Knicks Basketball; Oh Where O Where Has The Triangle Offense Gone?

  It seems like ages ago...The Knicks were  2-1, coming off  2 straight W's.  They were  running the  "triangle"  to perfection  .  Assists were flying , ball was flying... Then  overnight, they seemed to revert back  to "Carmelo Isolation ".  Three straight ugly  losses and they're 2 and 4.
   Yes, it's early. Yes there is a new system, new personnel, a new infra-structure .  Rotation is  still a work in progress . So give them time.And for God's sake, give Amare some more minutes!!!!
   Atlanta tonight...

Knicks; Two Back In Loss Column, Will Atlanta Continue To Implode?

The Knicks are 32-43, certainly nothing to brag about. But in the NBA's  Eastern Conference, anything is possible.  The  Knicks have  7 games left, Hawks 9.  Atlanta  eeked out a win against the Sixers last night  to stay  2 up in the loss column.
  So is it pretty? No. Will they pull it out? The odds are against them.  I can tell you one thing though .  I stayed up late  during the West Coast swing watching the  late games.
   Yes, I'm a glutton for punishment. 
     Next game Wednesday!

Knicks; As a Fan, I've Lost Hope and It's Just Too Painful To Watch!

 Every fan, some more than others ,  reaches a point   where the pain, despair, lack of hope, uncomfortableness  and  dis-interest  takes over. It's  just a feeling where you don't check the schedule, don't read  about "your team"  in the papers and simply can't  watch anymore(let alone listen on the car radio).You volunteer to do things with your wife.
   Well folks, after  Thursday nights beating  in South Beach  and the Horror Show at the Garden  last  night, I  have to admit it's over for me.  Wait till next year...The defense is brutal, the offense is brutal. It  looks like the players "have stopped playing " for Woodson and in turn  Woodson  has expanded the rotation  ceremoniously  throwing in the towel. Very, very sad  considering February just ended and  there are some 25 games  still to go.
  Thank God  March Madness is coming, NBA Playoffs(NHL too)  and the  Yanks  opening  day. I  would rather endure the Chinese Water Torture than  be  forced to watch Felton, JR Smith  and Tyson Chandler. And  the  constant face of distress on Woodson.
   So Steve Mills and James Dolan, please do Woodson a favor. Fire him. Pay him  and let  good ol Herb Williams finish up the year.
  It's over, it's ugly, it's unfixable  and most of all unwatchable!!!

I Love Melo; But The Knicks Don't Deserve Him !

 I  dare  you to say something negative about  Melo. Averaging 27 points per, 8 boards and 38 minutes. Plays his heart out. But in reality, except for Melo and Hardaway  Jr., the team has to be scrapped and rebuilt. There is nobody  on that team who you can consistently win with!! One of the great mysteries in life is what happened to last year's 54-28 team? (Don't have stomach to discuss Felton).
  Honestly, it would take a team  of internationally acclaimed forensic psychiatrists to figure that one out. We don't  have time here for that .  And while I respect Woodson, he  has  to be part of the purging.
  I am almost at the point where I  can not watch anymore!
   I'll tell you where I would love to start....Bring back Jeff Van Gundy.
Then get rid of Mr. Dolan....At least the offseason will be eventful......

Knicks Beat Heat at Garden, Is There Hope Afterall?

 Man, this has been a rough season for Knicks  fans. 13 and 22, even after last night. Playing in a pitiful division as well. But, watching last night's  "playoff atmosphere win"    almost erased all the bad feelings and negative karma  that the  2013-14 year had brought so far.
  So many positives last night. Melo, please don't leave us!  Amare, major contributions. Felton 13 and 14. Hardaway  Jr., gonna be a better pro than a college player! Shumpert...I know, I know. Just one win.  Let's not forget Bargnani  who contributed mightily on both ends of the floor. And I don't believe he's even played his best ball yet with the Knicks.
  So let's enjoy it and get ready for the next game.  But it was funnnnn.....

NBA; Rare Night , Knicks and Nets Both Win!

 Yes I said it.. Both the Knicks and Nets are difficult to watch..Will things drastically change? It will take an unbelievable turnaround for that to happen. And to make the playoffs ? Just can't be too optimistic.
  For one night though ,things were fun...Nets beat OKC  in OKC  on a buzzer beater...Knicks behind Carmelo, beat the Spurs in a nailbiter in San Antonio. Will these  be games each team can look back upon as changing the direction of their  seasons? Frankly, I'll let you know in a game or two...
  Happy New Yr!!
  
