to be the best. He didn't shoot well but he just moved with more gusto, ran the court like the wind, and fought hard on the glass. He finished with 16 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks, not his best night by any means but I thought he looked good.

Bill Walker made one of the most ridiculous dunks I've ever seen, but unfortunately stepped out of bounds right before it happened. It is sad but record of this dunk may be lost forever.

JR Giddens has one ugly looking jump shot, but he sure can play some D and slash to the hoop.

TMac's knee was disagreeing with him and he had to leave the gamet. I really am pulling for him to regain his health but it isn't looking good. Then again it wasn't looking good for Grant Hill a while back, so it's possible.

Watching this game made me wish I was in Phoenix, where it was 75 and sunny, but also made me glad to be a New Yorker, after witnessing the Suns pathetic fans. The place was half full, and dead quiet, in a win, for an incredibly entertaining team, that is also about to lock up a playoff spot. It was sad. Can you imagine if the Knicks had a team like that? MSG would be a madhouse 41 times a year, and even better in the playoffs. Knicks fans are the best. Unfortunately the Knicks are not.

Lastly I have to mention Robin Lopez. That guy looked really huge, really funny, and really good. He is going to be a solid center for a long time. I can only dream that one day he will be reunited with his brother Brook and form the most comical and dominant twin towers combination the league has ever seen.

Knicks Nuggets Recap: Gallo outduels Melo

2010-03-24T21:25:00.000-04:00

The Knicks were down by 12 early, but fought right back and finished the first only down 1. Al Harrington scored with ease, and played from the inside out like he always should. Tracy McGrady was impressive, and even aggressively skied to the hoop for a facial over The Birdman Chris Andersen, but unfortunately he lost control of the ball. It is nice to see that he may still be able to recapture his past form, but it'd be nicer if he could play well in the 4th quarter, when the Knicks could use his veteran presence.

The Knicks lead looked tenuous for the entire fourth quarter, as they missed shot after shot and fould shot after foul shot. Gallinari was forcing the issue a little, but good things happened as usual. Gallo got bailed out time after time with foul calls, and he is automatic from the line. Melo was constantly looming, scoring whenever he chose. Would it be a game that the Knicks crumble against a team who knows how to finish games, or would they step up and finish it off. The missed free throws of the Knicks and the 3 point shooting of JR Smith down the stretch made things tense, but the Knicks pulled out the victory for one of the highlights of the season.

Toney Douglas drove right on Nene, crossed over left for the pullup jumper at the elbow, and swished it to seal it for the Knicks, and Gallinari finished the game with 2 free throws to give the Knicks the 109-104 win.

The story of the game was the 3rd quarter duel between Danilo Gallinari and Carmelo Anthony. Gallinari asked Coach D'Antoni to guard the best player on every team, and he got his wish last night, matching up against the indomitable Melo. Carmelo caught fire in the third, pulling up for long range jumpers at will over The Rooster, utilizing a sublime combination of shaking and baking, stopping and popping. It was not bad defense by Gallo, he had to give Melo some space out of respect for his driving ability, but it was clear that Melo was toying with The Rooster. I'm sure he heard about how Gallinari requested the assignment, and was trying to make him regret it. Carmelo set something off in Danilo, and he started calling for the ball, and draining threes. After each three Gallinari celebrated with gusto, shouting what i assume were Italian obscenities, and pounding his chest. Carmelo should have let sleeping roosters lie, but he woke the beast, and Gallo set the nets on fire.

Gallinari said after the game that he loves to talk trash, and it's part of the game. I am a horrible trash talker, and it sucks. Gallo though, really rose to the occasion and took all Carmelo's best shots and responded right back, verbally and with jumpshots. Carmelo said he was a little surprised that Gallinari talked back and thrived in their little duel. Mike D'Antoni made the good point after the game saying how Danilo now has to learn to bring that fire out on his own, instead of needing an opponent to bring it out. Guys like Kobe, LeBron are self motivated, endlessly driven to be there best possible every night. It's really rare, and we can only hope that Gallo figures this part of the game out. Gallo led the Knicks with 28 points, and Harrington chipped in with 23 points on 14 shots. Even with the Knicks far out of the playoffs, this game was heated and exciting, Clyde was on the mic, and the Knicks pulled off a sweet upset.

Billy Walker started, played well, but fouled out in only 23 minutes. His sixth foul was an inadvertent and hilarious smack to the face of The Birdman. Lots of stars were in the crowd, including Magic, Revis Island, and Jill Martin's guest for Gimme a Minute was Philip Seymour Hoffman. Carmelo is just unstoppable. LeBron is coming this year, and Melo is coming next year. Donnie Walsh must tell LeBron that if he signs with them, he will bring in Carmelo next year to be his partner in crime in the most unstoppable offensive team of all time. Douglas, LeBron, Carmelo, Gallo, and Lee would be lethal, and with Mike D'Antoni at the helm they'd score 120 a game. This is going to happen!

I'm Back!

2010-03-20T14:37:00.000-04:00

It has been a long hiatus for me from the blogosphere, but the thousands of emails begging me to come back finally proved too much to resist. It has been nearly two months since the utterly depressing loss against the Raptors killed all the optimism in my heart, but as this dreadful season is dwindling, my spirits are rejuvenated and I'm ready to blog it up.

While my blogging output dwindled, I remained just as dedicated to our Knickerbockers, and am very happy with the evolution of the team lookking toward the future. It all began with a momentous trade deadline, which saw the team ship out fan favorite Nate Robinson, fan least favorites Jared Jeffries and Larry Hughes, and enigmatic rambunctious rookie Jordan Hill. My thoughts on this were good riddance to Nate, Hughes, and Jeffries, but I was sad to say goodbye to Hill before he was given a real chance to shine.

For me Nate was always an entertaining player, but also eternally frustrating. I am happy that he was sent to Boston to play for a playoff team with a roster and a coach that may just whip his ass into shape, and also that he will get a million dollar bonus for making the playoffs. The return for the Knicks has been more than I ever expected. It was upsetting that they could not wrangle a 1st rounder in return for Nate, but I have been pleasantly surprised by what they did get. Eddie House is a good teammate and provides leadership, but he has mostly been relegated to the pine, so I'm not going to elaborate on him. Billy Walker was the real prize in this trade, and he will surely have a spot on the team next season. He is, simply put, a beast. He skies to the rim like no Knick I have ever seen before, slamming with abandon over all foes foolish enough to stand in his way. He also has an unorthodox, but sweet jumper (my friend Meiny played against him in highschool and told me he just rained 3's all day), can play some D, and has a knack for the game. Walker was a top prospect who was derailed by multiple knee surgeries, and was the 12th man for the Celtics, but given the opportunity with the Knicks he has showed that his athleticism has not been negated by his surgeries, and he looks like a real solid player for the future, and a cheap one at that. Walker has had four 20 point outings in March, and for the month is averaging 12 points and a steal in 27 mpg. Recently JR Giddens made his debut for the Knicks, and I also like what he brings to the table. I don't know much about his game yet, but I do know he is confident and fiery enough to talk trash to former teammate Paul Pierce after canning a jumper, and Mike Breen said he has the chance to be a Bruce Bowen level defender. Last night JR had 10 points and 9 rebounds (4 offensive) in the win against the Sixers. He is another player i would love to have back for next season.

The trade with Houston was more of a blockbuster, but all the Knicks received was a dilapidated Tracy McGrady,and the Spanish Fly, Sergio Rodriguez. I was a big fan of this trade, and when T-Mac exploded in his first game in the Garden, I was elated. Alas, he has sputtered lately. He looks slow, can't get by battered big men like Kevin Garnett off the dribble, and can't really hit jump shots. He is a ball stopper on offense, and unless he has a miraculous rehab program in the offseason, I can't see him being more than a bit part role player next season, but I believe in miracles, so let's hope for the best. The Knicks had to give up a 2012 draft pick and the right to swap another, but if they get LeBron and his sidekick, it won't really be an issue, and that was the point of the trade anyway. Risky? Somewhat, but the rewards outweigh the risks by a long shot. The Spanish Fly was brought in from Sacramento as part of the deal, and while he was given the reigns to the offense immediately, it didn't last. Sergio showed some positive signs, and was a very nice change of pace from the turtle like pace of Chris Duhon, but besides a case of cleptomania in one game that saw the Fly nab 8 steals against the Bucks, he didn't do much and also is now benched.

The best result of the trades has been the emergence of DWTDD, Toney Douglas, who has shown he can score, defend, talk a mean game, and elevate the play of his teammates. It seems like it should have been this way since day 1, but Toney is now the starting point guard, for what I imagine will be a very long time (unless we can nab Chris Paul away from NOLA in the future, of course) Last night Toney scored 14 of his 22 points in the 4th to drag the Knicks out of the jaws of defeat, and propel them to victory. At one point he scored 13 straight for the Knicks, and is averaging over 18 ppg and 5 assists in his last 5 games. Toney's heart, quickness, and dedication on the defensive end is what I love most about him, being a defensive minded point guard myself. With Gallinari, Chandler, Douglas, Walker and Giddens the Knicks have 5 youthful talents who all revel in mixing it up on the defensive end, and all have legitimate offensive games to boot. Throw in LeBron and Bosh and the Knicks would be a defensive big man short of a title. Maybe with a draft pick purchased in the late 1st round like last year, Donnie Walsh can find that Center the team needs.

The team was getting painful to watch, with Duhon slugging around, Jeffries missing layups, and Hill and Douglas languishing on the bench. Now it seems that the youth movement is finally in full swing, and the veterans on the squad like Duhon are helping the youngsters develop from the bench, instead of hampering them by playing undeserved minutes. While the playoffs are out of the question, we all watch with an eye toward the future. Now the future does not just mean twiddling our thumbs until July 1st, AKA LeBron Day, but watching the development of a couple legit NBA ballers who are hungry to play and win, and finally getting a chance to shine. It's good to be back on the blog, and believe it or not, it's a good time to be a fan of the New York Knickerbockers. Now that spring is in the air in NYC, my dark wintry view of the knicks present has transformed back into the sweet sunny optimism I am used to. The youth resounds and abounds, and everyone knows I love untapped potential.

Knicks Raptors Recap: Why Couldn't They Just Win?

2010-01-28T22:24:00.001-05:00

The Knicks lost to the Raptors in heartbreaking fashion after shooting 62 percent in the first quarter to get a big lead. They squandered it in the 2nd, and it was back and forth for the rest of the night. I am very upset and angry, so I'm not gonna go in depth. I'll leave you all with my notes from the game. Take from them what you will. Like I always say, "Ya gotta take the crookeds with the straights." Tonight the Knicks gave us a crooked.

I am just so upset about this game. More upset than the subjects of these pics.

Knicks came out on all cylinders as they often do.
Gallo had a huge game, stroking j's and driving.
Chandler had black shoes on...isn't that weird?
Lee had a double double in the first half again. He must lead the league in double doubles at half time.
The team is getting banged up. Jeffries knocked a knee, Chandler riding the bike.
Why are the Knicks city dancers all ugly and flabby?
Am i being biased and subjective thinking that the knicks get no calls from the refs night in and night out?
Reggie Evans "the mauler" does not look very natural in street clothes.
I can't believe Toronto is a better team than the Knicks in the standings. Knicks have better players.
David Lee has been pugnacious this season. Look it up.
Harrington tries to do Jared Jeffries impressions with flops, but perhaps he doesn't get as many charges called because he is strong and Jeffries is veryyyy skinny.
David Lee was absolutely shafted today. He deserves to be an all star and showed it tonight.
Al Harrington must stop shooting so much, he should watch how Wil plays, only taking high percentage close range shots
Nate Robinson is hardly noticeable since his 41 point outburst, but he has been playing solid team first hoops.
Whenever coaches are mic'd up, all they seem to say is a bunch of generic, obvious, general stuff. I'm talking stuff like "we gotta play with more energy", "we gotta move the ball better", "we gotta play more dynamic", "we gotta play better defense, contest shots but don't foul". Seriously in game coaching seems pretty simple.
Some Italian guy was interviewed by Al Trautwig about Mike D'Antoni's playing days. He said ask anybody who the best point guard in European history is, the only one in the conversation is D'Antoni
It is so upsetting that Lee is not an all star. He is better than Horford and deserves it more than Rose. At least Z-Bo made the squad.
Why does seemingly everyone in the world thing ironic means coincidental.
Why do the Knicks give the ball to Harrington so often only for him to force it.
I Love listening to Clyde say BarnYARNi.
When Gallo goes out the Knicks play noticeably worse...or I just have a huge man-crush on him.
Jordan Hill had a cameo in the first half and looked a little lost, and missed an open dunk...he still could use some seasoning.
Rasho Nesterovic shoots free throws like Hideki Okajima pitches. Looks down at the last moment before releasing. Bizarre.
Everything Nate does can be described as antics, and often is by Clyde.
See saw game, ten lead changes in the 3rd quarter.
Bosh gets superstar calls and superstar no calls, stiff armed lee on a drive, but of course no whistle...
Last game Corey Brewer was draining 3's all over the place, tonight it's Antoine Wright. Ugh.
I don't know why the Knicks always seem to suck in the 4th quarter.
Chandler steps out of bounds a lot. Got away with it in the fourth along the baseline and slammed.
Bosh gets ridiculous foul calls anytime he flails and yells. UGHHHHH. NOBODY TOUCHED HIM!
I'm Liking Nate tonight.
3 point game with 6 minutes left....Nate and Bosh will be key I think.
OHHH Wil the Thrill goes high off the glass and hits.
The Rooster needs the ball. He had a huge game then didn't touch the ball all 4th quarter.
Rooster drives and dishes to Lee. Gallo gets the ball, good things happen.
Al Harrington with a huge 3 point play followed by a huge 3 pointer. Afterward struts his stuff like an idiot...isn't he a little old for the strutting and preening?
Knicks 62 percent in first quarter and woeful for the rest.
No Duhon no problem in crunch time.
I bet if Gallo would just flail and yell like Bosh he'd get more calls, but I like that he doesn't. Maybe he should crow like the Rooster that he is.
Gallo big deflection and saves it for the steal.
Nate threads the needle to Lee for the slam!!!! Knicks up 5!!!
I hate the play that Hedo Turkoglu did, it shouldn't be called a foul. Harrington had his arm out near Hedo's stomach, Hedo had the ball down low, so he just raises up for the shot intentionally going into Al's arm. 3 point foul, and a bunch of BS. But I don't mind it when Gallo does it.
The refs are gonna try to give this one to the Raptors.
A lot of players have been falling all over the place this game.
F... Knicks lose the lead on Jarret Jack transition floater. He is a Knick KILLER.
Noticed Wil has the words "No Worse" tatted on his left hand with an image of a top hat on top of a cane. Strange. Somebody seriously needs to make a coffee table book all about NBA tattoos and their meanings.
Lee made a great move to the hoop and could have took the lead, but banked it too strong. Needed that one badly. Damn.
Nate is playing all of crunch time. I like this development, good job Coach D.
God dang Bosh makes an ugly lefty running layup to put the Knicks down 3 with 15.9.
Gallo for 3 for the win???? I wish.
Kevin James does the same "let's go Knicks!!!" shout that he does for the mets.
Of course the DVR cuts out with 15.9 left. What happened I don't know, except Al charged with a chance to tie. AHHHHHHH how did the Knicks lose this one?!?!?!
I'll tell you how they lost. The referees gave the raptors a bunch of BS calls and didn't give the Knicks any. Gallo gets mauled on every drive, but Bosh gets breathed on and goes to the stripe. It's a conspiracy I tell ya.

Bargnani and Calderon Steal Gallinari's Night, Raptors Beat Knicks

2010-01-16T00:46:00.000-05:00

Raptors 112- Knicks 104

It was a memorable Italian Heritage Night at Madison Square Garden. The International flavor started pregame with an introduction in Italian from Danilo Gallinari. The Knicks were introduced by an Italian speaking PA announcer, and the Rockets Roster features 5 players from Europe and a coach from Canada. Mike D'Antoni, Andrea Bargnani, Danilo Gallinari, and Marco Bellinelli are all legends in Italy, and the crowd was in a fervor from the beginning, and featured lots of Italians.

The Europeans seemed to bring extra intensity and focus to showcase their games in front of what was likely the most European crowd they will play for in an NBA game. I am not going to get too statistical in this post, so let me just say Bargnani and Calderon skipped heating up and went straight to "HE'S ON FIRE!" level. You know in NBA Jam how when you get on fire, the ball not only swishes every time, but it also burns the net as it goes through? That is how Bargnani and Calderon's jumpers were swishing tonight. Bargnani exploited his height advantage, especially over Wilson Chandler. Calderon did his best Allen Iverson impression, masterfully and artfully shucking and jiving and jabbing his way to open mid-range jumpers. All he needed was an inch of space, and he got it easily and often against guys like David Lee and Jared Jeffries. The combo of Bargs and Jose, with a little bit of Chris Bosh and a great game from Demar Derozan, was too much for the Knicks to handle. They Raptors were up by 19 after the first quarter, and 24 after the first half.

And wouldn't you know the Knicks would come back. Danilo Gallinari sprinted faster tonight than he ever has in his life. A few fast breaks he absolutely bolted down the court. He doesn't like to turn it up like that very often, but he was a blur I tell ya. He also had a great game, mostly in the second half. I have to share his stat line. 8-17, 5-10 on 3's, 5-6 FT, 4 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 blocks (seemed like more), and just 1 turnover in 42 minutes. Big game from the young gunner, the Italian Rooster, who may have been showing his teammates Bargnani and Bellinelli what he is all about. Chris Duhon, PASS TO THE ROOSTER WHEN HE IS OPEN.
I cannot imagine D'antoni doesnt notice how Duhon refuses to pass it to Gallinari unless it is his last resort. Something has to be done about it. Gallo needs to play like every night is Italian Heritage Night.

