Why Donnie Walsh Has Done Enough and Deserves to Return to New York Knicks

Following an early playoff exit and a midseason trade that nearly decimated the Knicks' depth, the team will need to ponder what kind of additions (and/or subtractions) need to be made to ultimately elevate the squad into a legitimate contender.

Continuing to make improvements starts with the man in charge. While James Dolan may be the owner of the Knicks, it has been Donnie Walsh who has controlled basketball operations throughout this renaissance of the Knicks. The first move the team needs to make is renewing Walsh's contract, because frankly, he deserves it. It's now time for him to continue what he started.

If it weren't for Walsh, the Knicks perhaps would have still been led by Zach Randolph and Jamal Crawford. Granted, both of those players look like they will advance to the second round of the playoffs with their current teams, but neither are quite the superstar New York City both craved and desired.

Walsh was able to create the cap room necessary to sign Amar'e Stoudemire and acquire the assets necessary to trade for Carmelo Anthony. It may have taken two or so years to put all the pieces into place, but Walsh did what he promised to do.

The Knicks have finally started to look like a well-built team, with many (perhaps just not yet all) of the right types of role players wrapped around legitimate stars.

Walsh's first order of business for next season needs to be addressing Chauncey Billups' team option. Should he decline the option, would the Knicks be able to find a point guard just as good for less money? That's debatable, but with the Knicks' needing a bit more depth and a defensive anchor at center, it may be best to decline the option, but at the same time show commitment to Billups, offering him a less lucrative deal for a longer period of time.

That same move would of course rule out signing a superstar point guard such as Chris Paul or Deron Williams in 2012, but it's more important to focus on building a team at this point rather than waiting to reel in the big fish. The Knicks have already built a strong foundation, shown promise and there are now just a few gaps to fill.

It's time to take that plan of action and embrace what the team has moving forward. Fans have already played the waiting game, and while it paid off the first time, it's finally to expand upon the team's core rather than rock the boat.

Knicks fans who watched the team in the 1990's know full well that Walsh can build an impressive and heartbreaking (to opponents such as the Knicks) team. He did so with the Indiana Pacers, watching Reggie Miller develop into a probable future Hall-of-Famer, going deep into the playoffs for many years. Miller was one of the most clutch performers of all-time, but was also surrounded by a strong core of role players.

Under Walsh, the Pacers put solid players such as Mark Jackson, Rik Smits and Chris Mullin on the floor next to Miller. Jackson was known for his good defense, playmaking ability and steady fundamentals. Smits was a good player in the post and Mullin was a great three-point shooting option behind Miller. You could go down the list of different players Miller played with throughout his career, but the key was that each player had their own role and specialty on the court. They all fit well together.

It's clear that if given the opportunity, that's what Walsh will continue to do in New York. He, at first, used the bright lights of the big city to attract the stars, and now is set to shore up the team's depth. He has even already proven to have good instincts with role players during his time with the Knicks; he drafted Toney Douglas, traded for Ronny Turiaf and signed the likes of Shawne Williams and Jared Jeffries. All four players played major roles and were big time contributors for this team.

The difference between Walsh and Mike D'Antoni is that Walsh has already lived up to (and perhaps even exceeded) his expectations. D'Antoni needs (or needed) to show that he can win with the Knicks following the trade with the Nuggets, and he failed to do so after some regular season struggles and a first round exit. Whether he gets another chance to prove he can win with more time remains to be seen.

Walsh has done everything he promised and more in the short time he was given. The right thing to do is let him carry on with his initial vision for the Knicks finally in place. Not only is it the "right" thing to do, but it's certainly in the best interest of the Knicks.

Why put in all the work to acquire the players Walsh did, only to have someone else come in (who may not share the same vision as Walsh) and make unnecessary changes?

At the very least, Walsh should be given another year to shore things up and ride out the season with D'Antoni (if he's brought back), but in reality, building a team takes time, and Walsh has made the most of the time he's been given. It's only logical he be given more time to continue to succeed.

Should Mike D'Antoni Return to Coach the New York Knicks Next Season?

The Celtics quietly put an end to the Knicks’ season on Easter Sunday, delivering a game four 101-89 loss to seal a 4-0 first round playoff series sweep.

To be fair, the Knicks were perhaps more a victim to circumstance much more so than a victim of the Celtics, as former NBA Finals MVP Chauncey Billups was forced to leave game one and never be seen again, and Amar’e Stoudemire was plagued by back spasms since game two, and it certainly showed in his less than stellar performances throughout.

