Why Wilson Chandler's Stock Will Continue to Rise With Denver Nuggets

Just weeks ago, Knicks president Donnie Walsh made a bold statement, claiming he would re-sign (restricted free-agent-to-be) Wilson Chandler when it came time to do so this summer.

The assertion came during a tremendous hot streak in which Chandler made himself look like a top candidate for the league’s Most Improved Player award.

Of course, Walsh also said this amid a flurry of trade rumors regarding Carmelo Anthony. Needless to say, those rumors became fact, as Anthony became a New York Knick, and Chandler and three of his teammates were in fact taking their talents to Denver.

While Anthony is set to elevate the Knicks to another level, there are questions as to how far a few of the Knicks’ former role players can take the Nuggets.

Raymond Felton, whose game saw a big boost from playing in Mike D’Antoni’s offense, will likely start to see his numbers finally level out from their perhaps inflated state. Furthermore, he is also coming off the bench in favor of fellow former Tar Heel Ty Lawson, a quick young guard who stands to benefit from the trade of Chauncey Billups. In his time as a reserve, Felton’s offense has struggled mightily, but he has averaged six assists in 31 minutes during his first two games off the pine.

Danilo Gallinari was the only former Knick thrust into the Nuggets starting lineup through both the first two games in the post-Carmelo Anthony era. After a first game in which he struggled through an arrant elbow to the face, Gallinari erupted for a season-high 30 points in his second game. While the offensive expositions are quite exciting, Gallinari displayed that same type of inconsistency as a Knick; it’s to be expected.

While Felton and Gallinari may have to continue making adjustments as they look to find their rhythm, Wilson Chandler’s stock is sure to continue to rise as he makes his transition with the Nuggets.

While Chandler may not have the explosiveness that a player like Gallinari has, he does have the potential to remain a very reliable scorer.

Chandler had became a jack of all trades in the Knicks offense—he has a consistent midrange jump shot, is aggressive enough to drive to the hoop for easy buckets, and can post up on smaller defenders. All of these abilities contributed to Chandler becoming a potent option in the Knicks offense behind Amar’e Stoudemire and Felton.

What will give Chandler the opportunity to become a more elite scorer (in addition to being on a Nuggets team that now craves dominant offensive options) is his three-point shooting.

While on the Knicks, Chandler improved his shooting from long-range by being planted in the corners again and again by Coach D’Antoni. Practice certainly makes perfect, and Chandler was absolutely encouraged to continuously take (and subsequently make) those shots from downtown.

Luckily for Chandler and his 36 percent three-point field goal percentage, the Nuggets offense is fast paced, just like the offense Chandler has become accustomed to in New York.

The Nuggets have so far relished the opportunity to have Chandler knock down three-pointers, as he has shot 4-of-6 from long range through his first two games. He is averaging an early 18 points per game on 52 percent shooting from the field as a Nugget. With Denver searching for a clear-cut No. 1 option on offense, could those 18 points per game possibly become 20 points or more?

Chandler’s ability to quickly run up the floor, and meet rapid-fire point guards Lawson and Felton at the other end of the court for easy buckets has also made Chandler an early asset for his new team.

With five former Knicks on the squad (including Timfoey Mozgov—also included in the trade—and Al Harrington, who played for D’Antoni the last two seasons), the Nuggets would be smart to keep an up-tempo pace, and Chandler would absolutely stand to benefit from it.

Using the same skills that made him a fantastic complementary option on the Knicks, Chandler has the opportunity to elevate his game and become a top scorer on the Nuggets. Should he help his new team hold steady in this year’s playoff race, and perhaps even rise above even more next year as well, Chandler could be looking at a potential All-Star appearance as early as next season.

New York Knicks: How Does Carmelo Anthony Fit Into His New Team's Offense?

The New York Knicks were obviously craving star power and a more potent offensive player when they finally acquired Carmelo Anthony after much negotiation with the Nuggets.

It’s no question that Anthony’s acquisition was the biggest trade the Knicks have made in the last decade. There’s no doubt Anthony is already being celebrated as the city’s favorite son, a homegrown hero.

While he’s sure to play a big role in New York, getting acclimated to the Knicks’ offense may take some time as he prepares to step into such a role.

Though the Knicks won Anthony’s debut with an electrifying victory over the Bucks at MSG, Anthony poured in 27 points, but only shot 10 for 25 from the field. Many others struggled to find their shooting touch on the Knicks as well, as the team clearly needed time to practice.

With a couple days of preparation under their belt, the Knicks will take on the Cavaliers, whom they have already suffered an embarrassing loss to this season.

