A'mare is NOT real

What kind of power forward that makes the money he makes, with the resume he has, ends up with 4 rebounds in any game when they aren't in foul trouble? It makes you wish that you had David Lee out there again. At this point, I'd rather have Jared Jeffries out there. It pains me to say it but if you watch games you believe it too. A'mare is absolutely useless to the knicks unless he's getting the ball on the move. He doesn't compete for rebounds and he's a non factor on defense. He is a liability out there. There were two plays where he  ignited the crowd and his teammates.  One where he made that flip shot while falling underneath the basket, and that dunk he caught on Humphries off a Carmelo Anthony lead pass. Other than that he was invisible. Humphries beat him to every rebound last night and that cost us the game. 

Is that pointing fingers at one player and accusing them if letting the team down. Yes. A'mare is the one that proclaims who he is. He made up his own nickname "Stat" and said he was a beast before the year started. His focus has to change because he is not going to get a zillion pick and roll touches like in the past. He's got to reinvent himself and make things happen off of rebounding and defense. Right now Jared is out playing him. Poor Jared was not blessed with coordination and power. One thing he does know how to do is play this game of basketball. He rebounds, draws charges like crazy and blocks shots off his help defense. If Jared had A'mare's gifts he'd be the best power forward today.

In this league if stars, guys are more concerned with stats. Deron made a point last night to prove he was better than Lin. He over played Lin on defense and was looking to score every time he had it. The coach even ran plays where Deron tried to camp out in the pain waiting for a pass for chippy baskets. Lin, unflappable, never lost focus and continued play the team game and finished with his regular linsanityesque stats. Deron scoring 38 pts was not the reason the knicks lost. The game was lost inside the paint. Tyson Chandler was fighting for his life inside. He was battling Humphries inside, and banging with Sheldon Williams. A'mare was content with just being out there. Close games are win on the boards. You can't complete the comeback without the ball.

If A'mare wants to keep his self proclaimed nickname he's got to start trying to get 10 rebounds per with the same ferocity Deron had trying to make his point on Lin. That's his domain. Tyson and A'mare should make a game out of it. Whoever gets the most rebounds gets a cookie, or wherever motivates a millionare basketball player. Bottom line he's got to get the job done. Can't win games without the ball.

D'antoni: The heart breaker

Call D'antoni what you want but the dude is loyal to a fault. Its not enough that he rides or dies with his coaching system. He will give you an opportunity to play and have more confidence in a player than they have in themselves. Such was the case with Toney Douglas. The man tried but he just isn't capable of being a point guard. Not even for short stints. D'antoni rode him out until he was forced to give Lin a shot to prove he is worth sticking around. The rest is history as they say.

History is doomed to repeat itself. Carmelo Anthony and A'mare Stoudemire both went down at the same time to injury and out from the ashes grew two improbable rotation guys in Novak and Jared Jefferies. D'antoni played the 3 full in guys and produced a 7 game season saving winning streak. You can't make it up. I'm glad that the Knicks got a little taste of luck and magic these lay few weeks. With the loss to new orleans, the first one in the Jeremy Lin era, its time to start earning that pay check again.

Jeremy Lin buried Toney Douglas in the dog house. Carmelo Anthony will hopefully bury Bill Walker right next to Toney. This is where it gets crazy. The knicks just signed J.R. Smith. He's gonna bury someone. That someone is going to be either Landry or Shump. You can't take either our of the equation, so someone is going to have to take a bench role. Landry Fields is the likely candidate because he can't handle shooting guards and guard duties in general on a nighty basis. If you bench Landry and play him at small forward behind Carmelo, then Novak gets buried next to Walker and Toney. Did we forget about Baron Davis? He's gonna cut into Lin's minutes and put Bibby in a suit for the reminder of the season. Where does Jorts fit in?

Who wants to be D'antoni right now? Call him casanova because he will have to break a lot of hearts the next few Weeks. A lot of fans are gonna be pissed. Coach had gotta learn from this Lin situation. He's gotta play what works. He's got to play guys at their natural positions. Landry was never a shooting guard. He's a glue guy that should be playing forward with guys that are his size and skill level. All the shots that Landry misses and all the drives that Landry  butchers, J.R. Smith will dominate. As fans we have the best seat in the house. If D'antoni starts playing the dating game with his players, the boo birds will be back. We don't have time for loyalty. Knicks are like the only team in the league that are on such a roll, but have talent like Carmelo, Baron, and J.R. Smith just waiting in the wings. If the knicks get it right even Charles Barkley will be talking championship for the  knicks.

Knicks still Linning, haters still hating

I had to take one for the team last night because of Valentines day. Saw "The Vow". It was surprisingly good. I still checked in on the Knicks box score off and on.  The knicks were down by 10 all night. Ironically I made "The Vow" not to ever give up on my Knicks again. I saw Lin had 12 and 8 half way through and said to my lady, "the knicks are gonna win tonight." Even with 8 minutes left and no TV in sight, I knew the Knicks defense still had enough time to apply the clamps and give Lin a chance to make a play. I get home to a steal and a dunk by Shump, and a cold blooded 3 pointer by Lin Legend for the win. 

