Amar’e Stoudemire To Make Guest Appearance at House of Hoops NYC 34th Street

Amare Stoudemire is scheduled to make guest appearance at the newly opened Foot Locker House of Hoops on 34th street in NYC. Will they have his Nike Nike Huarache Trainers on display? Maybe.

Check out Carmelo Anthony's appearance at the House of Hoops in Harlem back in December.

Assist from @Camelkash

Herb Grows in the Garden

Most Knicks have came to the conclusion that Mike D'Antoni is not the coach for this team anymore. With nine games left in the regular season and most likely and first round match-up with either the Celtics, Heat, or Bulls Coach D'Antoni's tenure in NYC should be coming to a early end. Technically he has another year left on is original 4 year 24 million dollar deal, but in recent years we've seen James Dolan eat conrtacts with more money and years than that.

The general feeling is that the Knicks need a defensive minded coach to lead this team to elite status. While this maybe true, most blogs,fans, writers,and experts believe that person should be a veteran or big name New York guy i.e Phil Jackson, Doc Rivers, Jeff Van Gundy, Mark Jackson etc. I think most including Donnie Walsh are overlooking a great candidate in there own backyard, Herb Williams.

Herb joined the Knicks’ staff as an assistant coach on Dec. 29, 2001. Since then he's lasted within the organization through many coaching changes, Don Chaney, Lenny Wilkens, Larry Brown, Isiah Thomas, and Mike D'Antoni. He's picked up a little bit of everything from each of the guys, as well as a short stint at head coaching going 17-27 during the remainder of the 2004-05 season. Herb has earned the respect of his colleagues as well as the players. He comes from the hard nose, gritty, rugged defensive 90's Knicks teams.

Promoting Herb to the head coach wouldn't be a popular one but it may be the right one. A growing trend in the NBA with successful teams is building from within with young coaches. Monty Williams(Hornets), Larry Drew(Hawks), Tyrone Corbin(Jazz), Lionel Hollins(Grizzlies) etc. The Lakers and Phil Jackson are contemplating handing over the job to Brian Shaw as well. Knicks fans demand a coach that can get the best out the team and Mike D'Antoni seems to be too stubborn to adapt to his new team make-up. We may be jumping the gun somewhat with D'Antoni's coaching of this team but like everything else in New York good results are expected quickly.

MDA may still be able to salvage his future in New York with a playoff series win, but that outcome seems extremely far fetched with the teams recent play. Maybe its time for the big guy sitting next to him to stand up and take over. We'll see...

Andy and Landry Show: Speed Dating

Was it bad luck or was someone having some fun with Landry because all of his dates were a bit nutty...

A Month in Review of the Melo Trade

 

On February 21, 2011, the New York Knicks traded for superstar Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Shelden Williams, Renaldo Balkman and Anthony Carter. The Knicks also got Corey Brewer from the Timberwolves, but bought out his contract a few games later (so no need to mention him anymore). The Nuggets received Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari, Raymond Felton, Timofey Mozgov, the Knicks' 2014 first round pick, two second-round picks the Knicks received from the Golden State Warriors in the David Lee sign-and-trade, and $3 million. Since then, the Knicks are 7-9 and the Nuggets are 10-4. That’s not what anyone expected to happen.

The Knicks got off to hot start with the new look with a 6-3 record in their first nine games. Since then, they’ve dropped six of seven including two to the Pacers, one to Detroit, and one to Milwaukee. They also lost to the Celtics in pathetic fashion. What’s been a constant in all these games. 

Chauncey Billups has been lost on the court. Four games after the trade, Billups was knocked out for six games with knee and quad injuries. Toney Douglas played the point during those games and the Knicks went 4-2. Let’s compare their stats since Billups has returned. In the last six games, Billups has 28 assists, 22 turnovers, and 95 points, averaging around 31 minutes. Douglas has 34 assists, 8 turnovers, and 81 points, averaging around 28 minutes. Douglas has been far more efficient, so Mike D’Antoni has to realize this and start Douglas while Billups gains more chemistry in practice until he can step up and truly lead the Knicks. It’s not all his fault though, just a big factor on the offensive end.

 The other reason is the team is lacking defensive presence. The Knicks will play defense if Amar’e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony lead by example and play it. So far, that’s only happened in three games, against the Heat, Hawks, and Hornets. Not in the other 13 games, all those other teams scored at least 96 points.

How about the Nuggets? I personally have only seen highlights of their games since the trade. They’ve lost national presence when they lost Anthony, but they shouldn’t care about that with a 10-4 record since the trade. Looking at their roster, they have amazing depth now. Aaron Afflalo, Tyson Chandler, Nene, Ty Lawson, and Kenyon Martin have started most of their games with Danilo Gallinari, J.R. Smith, Al Harrington, and Raymond Felton coming off the bench. All four of those guys on the bench could break off to make another team and compete to be a playoff team. Ty Lawson has managed the transition to starting point guard with ease since Billups left, averaging around 8 assists and 35 minutes.