When Anthony steps on the court for his new team Friday night, just how will he fit into their offense?

Everyone knows Anthony will find a way to score, but just how he gets his points remains to be seen. He’s not quite the three-point shooter that Danilo Gallinari is or Wilson Chandler was coming to be, so the Knicks will have make adjustments in their offensive sets.

Instead, Anthony stands to play a more physical role for the now size-deprived Knicks. Having already begun to call for the ball there against the Bucks, Anthony could very well become a post player for his new team.

If the Knicks lost anything in the trade for Anthony, it was the little size they had. Physicality was already lacking. Though Ronny Turiaf’s defensive presence is sure to balance out the starting lineup, there will be times when Turiaf is not on the court and Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire will have to shift to the power forward and center positions.

Then Anthony’s offense will come alive.

Against the Bucks, Anthony displayed aggressiveness (something much needed on this Knicks squad) as he evaded defenders to get inside for easy dunks that excited the pumped up Garden crowd. The combination of quickness and his physical nature is what will help Anthony carry the Knicks with his offense.

Again, Anthony can hit the three-ball if need be: he hit 33% of his attempts as a Denver Nugget. Having said that, it’s unlikely he’ll be planted at the three-point line like many Knicks forwards were before him.

While the Knicks offense thrives on the pick and roll, it’s probable the Knicks will continue to go to (Billups and) Stoudemire in that regard. While Anthony may be relied upon as well, his post-up moves could further benefit the Knicks.

A 6’9 forward that averages over 7.5 rebounds per game, Anthony will be preferred in the low post with Stoudemire. While he may not have played such a physical role in Denver, D’Antoni’s offense will bring the most out of Anthony’s physicality, just as it previously brought the most out of Raymond Felton’s playmaking ability.

If it’s anything that D’Antoni’s offense does, it’s bring out the best in the abilities of his players. Felton is not likely to see the same type of success in Denver. Alas, Anthony, will be seeing a different type of offensive success in New York as a cog in D’Antoni’s system.

On the defensive end, Anthony’s rebounding numbers could see an increase with the Knicks. After averaging 9 rebounds earlier in the season, Anthony could see that statistic elevate to that level again, as the Knicks need a rebounding presence as well.

There’s no doubt that in Carmelo Anthony the Knicks acquired one of the league’s best: a dominant scorer with a star persona hungry for a big city like New York. He will thrive as a New York Knick, but just how he goes about scoring may surprise fans familiar with his game.

Former Knicks Make Their Nuggets Debuts: A Farewell to Raymond, Chandler, Gallo, and Timofey

**This piece was written by Rhonda Dearborn, a contributing writer at Knicks Journal**

Danilo Gallinari came out last night versus the Boston Celtics looking sharp. He started at the small forward position, looked great taking the ball coast-to-coast, posted up, and he was active on the glass. The only oddity: he wasn’t wearing the orange and blue uniform he has played in all of his professional life in the NBA. It was jarring to see him in that white and powder blue jersey, representing the Denver Nuggets as a result of a trade that brought him and former Knicks teammates Raymond Felton, Wilson Chandler, and Timofey Mozgov to Denver.

What was also odd was to see Felton coming off the bench. While it was known prior to this game that Raymond would not start, it still seems quite strange. As I’ve written in my previous posts for the Knicks Journal, I am partial to Mr. Felton. I think he is the ultimate competitor, a bulldog on defense, tough, smart, and a leader. Yes, I certainly appreciate what the Knicks now have in Chauncy Billups and I do think that his playoff experience is monumental and could be the difference maker as to whether or not the Knicks, as presently constructed, can make it past a first round playoff series. However, I like to have insurance. I’m not the biggest risk-taker.

Due to his age, Chauncy is a “short term solution” at the point guard position. Sound familiar? There is no guarantee that the Knicks are getting Chris Paul. As we have seen, the league is unpredictable and there are changes coming that make it more so. I would have preferred keeping the young, reasonably priced point guard and had the Knicks have him in their back pocket as insurance. Not a bad fallback plan, right?

Despite not starting, Raymond was playing big minutes, so it’s possible he may wind up starting in the long run. I also hold out a hope that if the Knicks do not come away with any major top-tier point guard in 2012, that they can find a way to lure Felton back to the Knicks with a longer term contract. The guy was in the top six in league leaders for both assists and steals, so that works for me. Personally, it hurts to see the guy being insulted. After being put into this deal after giving so much to the Knicks, should he be slighted like that?