I didn't have the best end to my night. Sports is that release from reality and I wanted to crack open my morning energy drink, kick back and read the bandwagon fluff on the NBA Cinderella. On my conmute, in my locker room at work, and in the office and break rooms...all I hear is, "the knicks won't be winning like that when Carmelo gets back....", and "you think this kid is gonna average 25 and 8 for the season? If so you got a 1st team all NBA guy. You think he's better than Rose?"

I try to keep this space as positive as I can, but the haters have gone too far! Instead of learning to believe again. Instead of pointing out the great example to your family. Instead of enjoying the magic ride and excepting that the kid Lin is for real...the haters have gotten stronger. I could understand if we were in Boston on the bean line, or in Philly on the cheese steak line. Not in NY...not on our streets and in our places if business. Its a damn shame how our fans can be so blatantly ignorant and downright pathetic. We are a town that likes to claim that we come together in tragedy and stand with each other in the face of adversity. That is a bunch of poo.

You read this spot because despite the spelling errors, you love the kool aid. I appreciate the hits and please keep reading. I'm not pushing an agenda. I'm not trying to exploit the Knicks or even trying to make money off this blog. I love the knicks and want to play a part in planting the seeds of future diehards to come. I want to champion against haters, talk about the game and the magic of sports. 

We've been through alot as knick fans. I challenge all to just tune out the negativity. Don't even engage or defend your team. Believe what you see. Watch games. Don't follow the media circus. Follow what made you become a knicks fan. My draw was seeing Bernard King destroy whoever dared to guard him like a real life superhero from Brooklyn. He was immortal to me. When he went down, Ewing came up and the legend continues. This new chapter is called "Linsanity". Ride this kid till they run out of band aids to patch this kid up. From the Ashes rises the Phoenix.

Nah Mean?

From myth, to Lin Legend

Live on espn, in front of a  national audience. The knicks played the lakers with their "JV squad" and beat them like they were supposed to do that. The hero, the player that led all scorers was the man, the myth, now legend...Jeremy Lin.

I had the Knicks losing by alot. I'm to embarrassed to say by how much. My girlfriend looked me in the eye and told me the knicks would win by 3. She never really played basketball but she understands what she sees. What she also understands is the power of positive energy. Lin was going to do what he's been doing and the knicks were gonna pull it out at home. Who would have believed that last week? Who would have believed that Bynum and Gasol would be non factors offensively and defensively against the team we put out there? The presence of Lin has changed everything. Can you believe it.

I haven't had the chance to hear what the goons on TNT have been saying, but im surprised our own Kelly Tripuka won't submit to the Linsanity out there on the court. Its as if he is waiting for Lin to have a bad game so he can say I told you so. Its unfortunate because what the Giants should have taught us all these years is you never give up even when everyone else has. You gotta believe, as my girlfriend said to me last night. I forgot, and isn't that why we follow sports? Not to drool over superstar players, but to believe that your team can beat the odds and win. Lin is not just a savior on the court but a savior to the culture of new York city sports. Let's go knicks for once and enjoy this ride.....

Besides....the knicks may not be able to afford this kid if he keeps it up. I'm reading conflicting reports on Jeremy Lin's early bird rights or restricted free agent status. If the knicks still have those rights then the knicks are good. If those rights were dropped when Lin got waived than the knicks are gonna risk losing the kid. He's worth at least 5 mill at this point. Worry about that later. Right now...wow!

I told you Lin could ball!!!

"Lin doesn't stand a chance...." - Mike Green call as Deron made just a couple dribbles shortly after Lin first came in the game

Eat it Mike Green!!!!

I told you here....yes right here on this blog that Jeremy Lin could play and should play meaningful minutes as a NY Knick. If you missed it, check my archives. You only have to go back as early as my last two blogs. Can I toot my own horn? Should I toot my own horn? Let me ask you now....should Lin play or even start now for your beloved NY Knicks?

This wasn't a fluke. Mike Green has always been absolutely horrible calling Knick games. I'll save my opinion on him for another blog. Last night Green was calling it like Jeremy had "the glow", or "the touch". He made it seem as if the game Jeremy Lin was having was something that was impossible or being made possible through some kind of miracle. Its just the straight up ignorance of this man and shows his taste for brown nosing the stars of this league. Deron Williams was the demi-god and Lin was the humble hobbit overachieving in a once in a life time event. Lets get this straight...Lin is a 23 year old man. He dominated the Ivy League, he played toe to toe against Wall as a rookie, he played extreamly well in the d-league last year and dominated the one game he did play over there this year. This is not a fluke!!!

The testiment to this kids game being for real is his defense. He was not fooled by Deron Williams dribble. He contested every jumper Deron took and forced him to go short every time. He stayed in front of him and prevented him from penetrating. Deron only scored if Lin wasn't on him when they switched off on defense. Offensively Lin put on a show. Its the same show he put on against college opponents, John Wall, and the d-league. I feel sorry for fans that hear a scouting report and use it as fact and spread the lies when they never seen the dude play. He can't shoot? He is right hand dominant? He shot the ball pretty well when the defense dropped off him. He split the defense with his left hand and went all the way to the rim on a huge play in the fourth quarter. Seeing is believing and if you saw the game believe me you believe.

