Archive for the ‘Knicks’ Category

>Shove It Up Your Knickhole

Posted: April 5, 2011 by Keith Stone in Isiah, JD and the Straight Shot, Knicks, Nets, rants
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The dominant headline of this NBA season has clearly been the Miami Heat. They have become the team people love to hate, as articles about them crying generate more attention than the actual game. However, I would not mind seeing the Miami Cheat taking home the title. Nor would I mind the Los Angeles Fakers, nor the Boston…um…let’s go with Smelltics

Why?

Because that means that the Knicks didn’t win.

When it comes to local sports team rivalries, the animosity between Nets and Knicks fans is quite bizarre. Reasonably, these two fanbases have little reason to hate each other. They’ve played in two first round playoff series in 35 years. When one team was up, the other team was down – they basically switch roles every decade. I can’t even recall one game you would call “classic” between the two franchises. So why the insults, the chest-thumping, the vile-spewing, and the all-in-all non-well-wishingness?

Basically, the New York sports landscape is shaped by the big brother/little brother relationship. The Yankees and the Mets. The Giants and the Jets. Unfortunately, this also extends to the Knicks and the Nets. However, the Knicks have been the Cooper Manning of older brothers. Since the Nets entered the NBA, the Knicks have won two Eastern Conference titles, and three division titles, while the Nets have two Eastern Conference titles as well, but four division titles. Granted, the Knicks won two NBA titles, but they were during a time when the NBA talent level was diluted by the ABA, where, interestingly enough, the Nets won two championships as well. Granted, I’ll admit the Knicks did have many more memorable playoff series in their 90’s run than the Nets had in the 00’s, but I can pride myself as a Nets fan to say that they never lost a series in which they had homecourt advantage.

So where does this “big brother” attitude come from? The Yankees and the Giants dominate their respective little siblings in titles; their fanbases have earned their arrogance and cockiness. Unless the prerequisite for being the “little brother” is that your team name ends in “-ets”, there is little distinguishing the two teams.

That’s is the main crux of my Knicks hate-itude – a completely undeserved bravado, a false sense being one of the NBA’s storied franchises, a fucktastic douchebagicity. However, as I may be bombarded after this post by Knicks fans wearing Carmelo Anthony jerseys they hastily made with the number “15” because they aren’t true fans who know their own franchise’s history, let me get a few more shots in.

I’ve heard Bill Simmons comment a few time that Knicks fans are the “smartest basketball fans.” Sure. The most objective Knicks fan I found ranks John Starks as one of the top 10 players of all time, rather than the top 5. And to watch them defend Patrick Ewing’s career is like hearing a six-year-old explain how Santa Claus delivers presents all over the world in one night.

I also freely admit that the Continental Arena/Izod Center is the dumpiest place on Earth, and Madison Square Garden is a legendary arena. However, let’s be honest – it is not known for great Knicks performances. When you think of MSG, you think of other team’s players destroying the Knicks – Reggie Miller, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James. To me, it looks like there is a homecourt disadvantage when playing in the Garden. That must be why the Knicks are struggling so much at the end of this season (either that or they suck).

But, it isn’t all hate. I love Clyde Frazier’s vocabulary. I love JD & the Straight Shot. But most of all, I love Isiah Thomas. For four and a half glorious years, he brought me some of the greatest stories and highlights in sports history (and partially distracted me from the terrible job Rod Thorn was doing). And it looks like Isiah will be back for more. This season has been a dark cloud for Knicks-haters, but fear not – Isiah is our silver lining.

Keith Stone’s Rebuttal

>All Is Right With the World!!!

Posted: April 5, 2011 by Keith Stone in Knicks, playoffs
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The Knicks clinched their first playoff spot in seven years last night, and as unbelievable as it seems that the Knicks could miss the playoffs for six years in a row, I’m really happy and really proud of this team. It’s not the ultimate goal, but it’s the first step and I’m going to celebrate. Everyone deserves some credit from Donnie Walsh and Mike D’Antoni to Amar’e for taking the first step in making the team relevant again to the guys who were shipped to Denver. I’m excited to able to watch playoff basketball in the Garden again.

