Lebron, Carmelo; If You Ask Me They're Both Staying Put!!!

 First  Melo opts out. Then Lebron. To be expected of course. Are these "opt -outs " anything more than players exercising their contractual rights, gaining some leverage, testing the waters? While I think this will make  for an intriguing off-season, at the end of the day, Melo stays in New York. And the King. While he might be tempted to go to Cleveland and reunite the love affair, Miami still is  best chance to get a ring.
  Should be fun while it lasts!!!

Melo, 62 ,Then 35, But He Aint Gonna Win A Title in New York!

  Guys I play ball  with laugh. Yes, Melo is my favorite  player to watch. I don't  know why,  since I'm a  defensive-oriented  player. It's his  quick release,  first step,  3-ball, mid-range game, taking it hard to the rim and his under-rated  strength and rebounding .  One of the  most versatile  offensive machines  of his generation. Can score from " anywhere" !
  Yes, he has some shortcomings. But has his inability to get a  ring been   because he  doesn't  make  those around him better?  Or  because he has not  had a  "championship supporting cast " ? Truthfully, probably a little of each. 
   So when  Melo opts out of his final contract year  with the Knicks, will he ultimately stay in New York  to make the most money? Or will  move to where he has the best opportunity  get that coveted ring ?
  My opinion. He leaves New York to play elsewhere.  The Knicks  are just too far away  from   even  thinking about a title. Too bad. I'm gonna miss you Melo!!

Carmelo 29 and 16, Knicks Win Thrilla in Garden in OT!!

Hey  5 in a row, 6 out of seven. Last 4 without Tyson Chandler.  What can you  say? Multiple contributors. Melo  a beast! So the Knicks are inching back into things. Bobcats tonight. Do not. I repeat, do not  take them lightly.
  Melo , you are fun to watch!

Mirror , Mirror on the Wall, Who is the Greatest Knick Offensive Player of All-Time?

The Knicks have given me plenty of thrills and just as much heartache over the past 40 years . 1969 and 1973 champs . Bernard King and the Detroit Series! The Ewing Era . 1999 with Camby , Sprewell and Houston .The brutal years following Van Gundy leaving the team . Now we are finally watching some meaningful basketball again at the G-A-R-D-E-N . Hey, the Knicks may finish " plus -500 " and make the playoffs 2 straight years . And make no mistake about it, we have a bona fide superstar in "Melo ".
Which leads me to my question of the day; Who is the greatest Knick offensive player of all-time? Dick McGuire , Walt "Clyde " Frazier, Willis Reed, Earl "The Pearl "? Ray Williams ? Sugar Ray Richardson " ? Bernard King ? Ewing ? Starks , Houston, Sprewell , Stoudemire ? Well that pretty much covers the list .
Woops, we forgot one. I'll give you a hint . He's 6'8 , quick as a cat, strong, unlimited range, has a mid-range game, post-up and goes to the hole as well as any small forward in the league. Career average 25 points plus. An offensive machine . Yup Melo! In back to back weeks against the Bulls and Miami he had 2 of the best offensive explosions you could you ask for. Put the team on his back and they rode him!
Yes , I know he's only with us for a little over a year . But , in my opinion he has the most complete and versatile offensive game of any Knick of all-time. Love watching him.
Can he keep it up? Your thoughts?

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 vs.Celts; Carmelo put the Team on his Back, and Carried Them...Just Couldn't Quite Get Them Home!

Last night you saw a tremendous, courageous performance by not only "Melo " but the entire Knick squad. They were outmanned, out-talented, away and without Amare and Chauncey. The performance by Melo was "one for the ages". Did anyone say Bernard King ? Forty two points, 17 boards...no quit in him!
I dare anyone now to say they still don't like the trade. Jeffries played the game of his life(except for the last pass where he should have shot), Tony Douglas, Turiaf, Shawne Williams, Walker, Carter....A true cast of no-names. The intensity reminded me of the 90's. Still, with 2 gutsy performances in Boston, " no W's ".
Boy, I love these guys...But, I sure hope we can make a series of it when we get back home Friday.
Will the Garden be rockin? Your thoughts?

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; 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 get Carmelo; That's going to be one hot ticket!

Like any crazy knick fan I've been following the Carmelo soap opera. Somehow, subconsciously I was rooting against the Knicks getting him. Probably the fact that the Knicks had become competitive, young, energetic and most of all....fun to watch!
I saw Gallo's unlimited potential, Chandler's fine all-around game, the savy of the kid Fields...potential with the Russian and Felton playing at such a high level. But then again, they are still 28-26.
So when I woke up this morning, flipped on the radio and heard that" we got Melo " was I disappointed? To be honest, I found myself actually giving an outloud "fistpumping yes "! I think first and foremost I was relieved we kept Fields. Then I performed a quick analysis; we gave up Felton, got Chauncey...a wash for 2 years. We gave up Chandler...we weren't going to be able to keep him anyway. So it came down to Gallinari and Mozgov for Melo....a no-brainer for us!
Getting a superstar to join Amar'e every single night...well, that's fun stuff! The Garden will be sick if they win. No more easy tickets...Brokers in heaven. And at the end of the day, Melo, Amar'e, Fields , Chauncey and Turiaf as the starting five.
All I can say is the Knicks are extremely relevant again. Let's go knicks, lets go Knicks...