Nuggets coach George Karl was forced to play his offense through Carmelo Anthony since the Nuggets drafted him, but that’s not how he wanted to do it. He has nine guys who could start on his team. All I can say is, Karl is a coaching wizard for making this work so quickly.

 
The trade gives New York a bigger upside in the long run. When free agency starts, Donnie Walsh (or whomever is GM) can have their picking and choosing to new fits for this team. Also, a summer of training camp will give this team for more chemistry and schemes the Knicks can use to outscore their opponents on any given night.

@abadlani91

Knicks Top 5 Possible Center's Next Season

Even Ray Charles could see that the Knicks are lacking size in the front court, the addition of Jared Jeffries was nice and Ronny Turiaf is a poor mans Oakley but neither have legitimate size down low.

Melo Thinks Next Month Not Next Year

Via ESPNNEWYORK

"I believe, we believe that something will get turned around quickly," Anthony said when asked if the Knicks, losers of six of seven, can jell in the 12 games remaining in the regular season. "We have a little bit under a month to get this thing right to get ready for the playoffs. And right now, we're just figuring it out on the go. As long as we figure it out by the time the playoffs come, I'm not really too concerned about what's going on right now and how it's going on."



"Losing games can be a little bit frustrating at times but that happens, especially when you're trying to get things right and you're trying to get things on the same page."

HBO Films Presents: The Runnin Rebels Of UNLV Full Video

Full Video After The Jump

Donnie Walsh Not Ready To Bring Back Earl Barron Just Yet

Via Chris Sheridan/ESPN

Even as coach Mike D'Antoni was changing his starting lineup yet again Monday, team president Donnie Walsh didn't sound all that enamored of the possibility of signing center Earl Barron, second 10-day contract with the Milwaukee Bucks expired, making him a playoff-eligible free agent.

"If we can do something to help the team, we’ll do it. But I'm not sure that's the answer," Walsh said prior to Monday night's game against Boston. "I think you've got to have somebody who’s going to be out there and can impact on the game, and I don’t know if he's a that level yet. He could be. I liked the way he played last year."

"We have 15 players, we’re not playing big guys a lot, we’re starting to play them now, I want to see how that goes and see where that fits in," Walsh said. "I don’t know that we would cut somebody right now in order to bring him in."

Read More HERE

Knicks vs Celtics Recap

My thoughts later this morning...

The Andy and Landry Show

In this clip the two rooks visit and try out for the Broadway play Memphis. This fun,loose, and joyful play needs get transferred to MSG.

Toney Douglas Ties Knicks 3 Point Record

The weather in NYC on March 17 2011 was gorgeous, 60 degrees, clear skies, no storm in sight. No one saw the downpour of threes that was soon to come inside the Garden courtesy of Toney Douglas. Im not sure if Knicks fans have completely changed there view on TD but this was definitely a step in the right direction.

Douglas tied the Knicks record for most 3's made with John Starks and Latrell Sprewell.

Stephen A Smith Is Not A D'Antoni Fan Video

All of his points on D'Antoni may be very obvious but very true...

Jordan Brand Carmelo Anthony Mid-Town NYC Poster Revealed

 

As many New Yoker's do we tend to forget how important the city of New York is to the rest of the world,  but Melo has not forgotten. This Jordan Brand Monster Poster is the just the beginning of you letting all of NYC and the millions of visitors who's the main attraction on Broadway. 

Knicks play the Pacers tonight, hopefully the new star can lead the team to a much needed victory...

Video of the Week: ESPN Fab 5 (Full Video)

Amare has 16th Technical Rescinded

The Knicks almost had a case of the worst of both worlds when they fell to the Mavericks 127 to 109 and Amare received a very flaky 16th Technical.

via nydailynews.com

Stoudemire was confident that the call would be overturned. Referee Bennett Salvatore called a double technical on Stoudemire and Mavs center Brendan Haywood after the two big men jostled after a made basket. Moments later, Stoudemire explained to Salvatore that there was no malicious intent behind his actions and that he and Haywood are friends. The conversation ended with both players and the referee smiling. "We understood it was kind of a quick whistle," Stoudemire said late Thursday. "He knows me and Brendan weren't in an altercation."

Read more: HERE

Melo "This is What I Do!"

Carmelo Anthony reminded everyone including the Memphis Grizzlies that game-winning shots is what he does. With the game tied at 108-108 Mike D'Antoni decided to not call time out and draw up a play but rather let his newly acquired superstar do what he does. You can see after he sinks the jumper Melo smiling and yelling out "This is What I Do!". Sometimes no coaching is the best coaching, good job Mike!