However, there’s always somebody who wants to rain on your parade. My friend Rory is from New Jersey and is one of 12 New Jersey (soon to be Brooklyn) Nets fans. He thinks everything about the Knickerbockers is overblown and has been sitting in the emptiness of Continental Arena for years stewing. His story is coming up.

>Melo Dominates Cleveland, Tom Hanks

Posted: April 4, 2011 by Keith Stone in Knicks, Melo, Saturday Night Live
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Carmelo Anthony had a big weekend. He helped lead the Knicks to their first playoff berth since 2004 with a double-digit win over Cleveland and also did a little acting with a portrayal of female shotputter Carmela St. Knix on Saturday Night Live. Although he didn’t have many lines, Melo appeared in two sketches and I thought outshone a cameoing Tom Hanks. OK, maybe not but he was better than Shaq in Kazaam. Catch the clips here and here.

>The Knickerbocker Conundrum

Posted: March 31, 2011 by Keith Stone in Amar'e, Coach D, Knicks, Melo
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A lot has been made about the Knicks’ recent struggles. Before defeating Orlando, they lost nine out of 10 and six in a row including losses to juggernauts like Detroit, Milwaukee, and Charlotte. Melo has been here for 21 games now, more than a quarter of the season, so it’s fair to judge him and the team since the trade. But honestly, I can’t. I’m just confused.

When I used to run cross country in high school, I loved it when the people in front of me were too far ahead to catch but I couldn’t see anybody behind me. That way I didn’t have to run too fast but I wasn’t in danger of being passed.

The Knicks have been in a similar position for almost the entirety of the season. They couldn’t catch Atlanta but they weren’t going to miss the playoffs because the East is so weak. After the trade, it was expected that there might be growing pains but the results have been especially surprising.

There have been flashes but overall the quality of play has been perplexing. Against good teams, the Knicks look motivated and cohesive, but against also-rans, their play has been subpar. Unfortunately, the problems are defense and rebounding, which presumably are a matter of effort. Why is this happening?

Before Melo, the pecking order on the team was obvious. Amar’e was the star and everyone else followed suit. He was the engine that powered the team. The offense flowed through him but the entire team was involved.

Carmelo is one of the greatest creators in the NBA. Watching him, it’s absolutely astounding to see him play. He takes the ball to the hole like nobody else and the way he spins and dribbles the ball makes me question my sexuality.

But when Carmelo gets the ball, everything stops. He might be able to score 60% of the time, but is that better than if the ball gets spread around? On top of that, when guys don’t touch the ball, they become less involved in the game and their energy sags. It shoudn’t happen, but it does. You don’t want that to happen to Amar’e Stoudemire and you especially don’t want him to be unhappy because he’s not getting the ball. He’s earned it.

The Knicks’ offense was built around being up-tempo and finding the open man, not one-on-one play. In his third year in New York, and struggling after little success the past two years, Mike D’Antoni is on the hot seat. A lot of people are questioning whether he can make this arrangement work. It’s going to be tough but after turning Phoenix into a contender and revolutionizing the way offense is played, who better than Coach D to make it happen? It’s like having Wolfgang Puck make you waffles. Maybe he hasn’t made waffles in years, but when he gets the hang of it, those are going to be some fucking good waffles.

D’Antoni is too smart not to figure out how to make this work and Stat and Melo are committed to winning and sacrificing for the greater good. In time, Carmelo will have to learn to defer to Amar’e and his teammates more. The offense should still run through Amar’e with Carmelo an outlet in case the big guy gets stuck. Amar’e isn’t touching the ball enough anymore. This isn’t stuff you can learn on the fly and it’s going to take a lot of work over the summer to improve it.