David Lee nearly had his first triple double, and the team desperately tried down the stretch to get Lee the final assists needed, when the game was clearly over. Alas, he finished with 25, 14 and 9 in the losing effort, and played the entire game. Oh, and in the first quarter after Bargnani dunked on him and celebrated a little, Lee momentarily lost his mind, got in Andrea's face, did a weird psychotic jumping jack, and got T'd up. Check out the Highlight here: http://sports.yahoo.com/video/player/nba/17649583;_ylt=Aij7zkWj1Rxguum_g3Z.4WSQvLYF#nba/17649583

Watch the second play, after Lee dunks. He went crazy...

Al Harrington scored a lot and chucked a lot and missed a lot too.

A person in the crowd was wearing a mask. Do people do this because she is afraid of getting sick, or because she is sick and doesn't want to infect others?

DeMar DeRozan looked like a cool player. He got to the line 14 times, and finished a very impressive left handed alley oop from Jose Calderon. Knicks could have had him if they wanted. I'm gonna give Jordan Hill a chance to play before I judge the pick though.

Check out my post about Mike D'Antoni to find out more about why he is legendary in Italy.

The Knicks got no love from the refs.

This was the most entertaining Knicks loss I've been to. They were down so much, and came back so far, and the crowd was so into it the entire second half. They shooting display and efficient offense of the Raptors was beautiful, and it was as if Leonardo DaVinci was drawing up plays. The Knicks failed comeback was typical, but also great to watch, even if you knew it would falter around 8 points to short. You win some you lose some.

Points Per Shot...How the Knicks Measure Up

2010-01-14T23:57:00.001-05:00

So I was doing a little bit of stat perusing, and I noticed that even when Gallo has an off shooting night, he usually somehow finishes with more points than shots. I did not know if this was significant.

My eyes told me Gallinari is an efficient scorer, even if he takes his fair shair of ugly shots. So I figured out his points per shot ratio, then compared it to other Knicks and players around the league. I am sure that this means something. It is a simple measure of scoring efficiency. Basically how many points a player scores divided by the number of field goals attempted. The Rooster coincidentally came up even with Dirk Nowitzki, who is having a great year for the Mavs, and who I wish Gallinari would emulate more. David Lee was the other Knick who ranked among the elite, but he trailed fellow top big men Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh, and Pau Gasol considerably.

The stat isn't a measure of value obviously, with Kobe so low and Curry as the third best Knicks, but I think it is still meaningful and interesting to look at.

Z-Bo's ratio is at 1.26 right now, and "The Closer" Jamal Crawford is at 1.29.

Knicks Win! Lee Sinks Sixers

2010-01-13T22:24:00.001-05:00

David Lee came out firing tonight. He started off 4-4 from the field and then finished the game with 4 straight buckets. The game was a back and forth fight and Lee's right handed lay in high off glass proved to be the game winner, and a win like this sure is sweet.

The Knicks don't win many tight ones like this 93-92 affair, and most probably expected Rodney Carney's last second 3 pointer would fell the Knicks, but it missed and the Knicks were the victors. Lee finished 10-20, hitting 8-8 on his first and last 4 shots, and going 2-12 in between. Lee came one rebound short of another double double, but the win has to be a nice pick me up for Lee, who lost his beloved grandfather E. Desmond Lee. Lee the elder was a great philanthropist, donating over 70 million in his lifetime.

Jared Jeffries had an amazing 15 points, including 11 in the first half. He hit a lefty layup off the dribble, a three pointer from the top of the key, a short jumpshot and dunked the ball. This was probably JJ's best game, as he grabbed 9 rebounds (4 offensive), had 2 steals, 1 block, 3 assists and caused immeasurable havoc on defense. He is either working closer to getting traded, or showing himself to be too valuable to deal.

The Knicks youthful duo of Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallinari both played large parts in the victory. The Rooster was just 4-11, but he had 12 points, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks, with no turnovers. It was a very good bounce back from the "ghastly" performance in Oklahoma City. He led the team with a +13 in +/-, which I actually think is a good measure of his value to the game. It just seemed like when Gallo was in, the Knicks were a better team. He clearly had a pep in his step and even elevated nicely on a fastbreak dunk. I clamored for him when he was still riding the pine with 4 minutes left and the team faltering, and when he was eventually inserted, the comeback was on. Even when he is not scoring, crunch time is rooster time.

Quick sidenote, Gallinari needs to add the pull up jump shot to his arsenal and he will be unstoppable. When he puts the ball on the floor he goes all the way to the rim, and he could use the pullup to mix things up. Donnie Walsh should give him some Dirk film.

Wil has been solid for a while now, and is even drawing some double teams. He played great defense, shot over 50%, and got 18 points on 8-15 shooting. Both Wil and Gallo are developing nicely, and if they keep getting better, we could be looking at a dynamic duo.

For the Sixers Samuel Dalembert represented Earthquake stricken Haiti with an earth shattering performance on the boards. His lanky 6'11" frame looked more like 7'2", and he grabbed an incredible 21 rebounds in 31 minutes. Allen Iverson was hot early with his patented midrange fadeaway, and finished with a quiet 16 points on 14 shots. The Knicks held Andre Igoudala to just 4 points.

The Knicks second unit did not fare well on the offensive end. Al Harrington shot a 3 every time he touched the ball, and was a dreadful 5-15 and 2-7 from deep. I am not happy he came back from the calf injury so quickly, it could have been a blessing in disguise. Nate Robinson also was poor and 4 points on 7 shots.

I am so happy the Knicks managed to shut down the Sixers on that final, game deciding possession. Lee defended Mareese Speights, who had a huge 4th quarter, Wil came with the double right on time, and Gallo scrambled to Iverson and forced him to kick it to Rodney Carney, who just missed the 3 pointer at the buzzer.

Big win and a big learning experience for this team. They don't have much experience winning games that are decided in crunch time.

The Demigod of Diction

2010-01-12T23:08:00.000-05:00

The Knicks were trounced last night by an extremely impressive Thunder team, but at least Clyde brought his A game in the booth. He was rhyming with exquisite timing and analyzing with style and guile. Here are a few nuggets from last nights broadcast, with one particularly splendiferous sequence.

Clyde aptly described the movements of Russel Westbrook by saying he has

"feline quickness"

Clyde struggled to prounounce the name of the Thunder's starting shooting guard, turning Sefolosha into

"Sefolosofo from switzerland"

But Clyde really outdid himself when after the half he described the Thunder D with this gem

"Swarming, harassing... Defense, byyyy the thunder as well. Omnipresent, riveting, at times impregnable! Baffling the Knicks... So they had no spontaneity, no continuity, and were just floundering on the offensive end."

Knicks humbled by dominant Thunder

2010-01-12T11:54:00.000-05:00

This was an awful game that was painful to watch. I was preaching optimism yesterday on the Knicks realgm message board, but now I feel like an idiot.

The Thunder outclassed the Knicks by far, in every way. Intensity, effort, quickness, agility, length, defensive rotations, the Thunder were indomitable. Kevin Durant looks like a man on a mission out there and I cannot believe the way he has improved since I last saw him. He is truly a special player, a superstar in the NBA, and at only age 21...wow.

Here are some bullets. I'm putting as much effort and quality into this post as the Knicks put in last night...

westbrook brought resounding rebounding

durant is so long and graceful, he runs like a grayhound according to clyde

lee complains an awful lot to the refs but can you blame him? after complaining very loudly in the 1st, about repetitive no calls on drives...very next play, foul and 1

thunder defense is what they win with

return of al and freedom of nate doesn't have me too happy

durant got superstar calls on minimal contact. prob cause he is so skinny.
knicks got no calls
thunder defense is swarming and inpenetrable

lee boarding hard

rare foul trouble for the knicks, mostly due to durant

thunder have tangible chemistry on d

knicks down 10 after 1...it'll be ok or so i thought
knicks no chemistry and hesitant shots

durant swatted gallo, looks very lethargic, just slow and out of it. has he been partying?

lee complains sometimes instead of hustling back

duhon def sluggish, ugly ugly game

what team is this?

disgusting

jeffries swishes a 3.

wow durant just went through somewhat hard fould from wil and finished and 1. making me realize lee is not the leader/star i thought. gallo better start leading and bringing the work ethic.

down twenty with 5 to go in third. they can comeback, they can turn it around. prob wont but im still positive
they are sooooo quick long and athletic

perhaps ambidexterity of lee confuses refs, he gets no calls

durant swatking?

westbrook amazing leaping ability alley oop saves collison on baseline

david lee bricking

durant working so hard up by 30 in 4th, on defense. amazing

eric maynor looks great . knicks should have made that trade...dang

harden out doing our rookie from arizona college. jealous of all that talent

Mike D’Antoni- The Man Behind the Moustache

2010-01-08T14:00:00.000-05:00

As I was watching Mike D’Antoni give some pregame pointers on last nights MSG telecast, I came to the sudden realization that he has a pretty thick southern twang. This also made me realize that I don’t really know much about Coach D. So I did some research.

• Michael Andrew D'Antoni was born on May 8, 1951, and is from Mullens, West Virginia. This small town looks to be in the middle of nowhere, between a bunch of mountains and trees. It features a Dairy Queen, a couple pizza places, and that’s about it.

Looks like they have a Rite Aid as well

• Mike played hoops for Marshall, was drafted in the 2nd round of the 1973 NBA draft, and earned all-rookie 2nd team honors for the KC/Omaha Kings.

• He found great success upon crossing the Atlantic and heading to Olimpia Milano, where he spent 13 seasons. He played alongside the likes of Bob Mcadoo and of course the legendary Boselli twins. Unfortunately he retired a bit too early to play with Gregor “Uncle” Fučka.
• D'Antoni’s Milan team is now Armani Jeans Milan, which is also Danilo Gallinari’s former team.

• Mike is a legend in Italy, and for good reason. He won 5 Italian league titles as a player and 2 as a coach, and 2 Euroleague titles as a player. He was also named one of the Euroleague’s top 35 all time players.

• Mike is 6’3”

• Some of the most common used nicknames by Knicks fans for D’Antoni are : D’Andummy, ‘Antoni (no D). In Europe he was known as Arsene Lupin (a thief and a gentleman apparently) during his playing days, for his ball hawking abilities.

• He was an assistant of Mike Krzciewszki’s (did i spell that right, didn't check...dang nope it is actually "Krzyzewski")for Team USA, who took home gold in Beijing. Popular opinion says that all the big stars like LeBron James loved playing for the man with the mustache.

• He has the Knicks storming up the standings after starting the season 1-9. The Knicks are now on the cusp of breaking into the top 8 in the east, are playing stellar defense and smart efficient offense, and are gelling into a cohesive unit. He won the Coach of the year in 2004 and hopefully is on his way to another one this season, after the Knicks claim the 5th seed in the East.

Knicks Win Brawl with Bobcats, 97-93

2010-01-07T23:13:00.000-05:00

The Knicks triumphed tonight in a gritty game with Larry Brown's Charlotte Bobcats, 97-93. The game was a rough and tumble affair, with the refs allowing physical play, resulting in only 18 free throws attempted between the two teams all game. The young duo of Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallinari led the team, and Mr. Consistent, Double Trouble David Lee had his usual game. This was the type of game that used to be a loss for the Knicks, but they stayed focused, played through the Bobcat runs, and held a tight lead down the stretch. Call me crazy but I think Mike D'Antoni deserves some consideration for Coach of the Year thus far.

The Knicks future lies in Gallo, Chandler, and hopefully Lee, and they all put on a show tonight. Chandler has been playing like a star lately, and had 27 points, 7 rebounds, and tied his career high with 6 assists. He was slashing to the paint frequently and with great aplomb. The Knicks bread and butter from timeouts has been the alley-oop to Wil, and he finished one tonight in spectacular fashion.

Lee again had a double double, wait no he didn't I just assumed he did. Lee dominated the first 2 quarters, and 14 of his 22 points were before half. He only had 7 rebounds, but added some trash talking and shoving with Nazr Mohammed, as well as a lot of complaining at the refs.

Gallinari put the icing on the cake in the 4th with a couple dagger 3 pointers in the last 2 minutes. Crunch time is Rooster Time. Gallo ended up with 17 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, a block and a steal. The refs also made four extremely bogus calls against him, including heinous fouls on a block and a steal attempt.

All in all the referees were dreadful, only calling fouls when nobody was actually touched , or when a player ran into his own teammate as Stephen Jackson did, and when they did call them the whistle was about 10 seconds late. They also missed a ton of blatant fouls, like when Bender got all arm on a supposed rejection of Flip Murray.

Nate Robinson led a key run to bring the Knicks back even in the 4th. With Nate percolating, the Knicks went on a 15-0 run that gave the Knicks control of the game. I like this use of Nate as a microwave to get a quick burst of offense off the bench

The Knicks are really surging up the standings now, and wins against other teams fighting for the 5-8 seed could make a huge difference down the stretch.

Here are some other thoughts on the game, bullet style.

David Lee may be blossoming into a legitimate star. D'Antoni was mic'd up and said something like "I gotta keep you in you are the best guy we got." It's obvious but Lee said himself he needs to develop the mindset that he is a star, and the confidence that goes with it. He really came out of his shell tonight, showing lots of emotion and leading the team. He slammed home a few thunderous dunks on the night that seemed to carry a bit of a message.
Bender threw down a dunk of his own, and had a decent showing tonight, 5 points, 4 blocks, and 5 rebounds in 18 minutes. Unfortunately he also had 3 turnovers, but you gotta take the crookeds with the straights. His presence in the paint is promising and his ups can be impressive at times.
Marcus Landry made an early appearance, but was not very noticeable.
Kelly Tripucka is a brilliant wordsmith. After an emphatic and electric drive and dunk from the lilliputian Nate Robinson, Kelly only took a second or two to come up with this clever quip. "NATE IS GREAT!" Pure color commentating gold.
Chandler iced the game with a cool 2 free throws putting the Knicks up 4 with 13 seconds left.
I noticed Wil's right arm is now completely covered in tats.

This is Wil's right arm now...

This is Wil's right arm rookie year

In the fourth quarter during a commercial Knicks' superfan The Dancing Grandpa had some sort of dance off with a fat guy and a kid with spaghetti legs. The crowd was noticeably geeked up by this. MSG sure has some great entertainment, and I always love to see The Dancing Grandpa bust a move. I couldn't find a photo of the real Dancing Grandpa, so this one will have to do.

Knicks beat Indiana D League Team

2010-01-04T09:28:00.000-05:00

I went to the Garden last night and was treated to quite a show as the Knicks destroyed the woeful and decimated Pacers, 132-89. Yes, the Knicks won by 43 points. No, I am not talking about in NBA 2K10, this was in real life.

The Pacers starting lineup made me say "this will be the worst starting 5 in the NBA this season." and they lived up to my billing. Earl Watson, Luther Head, Mike Dunleavy, Josh McRoberts, and the Hib Dog Roy Hibbert stunk up the joint, as did the rest of the Pacers, and the Knicks got of to an early lead and never looked back. It was an early 6 PM Sunday start for the Knicks, and the Garden was packed and the crowd was roaring from the opening tip, like they sensed the spectacle that was about to unfold. Hibbert kept daring Lee to shoot, so he did, and he made them, and ended up with his expected 22 and 16. Luther Head (6'3") tried to matchup with Gallo (6'10"), who was looking to drive early and often, and played what may have been his most aggressive game to date. This newfound assertiveness was highlighted by a monstrous one handed throwdown followed by a pose for the camera. Here is the video of the highlight of Gallo's career thus far, courtesy of Big C. The Rooster was crowing, and finished with 20 points on just 9 shots, 8 rebounds, and 3 flashy assists (shoulda been one more but JJ missed a wide open layup after a no look pass from Danilo).Wilson Chandler has been great lately and had 23 points, 2 blocks, and a couple sweet alley oops. Chris Duhon was on fire, scoring 18 points and bombing 6 of 7 from downtown. Jordan Hill got to play in the 4th and looked good, stroking a few jumpers and wreaking havoc on the boards. All in all it was an incredible game that left me dumbfounded afterwards, like I would soon awake from this Knicks dream.

The Knicks should not be too thrilled with themselves, since they beat what was essentially a glorified D league team, but coming off a loss to the Nets a couple games ago, it was real nice to see the team dominate a game that they should dominate.

An interesting sidenote from this game, apparently Larry Hughes made some snippy comments about being kicked out of the rotation. He seems to think he lost his spot due to injury, which he also believes is faux pas in the NBA. I say who cares about these unwritten rules. Nate scored 41 points and led the team to victory and Hughes hasn't played well in a long time, and Coach D'Antoni can play whoever he wants. It stinks that this sour note from Hughes came after a hugely successful game that looked like it would really help the team build some chemistry. The success of the team should be the first priority, and obviously right now for Hughes it is not. I'm glad a selfish player like that is out of the lineup.

Another sidenote, I was thrilled to see AJ Price has won the backup point guard role on the Pacers, who have benched TJ Ford for some reason (maybe because he sucks). Price scored 11 points which is likely his career high. I guarded AJ in high school, and managed to hold him to a respectable 21 points if my memory serves me. My Phantoms could not beat his Amityville Warriors, who won the state title about every single year. I consider myself a defensive specialist, but one time he unleashed a wicked spin move on the fast break that spun me around, and caused me to spill to the hardwood as I tripped over my own feet.

Knicks lose to Nets...Should I Just Kill Myself?

2009-12-31T13:01:00.000-05:00

Ok, so last night the Knicks helped the Nets snap a 10 game losing streak and win for just the third time all season. The final was 104-95, and it is just depressing that the Knicks cross river rivals were the ones to break the streak of keeping teams under 100 points that lasted 11 games. Obviously, it is very disappointing when the Knicks dominate the Pistons one night and then get crushed by the worst team in the NBA the next. Then again, who can expect any team in the NBA to win when Yi is in the opposing lineup?

Now for some bullets.

