Baron Davis could make Knicks Debut, as New York takes on Cleveland
Although it seems unlikely, coach Mike D'Antoni has yet to rule out the first sighting of point guard Baron Davis in a Knicks uniform today.
If he plays, the former all-star will join a team coming of a massive win in Charlotte last night.
As for that Charlotte game, the key was ball movement, which Fanatics have begged and begged for all season. The Knicks finally heeded these calls and came away with a 30+ point victory.
Surprisingly, Carmelo Anthony had a career-low 1 point in the victory, but Tyson Chandler and Amar'e Stoudemire were both agressive and confident, and you can expect more of the same tonight against the Cavaliers.
With Melo nursing many an injury, Stoudemire will have to lead the Knicks offence, something he hasn't really been able to do all season. As for defence, more of the same could suffice.
The Cavaliers' best player is rookie point guard Kyrie Irving , who will go up against our own rookie defensive stopper Iman Shumpert, in what should be an interesting match-up. Outside of the Austrailian, though, last season's worst NBA team don't have much to threaten the Knicks with.
That said, the Cavs were a tough out for the 'Bockers last season, winning on numerous disappointing occasions.
Predictions
Final Score: Cavaliers 77 - 92 Knicks Top Scorer: Amar'e Stoudemire (Knicks) - 24 points
After losing this weekend's "what if" if game with several players of the franchise's recent past, the the New York Knicks find themselves mired in what could be described as the dog days of a short yet heavily compressed NBA season. The Knicks who currently ride a season long six game losing streak, have regressed immensely on the offensive side of the ball despite showing signs of improving. But is the Knicks offensive funk merely a sign of a critically missing component or rather a telling sign of much large systemic issues with the offense in general and the offense's architect in particular?
Most observers will note that Mike D'Antoni employs an offensive system (Seven Seconds or Less (SSOL) that generates allot of points. The result as all know comes from the surge of the offense's initial push up the court on the break to gain a step on opposing defenses. If the initial break is denied the offense will simulate that break via the Pick and Roll (P&R )to initiate the collapse of the defense for the secondary break. D'Antoni's signature P&R set spreads the floor by complementing the Point Guard and Forward/Center tandem by shooters at the wings. Back door cuts are intermittently employed when the defenses collapse on the Pentrator or Roller on the P&R, which frees up space for a slasher to cut to the paint and finish.
However, D'Antoni's SSOL offense depends on certain types of players. Athletic slashing Power Forwards who often masquerade as Centers. Shooting/slashing Small or Stretch Forwards or Shooting Guards at the wings. But most importantly SSOL depends on a nimble adept decision making point guard capable of directing the uptempo attack. In SSOL It is the point guard's penetration off the screen/pick that initiates the options in the offense -- e.g., whether to pull up, shoot, drive, dish to the Pick/Roller big man or swing the ball out to the wing players. With the ball in his hands to initiate the key set, it is the point guard who is the offenses chief decision-maker. Other offensive roles are more limited and dependent on the point guard's penetration to unleash. Nonetheless, when all the pieces of the offensive scheme are in place (but most critically the point guard) the offense can generate points at a remarkable rate -- e.g., D'Antoni's Pheonix Suns.
Melo is going through marriage problem as we speak. However, watch him put that aside tonight and we literally piss on Denver and their TEBOW! NOT ALL IS WELL IN LALA LAND!
We all know it takes stress to make a Marriage work. NOT THE NBA WIFE"S REALITY TV STYLE! DO NOT bet AGAINST THE knicks TONIGHT. I assure you in the words of Vic Corbit..WE GOT THIS if JUST FOR ONE NIGHT! DENVER IS IN FOR SOME TRUE PAIN! DESPITE DANTONI...WHO SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIRED WEEKS AGO!