The Knicks’ rotation is perilously short. When you’re starting Shelden Williams at center, you know you’re in trouble. Losing Chauncey Big Shot with his thigh injury did not help in getting the team to gel. Amar’e is already rightfully or wrongfully averaging a career high in minutes with a surgically repaired knee. Landry Fields is used to playing 30 games a year. Anthony Carter and Roger Mason Jr. are getting significant minutes. They traded away half their team. It’s incomplete. Leonardo da Vinci didn’t hang the Mona Lisa in the Louvre after he sketched out her smile. What Donnie Walsh (or whoever’s in charge) is going to have to do this summer is fill out this roster and make it complete for next year. An athletic defensive big man would be a good start and a dead-eye sharpshooter wouldn’t be so bad either.

This team is worn out and the playoffs are around the corner. What incentive does it have to bust its ass? Yeah, I know the fans are paying money but sixth or seventh place is pretty much a foregone conclusion with Boston and Miami waiting in the wings.

Personally, I want no part of Miami. Despite their problems, Queen James is going to be a beast in the first round of the playoffs. Boston is getting old and the Knicks could run on them. Either way, the identity of their playoff opponent is going to come down to wire and it will be daunting. Better to take it easy now than win a few games and be totally worn out for the playoffs.

So what is the problem? Is there a problem? The Nuggets have been rolling since the trade while the Knicks are crawling across the finish line and for the first time this season, people are starting to push the panic button. Realistically, there’s not one cause. Amar’e has proven that he’s a warrior and when Carmelo is determined to play defense and rebound, he is all-world. The Knicks have some good pieces and are definitely better than they’ve been playing recently. It’s upsetting and confusing to see them play so poorly against bad teams, but luckily (or not) they’re going to be playing somebody really good in about two weeks. I’m not afraid.

>This Is Why You Go Home With the Slutty Bartender

Posted: March 10, 2011 by Keith Stone in Knicks, Melo
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Knicks and Grizzlies tied at 108. Ten seconds left. Who does the ball go to?

>Toney, Toney, Toney

Posted: March 9, 2011 by Keith Stone in Knicks, Toney Douglas
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The Knicks are playing great now. They’re coming off a 22-point pasting of the Jazz and have gone 5-3 since acquiring slutty bartender Carmelo Anthony (5-1 not counting the unstoppable Cavs) including impressive wins over the Heat and Hornets. However, the most important player on the Knicks roster isn’t Melo or Amar’e Stoudemire. It’s Toney Douglas.

OK, that’s an exaggeration. If Amar’e pokes himself in the eye while he’s knotting one of his designer bow ties, then the Knicks are fucked. Stat and Melo give the Knicks consistent production between them: lots of scoring and some defense and rebounding. Landry Fields is going to make some shots and hit the boards. Ronny Turiaf is going to do the dirty work and look confused every time he touches the ball. Chauncey Big Shot is going to distribute the ball, provide leadership, and hit the big shots. Down the roster, the range of possibilities for every player is fairly standard, but Toney Douglas is the biggest X-factor on the team and accordingly his output plays an unfairly large role in the team’s success.

Toney Douglas had a decent first year backing up the immortal Chris Duhon. He was a defensive specialist but when the ball was in his hands, it was a bit nerve-wracking. Mainly it was the 3-point shooting. He shot almost 39% last year but it dipped to 35.6% this year and he got a lot of open looks from teams double-teaming Amar’e. With Ray Felton playing well and his shot off, Douglas’s playing time went down in the early part of the season but he had his moments. He scored 30 points and was easily the star in a big national win over the Bulls and Derrick Rose.

With Big Shot out for the past few games, Douglas has had time to shine. He shut down Chris Paul and scored 24 points (4-6 3P) against the Hornets and went for 20 against the Jazz (5-7 3P). The Knicks are 7-3 when Douglas scores 15 points including wins in the last four occurrences. He continues to play tenacious defense on a team where it is sorely lacking. Jameer Nelson killed the Knicks last week. He and Derrick Rose loom as potential first-round playoff opponents.

