Ex-Knicks Players Playoff Watch

We can all find negatives about the Knicks 2010-2011 season but for the most part it was a positive outcome. They finished with their first winning season in ten years and first playoff birth since the 2003-2004 season, but they road to the post-season started way back in November of 2007.The newly appointed general manager of the Knicks Donnie Walsh decided to shed salary in hopes of acquiring Lebron James and several other A-List free-agents in the summer of 2010. The first set of key players to go was Jamal Crawford and Zach Randolph.

The trades of these two great talents lead to the shuffling of continuous expiring contract players none of which were the caliber of talents of Zach or JC. July of 2010 came and the Knicks were able to retain the services of one of the marquee free-agents in Amare Stoudemire and second tier point guard free agent in Raymond Felton. The 2010-2011 season wasn't even one quarter done before the Carmelo Anthony trade sweepstakes or Melo-Drama would rear its ugly head and the roster would suddenly dramatically change once again.

The Knicks would eventually depart with three starting players and a few potential players for the acquisition of one Carmelo Anthony. If you were either for or against the departure of Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallanari, and Wilson Chandler we all had grown a bond with these young core of players. Now that the Knicks have been eliminated in a sweeping fashion most fans are already looking into next season roster changes. But we must not forget about the players that made it possible for us to even enjoy post season play this season. So here' a look into the playoff stats of the relevant departed of our beloved Knicks.

*Playoff Statistics are current as of 4/28/2011

Memphis Grizzlies Zach Randolph: *19.6 ppg and *8.8 rebounds. With the injury of the Grizzlies leading scorer Zach has taken on the role becoming the new floor leader and it the move has worked out tremendously. His play throughout the season and the victory of the organizations first playoff win earned him a $71 Million four-year extension. The Grizzlies are currently leading the NBA's regular season best Spur's 3-2 and are looking to close out the one-seed at home tomorrow night on there home court.

Atlanta Hawks Jamal Crawford: *20.8ppg and shooting at *44% from the field. JC has found a home in Atlanta with the Hawks, he is one few players to lead the team in scoring from the sixth man spot. The highest paid player on the Hawks is Joe Johnson but when the game is on the line the ball is definitely in the hands of Jamal Crawford.

Gone but not forgotten...

Knicks Pick-Up Billups Option for 2012

No buy out for Chauncey here, Knicks have picked up the 1 year option worth 14 million plus.

via espn.com

"Chauncey, Amare [Stoudemire] and Chauncey [Billups] are a great nucleus, as we continue to look to improve our team going into the offseason," Knicks president of basketball operation Donnie Walsh said in a statement. "Chauncey is an extremely talented and experienced point guard -- we are very happy to have him back."

What does this mean for the Knicks front line help, only the new collective bargaining agreement can  answer that.

Melo, Amare, and Chauncey Reflect on the Season and look ahead to the Future

How much, if any should the Big 2.5 have input in this off-season's roster moves? Seems like James Dolan may be inviting them into the "Big Boy Conversations" this summer.

GAME 4's SWEEP LEAVES US WITH A WORLD OF QUESTIONS

The 2010-2011 Knicks took a page out of The Cohen Brothers film-making with this closing performance. This season had its great amount of highs and lows but the ending to this story was a complete failure. Some die-hard fans of the Knicks and Cohen Brothers films will always see the glass half-full in the end, but whether you were proud of this team or ashamed to be a fan were all left with many questions to be answered.
 

1. Is Donnie Walsh going to return?
2.  
3. Does Mike D'Antoni deserve another season with a complete team?
4.  
5. Will they pick-up the Billups contract option?
6.  
7. Which of the seven (ACarter, Shawne Williams, RMason, RonnyT, Sheldon Williams,Jared J, DBrown) Free-Agents this off-season should be re-signed?
8.  
9. What is the biggest roster need, C, PG, SG?

Charles Barkley Apologizes to Mike D'Antoni and Donnie Walsh

via NYPost.com

"I have a rule, I try to always be honest and fair on TV," Barkley said. "I screwed up the other night when I said something about Mike D'Antoni that wasn't cool. I want to apologize to Mike D'Antoni and Donnie Walsh. When you're on television you should never talk about someone getting hired and fired. That's inappropriate. I made that mistake. I want to apologize personally to Mike D'Antoni and Donnie Walsh. I've got great respect for Donnie Walsh and Mike D'Antoni. I want to apologize. That's all I can do."

Barkley may be onto something, with an impending sweep on Easter Sunday, Donnie Walsh's contract expiring it may be time for day I say the return of Isiah Thomas. Don't mind me, I'm just upset...

Read more: HERE

Knicks Lose Game 3:The Dreaded 3-0

Check out the MSG fellas breaking down the terrible loss.

Keeping an Eye on the Knuggets: Game 2

     Majority of Knicks fans are keeping a close eye on the Denver vs OKC series, personally I would like to see the ex-Knicks play well but I'm not surprised that there struggling. While most were quick to appoint them the "Sleeper" team in the west I knew all along that was mostly fools gold. True the winning streak was not to be overlooked, but it was not telling the real story of this team. Most of there opponents were caught totally off-guard with there open-style any can score attitude. The playoffs are all bout exposing weakness and exploiting them, clearly there is they have no "Goto Guy" in clutch possessions. The series will go back to Denver in Game 3, and hopefully the welcome home will have them running and gunning like the final 20 games of the regular season.