"The Chairman" Yi was an absolute beast, an unstoppable force. He dominated the low post with numerous hookshots, and finished with 22 points on 9-16, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2 steals, and a +/- of +13 which led the Nets. Combined with Brook Lopez, it was just too much height for the Knicks.
David Lee and Brook Lopez were going at it and chatting it up all night. Lee won the statistical battle with what has been his norm lately, 24 and 15, plus he added a career high 8 assists, 2 blocks (!), and 2 steals. Nice work from the Knicks point center. Lopez was too big for Lee to handle on the other end, as he went for 21 and 14 with 4 blocks. While Lee got 14 of his 15 boards on the defensive end, half of Lopez' 14 were of the offensive variety, which really hurt the Knicks.
Larry Hughes has been in a stupor lately, and has not been making the impact as backup point guard that he was a few weeks ago.
Danilo had his most dreadful game of the season by my eyes. He had 3 turnovers and was 3-9 in 31 minutes. He tried a ridiculous driving, jumping, twirling behind the back pass that was easily stolen (but would have been amazing if he pulled it off). He got stripped a few times, and looked to be more sluggish than ever. I wish he would be more of a focal point of the offense, and I wish he would start to be consistently awesome instead of sporadically awesome.
Bender still doesn't look like he can move very quickly, but he managed 5 rebounds and 2 assists in 14 minutes, so that was good.
Duhon rained down a few early threes, which got him thinking he was actually good. How many times do we need to see Du Du airball heat check 3 point bombs after hitting a couple? Why can't he just be satisfied with nailing the good shots? Ugh. Duhon was good in the 1st and sucked majorly the rest of the game.12 points on 13 shots is far from ideal for a facilitator point guard.
Why does Al Harrington keep attempting 3 pointers? He should take a page from Josh Smith's book and only shoot close shots. He is shooting a nice 66% at the rim (better than guys like Amare and Bosh) He is shooting 30% on 3's, and therefore should not be attempting near his current 5.4 per game. He had 25 points on 10-19 shooting last night, which is good, but he was 1-6 on 3 point attempts. I'd rather he had 22 points on 9-13...
The Nets outplayed the Knicks. The shot well, and took more shots at the rim and less 3's than the Knicks, which made all the difference.
The Knicks defense seems to hinge on Jared Jeffries. He is the cornerstone, the lynchpin, and as much as I want him off the books so we can be assured room to sign Lee and LeBron, I hate to imagine how much worse the team will be without him. Maybe once/if he is dealt, Jordan Hill will fill his place with energy and activity, but Jeffries plays intelligently, something Hill may not yet be capable of.
Al Harrington doesn't seem to be all there, mentally. After stuffing Yi in the 4th quarter, you could see his heart and passion turn off his brain, as he fist pumped and cried out triumphantly. As he ran down to join the offense, you could just tell he was about to do something crazy, like maybe dunk and hang on the rim too long in celebration. This time he chose to go for an MJ'esque tomahawk slam from near the foul line, that unfortunately went awry, but at least he drew a foul. It is funny to see him get taken over by his emotions, even if the results are usually bad shots or fouls or techs.

That's all folks, hopefully next year will be better for the Knicks. See you in 2010.

Knicks Cruise to Victory Against Hapless Pistons

2009-12-29T23:45:00.000-05:00

Great win for the Knicks tonight against the plummeting Pistons 104-87 in Detroit. David Lee was the star of the game and has been playing at superstar level for the past few games. Lee led the way with 30 points 12 rebounds and 5 assists. He scored in a variety of ways including long range jumpshots, drives starting from outside the 3 point line, layups off pick and rolls, and tip ins and put backs. D Lee was unstoppable and his 30 points came on a super efficient 13-19 shooting.

The rest of the Knicks played the part of role players and everyone seemed to chip in with a solid performance. Danilo Gallinari found his stroke and finished 4-9 on 3 pointers. Another efficient game from the Rooster, who really isn't looked to often by his teammates. Gallo also had a block. Jeffries was swarming to the ball and doing his usual routine, and did a nice job on the weak and small Pistons. He played just like you want him to, scoring 5 points on only 4 shots, with 8 rebounds, 2 steals and 3 blocks. Wilson Chandler scored 23 points, snagged 9 rebounds, and had 3 steals and a block. Al and Duhon were quiet but efficient which is perfect.

Unfortunately Jon Bender looked shaky again, and Toney Douglas didn't show much either.

It was a rough night for Clyde the Glyde, who has been a little off his game lately if you ask me. He has been mumbling and not speaking with his usual flair and eloquency.

It was a slow game and the Knicks played equally well on offense and defense. They shot 51% and held the Pistons to 42%. The Pistons lacked an inside presence to slow down Lee, and lacked organization and flow on offense. Ben gordon was 6-9 and score 17 off the bench, and should be a starter in place of Rip Hamilton, who scored 16 points, and only took 11 more shots than Gordon.

The Knicks are showing a lot of promise for the playoffs, with David Lee really stepping up and dominating lately. His last 5 games he is averaging 22 points 15 rebounds and 4 assists and shooting 64%. The Knicks offense runs through Lee and I can't help but envision Lee and LeBron thriving together next year, but right now Lee is the clear star of the team. Good thing they resigned him!

Next up are the woeful Nets. Is it too much to ask for 2 easy wins in a row?

One Trick Rooster?

2009-12-29T16:57:00.000-05:00

John Hollinger is a really smart basketball guy. I like reading his articles, and I like how he invented PER (player efficiency rating (duh)). I do not like how he incessantly talks smack about the Knicks and especially Gallinari.

I wrote recently about how the ESPN writers all preferred Michael Beasley over Gallinari, and how they all seemed to think Gallo is bad at defense and rebounding, and all he is good for is shooting 3's.

Hollinger talked about Danilo in his chat on espn.com today, and it showed he has probably not watched the Rooster play very much. Here is what went down in the chat:

Rotem (New York)
Do you think Gallinari should be in the 3 point contest? Also, do you think he'll be an all-star within 2 years? I do

John Hollinger (2:59 PM) I doubt Gallinari will ever be an All-Star. He's a one-trick pony but between the back and a general lack of athleticism I can't imagine him turning into a Nowitzki. I think he'd be a good choice for the 3-pt contest though.

He'd obviously be a good choice for the 3-point contest, and would no doubt win, sinking every shot, but he is not a one trick pony!!! He is a multi-trick Rooster! Let's list his tricks.

Obviously, his number one trick is the 3 ball. Struggling as of late but still is at 40% this month. Pretty good for a slump.
Newsflash. Gallo is a shot blocker. He is averaging 1.3 blocks per game this month, and 1.2 per 40 minutes on the year (.3 above league average).
Gallo draws fouls nearly every time he puts the ball on the floor. He gets to the line a decent amount, but also gets teams in the penalty quicker by drawing non shooting fouls a ton. As he gains experience and confidence I am sure his and 1 opportunities will increase dramatically.
The Rooster is a solid rebounder. It is tough to get a lot of boards when David Lee is sucking them all up, but Danilo has shown a fierce side on the glass, and is getting over 6 rebounds per 40 minutes, which is a lot considering how much time he is on the perimeter.
He is a pesky and tough defender. He may be a step slow on closeouts, but he has shown the ability to stay in front of speedy point guards, using his length and savvy well.
He is starting to show the midrange game. This is an area where Danilo can really utilize his size advantage to get easy buckets. Maybe Mike D'Antoni can give him some more looks curling off screens toward the elbow or picking and popping like David Lee.
He can drive by you and slam it on you.
He can sing!

Of course Gallinari can be an all star. He will probably finish this season averaging about 18 points per game, and will likely eclipse 20 ppg next year and be a 50/40/90 player. But Hollinger doesn't even think he is as good as a young Peja Stojakovic.

HeathMalc (Cleveland,Oh)
Gallinari=Peja

John Hollinger (3:01 PM)
As a young player, Peja was great at moving w/o the ball and a better rebounder than people realized. Gallo can't touch him in those phases.

Ok John...Peja's best rebounding year was 03-04, when he averaged 6.2 rebounds over 40 minutes per game. Gallo is currently averaging 5 rebounds in 30 minutes. Gallo is used to being on the ball so his off ball movement could use some work, but it is undeniable he has been getting more involved as the season progresses.

Just stop with the one trick pony stereotyping of Gallo and watch him play a little.

Knicks play the Pistons tonight, and hopefully Gallo will be matched up with fellow 6'10" handsome, young. hair gel loving European Jonas Jerebko, who hails from Sweden (google image search Jonas Jerebko...the third result is a picture of Gallo)

How Dwyane Wade Stole Christmas

2009-12-25T15:45:00.000-05:00

You're a mean one Mr. Wade.

Dwyane Wade ruined my Christmas yesterday (not really I still had a wonderful time with my family), scoring 30 points, and many crucial buckets down the stretch to down the Knickerbockers by a score of 93-87. Wade was unstoppable slashing to the lane, and it seems like his jumper always starts falling once the 4th quarter starts. He hit some tough shots and showed why you need a superstar to win in the NBA.

The game was physical, ugly, and surely brought back plenty of memories of the knock down drag out wars that used to be routine between these two teams. The refs played a major role in the game also, giving Wade the unfortunately expected superstar calls, including one play where he shoved David Lee as hard as he could while chasing after a loose ball, and Lee was called for the foul. Heinous calls and no calls were frequent. And refs please stop calling travelling on Gallinari, just because he is gangly and goofy doesn't mean he is breaking the rules.

Al Harrington also played his part in the loss, shooting woefully and frequently. This guy has to stop bombing so many 3 pointers. He was 0-7 from deep and has been shooting an amazing percentage this season from close range. Al should play to his strengths and stop launching.

As part of the pre game media coverage, a bunch of ESPN analysts were asked which soph they would rather have, Danilo or Michael Beasley. Everyone picked Beasley, and they all seemed to think the Rooster is a one trick pony. A gunner, a shooter, a one dimensional player who is bad at defense. Maybe Gallo was trying to prove a point yesterday, as he shot a sub par 3-11 from downtown, but still managed 26 points on 18 shots. Everybody should know that Gallo is a versatile player, far more versatile than Super Cool Beas, who is shooting um, 20 percent on 3 pointers and is widely known to be a pitiful defender. Beasley impressed yesterday though, scoring 19 points, but Danilo won that argument. 8 rebounds and 3 assists also for the Rooster, who played nearly the whole game, logging a team high 43 minutes.He also wore some nice (hideous) Green Christmas shoes.

David Lee is on the verge of becoming a star in the league. He put up his normal double double, with 19 and 16, and any player who has an average game and scores 19 and boards 16 should be an all star. Lee nailed the outside jumper, banged down low, and worked his magic with the right and the left. His defense on the nearly 7 foot Jermaine O'neal was a little rough, but it must be tough to close out on a 7 foot jump shooter with a high release when you are 6'9".

Q-Rich reminded the Garden faithful what he's all about, going 1-7 on 3 pointers. Wilson Chandler was the only other Knick besides Lee and Rooster who played well, netting 15 points on 11 shots. Bender looks like he may have been a flash in the pan. He seems to want to be a go to scorer instead of the role player he is. He should stick to the corner 3 and stop turning it over every dribble drive. Knicks fans chanted we want Nate a lot throughout the game, because I guess they thought we needed to give the heat some easy baskets.

The loss snapped a six game home winning streak, which will hopefully start anew against the Spurs tomorrow at the Garden. I will likely be in attendance (if you have tickets you need to sell, let me know) with my best friend and newly converted Knicks fan, Connor, who is visiting for the holidays from sunny Santa Monica. It would be nice for the Knicks to hit more than 18 percent of their 3 pointers. Come on Knicks, do it for Connor.

Hope you all managed to enjoy Christmas even though the Knicks couldn't pull off the victory. At least they are playing hard and competing every game. The defense has been solid and the playoffs look like a serious possibility if the team keeps up the hard nose play and if they can just hit a few more treys. Just think, next Christmas we will be watching the marquee matchup, Knicks vs. Lakers, LeBron vs. Kobe. What a present that would be.

Merry Knicksmas

2009-12-24T23:55:00.000-05:00

Hi everybody. Just wanted to wish all my readers a Merry Christmas. Santa comes tonight but I'm more excited for the game against the Heat tomorrow. I already got some great gifts (Knicks Lakers tix!), but all I want for Christmas is a Knickerbocker W. It is a rare national broadcast for the Knicks, and a chance for the team to show the ignorant people out there that they are a force to be reckoned with in the NBA. And everybody knows Christmastime is Rooster Time!

Ho Ho Ho and Cockadoodle doo.

P.S. sorry for not recapping the last couple games. I watched them but decided to take a little holiday from the blog. Tomorrow I'll have a recap up soon after the game. Let's go Knicks.

Lay off the Pringles Man

2009-12-18T12:13:00.000-05:00

A lot of hate is being tossed around toward Mike D'Antoni after the past 2 crushing losses. In the words of Michael Jackson in South Park, "that's ignorant"
Here's how I feel about it:

Everyone acts like it is easy to take a crappy team and turn it into gold. Rome wasn't built in a day ya know. The Knicks just don't have enough talent to consistently win. Look at the good teams in the NBA...The Lakers have Kobe, Pau, Bynum, Artest, and Odom who are all better than any single Knick player. The Magic have Howard, Lewis, Carter, and Nelson, who would all be upgrades for the Knicks. Boston has Allen, Rondo, Pierce, Garnett, Perkins. The Suns have Nash, J-Rich, Stoudemire. The Hawks have Johnson, Horford, Smith, Crawford. I mean just about every team who is successful just flat out has loads more talent than the Knicks. It's a fact of life right now we have to deal with.

Remember a few years ago when Celtics fans thought Doc Rivers was the worst coach in the NBA? Now he is a god there, ever since he happened upon acquiring KG and Ray Allen. D'Antoni was a coaching legend in Phoenix thanks to Nash, Amare and Co, now he is hated by Knicks fans for not putting a good product out there. Talent makes a coach, coaches don't win games, the players do, and the Knicks don't have enough.

There just aren't many things for Donnie Walsh and D'Antoni to do right now. The most sound plan is to hope to get LeBron. What other ways do you know of to instantly turn a bad team into a contender? Sure they could have been better if they signed Sessions, and maybe they made a mistake in the draft this year. The thing is the Knicks have repeatedly gone for the quick fix, like Marbury or Curry or Randolph or whatever, and it hasn't worked, so no we have to be patient and if LeBron does sign, everybody is happy and Walsh is a genius and I'm sure D'Antoni will have better success utilizing the King than Mike Brown in Cleveland.

I don't like people acting like there is a clear, quick, easy and surefire fix that D'Antoni and Walsh are missing. There isn't one. The team is not good enough, but they are still my team so I cheer, hope for wins, have discussions about what should be done, enjoy the glimpses of Gallo's star potential, etc. Just don't blindly bash the team you supposedly love when there aren't any real solutions right now.

And if you think Nate Robinson is the solution, well "that's just ignorant."

Knicks shoot themselves out of a Win

2009-12-18T08:48:00.000-05:00

I don't really want to talk about what happened last night. The Bulls sagged on defens and conceded the 3, and the Knicks were happy to go along with the plan. They shot a franchise record 3 point attempts, and missed a lot. The team attempted more 3's than 2's. I'm flabbergasted.

For the first time in his career Danilo had a very bad game. He was lazily chucking threes for the first three quarters before he turned it on in the 4th. He did end up with 18 points on 17 shots, but was a team worst -22. I was not happy last night. Is he hurt? Is he just sore and tired from what is essentially his rookie season? I hope this was just a fluke bad game but the rooster did not have any pep in his step.

The whole team lacked pep, and maybe it is because only 6 guys played major minutes. Maybe Coach D'Antoni should look at the way Taj gibson and the rest of the Bulls reserves outplayed the Knicks regulars. Is it time to expand the rotation and give Toney Douglas and Jordan Hill some more playing time? Judging by how fatigued the guys looked last night, I think the gameplan might need a little tweaking.

Tonight the Blake Griffinless Clippers come to town for Friday Night Knicks, and as always, let's hope for a big win to get the Knickerbockers back on track. That would be a huge help in forgetting the travesty we watched last night.

David Lee, attrocious D

2009-12-16T21:49:00.000-05:00

David Lee was playing matador D in crunch time last night, and many fans are likely wondering whether he is worth keeping around for the future. Lots of people think Lee is a sixth man energy guy who thinks he's a star, mainly because he sucks at defense. Lee is a top notch offensive player but his defense is no doubt below average. He has shown more effort this year than last I think, but if he was really a blue collar hustle player, I think that would convert to defense.

Lee is very agile and athletic on offense, he has decent size at 6'9" and 250 pounds, and has good leaping ability. He gets a lot of offensive rebounds and putbacks on a quick second jump. He obviously reads offensive situations very well, knowing how and when to cut off the pick and roll. Judging from Lee's offensive abilities, it seems like he has the quicks, size, athleticism, awareness, and desire to be a great defender. So why does he suck at defense so much?

Maybe it's effort. He exerts himself on offense, so maybe he saves his energy on defense. He doesn't exactly look to be in the best physical shape, and you never hear stories about his outstanding work ethic or anything about his training in the offseason. Maybe he just relaxes in the offseason. I have no idea and I hope this is not the case.

It's possible Lee just doesn't get it on the defensive end. A huge part of being a good defensive player is mental, and maybe a guy like Shane Battier just understands how to play D, and a super athletic guy like Derek Rose or Nate Robinson just do not have the innate ability to defend. David Lee might just be like that.

He could just be mailing it in because he realizes the team sucks. If LeBron James comes to the Knicks, he will instantly bring with him the belief that the team will be champs. David Lee may be more motivated and confident with LeBron leading the Knicks. LeBron would demand Lee step up, and maybe he will. He may have some potential to untap.

Lee has played some occasional good defense this season, and maybe he will step up his game and lead the team. The Knicks do not have a clear leader, but right now I think David Lee is the best thing they got. Maybe Danilo if he is given a bigger role from D'Antoni could be that guy.

Here is a good post that I pretty much agree with completely. Good example of Lee's lackluster defense. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/131725-david-lees-lack-of-d-is-all-star-voters-defense

Thoughts from Bobcats Tragedy

2009-12-16T12:52:00.000-05:00

Jared Jeffries picked up a bunch of charges, and leads the league. He flops more than professional soccer players.
Gerald Wallace is the antithesis of Jared Jeffries. Jeffries gets easily knocked over from minimal contact, Wallace plows guys over with maximal contact.

Doing what they do best.

The Bobcats jersies have really stupid collars that don't go all the way around the neck

Who designed this?