As the Knicks look to build on the success of the playoff team that came about, they need to determine where improvements can and/or should be made moving forward.

The trade that brought in Billups, Carmelo Anthony, and company certainly brought in some much needed star power for the Knicks. Pending whether or not the Knicks decide to exercise Billups’ option for next season, it appears as though the roster would be set with a couple of tweaks here and there.

Bypassing the roster, the attention comes to the coaching staff. Though the first round playoff loss cannot be completely blamed on Mike D’Antoni, he certainly had some trouble getting his team to gel following the trade with the Nuggets.

The “time” factor can certainly be suggested here, with the Knicks having less than half a season with the current team to get things going. A major injury to Billups during the regular season prompted a major slump, but the team was able to rebound in time for the playoffs.

Did (or does, rather) D’Antoni need more time with this team? Does he deserve it? Would it be time worth investing for the Knicks organization? If the Knicks decide that D’Antoni is the right coach for the team moving forward, he’ll obviously be back. Coming to that decision is what may prove to be difficult.

Under D’Antoni’s guidance, Anthony increased his three point attempts, and his shooting percentage skyrocketed to over 42% from beyond the arc. Nevertheless, it’s debatable whether or not he’s most efficient on offense as a jump shooter, rather than a post player.

Billups also seemed to struggle to find his way in D’Antoni’s system. Though he was praised for his success and chemistry with D’Antoni while on Team USA, Billups was primarily used as a shooting guard on that team. With the struggles of Landry Fields, perhaps it would be better to play Billups at the two and let Toney Douglas (or a free agent signee) take the reigns at point guard instead.

Billups struggled at the point for the Knicks to an extent because he isn’t a run and gun type point guard. He wasn’t put in a place where he could help the team succeed, because in a half court set he would appear quite stagnant, and that type of slow movement would spill over to his teammates on the court. They often looked confused with little fluidity, something that the Knicks hadn’t struggled with prior to the trade.

What’s the ultimate solution, here? Does the coach need to match the personnel or does the personnel need to match the coach? In terms of the coach, he needs to be able to adjust to get the most out of his players.

D’Antoni did wonders with players like Raymond Felton and Wilson Chandler, elevating each of their games (just like he had with Shawn Marion, Raja Bell, and Boris Diaw on the Suns), but struggled to get the most out of much higher regarded talent after the trade.

During the Larry Brown experiment, the Knicks constantly tried to bring players in that fit Brown’s style of play, rather than force him to adjust and get the most out of who he had. As Knicks fans will remember, that experiment did work out in the team’s favor.

It’s obvious that if a team’s players can play the way a coach prefers to play, they’ll do conveniently well. Nevertheless, by not seeing as much success with a more talented Knicks squad, maybe D’Antoni proved he’s merely a one-trick pony as many have criticized him to be.

With one more year guaranteed on his contract, perhaps it would be in the Knicks’ best interest to let D;Antoni coach the next season out, with a full training camp and a greater variety of games to really figure out how he can help all of his players shine. That would be fair, given what he was able to do with the somewhat limited talent he had earlier in the season.

That being said, with the roster that of a major contender on paper, it may be better to cut ties with D’Antoni now rather than waste time. The real question is whether or not the Knicks feel he can effectively adapt to the “new” players he has on the roster. If not, he should be let go now, rather than later, seeing as how the Knicks’ fan base has waited long enough for a contending team and have finally been given a taste of what could be.

Anthony Carter's Heroics Not Enough as Knicks Lose in Playoffs

With no Chauncey Billups and an Amar'e Stoudemire who probably wasn't fit enough to take the court during most of games two through four, it's understandable how the Knicks would easily fall to the Celtics, who held the top seed in the East for much of the season.

The Celtics put an end to the Knicks' injury misery, as well as their season, with a 101-89 loss on Easter Sunday.

The Knicks clearly didn't have the manpower nor the strength to keep up with the Celtics, but they definitely showed a lot of heart throughout. Spirits were high, as the team knew how coveted this playoff appearance really was by the city and their fans.

Carmelo Anthony willed through with a Bernard King-like 42 point performance in game two, but he simply couldn't carry the Knicks on his own. If 42 points from Anthony wouldn't secure a victory, something told me nothing else would, given the circumstances.

The Knicks brought in Anthony, and even Chauncey Billups for that matter, to add superstars and winning players to the squad as they continued to build a stronger team going forward. The problem is the Knicks needed the entire squad in order to fairly compete, and they just didn't have that this series.