With about seven minutes left in the second quarter, we saw a very intriguing line up: Chandler, Felton, Smith, Nene and Gallo. For a while I had pondered the idea of adding Nene to the Knicks’ old line-up and wondered what that would look like. This was a chance to see something pretty darn close. It only lasted for a few minutes, but it was fun to see what might have been.

At the half, Wilson Chandler was the only ex-Knick with points on the board. That was not too surprising considering they are all going to need time to get acclimated to all of their teammates and the multiple offensive sets, but they played hard, (as they always have) and I expect them to do so going forward.

Another interesting wrinkle during the game: Nuggets Coach George Karl, someone widely respected around the league, commented during a feature of TNT’s broadcast of the game, criticizing Carmelo Anthony for "[lack of] defensive focus, his demand of himself, is what frustrated us more than anything." ‘Melo took to Twitter immediately to shoot back at Karl’s dig with a few retorts. I personally hope this doesn’t erupt into a larger war of words, as it appears beneath ‘Melo to do so. He needs to move on and prove that, with his team of choice, all other things aside, that he can put the work in on being better on defense. Perhaps proving his leadership on the floor, along with Amar’e Stoudemire will provide more focus and a demand for the same from his teammates.”

After months of rooting against this Denver Nuggets team, I found myself wishing for every ex Knick to have the games of their lives. And while not one of them had a tremendous impact on the game (Wilson Chandler had 16 points and Gallo had some key moments. Mozgov did not enter the game), it was Raymond Felton, on the floor playing alongside Ty Lawson, as the Nuggets’ went on a 13-0 run in the last minutes of the game. It was Felton whom led the team to their first post Melo-drama victory, a victory that included the now much appreciated former Knicks.

While I know the Knicks’ cap situation for 2011 and 2012 is such that they will not have the space or interest in pursuing either guy, I still hold out hope that either or both Felton and Chandler may one day be wearing orange and blue again in the future, as both of their contributions to the team were appreciated by me.

Chauncey Billups Is In Fact "Mr. Big Shot"

via Tommy Dee of The Knicks Blog

Hitting key shots: While Billups could have done a better job getting Amar’e in the flow, we’ll forgive him on the first night, he did hit key shots on his own and get players in position to succeed, like Douglas, and of course Carmelo.

Always knocking down FTs is the recipe for a lot of victories as well. When you have end of game shot makers, and FT makers, the result will be plenty of victories.

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My friend Tommy Dee alludes to the fact that they don't call Billups "Mr. Big Shot" for nothing. He may not be THE superstar that completes an official "Big Three" tandem for the Knicks, but he's one of the league's best point guards. His ability to hit big shots with the game on the line has made him one of the smartest and clutch players the league has seen in recent years. He's a proven winner. Just as much as the Knicks craved additional star-power, Billups' winning attitude will improve the team that much more.

Knicks Win Carmelo Anthony's Debut, But Can Learn Lesson From Struggling Bucks Squad

**This marks the editorial debut of Knicks Journal's newest contributing writer, Ben Ross. Ross was previously recognized by Newsday's Alan Hahn as a "Longtime Fixer," and was featured in one of Hahn's recent editions of "The Knicks Fix."**

You can follow Ben on Twitter @bnr1986.

On what was arguably the most important Knicks game in a decade, New York's new look squad came out and won a spirited contest against the Milwaukee Bucks by a score of 114-108.

The win came behind the efforts of newly minted 6^th man Toney Douglas, who scored 23 points, as well as the debut of Knicks’ own “big three”: Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups and Amare Stoudemire.

In clearly an electric night at the Garden from well before the opening tip, the new Knicks showed flashes of defensive intensity that weren't expected from the team’s two superstars. That same defensive effort, plus the abilities of Chauncey Billups, allowed the Knicks to come away with a victory against the Bucks, a team that has handled the Knicks with ease during the Mike D'Antoni era.

Yet this year's Bucks squad is different, as they are a prime example of why stars win in the NBA, and why the Knicks would have been foolish in retrospect to pass on Carmelo Anthony.

One of the NBA most pleasant surprises in 2010, the Bucks climbed to the eastern conference's fifth seed with a surprising 46-36 record. Rookie Brandon Jennings was a pleasant addition to what was previously a less talented lineup than whom the Bucks featured in 2009. Head Coach Scott Skiles was able to make the whole greater than the sum of its parts in his second season in Milwaukee.

Despite a freak elbow injury to Andrew Bogut, the Bucks finished the 2010 season on fire and took a much more talented Atlanta Hawks team to the brink in round one, before losing in seven games.