 

Knicks,Nets, How Long Will Owners Be Able To Stand It Before Sh_t Hits The Fan?

 It's bad. No it's really  bad. No, actually both teams are virtually unwatchable at this point.  Such high expectations. Such  high payroll !  Fun, encouraging seasons last year .. Nets  supposedly upgrade. Knicks  poised to win 50 again this year.
  But nothing has gone as planned. Yes, Tyson Chandler is injured. But even so, with him Knicks look like a .500 team at best. Woodson  has been woeful in  his rotations and his doling out of minutes.
  Nets. Williams hurt{He's always hurt} Lopez hurt, ok I get it.  Pierce looks old. KG, can no longer carry a team himself. Kidd looks " in over his head".{Soda-gate}. Even with everyone  back, I  just don't feel it. I do like  Plumlee.
 So with the Nets at 4-12, and the Knicks losers of  8 straight, how long will the meddling billionaire owners wait  to   put their " beloved coaches " on the the chopping block?
 My prediction. If the Knicks lose 10 straight, Woodson gone. The Nets.  If   they reach 15 losses before winning another game, Kidd could be unemployed. What is PJ doing these days?
  In the meantime, I'm lucky to have the NBA League pass. Can watch Houston, Golden State and the Lakers.
  Tough to even talk about!!!

Knicks; Woody, This is The Lineup You Need to Play! Chandler, Amare, Melo, Felton and Prigioni....

  The Knicks have been outrebounded. Can't  stop Hibbert, Hill etc. Can't score . But most disappointing, is Indiana simply wanting  it more. I am so  saddened by the Knicks not being able to will themselves to give 150%. Disgusting.
   Only heart and desire will cure that. But, to cure their offense,(Which is on life fu__in support) they have to start  Amare. They have nothing to lose. No longer can they be put in a position where 3 out of 5 guys they put on the court can't score .
  They have to be prepared to start faster. Pound the ball inside early .  Gotta go to JR. Copeland and even Novack early and often. Bottom line...If they can't score, they're gone!
   Being the ultimate optimist, I'll be watching  and  rooting my ass off...That is, as long as the effort is there!

  One game at a time..And rich fans at the Garden, wake the f__k  up. It's like a morgue in there!

Steve  "Willis " Goldman  reporting.

Knicks Rout Pacers..What a Difference a Game Makes?

Melo, KMart, Prigioni  , Shumpert and Chandler  played the way we saw them all year, in last night's second half  destruction of the Pacers. Instead of the Knicks' weaknesses and Pacers' strengths being on display, it was exactly the opposite of Sunday's opener.
   Low turnovers, second chance points, solid defense and timely 3 -point shooting was the receipe!  So we have a series.
  See you Saturday night prime time on ABC in Indy.

  Let's go Knicks!

Steve " Red Holzman " Goldman reporting.

Knicks; I Now Know How Lucky Lakers, Celtics and Bulls Fans Are!

  Break up the Knicks....They're 6-0 !  Tremendous " come-from-behind"  win against the  Spurs  in San Antonio . Without Melo's offense (3 for 12) too  . Tonight they roll into Memphis against the 6-1 Grizzlies . One thing that  has surprised me is how fast J-Kidd still is dribbling the basketball  . He is so much fun to watch..We're lucky to get the future Hall of Famer while he still has  plenty left in the tank.
   So with the Knicks winning and playing entertaining ball, I find myself looking forward to their games. Can't help but  being envious of Laker, Bulls and  Celtic fans who have  had long stretches of success and winning basketball to watch every night.

   Oh by the way, only 27 more wins needed to tie Lakers streak of 33 straight!

NBA  beat writer Steve Goldman reporting.

Knicks Open With Very Impressive Win Against Heat!

  Look, with the devastation caused by  " Sandy " , and the  current  atmosphere of survival, it is tough to be upbeat about things like sports . For one night though , the Knicks "opening night " trouncing of the Heat  was a feel good moment. No way to explain the effort and dominance on both ends of the court.
   One could venture to say that is was the greatest  opening night win in Knick history!

  Be safe and keep the faith!

Lin's Gone; Ok Felton Get in Shape, And Kidd Please Don't Drive(Not To the Hoop You Knucklehead) Your Car Anymore...Get A Driver Already!