Danilo "Dikembe" Gallinari had 2 blocks in just 21 minutes last night. He is averaging 1.5 blocks and 1.3 steals per game in December. Who says he is just a glorified Wally Szczerbiak?
I love Mike D'Antoni, but why can't he play Gallinari for 36 minutes per game? Or throw Toney Douglas some minutes when Hughes and Duhon begin to falter.
Jonathan Bender is only 28. He is 7 feet tall and has been training with an olympian high jumper for a long time. I am drinking the Bender Kool-Aid right now and can't wait to see him in action.
I said to myself heading into the fourth quarter "this is one of the games the Knicks usually blow, but they are different now." I guess I was wrong.
Jeffries for 3!
JJ was +15 on the game and Gallo was the only other Knickerbocker in the positives with a +2. Hughes and Al were -15 each and Wil was -14 despite playing well.
43 turnovers makes for some ugly basketball. Gotta take better care of the ball.
I hate when Eddy Curry is in the game. It is like telling the opponent "ok we aren't trying to win for a few minutes, we need to force it to Eddy so we can showcase him for a trade." Winning should be the top priority.
The Bobcats don't have many fans.
The Knicks have been playing a lot of zone. I personally hate playing against a zone, and it is amazing to see how much trouble NBA teams have against the Knicks nebulous 2-3/3-2. Jeffries is the crux, his length and agility up top can close out on shooters, disrupt passing lanes, and come with the help block.
Duhon missed 2 out of 3 foul shots and Gallo missed 1 of 2. Rare.

Knicks lose to Bobcats, Make me Cry

2009-12-16T09:23:00.000-05:00

The Knicks should have won last night. They played very hard and had one of their best defensive showings of the year, but the pressure of Larry Brown's defense led to a ton of Knicks turnovers (21) which cost them the game. Jared Jeffries was all over the place and scored a few buckets too, having probably his best game of the year and showing why he gets PT. Gallo seemed out of it, was almost scared to shoot, and missed a few treys by a couple miles. He did get his usual 2 blocks in just 22 minutes, prompting me to ponder who will go down as the better shot blocker, Danilo or Dikembe?

The Knicks had 10 swats last night

You could feel the momentum swing in the Bobcats favor as the Knicks sluggishly finished the 3rd quarter and let the Bobcats back within single digits. It was deja vu when Raymond Felton stuck the dagger in with 2 uncontested layups down the stretch, which I think he did at the Garden in the previous fiasco against the Bobcats.

I really hate this guy

Why is Eddy Curry playing? I know they want to showcase him or whatever, but is anybody dumb enough to want to trade for him? The only reason anyone would trade for Curry is if it saves them money down the road. For example, maybe the Bobcats deal Desagana Diop and Acie Law for Eddy Picante. Diop's contract goes into 2011/2012, when he will make an insane 7 million, but it would lower the Knicks cap figure by about 4 million next year. The Bobcats would like it because it would save them a couple million over the long term. Is it worth it getting that extra cap space for next year if you have to take back one of the worst contracts in the NBA? I don't know. I just wish Jordan Hill or Toney Douglas were getting minutes instead of Eddy.

The Knicks will bounce back tomorrow against the Bulls. It's just the beginning of another winning streak.

Bender, star of 2010 Knicks?

An Early Christmas Present (Not About Jonathan Bender)

2009-12-14T23:12:00.000-05:00

Wow this made my day. Some guy Big C makes Knicks video mixes and today he let his latest video out on the internets, and I gotta say it is an instant classic. Just watch it. See all Big C's videos at http://fromthebaseline.com/

In other Knicks news, they have signed former Indiana Pacer Jonathan Bender. He came out of high school as a raw 7 footer with guard skills, and was supposed to be in KG's mold, but bad knees put a stop to his career a bunch of year ago. Now he is back and we have to assume better than ever. Some think this signing indicates a coming trade, maybe of a big man, but I think it is just Donnie Walsh helping out an old player of his who is supposedly a great guy and hard worker. The contract is non guaranteed so no risk really. Optimistic fans, dream that he is bigger stronger faster than he once was and maybe becomes Jared Jeffries with a jump shot.

LeBron DeBate

2009-12-14T17:26:00.000-05:00

As a New Yorker I like to think that this is the best city in the world. Every day I feel priveleged to walk amongst the skyscrapers, thinking about how many billions of people have saved up to come here for vacation, to witness America in all it's capitalistic glory. Some people not from here, like people from Cleveland or something, probably think New York isn't so great and has rats and bums and LeBron can be just as huge staying in Cleveland.

I think LeBron will be a Knick. The Cavs are a pretty crappy team sans LBJ, and the 2010 Knicks will be an awesome team, regardless of the supporting cast, if they have LeBron. The media makes a big deal about supporting cast, but LeBron is bigger than that, and NY prob has a better supporting cast to build around anyway (ahem Danilo Gallinari ahem). I don't like talking much about LeBron because I care so much about the season at hand, but once the off season comes I will talk much much much more about it.

Here is a great discussion NBA fanhouse talking about the possibilities for the King. It's a real good read and covers a lot of the sides of the hypothetical debate that will not be over until the summer. http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/12/14/roundtable-does-lebron-need-to-leave-cleveland/

For all the NY haters (I doubt any read this blog, not many people read this blog at all) just look at these pics of and try not to be filled with awe.

Knicks best 5 man unit is # 3 in NBA

2009-12-14T16:35:00.000-05:00

If I had to guess the Knicks most effective lineup, I would go with Lee Jeffries Gallinari Chandler and Hughes. Jeffries Chandler and Hughes bring the D, Gallo does it all, and Lee takes care of the offense and the resounding rebounding. I would be wrong though.

According to basketballvalue.com, the best 5 man unit on the team, and the 3rd best in the entire NBA (with at least 5% of the teams minutes) is Duhon, Hughes, Harrington, Jeffries, and Lee. With this group on the floor, the Knicks allow a mere 79.37 points per 100 possesions, which is the 9th best number in the NBA. Are these group of guys the 9th best defensive 5 man unit, ahead of groups like the Magic's Nelson, Carter, Pietrus, Barnes, Howard? Probably not, but it has to mean something.

On offense this group of 5 scores 133.87 points per 100 possesions. Theoretically, this means that if this team played 100 possesions together, the score over that span of time would be 134-79, and their overall rating is +54.5. In actuality, when on the court together this group has outscored their foes 83-50. Not bad for the group of vets. It is still early in the season, but it will be interesting to keep an eye on the numbers as the season progresses.

Looking some more at the 5 man units, it seems like whenever Wilson Chandler is in the game, the team struggles. If you look at the individual plus minus numbers, Wil is the rotation player who has the worst impact on the team. The team is 3.04 point per 100 possesions better on offense without Wil, and surprisingly 4.7 points per 100 possesions better without Wil on the defensive end.

The Knicks rotation players who make a positive impact on defense are in order, Jeffries, Hughes and Danilo. Lee, Chandler, Harrington and Duhon are in the red for defensive rating.

On offense Harrington, Hughes, Lee, and amazingly Jeffries are impacting positively, while Nate, Chandler and Duhon are bringing the negatives.

I'm no stat guru, and I am sure that the conclusions to be drawn from these stats are debatable. It is early in the season, and as the sample size grows thing will become more clear. But I would like to think that the Knicks 5 vets are the 3rd best unit in basketball, behind only the Magic group of Nelson, Redick, Barnes, Anderson, Howard; and the Warriors team of Curry, Ellis, Morrow, Radman, and Randolph.

Knicks Remain Unstoppable

2009-12-11T23:46:00.000-05:00

I guess it is about time to admit the truth. The Knicks are unbeatable. They have now won 4 games in a row, and my quick attempt at research told me that they haven't achieved this since March 4th, 2005. Tonight they toyed with the New Orleans Hornets, playing them even for about 3 and a half quarters and catching fire in the last 5 minutes. The Knicks trailed by one, 96-95 with 4:43 left on the clock. In the final 4 minutes minutes the Knicks attempted seven three pointers, and made six. First Duhon hit what would be the game winning 3 pointer from well beyond the arc, then he came back down and sank one from even deeper on the wing to put the team ahead 101-96. Next up was Al Harrington, who coolly drained two consecutive bombs of his own to stick the dagger in the Hornets, it Knicks 107-96. Duhon was banking and thanking with 1:06 left as he dropped his third three of the serquence off glass, and the bank remained open for Danilo Gallinari with the clock winding down and the Knicks won the hard fought game, 113-96.

Just as amazing as this stretch of three pointers was the fact that the Knicks held the Hornets scoreless for the final 5 minutes of the 4th. Staunch D and a barrage of threes is a recipe for wins if you ask me. Gallo and Jeffries both played pesky defense, and had 2 blocks a piece. Ragdoll also had 3 steals. The Knicks continue with this newfound swarming defense, and they had 7 steals and 7 blocks as a team. I love it!

The Knicks are playing like a true team, and embracing the key to Mike D'Antoni's offensive system, ball movement and unselfish play. Everyone is taking good shots for the most part, they are looking for each instead of jacking up shots, and making smart decisions. Lee, Harrington, Duhon, Gallinari, Chandler, and Jeffries all could be player of the game.

Harrington led all scorers with 28 points (only 20 shots!) and hit the 2 clutch threes. Wil the Thrill had 20 points on 15 shots, played strong defense and had 3 blocks. Duhon ran the show and had 9 assists to 0 turnovers, scored 22 points on just 11 shots, and also was huge in the clutch. Welcome back Chris Duhon wow keep it up please. Jeffries didn't do much on offense, which is a good thing, only had 1 turnover, and wreaked mild havoc and flopped frequently. David Lee and the Rooster had typically awesome games. Lee had a solid 17 and 14, and did a decent job on defense. Gallo was 4-8 and 2-4 on 3's, and notched his third double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. He is consistently awesome, and keeps getting better. You now see little things like a smart cut to the basket, crashing the offensive glass, deflecting passes, and scoring off a pull up mid range jumper. I can't imagine he will be out of the starting lineup for long, but right now there is no reason to mess with the teams success.

The Hornets played ok and Chris Paul was very enjoyable to watch. He is so in control of everything on offense, it really seems like he can do whatever he wants. He finds his teammates with simple passes for open looks over and over. He had 13 and 13, but it was a poor game by his standards. Peja Stojakovic hurt the Knicks in the first half with a bunch of 3's but was a nonfactor after that. The defense of the Hornets couldn't do anything and allowed the Knicks to shoot 55 percent from the field, and 52 percent on 3's.

It is getting pretty normal to see the Knicks go down big early, 11-0 tonight, and end up winning.

My hopes keep getting higher for this team, and the playoffs look like a real possibility. Next up are the Bobcats, Bulls, Clippers, Bobcats and Bulls, and a 9 game winning streak.

Al Harrington banked home a half court halftime buzzer beater, and Duhon put on a show for his Momma in NOLA.

Gallo on the Rise

2009-12-10T13:29:00.000-05:00

ESPN writer David Thorpe has a running column featuring the top 20 NBA sophs, and guess who is climbing the rankings? Danilo debuted as the 13th best second year player, but in the second installment is up to 8th. In my eyes he should undoubtedly be higher. I'm sure next week he will continue his climb. Anyway check out what Thorpe has to say about The Rooster.

"The Knicks are on the upswing, and Gallo is part of the reason why. He continues to be a shooting threat and has scored in double figures in three of their recent wins. He's also making defensive contributions, adding 1.8 steals and 1.3 blocks so far in December.

Knicks fans are surely envisioning his skills meshing well with a certain MVP-caliber 3-man. I'll put it another way: If Gallo was a Cav, Cleveland would be the best team in basketball."

It is nice that Gallo and the Knicks are starting to get some positive attention from the national media, and also that Danilo is getting props for his defense. He has been blocking shots, stealing the ball, and wreaking havoc on D. He is a little slow to closeout a shooter now and again, but he has been much more active on both sides of the ball and will only continue to improve.

In response to Thorpe's hypothetical situation with Gallo on the Cavs, I think it would work the other way around as well, and if Bron was a Knick, they'd be the best team in the NBA. Hopefully if he does join the Knicks, he won't act like such a douche.

Here is a link to the Full Article. (Might be Insider only)

Goodbye Nate the Great?

2009-12-09T12:11:00.000-05:00

Nate Robinson used to be one of my favorite Knicks. He played his butt off every game, made some of the most unbelievable plays (like blocking Yao, who is 2 feet taller), and showed desire and hustle that the Knicks lacked. He is also jacked like a mini TO.

Nate has always been an entertainer, and now it looks like he'd be more valuable for Vince McMahon than Mike D'Antoni. Nate has always needed to mature, and grow up, and take the game more seriously, and now that he is a veteran 25 year old, his antics are far less excusable than in years past. Nate has been benched that last few games, and when he doesn't play much, the Knicks appear to be much better off as a team. Surprisingly Nate has kept it professional, and is not throwing any Twitter tantrums, so that is good, but he may be stuck to the pine for a while. He is eligible to be traded on ~~the 15th~~ Christmas Eve, so expect the rumors to start flying.

Some fans seem to be pining for Nate to be freed from the pine (outdated reference, they don't sit on a pine bench they sit in metal chairs), but the proof is in the pudding, and the Knicks do not have minutes for Nate.

Nate may be a good scorer but he is bad for the team. He celebrates when they lose. I think this is a main reason why he is benched. Sure he shot 10 for 11 in the 4th against the Magic, but the team did not gain any ground during that stretch, and they still lost. If you watched Nate after he hit his 6th or 7th shot, you would think the Knicks had just sealed a victory, yet they were persistently down by 10. If I were D'Antoni, I wouldn't want a guy celebrating like that while losing. He just doesn't get it, it's about the team.

Imagine if a baseball player hit his 3rd homerun of the game (and his team is losing say, 10-3 in the 9th) admired the blast from home for a little too long, pumped his fist around the bases, tossed his helmet up as he crosses home, and takes a curtain call from the dugout. This is essentially what Nate was doing down the stretch against the Magic. He seemingly cares about individual success over team success, and that is why he is benched. He cleary does not know how to Do What Toney Douglas Do, and I think Douglas is better than Nate anyway.

Who could the Knicks acquire for the Lilliputian leaping lighting bolt? There are some issues with trading him. First off, Nate has the right to reject any trade since he signed a 1 year deal for his old team or something. Despite this, he isn't likely to reject going to a team where he'd be guaranteed minutes. Another thing is the base year compensation stuff (details here members.cox.net/lmcoon/salarycap.htm#Q73) . I don't know a lot about it, I know it makes it hard to match salaries for cap purposes, so it will be tough to deal Nate to another team that is over the cap. The Thunder are under the cap, and maybe they'd like to bring in Nate as a backup guard to help with the playoff rally, in exchange for one of their 2 first round picks(the better of which will likely be in the 12-16 range). Maybe if Curry gets back in shape the Thunder would like Nate and Eddy Picante for a first rounder and...wait no nevermind they won't do that. Whatever happens it will be interesting to see how the Nate situation goes down.

I miss Z-Bo

2009-12-08T23:15:00.000-05:00

I am watching the Grizzlies game against the Cavs on NBA TV and it really makes me sad watching the force that is Z-Bo dominating for another team. The Knicks were wise to take the deal, but Donnie Walsh sure didn't show his usual patience with dealing Z-Bo. If the Knicks held on to Z-Bo last season, they would have probably finished better off than they did. They might have got a better player in the draft if they had a better record and picked in the late lottery (Lawson would be my guess, how cool would that be?). Also, Z-Bo's contract does not look so as bad since you only have to pay him for one more year. The Knicks would be looking to deal Z-Bo now, and I am pretty sure he would be putting up over 20 ppg and 10 rpg. In the end it was too risky not to deal at the first offer, since we now hypothetically can get LeBron or Wade. Joe Johnson would be nice too, but beyond him I really don't rate Bosh that much higher than Z-Bo.

Z-Bo was a graceful scorer for the Knicks, and his interesting look and equally interesting attitude and play style made for great entertainment. His jumpshot did not involve jumping, and in fact he rarely jumped at all. D'Antoni did like Zach's game, and might be looking to sign him when Curry and Jeffries expire for 2011, in my dreamworld. For more of my thoughts on the greatness that was Zach Randolph, check out my tribute to him.

I now leave you with this quote from the Memphis Grizzlies announcer, with a bit of a southern twang,

"Zach Randolph has done it all year for the Grizzlies. Just don't know if there could have been a better fit for the Grizzlies than Zach Randolph. Lemme tell you what, I'm gonna say off the court too. He has been absolutely a dream and every time the grizzlies do something, it's 3 rookies and zach. He's there everytime."

Wow never thought I'd hear anyone say such kind words for Zach, but good work Z-Bo.

Also, check out this story about Randolph's untradeable contract. Interesting read in hindsight (they underestimated Isiah Thomas). This guy may have been ahead of his time talking about the value of the 2010 free agent crop, and there are some real funny comments that he was way off. For example, the guy says Eddy Curry is a reasonably decent value at under 12,000,000, but says Jason Richardson is more borderline untradeable.

Update: The Grizz went on to win the game in OT behind a monster night from Z-Bo. 32 points on 19 shots, 14 rebounds (7 offensive), 4 steals, 2 assists, a block (!) and only 1 turnover. The Bull is a monster.

The Knicks are Unstoppable

2009-12-07T23:47:00.000-05:00

The Knicks are on a 3 game winning streak for the first time all season, and are now 4-1 in December. They just beat the Blazers with relative ease, 93-84, and are looking like they might actually be a good NBA team. The Knicks played real team basketball and were simply the better team on both ends of the ball throughout the game. Brandon Roy could not muster any heroics, and the Blazer team looked lackluster and a step slow throughout. The Knicks featured a quintet of double digit scorers, featuring efficient output from Larry Hughes, David Lee, Wilson Chandler, and of course, Danilo Gallinari. Those four combined to score 66 points on 46 shots (I think that's good). The defense was described as "swarming" for the first time in a long time, and the team forced 18 turnovers, led by 2 blocks and 2 steals for both Jared Jeffries and the Rooster. Gallo had 2 emphatic Cockblocks on Andre Miller, and could be a developing shot blocker.