NBA pundits all around even expected Milwaukee to challenge the Bulls for the central division title this season, as they looked to build on their surprising success. Instead, a series of failed roster moves has left Milwaukee in a position its far more familiar with since Ray Allen left for Seattle in 2003, failing to make any progress at all.

Bucks GM John Hammond’s executive decisions this past summer included resigning John Salmons, giving Drew Gooden a contract worth the team’s full midlevel exception, and to trade for Corey Maggette. Salmons earned his contract through his impressive play last season, and Maggette is the type of player a small market team like Milwaukee needs to roll the dice on when it can't attract true stars. That being said, the signing of Gooden has certainly been a mistake.

Gooden's only played in 25 games this season, but is not an outlier. The past two seasons, he missed 40 games combined. Injuries and inconsistent play has followed him his entire career, and his time in Milwaukee has been no different. It’s likely Hammond is already regretting granting Gooden that contract, a highly untradeable one at that, likely to be found on Bill Simmons’ ‘Top 25 Worst NBA Contracts’ list sometime in the near future.

Yet where Hammond really dropped the ball was when he let his backup point guard drive across the state border to play for the Timberwolves. Of course, that backup point is Luke Ridnour, whom Bucks brass felt they could replace with Keyon Dooling.

Ridnour was a key cog in the Bucks’ well-oiled machine in 2010. A savvy veteran who Amare Stoudemire has called “Steve Nash Lite,” Ridnour backed up rookie Brandon Jennings, but was called upon consistently by Skiles in crunch time to close out the game.

Ridnour was rewarded for his clutch play this past summer, but not by the Bucks, which one would have expected. Instead, he was signed to a 4 year, $16 million dollar contract by Minnesota Timberwolves GM David Kahn (who coincidentally gave the same identical contract in the summer of 2009 to Ramon Sessions, another former Milwaukee backup point guard), and while he hasn't exactly helped the Timberwolves in the standings, his absence is certainly felt in Milwaukee.

Brandon Jennings has been hurt for a good portion of the season, forcing the Bucks to turn to backup options Earl Boynkins and Dooling. Furthermore, when on the court, Jennings has regressed. His assists numbers, three-point shooting percentage and free-throw percentage have all dropped. The Bucks now find themselves 8 games under .500 in the games Jennings has started this season.

While the three aforementioned statistical categories have changed for Jennings, many others have remained about the same as they were last year. With this in mind, it's pretty clear that Luke Ridnour is sorely missed.

How does all this Bucks analysis relate to the Knicks, you might ask? It just goes to show how quickly NBA fortunes can change in an instant. 46-36 is a good record for most NBA franchises on the up. One year later, and the Bucks would be fortunate to finish 36-46. While many fans grew fond of this year's Knicks team, whom stood firmly at 28-26 heading into the All-Star break, at times looked like a team that could finish at 46-36, much like the Bucks had last season. However, the Bucks franchise provides a cautionary tale of what can happen in the NBA when you don't have a true superstar, much less two likes the Knicks do now in Amar’e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony.

Carmelo Anthony to Wear #7 For New York Knicks

According to CNBC's Darren Rovell, Carmelo Anthony will don the number seven when he makes his debut in orange and blue for the Knicks, which the New York Daily News' Frank Isola reports will actually happen tomorrow night against the Bucks at MSG.

There has been quite the debate as to which number Anthony will represent, as his previous number with the Nuggets (#15) and his high school number (#22) have both retired by the Knicks already.

Though there was initial speculation he could wear number 30 in honor of his idol, former Knick Bernard King, Anthony reportedly also gave number 13 consideration, which has been previously worn by former Knick Luc Longley....oh, and Mark Jackson, of course.

Even the opportunity to wear number seven didn't come without a (small) hitch for Anthony, as Kelenna Azubuike, who has yet to play for the Knicks while rehabbing from a knee injury all season long, already owned it. Luckily for Anthony, 'Buike will now don number 17 instead, when he does finally does take the court for the Knicks, that is.

As fate would have it, 'Buike's time on the court is reportedly finally imminent, as he is healthier and readier than ever. As the Knicks look to rebuild their rotation, his suggested debut comes at quite the opportune time.

Carmelo Anthony Trade: Why Chauncey Billups May Be the Key to Success of Knicks

Although Carmelo Anthony may be the centerpiece of a mega-deal that brings him (and hopes for an eventual championship) to the New York Knicks, he may not be the most crucial piece at this point.

While Anthony will have to adjust to playing alongside Amar’e Stoudemire, the two are both superstar talents who will both seemingly relish such an opportunity—it’s likely the two cannot wait to start.