I don't want to bash my fellow fans because you are just as arrogant as I am. I believe I know the game better than pro athletes know the game. You don't have to play pro to know the game of basketball. Just ask your favorite announcer. Mike Green for one ethinks he knows more than Clyde. I won't let Clyde off the hook either because he was shouting. That Lin needed to shoot it to make ttghe defense honest. A top 50 NBA player, point guard for that a matter, is telling the point guard he needs to shoot it just to prove it. A poi t guards job is to find the scorers and take what the defense gives them. Lin shut Clyde right up as he sank a few perimeter jumpers. Bottom line you want your point guard to pass first and create second. Shooting or calling their own number should not be the first thought in their mind. Lin understands that.

I pray this kid continues to get his minutes. He's more than proven he can contribute to the team playing real PG duties. The same way peeps, including me I'll admitt, are crying for Baron to save the day, they need to lobby for our homie Lin to succeed. Lin is not gonna average 25 a night. What he will do is play point guard and he is a natural at that. A player of his skill is hard to contain.he causes havok. If he drives you have to stay with him because he will score. If you stay with him he will find the open man, or make the hockey assist which is a pass leading to an assist. Bravo to Jeremy Lin! I wish the brother luck and hope and pray the kid can continue to show his talent for the NY Knicks.

*Bows*

Amar'e is "back", backcourt is still wack

Amare was looking really slow and out of it for the first 21 games of the season....that's a fact. Everyone had the right to be pissed. The Knicks are a bottom dwelling team righh now....trading Amare was the only option for change because the Knicks don't have any other contracts to trade. That's the end of that convo in my opinion. Its great that on game 22 he finally had his "he's back" game, but truthfully the dude is untradeable especially for a fair deal for the Knicks. Injury, rustiness is not an excuse. As a professional you have to be ready to play when you suit up. We don't know how hurt and out of shape he was. Before the season he was claiming he grew an inch, gained 20lbs of pure muscle and proclaimed that he was a "beast". He probably should have kept that to himself. Hopefully now after 1/3 of a season in the potty, this guy can play ball and just be his frickin self again.

I'm sick of waiting though....the Knicks are approaching the half way mark really fast. The Knicks have got to start winning at a banana clip if they plan to make the playoffs. The Bucks are not gonna be easily moved. They are beating everyone, including the Miami Heat with no stars to speak of aside from Brandon Jennings on the roster. Bogut hasn't even been playing for them. Teams like Indiana have already bumped themselves too high to catch at this point. Boston is gonna come on strong eventually and they are treading water at around. 500. Clevland and New Jersey both have teams that people sleep on and both teams have proven they can beat anyone at any time. They will not just fold, you have to show up or they will beat you. I just mentioned 4 teams that are ahead of the Knicks all fighting for 2....yes the final 2 playoffs. The Knicks still are very much in trouble at this present date and time.

Last night against Chicago, what can I say? The Knicks simply do not have the right mix in the backcourt. The Knicks lost because of the guard play. Not because they simply couldn't guard Rose or hit jumpshots. If you are talking that talk in the lunchroom then you are a Time Warner and haven't been watching games. On paper, Iman Shumpert had 8 assists, and 4 turnovers. He's responsible for at least 5 other ones because of his floor game. He would pass to Amare, then walk his man right into him forcing poor spacing and turnovers. He kept dribbling into his teamates and making thoughtless passes, putting guys in position to fail. Its not his fault. D'antoni is riding and dying waiting for Baron Davis to get ready. Baron isn't stupid. Of course he wants to play. If the Knicks were winning I bet he would be out there getting his 20 minutes playing his self back into shape. At this point, its in Barons best interest to get healthy and be near 100% so he can get his last big contract as a pro next year. Believe that! Can't knock it, especially knowing the pride and passion he has. He does not like to lose.

Back on topic....D'antoni must play Jeremy Lin. I don't understand why he still won't call #17 into meaningful minutes. In his garbage time he proved he can play point guard. I hear raw, weak, d-league scrub, etc as adjectives to describe this guy. If you switched to Fios, you would see that Lin does something at will and that is get into the paint. He also gets the ball to the numbers where guys can do something with it. He plays defense and mixes it up for cheap steals and rebounds. That is a fact. Like what the f-bomb is going on with that? Utah....they were without Devin Harris and Earl Watson. So they had no choice but to start Jamaal Tinsley....not a shooting guard and force them to play point! Tinsley came out there and got 13 assists against those young boys in Golden State. Yeah that back court torched him on the other end but they also couldn't stop him from doing what he does. Why? WHY? Can't D'antoni play this kid? They beat Detroit by 97 points and he still only got 6 minutes! Knicks are on a back to back to back....the coach still keeps a tight 8 man rotation. Give me a break already!

I can't even go on with this anymore because I'm running out of Bill Cosbyesque phrases to cover up my potty mouth. I'm hoping things continue to improve. The Knicks don't have much time to be sagging and telling grown people that pay good money on them, that its called swag....I'm out!