The rivalry continues: With both the Knicks and Nets in need of a win, the Nets' visit to MSG on Saturday -- coming on the heels of the Knicks games against the Bulls and Celtics respectively -- is an early-season must win. Can Carmelo continue the charge? Will Amar'e continue to fill it up? Will Deron be too hot for the Knicks' frontcourt? Well, here's your chance to be close to the action: Through our ticket partner TiqIQ's "make an offer" feature, you can essentially pick your price to get in to the game: For a "2 star seat" at MSG that usually sells for over $116 (after all the fees), you can score substantial savings for an offer of around $68, with no additional fees for shipping or handling. But you have to make a fast break for the hoop on this ticket deal, as it EXPIRES on Friday night. To "lob" up your offer for a slam dunk, click here: http://tiqiq.us/7Qn

                                                            




Adrian Wojnarowski writes that "when the ball leaves your hands for Jeffries, what he does with it is your responsibility. That's how it works," and this is true, that is totally how it works. This was somewhat repeated by Knicks fanatics "Lives" during a Live Blog last night in which Lives stated " Consider Jeffries "Never Open!" Although our Chief blogger meant it jokingly... the reality is it's so true it hurts!

The front office knew the offense was in trouble even before the season started. On December 15, 2011, Knicks forward Melo STATED it simply: "We need shooters." Add psychic powers to his set of skills, because Anthony saw this coming.  MELO needs to pass the ball? Um..yes, but to WHOM? The Knicks are currently the second-worst shooting team in the NBA. They are hitting just 41.4% of their shots. Take Chandler and his high percentage dunks out of the equation, and the Knicks are the worst shooting team in the league..... FACT! Iman Shumpert is shooting 36% from the floor, pass it Melo! Toney Douglas is shooting a whooping 32% from the floor, pass it Melo! Opposing teams have noticed. They are defending the paint and letting  other  Knicks shoot from the outside. They are not respecting the Knicks' outside shooting right now, nor should they, however, PASS IT MELO!

Low point noted on last nights Live Blog vs the Bulls... " JORTS WILL BE BACK IN 4 WEEKS AND WILL HELP." Really? Mike Dantoni is a terrible Coach, no argument there, however, our front office has put him in a position that hypothetically would be similar to praising the Bulls coach for his known defense ..then giving him three "Jamal Crawford's" as starters to beef up his strategy! I am not a Mike Dantoni supporter.. but WTF?? Is this festering wound in our lack of shooting all his fault? 

One good note. MELO has made the Eastern Conference All Star team as a starter at SF. The last Knick to do that at SF was ????? Some reading this were not born yet! Perhaps there is a universe in which this is Carmelo Anthony's fault. But it is not this one. Maybe Bizzaro universe!


 

The Knicks will today start their thoughest patch of the regular season, with a game at MSG against the Chicago Bulls kicking off a demanding back-to-back-to-back stretch; an unfortunate outcome of 2011's lockout.

After facing off against the Bulls, the Knicks will then travel to Boston, before returning home to take on the New Jersey Nets, who sit only marginally behind the Knicks in the Eastern Conference standings.

Believe me, this three-game stretch will be the defining three games of the 2011-12 season.

This team currently sits at 8-13, 2 games out of the playoffs, a feat that isn't too challenging to achieve in the Eastern Conference. Adding an extra three losses to that record could be disastrous to the Knicks' season. Not only will the Knicks have an even more laughable record, but the confidence hit will be killer. Imagine grinding for three consecutive nights and coming out empty-handed. It would be disastrous.

On the other hand, two or three wins from these next three games could be the start of a sudden turnaround. All of a sudden the Knicks could vault themselves back into the playoff picture heading in to a slightly easier couple of weeks. Not only that but Baron Davis will be able to make his way back on to the floor without the burden of having to be the "saviour" or something ridiculous like that, and instead he will simply be a bonus to a team finally hitting their stride.