However, the key piece to the New York Knicks continuing to build on their already present success this season is none other than Chauncey Billups.

It’s well known how important a point guard is in Mike D’Antoni’s offense. He turned Steve Nash into a two-time MVP, and in his first (and only) season with Raymond Felton as his disciple, he almost elevated Felton to All-Star status—what the two could have accomplished in future seasons, the NBA world will never know.

The two biggest stars D’Antoni has ever coached on the same team are in fact Nash and Stoudemire, and it surely helped things that Nash was a pass-first player who looked to bring the best out of his teammates. But how will D’Antoni adjust to coaching a team with two scoring stars?

It’s likely he will rely heavily on his new floor general in Billups. Aside from acquiring one of the NBA’s top ten talents in Anthony, the Knicks acquired a winner in Billups.

He simply knows how to win. In addition to being an NBA Champion and Finals MVP with thePistons, Billups instantly turned the fate of the Nuggets around for the better when he came to his hometown in exchange for Allen Iverson.

Billups is a very positive chemistry guy and has certainly proved to be an effective leader throughout his career. While Felton’s leadership was key to the Knicks’ elevated play this season, it is Billups who will be looked at even more as a new leader for this Knicks squad, especially come playoff time.

How the Knicks, who still remain after the trade, respond to Billups’ leadership remains to be seen, but with a new healthy mix of young talent and veterans, this team should now be concentrated on making noise in the playoffs.

Aside from depleting their depth a bit in return for a star, the Knicks gave away much of their youth. Players like Danilo Galinari and Wilson Chandler were just starting to come into their own, whereas the team never quite saw the full potential of players like Timofey Mozgov and Anthony Randolph.

While youth can give a team a higher ceiling for the future, veteran experience can deliver championship hopes even sooner.

With Billups likely on board for at least the next two seasons, it’s probable he will lead the charge as his new team prepares to become a major contender.

While he will surely be relied upon to get Anthony and Stoudemire on the same page offensively, it’s also possible Billups’ own individual offense will be counted on just as much, as the Knicks form a “Big Three” of their own.

Billups is one of the smartest floor generals in the league, but as a 39 percent career shooter from downtown, D’Antoni might look for him to be just as much of a scorer as well.

Billups played a good amount of shooting guard while on Team USA this past summer, a team for which D’Antoni served as assistant coach.

Knicks fans may not realize how good of an acquisition Anthony Carter is in craziness of this massive deal. He’s a guy who can pass and keep his teammates effectively involved, something the Knicks were desperately seeking out in a backup point guard all season long. It’s possible that Billups could share the backcourt with Carter, as well as Toney Douglas (as Douglas did with Felton) for an interesting tandem.

Just exactly how Billups will fit into the fold for the Knicks will be interesting to see, but the possibilities seem to be endless for this jack-of-all-trades and NBA champion.

While Anthony and Stoudemire may be the future of the New York Knicks franchise, the team’s hope for continued short-term success certainly lies with Billups.

Just How Far Can Carmelo Anthony Carry the New York Knicks?

By now, news has traveled fast enough for Knicks fans to realize Carmelo Anthony is finally a New York Knick after a seven-month span of speculation that he would ultimately don orange and blue.

New York will also welcome Anthony’s Nuggets teammates—former NBA Finals MVP Chauncey Billups, Anthony Carter, Shelden Williams and former Knick draft selection Renaldo Balkman. In addition to sending draft picks and cash the Nuggets’ way, Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler and Timofey Mozgov were all sent packing for Denver by the Knicks.

New York also acquired Corey Brewer from the Timberwolves in exchange for Anthony Randolph and Eddy Curry as part of the three-team deal.

After the euphoria from the Knicks finally bringing in a second superstar alongside resident MVP candidate Amar’e Stoudemire dies down, the team’s attention will surely turn to building a certain chemistry between Anthony, Stoudemire and the team’s new cast of characters.

As much as the two may be the best of friends off the court, there is no guarantee that type of rapport will translate to the same high on it. Having said that, just the prospect alone of having two of the league’s top talents come together on one of the game’s biggest stages in Madison Square Garden is quite exciting.

Though it is Stoudemire, not Anthony, who will still be widely considered the leader of the New York Knicks, the team’s hopes of contending will surely weigh heavily on the shoulders of their new acquisition.

After missing out on the likes of LeBron James and Dwayne Wade, the Knicks surrounded their existing leader with a plethora of depth. That same depth was sacrificed to bring in Anthony.