Tuesday night was dramatic, anticlimactic , disappointing and depressing all at once. I'm of course referring to losing Lin to the Rockets. The Knicks assumed too much, underestimated Lin and the Rockets took us to the cleaners . Great for Lin, the Rockets and the City of Houston. They'll get 3 years at least of Linsanity! Wow. We only had it for 25 games . I'll bet they sell out every game . Of course they need some pieces, but I believe Lin will be an all-star caliber point guard if he continues to work hard , get stronger and progress under Kevin McHale's system. I feel a little bad for Lin that Houston will be a work in progress. Hope he doesn't get stuck in a "long-term rebuilding scenario". As for James Dolan, you demonstrated that you're only positive attribute is having been " born into money ". You let a "megastar go"! Probably against the advice of Grunwald, Woodson et. al. You misled your fans, sold out all the season tickets and let the "Golden Goose" go. Sneaky stuff!
Enough of that . Time to move on. Let's hope Felton regains his form from 2010, Amare as well and that JR Smith can show some consistency . Let's not forget future Hall of Famer , Jason Kidd. If everybody plays together and up to to their capabilites they can win 50..Then who knows.
So Knick fans, stop crying in your beer. We still got some real pieces, finished strong last year and expectations are high.
Remember , unfortunately we can't put our owner out on waivers!

Reporting Steve "Hoops" Goldman.

Knicks; Even if They Sign Kidd, Camby, Novak and Lin...Still Need a Shooting Guard!

Haven't enjoyed an NBA "offseason" as much as this year in a long, long time . The Knicks do a have a core of some very good players. I'm not concerned about Melo, but in all honesty my biggest question mark is reserved for Amare. Here's a guy who 2 years ago was one of the five most dominant offensive guys in the league until the Melo trade. Last season, injuries, out of shape, the lockout, personal issues, lost his hop, looked lost...Simply a shell of his old self! Sad. Hope he bounces back..My gut is that he will.
So we have Chandler in the middle. Amare at the 4. Melo at small forward and a Lin/Kidd 2 headed monster at the point. Nice nucleus, but we're one integral part short . A shooting guard who can drain open shots and create his own shots. Need 14-15 points every night from that spot. I like Landry fields a lot..Think he will be a good player for a long time in this league . Nice, surprising offer from Toronto. Hey, he's now a millionaire over night . Good for him. But I don't think he's the answer. Need a guy like Anthony Parker of the Cavs. Who's available and affordable out there?
Your thoughts?

NBA analyst Steve " Hops" Goldman reporting.

Carmelo and the Knicks...The Garden Was Rocking and it Felt Like Old-Time Playoff Basketball!

Man oh man! If you are a Knick fan and weren't excited yesterday, then you better check your pulse . I was waiting for Ewing , Starks, Anthony Mason and Oakley to check in for the Knicks ; And Michael, Scotty and Rodman to check in for the Bulls . Intense, agressive play on both sides of the floor. Both teams refusing to die .
We could spend an hour talking about the great efforts and contributions from both teams. But at the end of the day, it was all about Melo . He demonstrated to the world that he is one of the premier offensive players in the game , and one of the few players who can put an entire team on his back (when needed) and carry them to the finish line . Offensively, I rank him up there with Kobe and Durant, way above the rest . Stuff for the ages. No fear in taking the big shot.
So let me go out on a limb here with this statement . That was the biggest win at the Garden in the last ten years for the Knicks!
Anyway, no rest for the weary. Rematch tommorrow night on ESPN. Be there or be square.

"Skip " Goldman reporting.

Knicks Basketball; Chandler Manhandles Howard...Knicks Romp in Orlando !

Grow up Dwight Howard ! You're a baby, you're immature and you've made a mockery of this basketball season for your team . Look everyone knows you're an unbelievable physical specimen. With Patrick Ewing's hard work you've developed an "excellent low post game ". I don't care what you might say about Stan Van Gundy. He's a very good coach, dedicated and he cares! Something I can't say for you every night. Man up!
Anyway to last night's game . Knicks were hungrier, more aggressive, played better "D " , and it doesn't hurt to shoot 13- 25 from the 3 point stripe . In my opinion, key to the game ...Chandler completely took Dwight out of the game. Shut him down in the low post, rebounded like a crazed individual and worked the pick n roll like it is supposed to be run.
Suffice to say, he dominated and frustrated Howard . Case closed .
So as the drama continues in Orlando, the Knicks are making a playoff surge . Hey, we miss you Jeremy and Amare, but defensive effort "every night " can make up for a lot . Keep on pushing...Maybe we can get out of the eighth spot.