Look out NBA Gallo keeps breaking out new tricks.

All in all the team rocked the house and played awesome, again without the Lilliputian one seeing a minute.

More random thoughts from the game:

Kelly Tripucka has got to be one of the worst sports commentators out there. He seems like a great guy and was mentioned a bunch of times in Bill Simmon's book, which gives him some cred, but he is a run-on sentence waiting to happen. Here is an example, from the pregame talk. This is all said in one breath, as one sentence, with little to no audible pauses. "Oh I think mike it starts with playing hard and they have to play hard every single night i think they're doing that for longer stretches but i think as the players and the coaches spoke, they're playing more as a team at both ends of the court but i think defensively they're playing better for longer stretches, they don't have to be a good defensive team or a great defensive team they just have to be good in spots for longer stretches and i think they're starting to get that and its nice to see team basketball." It also doesn't make much sense. Makes me miss Clyde so much more. What happened to Gus Johnson by the way?
Tripucka did make a solid comment when he talked about how Jeffries needs to learn what he is good at and stick to that and not do what he isn't good at, like shooting.
The Knicks made hustle plays all game and that is the type of thing that is totally in the players control. Nice to see proud, motivated play.
Al Harrington started ice cold and stayed that way. He ended with 12 points on 15 shots.
Gallo had one of his best games despite shooting only 4 for 10, 3 for 7 from deep. It seemed like he drew ten fouls. After Martell Webster blatantly tugged The Rooster's jersey for a silly off the ball foul, I thought to myself "These teams are scared to give him an inch. Smart foul because it sends him to the line for 2 points and he would have most likely nailed a 3."
Gallo also forced a turnover by blanketing point guard Jared Bayless off a made basket, denying the inbound. Duhon stole, and Al finished it off with a 3.
Jared "Ragdoll"Jeffries is the king of taking charges. He had 2 today and the Knicks team as a whole made big plays that don't show on the stat sheet.
Toney Douglas did what Toney Douglas Do, but only for a measley 11 minutes.
Nobody shined for the Blazers, and their star Brandon Roy was not much of a factor. I still love watching him play. It is like he is underwater or in molasses. He has a very methodical and unique game.
Jared Bayless looks like a player. Kind of in the mold of Monta Ellis, very explosive. 14 points in 17 minutes
Chris Duhon had an acceptable game by his lowered standards. He had 9 assists which is a lot these days, and the ball was moving crisply most of the game. I don't know how much Duhon's supposed facilitating of the offense influenced this, but he did play very hard and was all around ok.
For the halftime show, they should definitely televise whenever they have little kids play basketball. It is riveting. Also, Celine Dion is a terrible interview, poor Jill Martin.
Jared Jeffries made a long jump shot!
Juwon Howard?
The Blazers had a 14-0 run in the fourth extinguished by Danilo's signature stutter step three from the top of the key. Right before this happened I wrote in my notes "Rooster Time?" I kid you not.
David Lee could be earning himself some big bucks this season. He is consistently very good, and is improving at his major weakness, defense. He really stroked the jumper tonight. I just tried to google search for his shooting percentage on jump shots, but all I could find was this David Lee Jumpshot Secrets.

It was nice to have another end to end win, like the Suns game. Dangerous thoughts are going through my head. Could they be beginning a ten game winning streak? Are the Knicks actually good. If any of you read Bill Simmons Book of Basketball, he talks about the secret. It comes from a convo with our very own Isiah Thomas, who says like a wise sage "the secret of basketball is not about basketball." It's basically team chemistry, knowing how to make your teammates better, passing players the ball where they like it, keeping everyone involved and going to your strengths, inherently knowing what it takes to win and executing. I think Mike D'Antoni knows the secret, and I am beginning to feel like the Knicks may have figured it out.

Ya Gotta Take the Crookeds with the Straights

2009-12-02T22:46:00.000-05:00

The Knicks decimated the top of the table Phoenix Suns on Tuesday, by a baffling score of 126-99, while amazingly holding the high flying Suns under 100 for the first time all year. How did they do it? The ball was moving, the dishes were leading to swishes (31 team assists), and the whole team was hustling, bustling and muscling their way to every loose ball. It was truly a beatiful thing to behold. I was skeptic yet hopeful at the half with a 13 point lead, with the knowledge that the team was playing its best ball of the season, but also remembering how abruptly the Knicks often turn for the worse. Luckily the Rooster spread his wings and flew in the 3rd quarter, as the team actually built on a lead and was up by 24 after the period.

The Knicks actually blew a team out, and cruised to an easy win. Today was filled with suspense. Would the Knicks play two great games in a row and beat Superman and the Magic? Unfortunately the answer was no, the tables turned, and the Knicks were beaten handily. The score was a semi-respectable 118-104, thanks to a late run by the Future Knicks.

The big win against the Suns was a euphoric experience. I had almost forgotten what it felt like to root for a good team. The Knicks, Mets and Jets so rarely win in convincing fashion, and every win or loss is a heart attack waiting to happen. The sublime feeling of watching my favorite team dominate one of the best in the NBA was probably magnified exponentially by the rareness in which games like these occur. If the Knicks ever get consistently good, I will probably be a happier fan, but the win against the Suns was like a guy getting out of jail and sleeping with his lady for the first time in a long time.

Danilo Gallinari was at his best all game, showing a dazzling array of abilities and playing with a cocksure swagger. He led all scorers with 27 points on 6-12 from beyond the arc, and added 10 boards, 2 blocks, 2 assists, and some pizzazz for the crowd. The Knicks decided to thaw out the Rooster, and he was noticeably given a more prominent role in the offense. He was cutting, getting passes down low, coming off screens, crashing the boards, and of course raining all kinds of 3's. He hit one of an iso dribble from about 5 feet beyond the top of the key as the shot clock expired. Danilo got 19 shots, and he deserves 20+ per game.

Gallo showed his versatility and star potential with a flurry of great plays. Just check out these highlights and tell me he can't be a star.

David Lee was great and is becoming more of a scorer, Larry Hughes ran the offense better than Duhon ever could with 12 assists, and Jared Jeffries had a +/- of +30.

The loss against the Magic was easy to take. After such a great win against the Suns, I would be greedy to expect the Knicks to win again, against another top team. Basically Rashard Lewis and Mikael Pietrus burned the arena down in the 3rd quarter. The Knicks were crushed, but this also brought me great joy. Why? Because for a long stretch of the 4th quarter, we saw a glimpse of the future, as Jordan Hill, Gallo, Wil, Marcus Landry, and Toney Douglas shared the court for the first time. Unlike nearly every lineup the Knicks utilize, this group of young guns are all a pretty good bet to be on the squad next year. It was nice to see D'Antoni let them get out there, mesh, and get better together. Douglas, Chandler,and Landry all looked particulary good tonight.

Gallo turned a poor shooting night into a decent game, ending up with 20 points, 7 rebounds, 4 steals and 3 assists despite only going 5-14. He was aided by 10 free throws, of which he made 8. The scouting report is out, and the Magic defenders (Matt Barnes, Rashard Lewis, and Mikael Pietrus), all played very tough, physical, and tight D on Gallo. It seems like most of Gallo's forays to the hoop end in a trip to the line, where he is at 88% for his career. If the 3 is not there, Gallo should be more assertive in driving to the rim. Or maybe he can just keep shooting 3's which may be the most efficient play, I dunno. Perhaps the best thing about this game for Danilo was he played 40 minutes in the second game of a back to back. If his playing time stays like this I will be a happy man.

The future Knicks were fun to watch. Toney Douglas is a sharp shooter, and could be superceding Nate as the 1st guard off the bench. As he gets more playing time, I look forward to Toney eventually taking over the point guard reigns. He had 17 points in 21 minutes, shooting 7-11. Marcus Landry is solid and looks like he will be at least a good defensive role player, who can also shoot the 3. If he improves like his brother Carl on the Rockets has, he could become more than a role player. I was so pumped by all 5 Knicks of the future playing together it made me forget about the blowout and feel kinda good about where this team is headed. Coach D'Antoni was getting after these guys late in the blowout, and wants them to be good just as bad as we do. Hopefully as the a chance at the playoffs approaches mathematical impossibility, these 5 young Knickerbockers will get more and more burn.

I am becoming very adept at enjoying watching bad teams. Like August Wilson wrote in his play Fences "You gotta take the crookeds with the straights" and with the Knicks, you also gotta find the straights in the crookeds.

Knicks Weekend in Review

2009-11-23T12:11:00.001-05:00

On Saturday afternoon the Knicks beat the Nets, 98-91, in a game that was not all that exciting or interesting. Danilo Gallinari continued to be the most consistent and efficient Knickerbocker, netting 17 points on 6-12 shooting, and 3-8 on three pointers, but for some reason only managed to play 26 minutes. Al Harrington also had 17 points, on 6-14 shooting. David Lee had a rough time with Brook Lopez towering over him, and shot a poor 4-13, but he did manage 16 points and 12 rebounds, aided by 8-9 from the charity stripe. To Lee's credit, he fearlessly attacked Lopez and kept him frustrated and in foul trouble for most of the game.

Many may say this was a breakout game for Chris Duhon, and maybe he is getting out of his funk, but I think Duhon is hopeless. When the starting point guard on a high paced team has a "breakout game" and the result is 11 points, 8 assists to 2 turnovers, and 5 rebounds on 4-9 shooting, that is not good. A good game for Duhon is now any time he plays like a mediocre point guard. Ummmm hello Donnie Walsh, Allen Iverson is available for nothing. I know Iverson is not a true point guard like Duhon, but this breakout game for Duhon would be considered dreadful for Iverson. He could get 8 assists a night just driving and kicking to Gallo in the corner. Sure he may commit 3 or 4 turnovers, but he's also score 20-25 points, and draw fouls. The only thing Duhon ever does that benefits the team is pick and roll with David Lee. Lee is so adept at rolling, finding space and catching difficult passes that I think it makes Duhon look better than he really is. We saw this weekend that Hughes is just as capable picking and rolling with Lee (and maybe more so, since defenses have to respect Hughes driving and finishing), and we've also seen success with a Gallo/Lee pick and roll, so Duhon is perhaps overrated in that aspect of the game. More on Duhon later.

A nice trend that has emerged the past few games is the Knicks seem to be playing harder for the whole game, focusing more on defense, and just playing at a higher level altogether. The team has definitely been more consistent, and more committed and passionate as a whole. Eddy Curry seems to be injected with new life during his latest renaissance, notably shoving around Solomon Jones in his first game against the Pacers, and Kendrick Perkins yesterday against the Celtics. Others are attacking the hoop more often, and the team just seems better. Not good, but better.

The Celtics game was quite painful for me. I had a family get together for an early Thanksgiving, and my Dad wanted to watch the Giants game. His rationale was "why watch a game we already know the outcome of." He was assuming the Knicks would lose, obviously. I gave him a lecture about the beauty and unpredictability of sports on any given day, but I knew I had the game recording, so we put on the Giants and. On DVR late that night, as I watched the game unfold, I really thought the Knicks would win. I watched intently as Gallo threw down a monster slam and postured to the crowd, as Nate the Great finally got hot (not surprising being his muse, Will Ferrell, was in the front row filming a scene for a movie, with Marky Mark, Rosie Perez and Brooke Shields) and as KG ineffectively limped around and gimpily tried to defend a dominant Al Harrington. With 5 minutes left in the 4th quarter, the Knicks were up 89-84, and seemingly headed for victory. I was giddy with anticipation of the sure to be tense final portion of the game. Then I received the dreaded text from my dad. "We should have watched the Knicks. They went into OT before they lost again." Is there ever a time you plan to watch a game on DVR and somebody doesn't ruin it? I was deflated, disgusted, and in disbelief. Instead of watching the final 5 minutes of regulation wondering if the Knicks would pull off the upset, I had to await the inevitable demise. Al Harrington was clutch in nailing 2 free throws to send the game to OT, but KG had the last laugh, with a buzzer beater from the top of the key that gave the Celts the 107-105 win. They had a foul to give, but once again did not give it, and were felled by the buzzer beater. Paul Pierce gets the game ball for this game, with 33 points on 17 shots, including an amazing 6-7 on threes, and also 9 boards, 6 assists, 2 blocks and a steal. He is consistently great and one of my favorite players to watch do his thing.

This was one of the few games this year that the Knicks played hard and tight throughout. They were asleep to start the 2nd half, but did not allow the deficit to get too large as they stormed back to take the lead. David Lee, Nate Robinson and Al Harrington all played great, and the Knicks were nearly able to overcome another dreadful night from the starting backcourt. Duhon and Hughes combined to shoot 3-17! That rounds up to 18%. Duhon played 47 minutes this time, for some reason, and put up 3 points and 6 assists. How is that possible? How is he starting? Why did he play twice as much as Gallo, when The Rooster was 4-8 with 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals in 25 minutes? Whyyyyyyyyyy Chris Duhon whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy?!? And as for the supposed development of the young future, Toney Douglas only played 6 minutes. What kind of world do we live in where Gallo and Douglas combine for 31 minutes, and Duhon plays 47? What does Coach D'Antoni see in Duhon that I can't?

Eddy Curry and Kendrick Perkins surprisingly didn't kill each other, but Curry did bodyslam innocent bystander Rondo out of midair for a crucial flagrant foul that resulted in 2 foul shots and the ball for the C's. I don't care I like the way he is playing tough and physical and not backing down. Al Harrington and Nate Robinson should save the over the top celebrations until after a victory is sealed. Al's shirt tugging and Nate's flexing and chest bumping should be saved for actual wins.

There are obviously a lot of positives to take out of this game. Sure, the Knicks did their usual get the fans hopes up as much as possible before losing, but they should have won against one of the elite NBA teams. Gallo has been mixing up his game more and his throwdown brought a tear to my eye. Check out the video! Cockadoodledoo! The defense is much improved, people are rotating quickly and contesting layups, even if they still can't stop a legitimate center (like Kendrick Perkins, who had 16 points on 7 shots, 13 rebounds and 4 blocks and may be the most underrated player in the league). I think it is not a coincidence that the Knicks played one of their best games when Jared Jeffries was inactive. Let's keep it that way! I just wish D'Antoni would embrace the future, exile Duhon, and give divide his 47 minutes between Gallo, Douglas, Nate, and Hill. It's also not too late to sign Iverson.

The Knicks have just begun on a very ominous stretch of the schedule, during which the Knicks face the Lakers, Kings, Nuggets, Magic, Suns, Magic and Hawks in the next week and a half. They will be lucky to win more than one of those, and could be looking at a 3-17 record before they face the Nets for another win on December 6th.

And of course, Scals played great for Boston, with a 3 pointer, a rebound, and stellar D.

Knicks are Winners and Losers

2009-11-20T14:20:00.000-05:00

The Knicks are Winners. They beat the Indiana Pacers 110-103 on Wednesday with a fantastic comeback that culminated with a 23-3 run in the 4th quarter. Angry Al Harrington finally hit some 3's, and if Gus Johson was announcing, I'm sure we would have heard giddy shouts of "My NAME'S AL HARRINGTON AND I GET BUCKETS!" If Al hits his shots he is a good player, but so far this year he hasn't been hitting shots. Hopefully he keeps up the good work against non-Pacers opponents. The Knicks outscored the Pacers 56-34 in the 2nd half, after of course being down 15 at the half. Harrington led the way with 26 points on 13 shots (Yay for efficiency!) and 4 of 6 from downtown. Larry Hughes contributed despite shooting poorly, pitching in 10 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals and a block. As Nate Robinson tweeted, the win got King Kong of the Knicks' collective back.

The Knicks are Losers. Even in the win, the Knicks were losers. The young talent (Gallo, Douglas, Hill) combined for 32 minutes. This is how many minutes each of these guys should get every night, but the team won so I will let Coach D'Antoni slide on this one. Gallo didn't score a point, and only took 2 shots. These younguns also combined to have a plus/minus of -35, so it worked out, but they need minutes to develop confidence, feel, and chemistry.

The Knicks are Winners. Eddy Curry returned, and played very well, with 10 points on 4 shots, and added 4 rebounds, in only 12 minutes of play. He looked strong, skinny (for him), and agile. He repeatedly beasted his way into low post position, and made a couple nifty jump hooks. He even showed that as his belly has shrunk, the fire inside it has been growing, when he had a little shoving match and heated argument after Solomon Jones hit him in the face. To Paraphrase Wu Tang Clan, Eddy Curry aint nothing to F*$k wit. The Knicks must feel like huge winners, now that Eddy may be a decent player again, or even (gasp) be tradeable.

The Knicks are Losers. In a good way. Eddy must have lost at least 60 pounds. He said the hardest part, and the key to the weight loss was giving up fruit juice. I like to think the key, and the hardest part was the two a day workouts he put in every day for the past month or so, but maybe Eddy Picante really really likes apple juice. Eddy Curry, you are the biggest loser.

The Knicks are Huge, Dumb, Stupid, Scared, Lame, Old Losers. The Knicks should have signed Allen Iverson in the offseason. They didn't, and a 2-9 record followed, with a starting point guard in Chris Duhon who boasts a PER of 7.08. League average for PER is 15. So Duhon is half as good as the average player. Iverson would definitely be better for the Knicks at point guard than Duhon. He is an above average player. The Knicks could have started him, given him 36-40 mpg, and improved their team from garbage to semi-respectable. His drives would have opened up kickouts to Gallo, he could have been a leader on a team that has no focal point, and he would draw fouls, which is one of the Knicks weak points. Sure he is bad at defense, but Duhon is awful at defense as well.

The biggest defense for not signing him is he could have cause massive headaches. I beg to differ. Put him in for 40 minutes a game, and he would be more than happy after the last season with Detroit and this years debacle with Memphis. He would be playing home games in the Garden, in front of thousands of adoring fans desperate for a star. I really believe things would have been peachy with Iverson and the Knicks, especially with a player's coach like Mike D at the helm.

Even if Iverson did start to stir the pot and brew some trouble, the Knicks could just cut him like the Grizzlies did, and be right where they are now. They don't even have incentive to tank, since they don't own their first rounder. Maybe if Iverson played well they could trade him to a contender with Jeffries or something for an expiring. It would have been a no risk signing, with a chance for at least a small reward.

