The NYC Factor: Amar'e Gets it

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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!

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?

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

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

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.