If Douglas can contribute 20-25 solid minutes a game, he makes all the difference. He has been playing with poise recently and having Big Shot as a mentor helps a lot. Douglas has to be able to stay on the court and continue to show that he can play with consistency when Big Shot returns. He needs to lead the team on defense, be assertive on offense, and hit the open 3 when his number is called. His energy and athleticism will inspire the older guys to get some floor burn, but he has to be productive on both sides of the court. Douglas is not going to get a ton of minutes in crunch time, but he will play a larger role on the 2010-2011 New York Knickerbockers than anybody realizes.

>Knicks Beat That Heat

Posted: February 28, 2011 by Keith Stone in Knicks, NBA, Queen James
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The Knicks may be less talented than the Heat but last night proved that they have the guys that are willing to step up and make big plays. Wade and Bosh disappeared, Melo accepted the responsibility of guarding Queen James, and Mr. Big Shot lived up to his name and made some great defensive plays. Finally, it was Amar’e who shoved the ball back in the Queen’s face in the final seconds. The Heat were scared to fail; the Knicks weren’t. Simple as that.

>Best Homecoming Ever

Posted: February 25, 2011 by Keith Stone in Jared Jeffries, Knicks
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Melo who?  Newsday is reporting that after Jared Jeffries is bought out by the Rockets, he’s coming home back to the Knicks. The Suite got an early hold of the tribute video that will be used in his return.

>Farewell To Mediocrity

Posted: February 24, 2011 by Keith Stone in Knicks, Melo
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There was an energy in the Garden tonight, a real energy, unlike anything I’ve ever felt. Yeah, I wasn’t there when Willis came out of the tunnel, Messier raised the Stanley Cup, or Ali fought Frazier. I’m not saying that tonight was even on the level of those events. It was just different.

I was shocked at how many Carmelo jerseys people were wearing (even some for Chauncey Billups) and how crowded it was before the Knicks came out for warmups. When they did, Melo got a standing O. When he made his first shot in the layup line, people cheered. It was great. It also shows how desperate we are as a fanbase. The Garden may have over-dramatized things with the “I’m Coming Home” song during the starting lineups, but it’s not the first time. And this time, I think it was worth it.

The Knicks came out blazing and slowed down a little as expected. The chemistry actually wasn’t half bad. Amar’e and Melo deferred to each other. When Melo was double-teamed, he got it to Amar’e and vice versa. When teams have to worry about both of them, it really opens the court for guys like Landry Fields and Shawne Williams. Toney Douglas also had an outstanding game and should play a bigger role if can consistently take the ball to the hole. Chauncey Billups proved that he’s more than just a throw-in to the trade. He was a significant upgrade from Ray Felton. The D and rebounding was a little shaky but that’s going to get better with practice and hopefully an additional big body acquired before the trade deadline.
When the game was on the line, nobody backed down. Not the new guys. Not the old guys. Not the fans. Melo, Amar’e, and Chauncey have an uncanny knack to get to the line and that helps you win games. Melo made two big shots and that’s why we got him. He took 25 shots but it didn’t feel like he forced it too much. The key is to make sure everybody is involved and exploit the mismatches the team has on offense.
The Knicks will continue to improve. The role players need to come into their own and contribute. Opposing teams need to be kept off the boards. It will all take time. Right now, we know the Knicks are tough and they can score. Will that be enough? It’s a start.

>How the Hot Dogs are Made

Posted: February 22, 2011 by Keith Stone in fashion, interesting, Knicks
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The sporting-goods store, Gerry Cosby and Co., has prepared the Knicks’ jerseys for over half a century. Not Nike. Not Adidas. Once the Knicks inform them what numbers all the new guys will be wearing, the jerseys are prepped at their store a few blocks from the Garden and then the numbers and names are sewed on at an off-site location. It takes about an hour but if you had your own order waiting, sorry. The Knicks have priority. Whoever does Melo’s (looks like it will be #7) is like the Betsy Ross of the Knicks. Every stitch they sew on his first jersey will be a prelude to greatness and victory over the redcoats in Miami.
New York Magazine
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