Another worry was that Ivy would hinder the development of Douglas. I say boo to this, because Douglas has started alongside Duhon, so he could still start next to Iverson. It would be a 2 headed dynamic backcourt, instead of one dynamic player and a washed up sloth. The whole Knicks team may learn how to play hard and give your all for the W, something they seem to lack.

In the end, either way the Knicks are going to be losers more often than winners this year, but they had a chance to tip the scales toward winning, and missed out. Iverson was my favorite player growing up, I had his jersey and 3 different Reebok Answer shoe models. My first Knicks game was Knicks vs. Sixers, and I was crushed when Iverson was inactive due to an injury or something. I would have finally been able to see him in the Garden, and as a Knick, shaking and baking, driving and thriving, twisting and assisting, grinning and winning. Alas, it was not to be, and James Dolan was too afraid that Iverson's tude would lead to another Marbury situation, and turned a no lose situation into a loss.

Time to Start Rebuilding

2009-11-15T13:56:00.000-05:00

The Knicks have struggled badly out of the gate and are 1-9. The players who I thought would be playing their butts off to earn a new contract have been playing terribly, and it is pretty clear that the team is not going to sniff the playoffs. The Knicks brass should see that the team is not fit to compete with the rest of the NBA, except maybe the Nets and the Wolves, and they also must realize that most of the rotation players will not be on the team next year.

In a look toward the future, I would like to see Mike D'Antoni either bench or greatly reduce roles for guys like David Lee, Nate Robinson, Chris Duhon, and Al Harrington, and put out a starting lineup of Douglas, Chandler, Gallinari, Hill and Curry, with Jeffries as a sixth man. I would also have Hughes play a lot, since he is one of the few Knicks who cares about defense. In the offseason quest to sign LeBron, Wade, Bosh, Joe Johnson, whoever, there most likely won't be enough money left to resign any of the expiring players, and none of them are really worth it anyway, so they may as well give the young players who have a future with the Knicks some time to grow together, learn the game, and develop. It will be rough and there will be some blowouts, but how much worse can the team really get? Not only would this give Douglas and Hill some time to learn the NBA game, it will let the core of the future build chemistry with eachother. Gallo would also be free to become the leader of the team, the star, and the one who drives the offense. Playing guys like Al and Nate, who fancy themselves as stars, destroys chemistry, since they pass only out of necessity, and stifles the development of Gallo. Watching Douglas and Gallinari play, the thing that stands out is they mostly shot good shots, when they are relatively open and in rhythm (sure Gallo can chuck some 3's, but he makes most of them). If they don't have a good shot, they pass, which keeps the offense in motion and helps everyone get in the flow of the game. It can't get worse, so why not try something new?

Curry and Jeffries must play big roles as well, not because they have a future on the team, but because they need to be showcased for a possible trade. Donnie Walsh should do everything he can to packgage Curry or Jeffries with somewhat valuable commodities (Lee, Chandler, Harrington, Hughes, Nate). They won't be on the team next year, so we might as well use them to reduce our cap number. The team can't trade Nate or Lee until Christmas, and even after they would have to agree to the trade, but with their value plummeting as the team stinks it up, why wouldn't they want to abandon the Knicks.

This is going to be a long season, and the only reason I am watching is to see some development from Gallo, Douglas, and Hill. I hope D'Antoni sends a message to the vets and reduces their roles and sets the young guns free to develop and grow to get ready to win next year.

Toney Douglas is also growing some serious sideburns and may be modelling his facial hair after the Legend Walt Clyde Frazier. Any time a young Knicks point guard is idolizing Clyde in any way, it is a good thing.

A Tribute to Z-Bo

2009-11-12T22:33:00.000-05:00

I have come into my own as a Knicks fanatic relatively recently. I admit it, I'm a bandwagon fan and when Starbury and Isaiah came to town, I had to hop on. Anyway, one of my favorite players of the Knicks modern era is Zach Randolph, AKA Z-Bo. When Zach was brought in for a junk pile, I didn't really understand the way the league worked, with salary cap ramifacations and whatnot, so I thought Isaiah got a great deal on a 20-10 lock for years to come. I didn't care about the personal issues, all I cared was that we were undoubtedly getting an offensive force of a big man, who ate rebounds like Mike Sweetney probably scarfed Krispy Kreme bread pudding (Chris Paul's fave).

I never really watched him play, except for maybe a little in college, so little did I know the Knicks were getting one of the most unique and interesting players to watch of all time. The thing about Z-Bo is, he is a 6 foot 9 Power Forward who never, ever dunks. He barely every jumps, staying planted on his behind the head "jump" shot, and boxing out and fighting so hard for board he doesn't have to jump. Throw in ridiculously long arms, a penchant for shooting at all times, and a cute pudgy face, and you have Z-Bo, or as my girlfriend used to call him, "The Bull" (a perfect nickname for the man, he had an uncanny way of plowing head first into the defense, grinding his way close, and banking up a tough shot.)

In 2008, Mike D'Antoni arrived and everyone wondered how The Bull would fit into the system. He seemed to be a perfect fit, with a lethal midrange jumper (unswattable) he was a big who spread the floor. He even attempted 2 3's a game for the Knicks. Hilarity ensued, sometimes he did really funny stuff like this and 20.6 ppg on 17 shots per game followed. Oh and 12.5 rebounds per game...without even jumping.

After the Knicks traded him to the Clippers, Z-Bo gave us what is probably his finest moment.

Anyway, I miss the hustle and bustle and uncanny knack for rebounding that Z-Bo brought to the table. Sure he played awful defense, but so does David Lee and he is still around. I know the Knicks had to get rid of him, but maybe they could have waited until the trade deadline this year, so we could have had another season of The Bull.

In closing, riddle me this. Which person below is Z-Bo, and which person is Eddie Winslow? Or is it a trick question, and are they both Z-Bo, or both Winslow?

Stick a Fork in Chris Duhon

2009-11-11T18:50:00.000-05:00

Just read a great post on Chris Duhon and why he sucks. I agree wholeheartedly. Check it out.
http://whatwouldoakleydo.blogspot.com/2009/11/knicks-be-flat-early-jazz-win-late-95.html

Eddy Curry is Skinny

2009-11-11T14:29:00.000-05:00

Eddy Curry has been working extremely hard, and it seems like he has lost at least 50 pounds since his fattest days last season. It is curious that he hadn't been working hard or trying to stay in shape before now, but props for figuring it out eventually. This is a very exciting development, opening up the possibility for Curry to be a contributor, or even become tradeable.

I remember one game at the Garden, Curry was on fire early and scored 24 points in the first quarter! He didn't score much after that but the memory of that utter dominance leaves me hopeful that he will end up doing some positive things this year. The announcers in Fifa 10 say "Form is temporary, but class is forever" and hopefully Curry's past 2 years of dreadful form are over, and his class as a dominant offensive center will return. If Curry actually comes back and is better than ever, it will be very interesting to see what Coach D'Antoni does. Will he alter his philosophy which obviously is not working right now with this team, and utilize the dominant low post scorer by giving him isolations on the low block, or will he try to mold Curry into an Amare like pick and roll beast? Either way Knicks fans, we should be super pumped just for the fact that Eddy is no longer asking his chauffers to touch it, and no longer looks like this:

Ivan Drago Kills Apollo Creed, Knicks

2009-11-10T11:53:00.000-05:00

Ivan Drago is known for his killer right hand straight, it is literally a killer punch. He is not known for his 3 point shot. For his career he is at 31%, so it really hurt when he pummelled the Knicks with a barrage of right handed shots, connecting on 5 out of 8. Drago was heard muttering to his rival tall-skinny-ugly-bad shooter who thinks he can hit 3's, Jared Jeffries, "I must break you."

Knicks Game 8 Recap

2009-11-09T23:08:00.000-05:00

Knicks 93 Jazz 95
Record: 1-7

Happy?

The Knicks are becoming a broken record. It seems like every game this season has been the same story. Knicks sink behind by double digits early, play some of the worst basketball possible, and end the half down by about 20. Then in the second half they storm back, newly motivated and inspired, moving the ball, forcing turnovers, hitting big shots and getting easy buckets. They manage to pull within single digits, the crowd gets hyped, the Defense chants start to shake the Garden....and they come up short. Whether it is double overtime against the Bobcats, overtime on Halloween against the Sixers, the quasi-comeback against the Cavs, or tonights heartbreak against the Jazz, it always ends with a loss.

Here is what you need to know about the game tonight, bullet style.

The Knicks played a 2-3 zone the whole game, and it kind of worked, mainly because the Jazz don't have any decent 3 point shooters.
Andrei Kirilenko (AKA Ivan Drago) exploited the zone and hit 5 for 8 on 3 pointers, but the rest of the Jazz were 3-13. I can't see this defense working against most teams, but nice strategy by D'Antoni.
Danilo Gallinari had 2 beastly rejections. Could the Rooster be a dark horse Swat King? I like to think so.
Toney Douglas had the night of his young career, taking over in crunch time and leading the Knicks Comeback. Douglas led the Knicks with 21 points on 9 of 14 shooting, including 3 for 7 from deep.
Jared Jeffries and Larry Hughes led the team in plus/minus with a respective +9 and +8. Why do the worst players seem to always have the best +/- numbers? Hughes was 3 for 12, but I guess Jeffries had decent numbers. Watching the game he just seemed like he sucked, but he was 2 for 2 with 8 boards, 2 assists and 3 blocks, so I guess he did some good.
Al Harrington is not getting buckets, and this could get ugly. He shot a typical 4 of 14, including 1 for 7 on 3 pointers. On the season Al is shooting 7-32 on 3 pointers, which is 22%, but is still a decent 42 percent from the field. What does all this mean? STOP SHOOTING SO MANY 3's!
Gallinari only played 25 minutes. He was 2 for 7 and 1 of 3 on 3's, but he needs more time and more chances. He can bang 3 of 4 threes in a row at any time and change a game. Gallo was inexplicably yanked with 5 minutes left in the 4th, and only played 11 minutes in the 2nd half. Some fellow fans and I started a "We Want Gallo" chant during the fourth, but he didn't come back in the game until the final play, and was the inbounder for some reason. We need a Gallinari buzzer beater 3 pointer to win so badly it's ridiculous. Let him do his thing, everyone knows 4th quarter time is Rooster time.
Duhon should never start again. Toney Douglas showed he has game on both ends, and Duhon was lame again. Give Toney the reins and let's see what he can do.
Only 8 guys played tonight. No Hill or Darko tonight.
Wilson Chandler had a decent game with 17 points and 10 rebounds, but he just does not look confident. On one play he caught a pass at the top of the key, pump faked when he should have shot, looked for someone to pass to, didn't see anyone, shrugged his shoulders, and timidly hoisted an out of rhythm 3. He still hasn't dunked this season I don't think. He only has been to the line 9 times this year! Wil needs to get more aggressive, but maybe he just doesn't have it in him.
Deron Williams may have only scored 5 points, but he dished out 16 assists. Nice, unselfish distribution against the zone.
Jared Jeffries looked more ridiculous than usual, with a really thick headband that made him look like the shrunken head guy from Beetlejuice.
The Knicks score 31 points in the first half! They doubled that in the second half with 62.
Toney Douglas took the final shot, a tough, off balance runner. Larry Hughes was blocked on a hanging mid range ill advised jump shot the possesion before.
Carlos Boozer quietly dominated the Knicks on the inside, with an efficient 23 and 14 on 14 shots attempts. He seems like a jerk and his free throw routine is ridiculou and he shoots like Marcus Camby.
Mike D'Antoni was absolutey freaking out on the team throughout the game. I could hear him shouting as loud as he could "LET'S GO!!!!" trying to get his team to push the ball and hustle up on offense. If you can't motivate the team to hustle to the offensive end, how can you expect them to hustle back on defense?
I noticed Jared Jeffries looks like Lowly Worm from The Busy World of Richard Scarry.

Knicks Game 6 Recap: The death of optimism?

2009-11-07T22:33:00.000-05:00

Knicks 91 Cavs 100
Record: 1-5

The Knicks lost to the Cavs last night in a 9 point blowout. The score is a lie, and LeBron's blitzkrieg in the first quarter left no doubt and no hope for the Knickerbockers. LeBron was untoppable, doing his best Kobe impression, hitting one contested midrange jumper after another. As was to be expected, LBJ was determined to put on a show, and would have easily outdone last years performance at the Garden if the Knicks would have been able to keep the game at least somewhat competitive. Still, 32 points from only 17 shots, 9 assists and 8 rebounds was not too shabby for the King.

The Knicks actually played LeBron well, not letting him get to the rim and keeping him off the line, but the offense just didn't work. The ball movement and flowing offense that I saw in the 1st half against the Pacers and in the victory against the Hornets, was gone. Instead the team went back to the plan of bombing 3's (28% on 8-28) and taking long contested out of rhythm deep 2's. Chris Duhon and Al Harrington struggled the most for the Knicks, shooting a combined 5 for 20. David Lee, Danilo Gallinari, and Larry Hughes both played well, going 21 for 40 all together, but the Knicks had no chance and everybody knew it. Predictably, the Knicks semi-came-back in the 4th quarter, cut the deficit to 9, the crowd started paying attention, but nobody actually thought they would come all the way back.

The game had 2 main highlights for me. First was Danilo Gallinari singing Beyonce's "Halo" to Al Harrington on the jumbotron in a player karaoke segment. Not only can he shoot, he can sing too! The second was Kevin Rudolf's halftime performance. Not because it was good, it was the most terrible live performance I have ever seen, and maybe the worst of all time. The New York fans, frustrated with their team, and not afraid to speak their mind, mercilessly booed this so called artist. Check out the video, it was a great moment of a group of strangers coming together for a common cause.

I can feel my optimism waning every time I watch the team. There is a war waging between my head and my heart, and each dreadful performance is a crushing blow to the heart. My brain is shouting "The Knicks don't have enough talent to compete with teams like the Pacers and Bobcats on a nightly basis, how can they ever expect to be in a game with teams that are actually good? It is not optimism to believe the Knicks will win their next game, it is delirium. The Knicks are losing right now by 30 in the 3rd quarter TO THE BUCKS! The GM passed on an uber talented point guard in Brandon Jennings to pick a confused and awkward Power Forward which happens to be one of the only positions that the Knicks actually have a starting caliber player!"

But the heart is resilient, and fights back with admittedly weaker arguments, "Jordan Hill was 3-5 on two long jump shots and a nice pick and roll layup last night. Gallinari is a rising superstar who just needs more touches and more opportunities to shine. Nate Robinson, arguably one of the Knicks best players, has been out the last few games. Mike D'Antoni just needs to figure out the right rotations. Maybe the team is just in a flukey collective shooting slump. The team won 32 games last year, how could they have gotten worse when they added Darko, Hill, Douglas, and a healthy Rooster? And finally, it's a long season, it's still early, give it time."

Right now I am very upset. The Knicks are a bad team. But I remain steadfastly hopeful. They could get hot from deep and go on a 5 game winning streak. They could win 10 of 12. None of this is likely, but it is undoubtedly possible. Let's embrace hope, cheer on the team, and see what happens. At least we can do a little witnessing of our own, watching The Rooster crow his way to becoming the best 3 point shooter of all time.

Game 6 Preview: Knicks vs. Cavs

2009-11-06T09:50:00.000-05:00

Knicks (1-4) vs. Cavs (3-3)

Finally, after 3 relatively lifeless home games, we will have some excitement, suspense, and intensity from the home crowd. With that being said, it is too bad that it takes an opposing player to get the fans excited about the team. Oh well I will take what I can get. I have been to Knicks vs. Lakers for the past two years, and was a witness to Kobe's 61 point masterpiece (I was very close to the Lakers bench, and pre game yelled at Kobe "You are going to have a terrible game Kobe, Q-Rich is gonna SHUT YOU DOWN!", I was wrong), but have never seen LeBron in personand am very geeked up to see what Lebron will do to follow up last years 50 point near miss of a triple double, in what could be his last time to the Garden on the visiting side (fingers crossed). As much as I want to see LeBron and his grandeur in person, I am more excited for the Knicks opportunity to upset the Cavs, coming off a tough loss last night to the Chicago Bulls.

The Knicks will have some tough matchups coming into this one. The Knicks have been playing smallball, starting David Lee at center and Wil Chandler at power forward. The lack of size could be a big problem against a frontline for the cavs featuring 7'2" Shaq, 6'11" Anderson Varejao, and 7'3" Big Z, Zydrunas Ilgauskas (I spelled his name without checking, I was 8th grade spelling bee champ, hope I got it right.) There is a silver lining to these size mismatches, because the Knicks will have a considerable advantage in speed and agility. Shaq is notoriously bad at defending the pick and roll, and David Lee will play a huge part, by either banging open mid range j's with Shaq reluctant or too slow to close out, or burning the Diesel to the hoop off of pick and rolls. If only the Knicks had a point guard who could attack the basket and get layups off the pick and roll to force Shaq to hedge a little.

If the Knicks do stick with the lineup of Duhon, Hughes, Gallo, Wil and Lee, who guards LeBron? Hughes is the best defender, but is much smaller than the King, Wil is the best fit, but then Gallo will be on the tough banger Varejao, and Gallo has length but would foul out in about 3 minutes guarding James. It is not going to be easy, that is for sure.

The Garden is a magical place when it is packed and the fans are into the game, and tonight should be absolutely electric. Will the fans cheer loudest for LeBron? Probably, but I'm sure the De-Fense chants will be roaring as well. I look forward to some "we want LeBron" chants too. The Knicks are cleary the inferior team in this matchup, but the Cavs are on the second game of a back to back, LeBron twisted his ankle and hurt his thigh last night going into the stands, and maybe Shaq will be extra tired and lazy. Let's just hope for a close one, and maybe even a duel down the stretch between Gallinari and LeBron.

Optimistic Prediction:
Gallinari lights it up going 7-11 from beyond the arc, and scores 15 in the fourth to seal the victory for the Knicks.