With Anthony finally in the fold, the question now becomes just how good can the Knicks be? Is he enough to get them over the hump and beat teams like the Heat and the Celtics in potential playoff battles?

Given the early struggles the Heat had in getting their new stars accustomed to the offense, it’s likely the new-look Knicks will experience some growing pains as well.

It’ll be interesting to see how Anthony meshes into the D’Antoni-designed offense. While his acquisition was certainly made for the long-term future of the Knicks, Tim Legler of ESPN expects the team to continue playing solid basketball throughout the season.

Should the Knicks match up against the Heat in the playoffs, perhaps the extra time that the Heat have had to perfect their offense and chemistry (as well as having that third superstar on board) will still give them the upper hand on New York.

However, the fresh faces (in addition to the Knicks’ new mix of veterans and young talent—the veteran side perhaps lacking before) may give the Knicks the advantage over the Celtics, should Boston’s older foundation be exhausted and/or at all hobbled come playoff time.

Furthermore, the Knicks have already looked strong against the Bulls this season. The new star-studded pairing, along with their solid role players (Landry Fields, Corey Brewer, Shelden Williams, Ronny Turiaf, etc.) make the Knicks a stronger team on paper. The fact they still need time to mesh as a team is probably the only thing that still holds them back against the Bulls.

Should the new team take longer to build up a rapport than expected, would fans be disappointed if the Knicks actually ended up dropping the ball this season—or should this team be a shoe-in for the second round of the playoffs?

Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure, the Knicks’ future is bright with Carmelo Anthony and the sky is the limit.

Just how long it takes to reach the sky remains to be seen—but it's certainly dependent on the new duo’s support, just as Stoudemire and New York's success had been throughout this season with the now former supporting cast.

Carmelo Anthony is Finally a Knick

Via Denver Post

The Carmelo Anthony trade saga is finally over. The Nuggets traded Melo to the New York Knicks tonight, a league source said. Denver gets Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Timofey Mozgov, the Knicks 2014 first-round draft pick, the Warriors' 2012 second-round pick, the Warriors' 2013 second-round pick and $3 million in cash.

Anthony will go to New York, along with Chauncey Billups, Shelden Williams, Anthony Carter and Renaldo Balkman.

Anthony was not at the Nuggets' practice as the team resumed workouts following the All-Star break. Billups left the team's Monday practice without speaking to reporters.

The first "official" announcement here comes from the Denver Post. More in depth thoughts from Knicks Journal to follow...stay tuned.

Knicks Certainly Well Represented at NBA All-Star Weekend

With all of the rumors surrounding a (likely/probable/possible/questionable/unlikely--you name it) Carmelo Anthony-to-Knicks (or Nets) deal, fans may have discounted the fact that the Knicks currently have a bonafide superstar in Amar'e Stoudemire, who represented the team as a starter on the Eastern Conference All-Star team.

In addition, rookie Landry Fields took part in the Rookie-Sopohomore game Friday night, where he too, was recognized for his excellent play thus far this season.

While adding Anthony would surely ignite New York City even further, in addition to pushing the team closer to being a major contender, it's good to know that at least there were two players, quite impressive in their own right, representing the New York Knicks.

The two surely did not disappoint. Though Fields is often praised for his maturity and fundamentals, he held his own against some the league's most flashy young talent, finishing with 15 points and 6 rebounds. While still obviously a rookie, that same 15 and 6 may soon become known as a solid, "classic" performance that Fields is used to displaying.

When it came to Sunday's big event, the NBA All-Star Game, Knicks fans were certainly excited as Stoudemire was named the first Knicks starter in the game since Patrick Ewing in 1992. He absolutely seemed to relish the opportunity and bask in that same glory all night long.

The energized and high-powered Stoudemire finished with a team-high 29 points, even playing through the fourth quarter, as he converted a number of jump shots, as well as an array of dunks along the way. The MVP candidate shot 11 of 20 from the field and logged 28 minutes on the floor.

While any representation during NBA All-Star Weekend is a positive one, it was an absolute bonus for the relevant-again New York Knicks to be represented so well (Carmelo or no Carmelo) during the league's showcase for its most talented players.

Stoudemire continues to prove himself the right man to be the face of the franchise, and as Fields continues to shine, hopefully he can ultimately be part of the long-term future as well.

Talking Hoops With An NBA Champion: Catching Up With Bulls Veteran Scott Burrell

Scott Burrell spent eight seasons in the NBA, and made a career out of playing the game of basketball the way it’s meant to be played. One of the league’s most fundamentally sound players during his time, Burrell’s career was highlighted by an NBA championship win with the Chicago Bulls in 1998.