Shawne Williams, the Knicks' comeback kid, scored 17 points in an awful game three, and has expressed interest in returning to the team after they helped resurrect his career. He's been a strong role player throughout, so I'd be nice to see him return.

Anthony Carter, who we've talked about constantly this season as someone who filled a massive void for the Knicks, came up big once again game four, scoring 11 points in an attempt to save his team's season, but it was too late. Carter is the type of player that a coach can put in to turn a game around with hounding defense, heart, and offensive spurts, and he didn't fail to deliver last night. Perhaps the rest of the team did, though.

The two teams weren't evenly matched. The Carmelo Anthony trade was made for the future, and in the future is when and where the Knicks should thrive. Disregarding a potential NBA lockout at the moment, given an entire training camp (with a healthy team, but that's a given) and even a full season to get things right, one would expect the Knicks to come back with a vengeance next season.

Keith Schlosser Talks Knicks/Celtics Playoffs on "The Rundown With Ryan Hadfield "

On the heels of playoff basketball returning to Madison Square Garden tonight, I appeared on "The Rundown With Ryan Hadfield" podcast to talk the Knicks/Celtics series, as well as some NBA generalities.

Take a listen below as Ryan and I talk Knicks playoff basketball, the Kendrick Perkins trade, Spike Lee, and more.



In addition to hosting the podcast, Ryan also writes for the "Sports of Boston" blog. You can view some of his work by clicking here.

The Fans Will Be Knicks' Ultimate Sixth Man

It's clear that games one and two of the Knicks/Celtics playoff series could have gone the Knicks way, recognizing just how close they were to winning each one.

Having said that, as the pressure mounted, the Knicks were not only met by the intense nature of Kevin Garnett and company, but the Celtics' pumped up fans as well.

Just as the Celtics have gone through multiple big playoff runs, so have their fans, cheering loud for their team, and screaming even wilder in attempts to pester the Celtics' opponents.

Perhaps Knicks fans won't have as much vigor and aggression (Celtics fans may take after their team in that regard), but there's no doubt that Madison Square Garden will be absolutely rocking tonight as the Knicks step on the home hardwood during the playoffs for the first time in seven years.

With the team facing injuries to the likes of Amar'e Stoudemire, Chauncey Billups, and even Ronny Turiaf, they could use all the help they can get.

Knicks fans have waited for this moment; not only seven years for a playoff appearance, but a solid ten years for a simply playoff game victory.

Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony surely have the credentials to deliver one, but even so, the fans are surely ready to do their part. Knicks fans are some of the most energetic in all of sports, and the fact that they have been longing for tonight's very moment makes it that much more crucial for the Knicks.

Hopefully the Knicks can take the same momentum the Celtics had in Boston and turn it around in their favor as they return home and feed off of the excitement.

“I’m pretty sure it will be crazy,” Anthony told ESPN New York. “I think crazy is an understatement but that’s the word I’m going to use right now.”

Given how closely matched the Knicks and Celtics have been (even barring multiple injuries for both teams), it's clear that these are anyone's games, and if the Knicks play their cards right, they could be returning to Boston with a tied-up playoff series.

Of course, if the fans come out to "play," the Knicks will be just as ready.

“We understand that… and we want to match the fans’ energy,” Anthony said.

Swizz Beatz Gives Knicks Fans Something to Be Excited About

It's no secret that the NBA playoffs will be coming home to New York City for the first time in seven years on Friday night. Times are changing, so it's rightfully so that the classic "GO NY GO!" chant that has been so influencial in countless Knicks playoff runs gets a bit of an update.

Swizz Beatz, hip hop music's ultimate remix master worked up his own take on the classic Knicks tune in time for the playoffs. But just like any hip hop music fan will tell you, good remixes are always enhanced by cool guests artists or features, so Swizz Beatz brought in Knickerbocker pals Amar'e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony for some help.

Watch as the three team up with the Knicks City Dancers to revamp the anthem, giving Knicks fans something to help pump themselves up with in time for game three.

Carmelo Anthony's Best Bernard King Impression Not Enough For Knicks

Yesterday Knicks Journal highlighted Bernard King's 46 point performance against the Pistons in the 1984 playoffs as one of the best in Knicks history.

It's noteworthy that King just happens to be Carmelo Anthony's hardwood idol, so it's only sensible that Anthony takes after King and his big game heroics.