Knicks 101 - Cavs 98
LeBron declares he will be joining the Knicks next season (i can dream)

Knicks Game 5 Recap

2009-11-05T09:25:00.000-05:00

Knicks 89 Pacers 101
Record: 1-4
Box Score

I was sitting in the Garden, in the 3rd quarter, Knicks up 7, thinking of the glowing things I would write about the Knicks intense defense, crisp ball movement, and David Lee's dominance. Unforunately, the Knicks somehow, inexplicably, let the Pacers come back and take the lead. When Danny Granger fouled out with the Knicks down by 4 and over 3 minutes to go, I again began imagining writing how this was the turning point of the game, how the Pacers could not function down the stretch without their only good player, and how the Knicks to stormed back and win the game.

But here I am, once again trying to find bright spots in a game that the Knicks should have won, but let slip away. Playoff teams don't lose like the Knicks lost last night. They should have extended the lead and put the Pacers away, but they let them hang around and ended up losing. They only scored 33 points in the second half! 3 players on the Pacers had double doubles, and the Knicks were frequently beasted on the glass by the likes of Roy Hibbert, Dahntay Jones, and even Solomon Jones. Hibbert was allowed to just stand under the basket without anyone getting a body on him, an finished with 7 offensive rebounds. Offensive rebounds are usually a result of leaping, hustle, and strenght, but for Hibbert, it was a matter of being really tall and just standing under the hoop. The Knicks did a good job of defending Danny Granger, but he was essentially the only player on the Pacers worth paying attention to, with Troy Murphy, Mike Dunleavy, and Tyler Hansbrough all out with injuries. TJ Ford hit some tough shots down the stretch to help the Pacers pull away, and Dahntay Jones had a high flying, rim rocking slam, but the Pacers didn't play very well really, and there is no excuse for the Knicks not to wipe the floor with a lowly Pacers team missing 3 of their best players.

David Lee had 18 and 12 at halftime for the Knicks, and I was envisioning a huge 40 20 game for him, but he only ended up with 20 and 19. Lee was still the best player for the Knicks, as everyone else pretty much sucked. Lee was the only player on the team over 50% from the floor, and the rest of the team was at 36%. Danilo Gallinari and Al Harrington were pretty bad, going 10-26 combined, and 2-9 from downtown. The Knicks seemed to be playing well, moving the ball on offense and moving off the ball well also, but they did take some misguided shots.

I'd still like to see Gallinari get more involved in the offense. There were a bunch of times when he was being guarded by guys like TJ Ford (5'11"), and Brandon Rush (6'6"), and yet the Knicks never looked to get the ball to Gallinari in the post. I think the 6'10" Gallo could have made easy work shooting midrange jumpers over these shorter foes, but I guess he is told to just stay beyond the arc. Interestingly enough, Gallo was the only Knicks player to have a positive +/- rating on the game at +3.

Larry Hughes was back to his usual self, going 2-10, and Chris Duhon was just lobbing the ball toward the rim and hoping for the best, going 4-13.

At least the Knicks played solid defense, with 7 blocks (2 each for Lee and Harrington), and 8 steals. Too bad the Pacers one upped them with 8 blocks and 9 steals.

I left the garden with my head down, dejected, depressed, and disappointed in what I had witnessed. If the Knicks can't beat a banged up Pacers squad, I can't imagine what is going to happen tomorrow when the Lebronaliers come to town. Hopefully they muster whatever led them to that comeback against Philly, or the win against New Orleans, and bring their A game on Friday. Let's just hope this is Lebron's last game at MSG as a visitor.

One more note: My section got chosen to play crowd volleyball, where 2 adjacent sections battle it out by smacking beach balls back and forth over a net between the sections. My section won of course. Our prize? Thunder sticks for everyone!

Knicks Game 5 vs. Indiana Pacers

2009-11-04T18:46:00.000-05:00

The Knicks go up against the hapless Indiana Pacers tonight at the Mecca. The Knicks are using the same starting lineup that led to an early lead in their first win on Monday vs. the Hornets. Danilo, DLee, Duhon, Ill Wil, and the risen from the dead Larry Hughes.

I just scored a ticket so I'm heading to the game now. Go Knicks!

Optimistic Prediction:

Knicks 132 Pacers 110

Danilo Gallinari: The Rooster is Crowing

2009-11-03T23:51:00.000-05:00

Knicks fans can be very pessimistic, kind of like Mets fans, and with good cause. The team has not been very good for a long time, and most years they have been comically bad. We need to realize that every year could be the year that the Knicks fortunes turn. They may not have the most talented lineup, and they may have near infinite odds at winning the title, but crazier things have happened.

But I wanna talk about Danilo Gallinari. Pretty much every person I know, knows what I think about Gallinari. I compare him to Larry Bird, Dirk Nowitzki, and Kevin Durant only half jokingly. I know he probably will not ascend to become and NBA Legend, but he might, and he will definitely in time prove himself to be at least a starter on a good team. In ESPN fantasy basketball, Gallinari is the most added player in the past week.

A lot of Knicks fans are Gallinari doubters, and also hate on Mike D'Antoni and Donnie Walsh for selecting him over the likes of Brook Lopez and Anthony Randolph. Brook Lopez is great, and it would be nice to have him, but I would rather have Gallinari, whose potential is much higher. For some laughs check out this forum Danilo Haters

All you haters, if you haven't noticed, the Rooster has been crowing for the Knicks this season. He went from sub to playing 37 minutes a game in just a few games, and already has a 30 point game. He shot 44 percent on three pointers last season with a hurt back, and despite upping his attempts to nearly 10 per game from deep, he is still shooting at that clip. He has shown he can drive and set up teammates with easy buckets, and that he can contribute on defense with blocks and steals. He also has some good low post moves, and no matter who guards him it will be a mismatch in favor of Danilo, except maybe Lebron. Anyway the future is bright for Il Gallo, and to all the haters i leave you with a quote from a wise old teacher I had in high school, Mr. Kaufman, "the proof is in the pudding."

Here are some highlights showing the rooster crowing.

Danilo can shoot 3's well

Here is Danilo showing off his driving and dishing, some swishing, and also running the pick and roll.

Optimistic prediction:
All Star game for Gallo this year.

Knicks Game 4 Recap

2009-11-03T09:16:00.000-05:00

Knicks 117 Hornets 111
Record: 1-3

Box Score

The Knicks finally got a win last night, and it was a solid all around team effort. David Lee led the Knicks in scoring with a quiet 28 points, Al Harrington dominated the 4th quarter with 13 points on his way to 24 total, and Larry Hughes continued his quest to make me feel like an idiot, with another efficient shooting night. Hughes finished with 20 points and 6 rebounds on 8-13 shooting.

The Hornets did there best after falling behind early, and went into the 4th quarter with a 4 point lead, but the Knicks stormed back and won somewhat comfortably in the end. Chris Paul and Emeka Okafor were the standout players, with Emeka dominated early and putting up 24 points and 10 rebounds, and CP3 leading all scorers with 32 points to go with 13 assists. Paul had only 3 points at halftime, but you knew that he was going to start attacking more on offense and as the game got down to the wire, he was nearly unstoppable. But it wasn't enough as the Knicks played tough interior defense and had enough offense to outlast the Hortnets.

Danilo Gallinari had a pedestrian statline compared to his 30 point masterclass on Halloween, shooting a poor 2-9 from the field and 1-6 on 3 pointers, but he did add 5 assists, 2 steals and a block. It was nice to see Danilo driving and finding teammates when his shot wasn't falling. A few flashy assists had me wondering if it was Gallinari or Larry Bird out there.

Jared Jeffries only played 16 minutes, which may mean that Coach D'Antoni is realizing that he is not very good at basketball, and can't really do anything well. Coach D did put JJ on Chris Paul in the 2nd half, and it immediately led to a flurry of swished jumpers from CP3, so it would seem Jeffries is good for nothing at this point. Jeffries also fell driving to the hoop and somehow busted up his eye, and was on the ground for a good 15 minutes.

The biggest story from this game has to be the play of Larry Hughes. I still yelled out "NOOO!" as he shot at least three times, but everytime I was made to look like a fool as the ball swished through the net soon after. I guess it will take a few more games like this before I am a true believer, but the Knicks have looked great with Hughes on the floor.

The Knicks started Duhon, Hughes, Gallo, Chandler, and Lee, in a small ball lineup, and this looked like it worked very well, with Chandler guarding power forward David West. The ball movement throughout the game was excellent, and the Knicks played aggressive, unselfish basketball. The Hornets actually attempted more 3's than the Knicks! If the Knicks showed their potential to be a solid team last night, and it seems like Coach D is starting to figure out his rotations. Let's hope they follow it up with a win tomorrow against Danny Granger and the Pacers.

Knicks Game 4 vs. New Orleans Hornets

2009-11-02T17:00:00.000-05:00

The Knicks face the Hornets at MSG tonight at 7:30. Chris Paul will be looking to bring his A game under the bright lights of Broadway, so I expect some fireworks from this game.

The Hornets rely heavily on Paul to run the show, and he is backed up by newcomer Omeka Okafor at Center, and All-Star David West at PF. On the wings the Hornets have a dearth of talent, featuring washed up sniper Peja Stojakovic, enigmatic freak athlete Julian Wright, and average at best Mo Peterson. The bench is very thin, so maybe the battle of the benches could win the war for the Knickerbockers.

I am worried that Chris Paul will have his way with Duhon, so hopefully Toney Douglas and Larry Hughes (yeah last game convinced me that Hughes can still play) get a bunch of minutes at the point. I liked the small ball lineup the Knicks used last game to comeback, so it will be interesting to see if Mike D goes to it some more tonight.

I never want to predict that the Knicks will lose, since this is an optimistic blog, I gotta hope for the best, but this game will be tough. Chris Paul is a dominant player, and superstars tend to shine the brightest at the Mecca. But Gallinari is the savior and I think he will build on last games 30 point performance and maybe put up a triple double (ok maybe not).

Optimistic Prediction:
Knicks 105- Hornets 98 (Gallo with 11-17 fg, 7-11 3pt, 37 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists)

The Demigod of Diction - Walt "Clyde" Frazier

2009-11-02T16:10:00.000-05:00

I went to the game Saturday, which kept me from hearing Clyde's commentary, so I don't have any new quotes. But I do have a great article I found while digging through the SI Vault.

Check it out. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1089507/1/index.htm

Here are some excerpts from the article. It is amazing and a must read for all Clyde fans.

On Clyde's lifestyle changes as he grew older:

"On the other hand, there are intriguing signs that Frazier is reducing the voltage of his storied life-style. In recent months he has taken to smoking a pipe. He has also been seen now and then wearing neckties. His new apartment is done in beiges and browns, a far cry from the dominant lavender of his previous place. He still sleeps in a mink-covered round bed, but the nine-foot mirror that was on the ceiling of his old bedroom is gone. As for choosing granola over brunettes, Frazier allows, 'After playing one game in an evening, I sometimes don't feel like playing another.'"

On apartment hunting:

"Before Frazier could get into his new apartment, his personal life was investigated by the building's board of governors, one of whom worriedly asked him, "What about these wild parties you give?"

'I don't give wild parties,' Frazier replied evenly. 'I go to them.'"

And a Clyde pickup line:

"'Why don't you catch my act at the Garden?' he asks women who strike his fancy. 'If you're lucky, you can catch my act off the court, too.'"

Also he wrote a book that is about how to be cool like him. Look here for more info. One of the things he says in his book, when asked how he gets women while rocking a beard and mustache:

"Girls are thrilled to go through the forest to get to the picnic."

Knicks Game 3 Recap

2009-11-02T09:53:00.001-05:00

Knicks 127 76ers 141

Game 3 was the home opener for the Knicks, and it came on Halloween night against the rugged 76ers. I snagged some last minute tickets off of Craigslist and excitedly scurried cross town along 32nd street to the Garden. Not only was this the home opener, but it was Danilo Gallinari's first start of the season, a night I did not want to miss.

The Rooster did not dissapoint, dropping 8-16 from beyond the arc for a career high 30 points. It looked like my 35 point prediction for Il Gallo had a chance to come through, but things went quiet for Gallo in overtime and he remained at 30. Still, Gallo gives the fans reason to be optimistic. Whenever he shoots a three, you just know it is going to swish, kinda like how when Jared Jeffries shoots, you just know it is going to bounce over the backboard. Al Harrington had a big game in his new role as sixth man, dropping a career high of 42 points on a super efficient 16-22. Al only attempted four 3 pointers out of 22 shots, and was constantly taking it the hole with agression, a very good sign. Larry Hughes also had a great game. I know i bashed him after the preseason, but I have to give him props for this game. He was dishing, taking good shots for the most part, and playing aggressive defense. 7 for 11, 18 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals have me thinking Larry might be the teams answer at point guard for now. I just hope he keeps his shooting under control like it was this game.

On the bad side, the Knicks defense was and is pathetic. They let up 40 points in the first quarter and 70 points in the opening half. The 76ers are a quick and athletic team, and they drove to the hoop as often as possible. The Knicks went with their two trademark defensive schemes, the Matador and the Swiss Cheese, letting the Sixers finish at the hoop uncontested. They shot 61 percent! Diminuitive point man "Sweet" Lou Williams was 10-12 and 7-8 at the charity stripe, leading the way with 27 points, 10 rebounds (!) and 7 assists. Andre Iguodala almost had a triple double as well, with 32, 11, and 7. The Knicks almost let up an extremely rare double triple double.

David Lee was apparently benched for much of the 2nd half, and the Knicks saw the most success with the small ball lineup of Al, Gallo, Chandler, Hughes and Duhon. Interesting lineup of 3 tweener forwards and 2 smaller guards. Nate Robinson sprained his ankle and was limited to 20 minutes. Starbury made an appearance courtside, and stood up and filmed a bit with his iphone, but when the usher realized Steph was supposed to be in the 2nd row, Steph decided that this was unforgiveable, and left after the 1st quarter.

The Knicks fans lost faith, and the Garden was pretty empty while the Knicks made their ferocious comeback. The true fans who stuck it out at least go to see a good show, as the Knicks once again stormed back to force overtime on a clutch drive and layup by unlikely hero Chris Duhon. I and everyone around me at the game were all hoping for a Gallinari 3 to win it, but it didn't happen. In overtime a super hyped up Harrington fouled out, and the Knicks lost all the momentum and lost big.

This game has me questioning David Lee's value to the team. He was out for most of the 2nd half, and the team played so much better without him. He is a force on offense and on the glass, but maybe his defense is so suspect that the team is better of without him. I love David Lee and his game, but he has to step it up on defense. I don't know how much I trust +/- stats, but Lee was -36 on the night, but far the worst on the team.

The main thing to take from this game is that Gallinari is awesome and is ready to be the star. I think he will continue to build confidence, and start utilizing more of his game, including post ups and dribble drives. Who knows, the Rooster may average over 25 ppg this season.

Next game is tonight at MSG against Chris Paul and the Hornets. Let's see if the Knicks try to put Jeffries on CP3 to frustrate him with his length. Maybe Gallo will go for 40 this game.

Starting Lineup: Game #3

2009-10-31T18:40:00.000-04:00

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

2009-10-31T18:27:00.000-04:00

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.

Gallinari was huge in the comeback effort. He had another great game, with 16 points, 5 rebounds, an assist a block and a steal, in just 23 minutes. He was 6-11 from the field, and had a few impressive forays to the hoop, showing his potential versatility. Gallo's minutes will be every increasing if he keeps up this level of play, as long as he can stay out of foul trouble. Refs have been calling lots of ticky tack fouls on the Rooster and it's not cool.The Knicks lost because Gallo couldn't play in the overtimes due to his foul trouble, although I question D'Antoni pulling him at all.

David Lee also had a nice game, converting on some tough pick and roll plays. He scored 17 points and grabbed 18 rebounds on the night.

Jared Jeffries got pretty lucky and nailed 3 of 4 from downtown. He hit some big shots but I may never stop shouting NO! everytime he lines up a deep shot.

Al Harrington and Wilson Chandler need to do more slashing and less bombing. They shot a combined 11-36 from the field and 1-12 from downtown.

The Knicks need to figure out how to play a full game. They have done as much as possible to try to break my optimism so far this season, with one blowout, and one heartbreak double OT game against a bad opponent. But if I learned anything last night, it is that you never know what is going to happen. The Knicks looked so bad last night, were down 19 after a quarter, and never led the game. Sure they lost, but they almost won. And they easily could have won. So using last nights game as a microcosm for the season, the Knicks may be down now, and looking like they are gonna suck real bad, but they could just as easily be in a short slump and end up being a good team after all.

Next up, Halloween home opener against the tough 76ers led by Andre Iguodala and a surging Mareese Speights.

Starting Lineup: Game #2

2009-10-30T18:02:00.000-04:00

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

2009-10-29T09:35:00.000-04:00

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.

On the bright side of things, Danilo Gallinari had a stellar showing, scoring a career high 22 points on 7-14 shooting from 3 point land. Gallo was cold early, starting 0 for 3 and bricking from downtown, but he went on a tear in the 4th quarter, scoring 12 of his 22. Gallo also chipped in with 6 rebounds and didn't turn the ball over. It shouldn't be long until the Rooster is in the starting lineup.

David Lee had a good game on the offensive side of the ball, scoring 22 points on 9 of 13 shooting. Where Lee didn't show up was on defense, where he was repeatedly baffled by simple screen and roll plays, leaving Jermaine O'neal wide open on rolls to the hoop for easy stuffs. The Knicks were switching on nearly every screen, and Eric Spoelstra seemed to have the right gameplan after halftime to exploit this strategy. The Knicks should stop with the gimmicky switch on everything defense, and try to play more straight up, fighting over screens and helping eachother.

Darko Milicic also impressed in his Knicks regular season debut. He left the game late with a bump on his knee, but he should be fine. Darko got it going early, scoring like a boxer, with a left hook, followed by a right hook, both from the right block. He did his best to fill up the box score in only 17 minutes, with 7 rebounds, 2 steals, 3 assists, and 4 points. On one play Milicic was caught after a switch guarding Daequan Cook beyond the arc. Cook tried to shake and bake the big man, but Darko picked his pocket nicely for the steal. I would like to see Darko take the place of Jeffries in the starting lineup soon.