He also holds the distinction of being the first player in sports history to be drafted in the first round of two different major sports, having been drafted in both the NBA and MLB.

Burrell recently took part in former NBA competitor John Starks’ Charity Bowl in New York City this past Tuesday night, and was clearly enjoying himself as he bowled and joked around with fans and other participants, whom he mentioned he met and got to know at the previous year’s event.

As I heard Scott going back and forth in some heated debate with some passionate NBA fans at the end of the night, I swooped in to pick his brain myself.

Read on to see what the NBA champ had to say about the Celtics’ championship hopes, the Knicks’ ongoing quest to bring in more star power (who else they should have considered signing this summer), as well as if he thinks former teammate Michael Jordan could be suiting up for the Bobcats anytime soon.

Q: I heard you talking to some people about the ongoing Carmelo-Anthony saga. You’re obviously keeping up on today’s NBA.

A: What should the Knicks do, should they get him? Does he play defense though? I don't know. Defense wins games in the NBA. Older veteran teams are going to win.

Raymond Felton is playing great. But what if they get a guy like Chauncey Billups back? Chauncey’s an NBA Champion.

Q: Since your playing days, ended, you’ve taken up coaching and are an assistant coach for Quinnipiac University’s men’s basketball team. What brought you back to the college game?

A: It’s in my hometown—beautiful campus, great gym. My current boss was an old coach at UConn for about 15 years after I was there, so that makes it easier. It’s fun to be there.

Q: Over the course of your career, you played with stars like Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Alonzo Mourning. Talking local hoops, what do you think of Amar’e Stoudemire’s star power?

A: I think he’s awesome—every night. He comes to play every night, and a lot of guys don’t. He does get paid a lot of money, but he definitely brings it. It’s awesome to watch him.

Q: So you think Amar’e was the right guy to bring in to start things off.

A: Definitely. He’s the kind of guy the Knicks are going to want to build around. I actually thought David Lee would have been great with Amar’e. You have to find guys that play hard and want to win. They can’t be worried about contracts or the limelight. Guys who are on the same page win championships. I learned that in Chicago.

Not everyone is always happy with their contract—Scottie Pippen wasn’t happy at times—but the one thing he did was show up every night. He took care of it at the end of the season. Professionals like that win championships.

Q: Who are some of your favorites to win the NBA Championship this season?

A: Definitely the Celtics.

I think the Heat are good, but they’re young. Plus, they have three studs, two of which do the same thing. Look at the Celtics—you have Ray Allen as the shooter, Paul Pierce can score, KG’s your inside/outside guy, and then you have Shaq and Kendrick Perkins in the middle. That’s a complete team that knows how to play with each other.

That loss to the Celtics [last Sunday] really hurt the Heat. The Celtics were banged up, and the Heat had a chance, but the Celtics really took care of business. The Celtics are putting doubt in the Heat’s mind, and that’s ultimately how you win.

The Lakers are another team that knows how to play with each other. They may need to make a move, but they know how to play.

Q: Playing in Chicago with the best there ever was, I have to ask about the team’s new resident star. Will Derrick Rose be the league’s MVP this season?

A: He could definitely be up there. You know, I think Stoudemire is a real MVP candidate too. The Knicks have made major improvements obviously.

I think Manu Ginobili is very underrated also. He’s not a superstar, but he’s very underrated! The NBA is going to promote who they want to, but Ginobili does a great job with the Spurs—they’re good.

Q: Amar’e is definitely leading the Knicks to a big improvement over last season. Does leading such a charge make him more of a MVP candidate than someone like Kobe Bryant, whose Lakers could win well over 50 games this season?

A: I think so. Kobe Bryant has so much talent around him—Gasol, Bynum—the Lakers have a defensive stopper in Ron Artest, and Odom too. They have so much talent on their team. Plus, that team has been to the Finals before.

Kobe does a great job, but Stoudemire has no all-stars around him, no “Dream-Team” type guys or Hall of Famers around him at this point. You look at him and you can see he’s given life to the city of New York, and that’s one is the biggest markets in the league. He’s done a great job.

Q: You’re talking about guys who can shine in the limelight. Aside from Carmelo Anthony, who everyone is talking about, what other guys do you think handle the bright lights of New York City?

A: Ray Allen’s my best friend. He’s so underrated. I was very happy for him last week. He’s just an underrated guy that takes care of business and does what he has to do.

He was a free agent last year, and I’m not sure why a lot of teams wouldn’t want to go after him to be the leader of their city and team. He’s a two-time “Dream-Teamer,” and he’s won two gold medals.