Check out the rest of the highlights of this game HERE

Billups may miss 5th game but Toney is the answer

Chauncey is questionable for tonight's game versus the Memphis Grizzlies but him sitting out may not be the worst thing for the team. The last four games that Toney Douglas has started for him have not been in vein, he's been more than a fill-in starter. Toney's play is actually been a big part of the reason the team has won 3 of 4 since Billup's thigh injury. He's shooting 62.5% from the field and averaging 16 points and 5 assists per game since March 2nd. When TD is patient and relaxed the game seems to come to him extremely easy. His defensive effort has never been a question, just the erratic shooting and creating is what most fans cringe and worry about when they see him check into games.

Toney has never played behind a caliber of player like Mr. Big Shot, Toney seems to listen to the advice of Billups better than that of Raymond Felton or Chris Duhon. And why not Billups has the hardware and experience to chastise, teach and overrule any player in the Knicks locker-room. TD's timely corner threes and momentum changing steals-to-layups will be key in the post season. These remaining 19 games should be a prepping for TD and recovery for Billups.

The learning process continues tonight...

Stat and Melo

Best Version thus far...

ESPN Earl Monroe Interview, Part 1: Knicks

via espnnewyork.com By Jared Zwerling

On a recent morning after the Melo acquisition and Jared Jeffries signing, I sat down with "Earl The Pearl" over breakfast to chat about many things, including the Knicks. Here's Part 1 on the 'Bockers:

What are your thoughts on the new-look Knicks?
I think that any time you're able to get a guy like Carmelo Anthony to be on your team, you're going to be a step up. That's where I think we're going to be able to foster a good relationship and be able to get some other guys to come in because the most important thing is not just having the guys they have. They're going to need to be able to attract more guys in who will at least be able to rebound and play defense.

Interesting similarities: Carmelo teams up with another star in Amare Stoudemire, and back in 1971, you joined a star in Walt "Clyde" Frazier. Anything you see in common?
I guess the only similarity is really that we were in New York [laughs]. When I came, this was a winning team that had just come off winning a championship and so forth and so on. With Carmelo coming, he's looked upon as one of the favorites to try and get back to that promised land. But I think the one thing in common is the fact that we wanted to win. The idea now is to do whatever is necessary to win, so that will be a lot of sacrifice and learning everybody's part so that everybody can feel a part of what this is. What it is is essentially team.

Read the rest HERE

Another Jazz vs Knicks Classic Tonight?

Most Knicks fans now don't even remember this Knicks team, this one of the few high-points of Starbury's short career with NY. 20 cool points to whoever can name the rest of the players on that team...

Earl The Pearl Monroe Thinks The Knicks arent Ready Just Yet

Earl "The Pearl" Monroe aka "Black Magic" aka "Jesus" told SportingNews.com he thinks the Knicks are not title contenders just yet.

“They have about 23, 24 games left,” said Monroe, who won a title with the Knicks in 1973 alongside future Hall of Fame teammates Walt Frazier, Bill Bradley, Dave DeBusschere, Willis Reed and Jerry Lucas. “They’re still in the thick of things. I anticipate them going to the playoffs.”

“It’s always said, when you get to the playoffs, anything can happen,” Monroe told Sporting News. “I don’t think this is their year for winning a championship or anything. But I think they can start to solidify themselves as a team that needs to be reckoned with and then try to go out and get some other pieces.” 

“I think the most glaring thing is a lack of rebounding and a lack of inside presence defensively,” Monroe says. “If in fact they can go out and address those issues, I think they’ll be on track to do something better next year.”

Read more: HERE

Amare Makes The Cover of SLAM

Amare Stoudemire graces the cover of SLAM Magazine's 147th issue, its a two cover issue, him on one and Blake Griffin on the other.

Here's some from SLAM Online:

'The last time a Knick was on SLAM’s cover? SLAM #36, almost 12 years ago!) The longer you speak with Amar’e—which I did, about all of this stuff, after our shoot—the more you realize that as much as Stoudemire has done for the city and people of New York, the city and people of New York have done equally for him.'

Check out the rest HERE

Knicks and Toney Duckets Swarm The Hornets!

Last night the Knicks handled the Hornets like some trained bug swatters. The Knicks took them out in a blow out 107-88. What should have been the CP3 showcase turned into the The Toney Duckets Show! With Chauncey Billups missing what could should be one of two games with a deep left thigh bruise. Insert Toney Douglas, and much to my and probably most viewers surprise he played some of his best ball this season. He finished the game with 24 points, shot 10 for 13 from the field and 4 for 6 from deep.