PLEASE CHECK OUT THE VEGAS ODDS ...WHICH SEEM TO MOVE FROM -5 TO -9 IF YOU WANT TO BET THE KNICKS WIN. THAT MEANS IF YOU BET WITH THEM THAT THE KNICKS WIN...FOR YOU TO WIN YOUR BET, THE KNICKS HAVE TO BEAT MDA'S SON'S TEAM BY MORE THAN 9 POINTS FOR YOU TO WIN YOUR BET! SEE YOU AT THE LBE!
On January 17th, 2012, Danilo Gallinari had 14 points on 5-12 shooting
In his highest scoring game this season, Gallo drained 31 points and 5 rebonds and two assists in a loss. He demonstrated that he is different, in a good way, from the three point specialist Coach D'Antoni tried to mold him into.
When the final syllable in Danilo Gallinari's name is stretched out for seconds as he is announced as part of Denver's starting line-up in the Garden tonight, one should expect a rousing ovation, both in appreciation and remembrance of the 6'10 forward as a Knick and as a statement from fans concerning their displeasure with the Knick organization and the effort of the current Knicks team. Although, the cheers may evoke fantasized memories of Danilo Gallinari's time with the Knicks, they will actually hide the truth that will ultimately lead to the demise of his "play uncle" Mike D'Antoni as an inner-New York City coach.. The truth? The Danilo Gallinari playing for the Denver Nuggets, and currently their second leading scorer, is a much better player than he would ever have been with the Knicks because D'Antoni ignored his diverse skills and tried to pigeon-hole him as a great three point shooter instead of the versatile baller who could direct the show.
Danilo Gallinari is exhibit 1A, solid proof of the difficulty Mike D'Antoni has in recognizing and properly utilizing the skill of his players if they do not fit in his preferred playing style and system. Currently, Gallo is only one example of players, who were stranded in D'Antoni's system and mindset, that are playing better in other places: think Darko Milicic (starting Center for TWolves), Anthony Randolph (reserve with Twolves averaging 12.6 mpg) , Nate Robinson (key reserve for GSW), Jordan Hill (occasional starter for Rockets), Timofey Mozgov (starting center for Nuggets), Al Harrington (second leading scorer for Nuggets).
Some Knicks fans will chose to fantasize Gallinari's time with the Knicks, but the reality was that he was never a really good and consistent three-point shooter even when D'Antoni said he was the best shooter he had ever seen, When he was drafted, Gallo had been a young play-maker for his Italian team He was the man with the ball in his hands to initiate action and to create last second winning shots. He was not an arc straddler. The Gallo who seemed to hold a subway strap at the three point line while waiting for the ball to find him was a forced D'Antoni creation. Eventually and inconsistently, Gallo would drive the ball more as we learned that his length made him very difficult to guard without fouling him and allowing him to flail his arms to make it clear his was being fouled.
Under George Karl's management, Gallo is now beginning to show his full repetoire as a player as he ditches his label as a three point specialist. In fact, with a dismal 31% shooting average, the three point shot is not the most important or impressive part of his game at all. Karl said, "I think the biggest surprise is that Gallo is a better passer than I thought he was . . . . We got a little lucky, too; we thought Gallo could be more of a playmaker this year, but he’s moved very quickly into becoming a very good decision-maker.”
Knicks Look to Pounce as Jackson Misses Bus and Game
The Knicks will tonight face the struggling Milwaukee Bucks at Madison Square Garden, looking to start the climb out of the sub-500 zone of the NBA.
The Bucks, like the Knicks, thought they had made enough off-season moves to at least improve on last year but so far, this hasn't panned out for the Bucks, and, as we know, things aren't looking to good in New York.
Stephen Jackson is the man Milwaukee brought in to lead them back to the playoffs but so far, he has been disappointing. Averaging only 13.7 points per game and shooting just 37% (29% from three), he has had a pretty woeful start in Milwaukee.
Jackson's infamous "hot-head" attitude has already gotten him into trouble and he will miss today's game as a result of missing the team bus on Friday - a day after shooting 0-6 in Denver.