Q: If I remember correctly, the Knicks did give him a look this past summer, right?

A: Yeah, but what were they going to offer him, $4 million per year? Come on. I have a question—why wouldn’t you want to sign the best shooter in NBA history and put him next to Stoudemire? I think that would have made his job a little easier.

You know what you’re getting with Ray. Like I said, he’s just one of those guys that brings it every night. He may not be the best defensively, but offensively, he’ll be patient and won’t ever have to force it. He doesn’t need the ball and won’t complain. He’s just a pro—one of those classic vets.

Q: Finally, as a former teammate of MJ’s, did it surprise you to see him practicing with the Bobcats last week?

A: No way. In about three months, you’ll see him out there, haha! He would definitely consider it. He said it in his Hall of Fame speech. Michael doesn’t talk nonsense: he said we might see him out there at 50. He would be one of the best players—well, he wouldn’t be the best, but he’d be up there.

NBA All-Star Weekend: New York Knicks' Landry Fields Set to Showcase Skills

The New York Knicks head into the NBA All-Star break with a 28-26 record, good for the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference. Furthermore, the Knicks' 28 wins are just one shy of their 29 total victories from all of last season.

Amar’e Stoudemire, the Knicks’ resident superstar, has led the charge and will represent the team, the city and its fans as their first All-Star starter since Patrick Ewing in 1992.

Though Stoudemire will be given much credit for his team’s vast improvement, he’s gotten some help along the way. Raymond Felton, who many feel was slighted in regard to an All-Star selection of his own, has been Stoudemire’s right-hand man.

Just how much Felton has seen his game improve this season may be a bit of a surprise, but there has been no greater pleasant surprise than Knicks’ second-round rookie selection, Landry Fields.

Aside from Stoudemire, Fields is the only other Knick traveling to Los Angeles to represent the team during All-Star Weekend. He will be taking part in Friday night’s Rookies vs. Sophomores contest.

While Fields has been one of the league’s top rookies this season, he has been more than just your average first-year player for the Knicks. Starting in all 54 games this season, Fields has played with a maturity that is crucial on such a young Knicks team.

Fields may not always have the most extravagant stat lines, but he is certainly a consistent performer. In addition, any “rookie mistakes” he has made have been non-existent, instead having displayed a remarkable veteran know-how thus far this season.

It’s no wonder that the Nuggets have had their eyes on Fields through trade negotiations with the Knicks for Carmelo Anthony. While acquiring the superstar remains a goal for the Knicks, they would prefer Anthony and Fields instead don orange and blue together.

Fields has the tangibles and intangibles to be the perfect role player—that is perhaps what makes him so valuable. By now, fans recognize his smart defense and solid fundamentals. A two-time “Rookie of the Month” already, he is one of the best rebounding guards of the entire league, let alone a top rebounder on the Knicks at 7.1 boards per game.

He may have what it takes to be the perfect complementary guy on any given team, but could the young Fields ultimately be more for the Knicks?

Coach Mike D’Antoni has been slowly but surely (and quietly, to the dismay of many opponents) inserting Fields more and more into the offensive show with each passing game.

Aside from a career game in which he knocked down five three-point field goals on his way to a 25-point, 10-rebound performance in a 117-103 win earlier this month against the Philadelphia 76ers, Fields has had multiple games where he’s knocked down three shots from long range, shooting 40 percent from downtown and 52 percent overall.

Fields has been viewed as a supporting team player all season long because he has found his place alongside the likes of Stoudemire and Felton. However, after averaging 22 points for Stanford during his senior year, the potential to become a more reliable scorer as his career progresses absolutely exists.

Nevertheless, Fields, the 39th-overall pick of last year’s draft, was slept on by just about every team in the league. That won’t stop him, however, from rubbing elbows with some of the league’s best young talent in Friday’s contest.

An ascending fan favorite, the enthusiastic Fields is a great player for the NBA to feature during the widely promoted weekend. He’s already been seen on a couple of humorous YouTube videos throughout the season.

Stoudemire has become the face of the Knicks’ renaissance, so an All-Star selection was absolutely deserved. The fact that the Knicks fans (craving for a playoff appearance) rewarded him with a starting spot is even sweeter.

Of course, Shawne Williams may have been snubbed out of the Sprite Three-Point Contest, and it may have been nice to see Bill Walker take flight in the Spite Slam-Dunk Contest, but Fields' remarkable, impressive and quite surprising performance this season deserves to be recognized, as he has perhaps been just as essential (if not more) to his team’s success than any other well-known player.