The Knicks Thread....

[Jeffx]

I don't understand cutting Azubuike and Brewer, and keeping Roger Mason????? Where's Earl Barron?

[Doobie]

Earl Barron signed with the Bucks. 10 day contract.

Yeah I'm confused about that as well, Azuibuke said he was ready to play.

[Andrew]

The Azubuike signing was definitely a waste of money; bring him, wait until he's healthy then cut him. I wouldn't mind if the Bulls signed him, though it looks like they're going after Rasual Butler.

[Cartar]

The Azubuike signing was definitely a waste of money; bring him, wait until he's healthy then cut him. I wouldn't mind if the Bulls signed him, though it looks like they're going after Rasual Butler.

He came via trade from GS, not by signing, nevertheless I think the Knicks could've used him once he was healthy.

[Jeffx]

The Azubuike signing was definitely a waste of money; bring him, wait until he's healthy then cut him. I wouldn't mind if the Bulls signed him, though it looks like they're going after Rasual Butler.

He came via trade from GS, not by signing, nevertheless I think the Knicks could've used him once he was healthy.

They could have used Brewer too, but I read the Knicks would have to pay him $5mil next year if they kept him.

[Andrew]

He came via trade from GS, not by signing, nevertheless I think the Knicks could've used him once he was healthy.

Quite right, my mistake.

[NovU]

Very convincing win over Chris Paul Brick's NOH. Not sure what's with Paul, but he's been awful lately. NOH just doesn't got chances without Paul playing well. He needs to pick up his game soon.

As for the Knicks, they also didn't play good early in the game despite Chris Paul bricking and turning over and making mistakes on defensive end. However, they seemed to have just enough to pull an easy one in the second half without much effort. I think that says a lot for this team. This team can be scary if they get a two or more right pieces and learn to gel.

Denver also surprisingly had 40 points blow out win over Bobcats. 4-1 since the trade. However, they don't seem to have a true leader/identity. Shouldn't be a problem for now, but it's still a wonder it'll be the same case in a long run. We'll see how far this balanced team effort can take this team to.

[Jeffx]

In typical Knick fashion, they lose again to the Cavs. A disgraceful performance. They don't bring a consistent effort on defense night after night.

[Jackal]

They don't bring a consistent effort on defense night after night.

Have you met your coach?

[Jeffx]

They don't bring a consistent effort on defense night after night.

Have you met your coach?

It's so frustrating, because last night showed you what they're capable of if they're FOCUSED on defense.

[Doobie]

They don't bring a consistent effort on defense night after night.

Have you met your coach?

It's so frustrating, because last night showed you what they're capable of if they're FOCUSED on defense.

And tonight they showed what they are capable of when the offense is running on all cylinders.

Melo + Amar'e - 65 points on 24/31 shooting.

[Jeffx]

Corey Brewer had a decent game last night. I wish we could have found a place for him. Knicks had no energy at all. This game was over at halftime.

Another 'T' for Amar'e, so he's done for the Indiana game.

UPDATE: Just heard Amare's technical foul has been rescinded.

[Jeffx]

Tyler Hansbrough > the Knicks. Another wonderful defensive display.

[shadowgrin]

lol, Psycho T.

[Jeffx]

lol, Psycho T.

His last power dunk was ridiculous. Dude had a wide-open lane to the hoop.

[Jeffx]

Last week it was Tyler Hansbrough. Yesterday, the Knicks made Delfino look like Superman. WTF? 7-8 since the trade.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baske ... lwauk.html

[NovU]

Lamrock turning out to be right.

I am still doubtful about Denver in a long run.

[The X]

Lamrock turning out to be right.

I am still doubtful about Denver in a long run.

Agreed, they've just struck lightening in a bottle, as the Rockets did when they reeled off 22 straight after Yao got injured. Sometimes this happens in the League. You've got a very good point guard in Ty Lawson being bottled up on bench because he was playing behind a great point guard in Billups, but now he's been let loose, he's making the most of it. Obviously you can't underestimate the effect of the improvement of Aaron Afflalo (I was a big fan of his at UCLA), plus having a healthy Nene & Kenyon Martin is big.

As for Knicks, meh.

[NovU]

I think the Knicks will be fine. For next few years, they will be at least contending in East. Current struggles can be excused because of thin supporting cast line up.

I mean Turiaf and Fields aren't your ideal starters. They prolly couldn't even crack rotations on most of deep teams let alone some crappy teams. To make the matter worse, look at their bench. Bunch of nobodies top to bottom. Gimme one name from their bench who'd get a minute of playing time if was a Heat or Celtics. You couldn't. Even Fields and Turiaf wouldn't get much.

In the end, offseason acquisitions will make the Knicks a tougher team. NYK is also an attractive place/team to play for. So I'd give a nod to NYK over DEN in a long run.

[Andrew]

I'd agree with that too. Furthermore, I wouldn't write off the Knicks just yet but suffice to say this wasn't what they were banking on when they made the trade and gave Melo his extension. A coaching change is admittedly a rather uninspired, knee-jerk reaction but if there's someone out there with a better idea of how to make things work, why not?

[Jeffx]

4 pts in the final 7+ minutes of the game..WTF?????

[NovU]

Not surprising... That's what Celtics do the best, putting clamps on teams in the 4th quarter.

Also a funny comment from Heat fan...

Spo needs to either start or sub Magloirre in early for exactly this reason: that refs do not call fouls in Celtics games.

Magloirre throws elbows on every play and this is good — either the fighting escalates to the point where the refs start calling fouls, or the Heat have a 6 10 guy in the game literally beating the crap out of Celtics, who of course deserve this because they are dirty when the refs don’t call fouls

For an example tonights game where Rondo elbows Carmelo drawing blood, which is bad enough, and then, after the basket is made and as a part of getting back in transition literally kicks Carmelo while he is down on the ground holding his head bleeding. Refs don’t call fouls in Celtics games unless a melée riot is about to break out: not when KG literally kicks people in the balls, and if the don’t protect a superstar like Carmelo in MSG, they aren’t gonna protect Heat superstars either.

Anyways, lol @ Melo crying on the sideline after the loss. ESPN better have a crygate for him, like they did for the Heat.

[Jeffx]

Clyde was going ballistic, criticizing the Knicks' poor floor spacing and wondering why they weren't attacking the basket. Why are they so friggin' inconsistent? And then you have D'Amdummy saying the Knick defense was 'improved' after the game.

http://nbaplaybook.com/2011/03/22/poor- ... he-fourth/

[Jeffx]

http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nba/ ... id=6246952

"It's bad over there," one Celtic, who's tight with several of the Knicks, told me after the game. "Right or wrong, they're not feeling [D'Antoni]. They just ain't."

[Andrew]

I doubt he gets canned this close to the Playoffs unless they've got a high profile replacement lined up, but let's see what happens in the offseason.