Knuggets Stats:

Danilo Gallinari: 7 PTS,  3-8 from the field

Wilson Chandler: 4 PTS , 0-6 from the field 4-4 from the free throw

Raymond Felton: 16 PTS, 5-11

The Curse of the Unlucky Tie

The Paisley Curse

   If your superstitious person like myself, then you should already have been thinking that all things from Game 1 and Game 2 should be discarded. Most importantly Coach D'Antoni's tie, while I may be a fan of the Paisley print in a fashoin sense, this back to back game night clothing accessory should be burned. After some *extensive research "The Curse of the Paisley" may just be a real curse, the Knicks have never beaten a team with a winning record this season while MDA wore a Paisley print tie. In the regular season everyone can overlook such a preposterous notion of a "unlucky tie" but not in the playoffs, every little thing counts. Hence the reason why teams rally up with the "grow the beard out" ritual and many others. Rumor was that the Knicks were all going to wear Orange socks this post-season, maybe they should have. I'm totally positive the Celtics are doing everything as they did in 2008 to reach the Finals again. So its that time for New York to scrap what ever little things that may have lingered from the first two games and go home clean. My mom used to always tell me to never bring the dirt from outside in the house, and I think the same should be said with the Knicks and Madison Square Garden.


Check out some Post-Game Interviews videos of MDA sporting those damn Paisley ties...

Game 1 , Game 2, Bulls 4/12

*google searching for hours

Amare should play Friday, Billups Doubtful

Amare Stoudemire and Chauncey Billups both had MRI's today, STAT for his back spasms and Mr. Big Shot for is left knee.

via Foxsports.com

 

"I should be ready. We'll see how it goes [Wednesday] and next day, but I'm pretty sure — I'm hoping — I'll be ready Friday."
"I couldn't hardly move. I was trying to play through it," Stoudemire said. "Once I felt that sharp pain, I couldn't take it."

Billups' test confirmed a strained tendon, which forced him to miss Game 2 after he was hurt on a drive to the basket near the end of the series opener. Billups is listed as doubtful for Game 3.

Knicks Lose GM2:Moral Victory or Heartbreaker?

If you didn't actually watch this game and all you were able to see was these highlights your initial reaction would be something like:"Damn the Knicks are always losing at the end". For the rest of the Knicks world that was glued to the television, they witnessed the true essence of playoff basketball. A battle from start until finish, key players going down, role players stepping up, every possession counts kinda game. Game 2 had every ingredient a MSG Classics Knicks game needed except for the win part.

No Billups, Amare with back spasms and the Knicks had a lead in the final minute of the game is a positive. I may seem like a "homer" right now but I was not this optimistic immediately after the loss. I took some time to gather my thoughts, rewound the tape about 500 times and watched the post game interviews. I realized that this team was not down, there spirits weren't broken, they were going to spin this into a motivation factor.


Backbreaking and season ending loss or the Motivation to see some Winning Knicks basketball friday?

YOU CHOOSE...

A Better Look At The KG "Trippin" of TD

I DVR the game like most so I was able to rewind and re-watch the clip from the live view but this is much easier to make a decision. What you think?

Assist credited to Barstool NYC

No Billups:Landry Fields Needs To Step Up

With Chauncey Billups likely out for game 2 other players will have to step up in a huge way. The Amber Alert has been activated for Landry Fields ever since the arrival of Carmelo Anthony, his play has diminished and so have his minutes. Fields has severely suffered from Melo's style of play, Fields was building a pedigree of moving without the ball and Amare racking up assists because of it. As of late Fields has reverted back to forced drives to the rack and flat shots from the perimeter. But with Toney starting at the point we should see more of the "Elbow" play and the traditional "Pick and Roll" which allows Fields to float around the Three and slash to the hoop from back screens.

One "Pro" from Landry struggles has been Douglas's scoring, he has erupted since the trade and he has stolen much of the shooting guard minutes, but tonight we will not have the luxury. Fields must contribute tonight. His stat line can be unattractive and still accomplish this task, a big shot here or a key offensive there and he will jump back in the fans and coaches good graces. Of course there are other options for Coach D'Antoni to go with, Anthony Carter's minutes increase and Toney swings to the 2, or Bill Walkers minutes climb. Neither of those are bad options but they should be the second option. Game 2 could very well become the Stat and Melo show but solid play from the once back to back Rookie of the Month Award winner would definitely help. the greater good.

The Closer: Melo Edition

Throwback Video: Carmelo Anthony MTV Cribs

Something to check out before tonight Knicks vs. Pacers game. Reminds of the crib that Jack Woltz had in The Godfather, NYC living must be a tad different.

John Calipari to take over the Knicks?

via RealGM.com


According to a team executive, Knicks owner James Dolan is interested in hiring Kentucky coach John Calipari to run the front office and coach.
Calipari is represented by William Wesley, who works for Creative Artists Agency, Hollywood's most powerful entertainment agency. One of its many patrons is Chris Paul, who figures to be on the market within a matter of months.

Read more: HERE

Mike D'Antoni and Amare Stoudemire Post Game Playoff Clincher

The Knicks Are Returning To The Playoffs!

Carmelo Anthony on SNL

Melo's smile may be more inviting than Stat's but his on screen performances are no match for the NY "MVP". None the less Melo is making his NY rounds...Good try