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

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

Mike D'Antoni and Amare Stoudemire Post Game Playoff Clincher

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...

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

Knicks Weekend Wrap-Up 2/13

So what did we learn about the Knicks this weekend?

• The Lakers are still a better team than the Knicks.
• Mike D'Antoni wants fans to stop chanting "We Want Melo"
• Raymond Felton confirmed that the team is affected by the Melo Rumors.
•  Mozgov is a starter again(for now).
• Amare rocks Nike Air Max with a suit and gets away with it.
• If the Knicks can make 16 threes they can win a game against a subpar team without Amare.
• And Shawne Williams turns 25, Happy B-Day!

Check Highlights from the games after the Jump

Should the fans stop chanting Melo?

So Coach D'Antoni is asking the fans not chant "We Want Melo" huh, should we listen?

Knicks fans are the most opinionated NBA fans, and for the price of these games and the city's general expectations chanting a superstars name is not out of the realm. The Knicks were down by 15 plus to Dallas and the camera moved to Justin Bieber and he was even booed. Anybody can get it, and if this effort continues the next chant may very well be "Fire D'Antoni".

Lets talk about it:

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Mike D'Antoni comments on losing streak

The Knicks look to turn there six game losing streak around tonight versus the Wizards, who ironically is the worst road team in the league with a despicable record of 0 and 20.

Knicks Practice emphasize on DEFENSE

Steve Nash to the Knicks?

via NYDailynews.com

"I signed up for this," Nash said. "I'm committed to trying to build a team here. Obviously, last year was a phenomenal year. Tied 2-2 (with the Lakers in the Western Conference finals before losing in six games), I thought we could win a championship. I genuinely believed we could and would win it. It's tough to be in this position six months later. I'm still committed to it."I love the guys. I think we've got potential but we've had so much change and haven't been able to put it together. If we want to point fingers, we've got to point some at ourselves and say, 'We haven't put it together.'
"I'm still happy. I just want to try to win games for these fans and our team because that's the most frustrating thing. We've been in a lot of games that we haven't won, that historically we found a way to win most of those."

Nash is obviously handling this situation in a very PC manner, but everyone knows this team took a turn for the worst beginning with Amare's contract situation. Steve has another year left on this contract worth 11.6 million and would love to finish his career with a winner. He would love to link up with Coach D'Antoni again, Donnie Walsh has a different plan.

The Knicks organization and fan-base is loving Raymond Felton at the moment, he's playing his best basketball of his career(18ppg & 9asst). Ray is 26 while Steve will turn 37 next month, the Knicks are building for the future while and at the same time keeping salary flexibility. Nash hurts the first cause, if the Knicks were title contenders this season, and also made a trade for Carmelo then bringing Nash in would make sense. Knicks are done with the fix for now mentality, trying to fix now severely hurts the later. Walsh will stay with Felton, which is the smarter long term move. Felton contract expires 2012, the year other top tier point guards are available (i,e) Chris Paul and Deron Williams. So the need for salary flexibility is always a must. I assume most Knicks fans can accept a 20-14 record and there pg having a wonderful season with game winners and a "never quit, team first mentality".


So Steve thanks, but no thanks...

Sincerely,

Intelligent Knicks Blogger

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Dantoni Shot Down Gilbert Arenas Trade Talk

via NYPost.com

"I heard I could've been traded there and then I heard I wasn't his type of point guard," said Arenas, who scored 10 points in last night's 112-103 Magic win. "I understand when you've had Steve Nash all those years, I'm a guy who's still trying to score 60."

Part of the summer strategy was leaving salary cap space open for 2011 with Carmelo Anthony's free agency and Chris Paul's free agency in 2102. If the Knicks discussed Arenas, it likely was shot down because of his contract. He will make $19 million next season and $21 million in 2012.
After the Amar'e Stoudemire signing, the Knicks likely didn't have room for Arenas unless Eddy Curry's deal was in the trade.
"It didn't even come up," D'Antoni said. "He never came up. Not that I can remember."
Could he fit in D'Antoni's point-guard system?
"I'm sure he could," D'Antoni said. "He's a good player."


Read more: HERE

Landry Fields The Next John Havlicek?

NYPost.com

"Talking to some people today, he reminds them of John Havlicek when he first came into the league," Walsh said.

NBA X-Mas Gifts

via NYDailyNews.com

Isiah Thomas: A job in the Garden - coaching the Liberty.

Donnie Walsh: Complete autonomy

Jim Dolan: Wisdom.

Mike D'Antoni: Jeff Van Gundy's defensive playbook.

Pat Riley: Peace, prosperity and Erik Spoelstra's job.

Erik Spoelstra: His old job doing the board for Pat Riley.

LeBron James: Game 5 vs. Boston expunged from his permanent record.

Maverick Carter: A crash-course in marketing/PR.

Chris Bosh: No games in Toronto this season.

Steve Nash: Amar'e Stoudemire.

Amar'e Stoudemire: M-V-P chants in the Garden in May.

Mike D'Antoni Post Game Interview 12/18

Mike D'Antoni +Amare Post Game Interviews+ Gallo Mic'd Up Videos

All Video After The JUMP

Mike D'Antoni Interview ESPN Radio 12/14/10

Mike D'Antoni Post Game Interview NYK vs DEN 12/12/10

Mike D'Antoni On PTI

Video After The Jump

Mike D'Antoni Post Game Interview 12/10

Video After The Jump