Knick beat writer Steve "Red" Goldman reporting.

Knicks Win Fourth Straight, Why Did it Take a Coaching Change to Get Maximum Effort From Players?

Hey Mike Woodson is making his presence felt. Defense, effort, defense and more effort are his mottos . Are my eyes deceiving me or are Melo and Amare actually playing defense with effort and intensity? Bottom line with Woodson is if you don't, you'll sit! No matter who you are . Lin is playing under control. Getting familiar with where Melo and Amare like the ball . In this crazy, topsy-turvy season, the Knicks are currently fun to watch.
But one disturbing question comes to mind, why do high-paid professional athletes making "sick money" need a coaching change to put forth maximum effort? Even my friend Joe K , who is almost 60 puts forth maximum defensive effort every game when he plays hoop at the YMCA.
So yes, I'm glad we have effort for the past four games...Will it continue? Time will tell.

Sixers will be a good test tonight...Defense, defense!

For one night, The Knicks were Prom Kings!

How long has it been since the Knicks played a meaningful game at Madison Square Garden? Seems like 10 years or more. New York fans are starving for excitement, meaning, playoff basketball...They want and need intensity, chippiness, Charles Oakley, Starks, Ewing and Anthony Mason! Well , last night they got it. Coming off what, a six game losing streak, playoff hope and all optimism fading, a Monday night game against Knick killers Dwight Howard and Orlando.....to be honest I didn't even turn on the tv until the end of the first quarter. But, what you saw last night was not just a Knick win in overtime against Orlando when they really, really needed it, Melo scoring 39 in an offensive display....you saw desperation, nastiness, dirty play, aggressive play, chippiness, elbows, floor burns and a toughness not seen at a Knick's game in 10 years! To be honest, they have to play like that every single night to win, and make a playoff showing. Look , I know it was only one night...but for the Knicks and their fans it was a playoff atmosphere . We had forgotten what it was really like to be in a dogfight! I feel good today...lacing up my sneaks to run full tonight.

Knicks:The East is wide open.

So who is going to make it out of the Eastern Conference come playoff time ? Very good question. Nobody is curently convincing me that they are the team to beat. Let's look at the current 8 Eastern Conference teams;
1. Celtics-injured, older, lost to the Nets last night. Still my favorite.
2. Bulls-playing most consistently of all of the top 8 teams. Boozer recently injured. Do they have enough offense aside from Rose?
3. Heat-Problems... Are they corrected based on wins over Lakers and Spurs? We'll see. Too small. Will big 3 trust the "supporting cast".All I can say is I would not want to face them come playoff time.
4. Orlando-too small, no passion, going thru the motions. Of course, Howard can be dominant. Capable of beating any of "big 3 teams ".
5. Hawks-Look like they've given up. Still have some horses. Will they give "max effort " come playoffs?
6. Knicks-playoffs should be fun. You never knowwwww!
7. Sixers-up and down. Not a patsy. Doug Collins has restored credibility to the franchise.
8. Charlotte/Pacers-can win 1 or 2 games in first round series.
As I said, It's wide open!

Knicks; It's been a long time since they had someone like Melo who wanted the last shot and who could deliver.

I finally sat down to watch the second half of the Knicks-Memphis game. Knicks are up 8, 10, double figures . When I head to the bathroom the Knicks are up 10; when I return it's 108-105 New York. I'm dying. Then Zach Randolph makes a conventional 3 point play(over Melo) to tie it . I'm thinking here we go AGAIN !
So the Knicks get the ball after the timeout.And whose hands do the they put the ball in...yes Melo's. And he "wants to take the last shot ". As time winds down Melo moves toward the left corner and bang! He nails a 22 footer with .5 seconds left on the clock.New York goes on to win.
How sweet it was as Melo yelled at the Grizzlies bench ' this is what I do "!
Five games over "500"; Knicks-Mavs tonight after Laker's-Heat. I'm trying to control my optimism.

Knicks Crush Hornets; Without Chauncey...

Madison Square Garden was rocking last night..Why shouldn't it be? Without Chauncey, the Knicks basically went wire to wire crushing the Hornets by 20. Haven't seen that in a while. Other guys contributed too.Tony Douglas, Shawne Williams was huge and Anthony Carter made his presence felt.
One week into the trade the Knicks are 3-2; should actually be 4-1 if they didn't collaspe in the second half against Orlando.
Going to be interesting the next time they play the Celts and the Bulls. Stay tuned!