Speaking of Jeffries, he put on a pitiful showing, as expected. In 36 minutes, Jeffries managed just 2 points and 5 rebounds, pitching in 3 turnovers. Twice he stepped out of bounds after catching a pass in the corner, and he was also emphatically rejected by Joel Anthony and fell to the ground like a rag doll. And what of Jeffries new shooting form? He attempted 2 wide open 3 point attempts, and both ended up with the ball clanking off the rim and bouncing over the backboard. I've seen enough. At least Larry Hughes didn't play.

Dwyane Wade and a spry looking Jermaine O'neal led the Heat to victory. O'neal was particularly unguardable, scoring easy post jumpers over Lee, or rolling to the hoop for vicious dunks. He finished with 22 points on 10-12 shooting, and added 12 rebounds. Quentin Richardson fittingly faced the Knicks in his first game since being traded for Darko, and he looked like a whole new man. Q-Rich apparently lost 25 pounds and his face looked bony, unlike the chubby mug Knicks fans got used to. Too bad he couldn't be in tip top shape as a Knick.

Lastly, Jordan Hill made his regular season Knicks debut in garbage time of the blowout, and immediately showed what he is made of. On his first touch, in the high post, Hill caught, pump faked, spun around a few times, and took a wild contested fadeaway jumper that missed the rim completely.

This was a dissapointing, disturbing, disheartening game, but at least the season is here, and we can again watch Knicks basketball and admire Clyde's suits. If the Knicks would look to get Gallinari more involved in the offense, and played a little smarter and tougher on defense, they can be ok, but last night they stunk. The Knicks take the court for game 2 on Friday night in Charlotte. The Bobcats looked woeful last night, managing a meager 59 points against the Celtics, so that is a game the Knicks should be looking to win and win big.

You can't read too much into the first game of the season right? Just try and stay positive.

The Demigod of Diction - Walt "Clyde" Frazier

2009-10-28T22:35:00.000-04:00

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

2009-10-28T12:15:00.001-04:00

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

2009-10-27T16:18:00.000-04:00

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

2009-10-23T00:22:00.000-04:00

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

2009-10-22T11:24:00.000-04:00

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.

The Veterans

C/PF David Lee 6'9"

"Da White Howard"

The Knicks highest quality player is David Lee. Lee is among the best rebounders in the league and is a highly skilled finisher who can throw down powerful dunks as well as finesse scoop shots with either hand. It is his ambidexterity that makes Lee a special player and a rare talent. His offensive game could be lethal with a few more years of seasoning and some better playmakers around him. He has put up very high field goal percentages in every season and he flourishes diving to the rim on pick and rolls. He has great hands, and is very adept at catching passes on the move and getting a shot up in a fluid motion, rarely fumbling or bobbling the ball. In addition, he has been working on his jump shot, and has good form and should get lots of open looks with opposing centers reluctant to leave the paint to guard him.

Where Lee suffers is on the defensive end. Last season he was forced to play as an undersized center, and often got abused by much bigger opponents. It appears he may play this position again this season, so it could be rough. Against Boston in the preseason Kendrick Perkins was easily shooting over Lee, making bucket after bucket. Hopefully Lee plays less Center and more Power Forward, and can be a more effective help defender as well.

Lee is the leader of the Knicks, and brings rare toughness and grit to a rather soft Knicks squad. Lee should put up even better numbers than last year. Expect a year of around 18 pts and 12 rebs, and of course an array of double doubles. The hopeful Knick fan can dream of improved defense, maybe some blocked shots, and around 20 ppg thanks to an improved jumpshot and an increased propensity to drive by bigger slower defenders. He also should be extra motivated by his expiring contract status. Lee was in the discussion for the final all star spot last year, and could be the first Knick all star since Allan Houston and Latrell Sprewell in 2001.

PF/SF Al Harrington 6'9" "Angry Al, My name's Al Harrington and I get buckets!"

Al Harrington is quite an interesting and polarizing player. While it is clear to see he has a myriad of skills and is a prolific scorer, the value he brings to a team is always in question. Like Jamal Crawford before him, Al is considered a bit of a chucker, who doesn't contribute to other areas of the team. He claims to be in the best shape of his life (doesn't everyone?) and has added some pounds of muscle, and should have his best season yet.

On offense Al can do it all. He has a good stroke from three, a nice midrange game, good handles to drive to the hoop, and a very nice assortment of post moves. He can be a matchup nightmare for defenses, either drawing out big man who must respect his shooting, or dominating smaller foes on the block. Unfortunately, he can also be a nightmare for the Knicks offense, looking for any way he can get a shot off before passing to an open teammate. It is possible that this may be exacerbated by his expiring contract, looking to "get his" instead of looking for wins, but Al has stated this preseason that his goals are to become a leader and to rack up more assists, and I believe him.

Al must step up his passing, rebounding, and defense if the Knicks are to be a good team this year. And he must avoid hanging on rims after go ahead dunks in the final seconds.

It would be great if Al steps up and has a big year, 21 pts 4 assists and 8 boards would be nice.

PG Chris Duhon 6'1" "Barack's Buddy"

Chris Duhon is a decent backup point guard masquerading as a starter on the Knicks. Chris did show flashes of brilliance last year, including a 22 assist game vs. the Warriors (I once claimed he was playing like Jason Kidd), but alas, he sucks at defense, sucks at finishing, and lacks aggressiveness and creativity on the pick and roll.

Duhon brings one positive to the team, he is a capable 3 point shooter, but as a point guard he is severely lacking. He does have a good connection with David Lee on pick and rolls, but lately defenses seem to have realized that Duhon does not like to attack the rim, and is only looking to pass. As a result, once he comes off the screen, the D helps to cover the roller, essentially daring Chris to attack the basket, and Duhon is left making a jumping, twisting kick out pass to someone spotting up for 3. I also noticed that Duhon does not seem to like passing to Danilo Gallinari, even when he is wide open. This is inexcusable. He simply does not bring enough to the table to garner the starting position on an NBA team, and often fades into obscurity for much of the game.

Duhon struggles to defend point guards, as he lacks the necessary quickness. He appears to be a bit lazy and not as dedicated as he could be. This was evidenced by his deteriorating level of play as the season wore on last year. Try as I might, I cannot bring myself to be optimistic about Duhon this season. This is the last year of his contract, and likely his last as a Knick. Hopefully Toney Douglas or Nate Robinson can snatch a lot of minutes from Duhon this season. More on them later.

SG/PG Nate Robinson 5'9" "Kryptonate, Nate the Great, Lil Him, Liliputian, Shake and Bake"

Nate is another player in the same category as Al Harrington, Jamal Crawford, Zach Randolph, et al. He is a special scorer, but there is a question of whether his negatives outweigh the positives. Many think Nate is perfect as a microwave player off the bench, instant offense. Some believe he is too much of a distraction on a team that doesn't have the strongest leadership. He can be a defensive liability. He can be a great ball hawk. N8 the Gr8 has so many negatives against him(undersized, no conscience, annoying, too many technicals, poor defense, ball stopper, ball hog), and yet just as many positives (efficient scorer, loves playing for Knicks, good offensive rebounder, energetic, marketable, fan favorite, steals, pesky, Kobe likes his game).

This year could see Nate make some major strides and take a more prominent role on the team, perhaps as the starting point guard. Mike D'Antoni thinks Nate could lead the league in steals, and hopefully the teams focus on defense this preseason makes an impression on Nate. Nate put up career stats last season, even though he endured a dreadful shooting slump midseason, and like many of his teammates, he has an expiring deal. In his new #2 jersey, hopefully the vociferous lilliputian can summon his inner point guard and add some dishin to his swishin, and keep his wild antics to a minimum.

I believe in Nate's talent and think that this will be a good year for him. He should approach 20 points per game and will be a sixth man of the year candidate for sure.
PF/C/SF Jared Jeffries 6'11" "Ared Effries, The Human Turnover, Face Palm, Hold Your Fire"

Jared Jeffries sucks. He is weak, can't dunk, can't make layups, turns the ball over nearly every time he touches the ball, and he will possibly be starting for the Knicks this season. As if this wasn't bad enough, he is now convinced that he can shoot 3 pointers.

I hope that Jeffries really can shoot now, but it is dubious at best. After showing his usual form, hitting the bottom corner of the back of the backboard with his first 3 pointer of the preseason, Jeffries amazingly made 3 in a row. Still, he does not work in the D'Antoni system, and his supposedly solid defense is very overrated. He is a very good offensive rebounder, and his hustle and length help him make an occasional positive play, but really the only reason I see to play JJ is to showcase him for a trade. Jeffries and Hughes for T-mac anybody?

SG Larry Hughes 6'5" "Agent Zero...talent"

The one player on the Knicks who should play less than Jeffries is Larry Hughes. He is making 13 million this year. When he was on the Cavs, fans of the team made a website in honor of Hughes, http://heylarryhughespleasestoptakingsomanybadshots.com/ Apparently the please have not reached Hughes.

After being an ice cold 0 for 5 in last weeks preseason game versus the Sixers, Hughes made a steal and attempted to start a fast break. Realizing that his team didn't have numbers, Larry Hughes wisely pulled the ball out and passed it to his point guard to run a play. Wait no he didn't, he shot the worst shot in basketball, an off balance, out of rhythm deep 2 pointer with his foot on the 3 point line. And he clanked it.

Hughes finished the preseason shooting 1-23, and is not likely to get off the bench during the regular season. Rumours of trades and buyouts have already surfaced. Hughes better accept his role and not cause any trouble.

C Eddy Curry 6'11" "Big Spicy, Eddy Picante, Touch it Dave"

It is doubtful Eddy ever recovers from his latest barrage of injury issues. Best case scenario, he takes up the Al Jefferson Subway diet, drops 40 pounds eating footlong turkey and hams, and can actually play. Or Donnie Walsh makes him an offer he can't refuse and he declines his player option for next year, opting to test the free agent waters. Curry will make $10 million this year, which I assume will turn out to be about $3.33 million per minute.

The Young Talent

SF/PF/SG/God Danilo Gallinari 6'10" "Il Gallo, The Rooster, The Big Cock"

The rooster will be crowing at the Garden this year fellow Knicks fans. Danilo is a 21 year old Italian all star in the making, who mixes the passing ability and creativity of Larry Bird, the shooting touch and size of Dirk Nowitzki, and the ball handling and playmaking style of Hedo Turkoglu. He also plays excellent defense (swatted Derek Rose one game and Shaquille O'neal in another), and has the fire and passion to drive this team to new heights. If D'Antoni is willing to embrace Il Gallo, and stick him in the starting lineup, he will do big things.

Pessimists may point to his lackluster shooting thus far in the preseason, his apparent lack of muscle and conditioning, and his tendency to stand in the corner for entire possessions like he is on timeout.

I instead choose to point to the teams' 14-14 record last year with Il Gallo in the lineup. The Knicks were 18-36 without Danilo, a win percentage of 33%. They were 50% with him. Imagine now, he is fully healthy, a year more mature, has NBA experience under his belt, knows the system and his teammates, and the Knicks have more talent and stability than last year. If you look at it in this light, it is a no brainer that the Knicks will be over .500 and make the playoffs.

Interestingly, Tuesday against the Celtics, it appeared as if the C's were set on bullying Gallo as much as possible, with KG, Sheed, Rondo and Pierce throwing elbows, hip checks, and out and out shoving him whenever he past by. It will be interesting to see if other opponents try to bully and intimidate the young rooster, or if this was just typical dirty play by the Celtics. If anything this bullying only fired Gallo up, leading to an 18 point performance, including 3-6 from downtown and 7-9 from the charity stripe.

Mike D will realize what he has, and Gallo will be in the starting lineup soon enough. It is up to his teammates to work the ball into Gallo's hands much more often than they have been. Word is that he will start the season on the pine, but once he solidifies his place in the top 5, I am envisioning 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists for the one and only Gallinari.

SF/SG Wilson Chandler 6'8" "Ill Will"

Wilson Chandler had a solid season last year after riding the bench for the majority of his rookie season. He is a very strong and athletic swingman, and can throw down some monstrous dunks. Last year Chandler could be found guarding elite guards like Kobe Bryant one day, and top big men like Kevin Garnett the next, and performing valiantly (Ok, Kobe did score 61, but many of his points were scored on very tough shots with a hand in the face, and many of them were against Q-Rich). He was also the teams leading shot blocker (not saying much), with .9 stuffs per game, many of them highlight reel material. Wilson saw his shooting numbers improve across the board from his rookie to sophomore season, and should only continue to improve. Ill Will and Il Gallo are the team's two brightest prospects, and a more assertive Wilson could become a star in his third year in the league.

Chandler could play the Shawn Marion role on this Knicks team, snatching rebounds, blocking shots, pushing the tempo, finishing on the break, and hitting an occasional jumper. His phenomenal block of a fastbreak dunk attempt by Kendrick Perkins was one of the highlights of the preseason. He may be an extremely quiet guy, but Wilson will let his play speak loud and clear this season.

PG Toney Douglas 6'1" "Ghostface, DWTDD"

Toney Douglas, formerly of the Florida State Seminoles, was selected by the Knicks with the 29th pick of the draft, in a shrewd move by GM Donnie Walsh. Props must be given to Mr. Dolan as well, for footing the $3,000,000 bill to buy this pick from the Lakers. Buying picks is a good way to flex your spending muscle, and it can't hurt to take a flier on a promising prospect and see what happens. Gotta love young talent. Douglas was the ACC defensive player of the year, as well as the teams captain and best player, and he scored over 20 ppg in his senior year . He brings a feistiness on the defensive end that the Knicks lack, and on this side of the ball he is a grade A pest.

If it were up to me, Douglas would be given a legitimate shot at the starting point guard duties as the season progresses. Since Duhon does little to nothing to make a positive impact on the game, it couldn't hurt to put Douglas in and see what he can do. Toney is a tough, emotional guy, and he has a palpable swagger out there, unlike Duhon, who most games just looks hung over, likely from the last night's escapades macking white college girls. Toney's effort level on defense is enough to make him more of a player than Duhon, and it looks like he has a nice pullup jumper, which could stretch the defense a little and free up room in the middle for D Lee on the roll.

Right now Toney is toward the bottom of the rotation, but it is possible he will be getting major minutes backing up Duhon, especially if Duhon's play deteriorates as the season goes on, like last year. He has made great strides throughout the preseason, and is looking comfortable and ready for the NBA. I think he will be like Rondo with a jumpshot.

PF/C Jordan Hill 6'10" "The Predator, The Spin Cycle"

On draft day 2009, Knicks fans were hyped for the potential selection of Ricky Rubio or fan favorite sharpshooter Stephen Curry. With a need at point guard, we had dreams of picking up the next Steve Nash, and putting the pedal to the floor. Unfortunately, Rubio is now playing for Barcelona, and the dysfunctional Warriors snatched up Curry, which was met with an outcry of boos from the MSG crowd. The aftermath was the Knicks ending up with unpolished power forward Jordan Hill, from the University of Arizona. Hill put up good numbers during his Junior year in Tucson, posting averages 18 points and 11 rebounds, but looks lost at the NBA level, and has not played well enough to crack Coach D'Antoni's rotation.

When you are a fan of a perennial loser like the Knicks, draft day can be even more exciting than the actual games. I had visions of Rubio running an unstoppable pick and roll with David Lee. I imagined Steph Curry exhilarating the Garden, prolifically swishing and dishing the Knicks toward the playoffs. And what did we get? A player who apparently is not good enough to displace Jared Jeffries at center.

Word is Mike D sees Jordan as an Amare Stoudemire type of player in the future. What I see is a player who manages to have stone hands with butterfingers, limited leaping ability, and very little basketball IQ. If Jordan ever gets on the floor, look out for a bobbled catch, followed by wild pivoting, and a turnaround fadeaway jumper from under the hoop, which will likely be blocked.

I still have hope for Jordan. He took up basketball late in life and obviously has some talent. I have the utmost faith that whatever is there, Coach D will be able to tap it. He should see playing time eventually, hopefully after Jeffries gets dealt.

The X-Factor

C Darko Milicic 7' "The Serbian Gangster"

Darko Milicic was selected number 2 overall, behind Lebron James and ahead of Carmelo Anthony and Dwayne Wade, among others. With a coach who has confidence in him, Darko should breakout this season to prove that he is a quality NBA player.

Last season the Knicks biggest weakness was interior defense. Teams were undeterred when driving strong to the rim, with the Knicks often employing the "swiss cheese" and "matador" defensive schemes. Darko Milicic could be the answer at the starting center position, moving David Lee to his natural power forward. Darko has looked hesitant to shoot, but with scorers like Chandler, Lee, Harrington, and Gallinari around him, we won't need him to score much. Like Kendrick Perkins on the Celtics, he will be a defensive stopper of a center who mixes in some offense. Darko also has shown some nice passing finesse, which will benefit the Knicks scorers. He should be given an opportunity to replace Jeffries, hopefully early on in the season.

My Rotation

PG-Douglas (Duhon in the beginning, until Douglas has a little more experience)
SG-Gallo
SF-~~Chandler~~ Harrington

PF-Lee
C-Darko

6th man-Nate Robinson
Rest of rotation-Chandler, Chris Duhon, Jared Jeffries (hopefully to be replaced by an improved Jordan Hill)

The Prediction

The Knicks will be improved this year, especially on the defensive end. As Gallinari starts getting more involved, and his teammates begin looking for him and allowing him to create, the offense will take off. I am confident that the Knicks will be in the hunt down the stretch, and ultimately will make the post season, with a record of 41-41. A much deserved all star appearance for David Lee will also happen. The Knicks will face off against the #1 seed Cavs, and will win a game or two, convincing Lebron to come to NYC. All in all, it looks like it will be a successful and productive season for the Knicks in year 2 of the D'Antoni/Walsh regime

That's all folks. My first post, the 2009-2010 Knicks season preview. I will be posting game recaps, thoughts on Knicks news, and other miscellaneous Knicks stuff throughout the season, so check back often if you are a Knicks fan who actually likes the team.