Though Anthony having a big game is crucial to the Knicks' success, the team needs all the help it can get when taking on a team like the Celtics in the playoffs.

Unfortunately, all the necessary help was not readily available, as starting point guard and former NBA Finals MVP Chauncey Billups was unable to play due to a leg injury, and Amar'e Stoudemire was forced to miss the entire second half with back spasms.

Anthony came to play, scoring 42 points and 17 rebounds, a performance that will surely go down as one of the best individual performances by a Knick in the playoffs, but it just wasn't enough, as Anthony saw his team lose 96-93.

Though the Knicks only had three of its players score in double-figures, they managed to stay in the game all the way until the final seconds. Jared Jeffries, who scored a total of 47 points in all of limited time with the Knicks this season, managed to score a remarkable 10 points off the bench, and even had a key basket in the closing minutes to keep the Knicks in the game, but instantly went from hero to zero on a crucial turnover that sealed the game for the Celtics. Toney Douglas also scored 14 points starting in place of Billups.

The Celtics were led by 30 points from Rajon Rondo, who was almost as hot as Anthony, and 12 points from Kevin Garnett, who sank the shot that ultimately put the Knicks away.

The series will come home to New York City for game three on Friday night. Billups and Stoudemire are both still questionable for then.

Bernard King's Part in Knicks Playoffs History

MSG Networks must have been on to something when they decided to bring in former Knick Bernard King on as a in studio analyst for the playoffs.

In addition to being a fan-favorite, King is a Knicks' playoff hero. In a 1984 series vs. Isiah Thomas and the Detroit Pistons, King averaged 42.6 points to lead his team to a 3-2 series win and even scored 46 points (on this date in Knicks' history--April 19th, 1984) to propel the Knicks to victory in the clincher.

If Carmelo Anthony is looking for motivation for tonight's game, he should look no further than to his idol's playoff heroics. Though hopefully the Knicks will see more of an effort from the team as a whole (and won't have to depend on one of their stars scoring 46 points to win), those same heroics by King during such a big game show just how celebrated big playoff victories really are by Knicks fans, who have always kept King in high regard.

The fact that King was able to go toe-to-toe with a player such as Thomas' caliber certainly should set an expectation for the current Knicks squad when looking back at the big game. The Celtics have three future Hall of Famers in Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen, and all three are true champions who are known to come up big in the clutch, but the Knicks cannot let that discourage them. Tonight is a brand new game, and the team just needs to continue to play hard and compete. If they can match up with the Celtics for as well as they did for most of game one (except this time, for all 48 minutes of the game), the Knicks have enough talent and certainly motivation to win.

Things Not Looking Good for Chauncey Billups?

via CBS New York

“I kind of banged it in that game and that little spot has been giving me some problems, but it was kind of minor,” Billups said. “That’s why I was wearing a little brace, just in case it got hit again. This time … I just kind of took off and it gave out on me.”

The above quote from Chauncey is regarding his left leg, something that he has injured before and pained him once again through game one vs. the Celtics.

The severity of the injury sounds serious, because there are talks of Billups sitting out tomorrow night during game two in order to be fully ready for game three at home on Friday night.

Billups happens to be the only Knick with a championship ring, so his experience (in addition to his nice production and credibility as a floor general) will certainly be felt as a huge loss if he is not able to take the court.

Toney Douglas had an impressive stretch of his own, starting six games during Billups' last injury, so perhaps he will fill void just as nicely as he has in the past.

Nevertheless, this is playoff time--so the question becomes whether or not Billups should really play through the pain. Is a Billups at say, 60%-70% for each of the next two games, better than having him available at 100% for one and not the other? It's a tough call to make, but in any event, the pain appears too tough to play through, prompting Coach D'Antoni to call Billups "very questionable" for the next game.

Surprising Substituions In Game 1 for Knicks?

The last couple weeks of the regular season were all about preparation for the Knicks, figuring out which lineups mesh well together, and who could provide big boosts down the stretch.

Knicks fans were introduced to the likes of Anthony Carter, Shelden Williams, Derrick Brown, and re-introduced to players like Jared Jeffries (return to New York) and Roger Mason Jr. (more playing time).

While these players broke their way into the rotation, it appeared as though Landry Fields and Ronny Turiaf took back seats for the time being.

Carter has gained the confidence of Coach Mike D'Antoni, coming up big on defense and making a clutch pass every now and then, so he'll continue to see minutes, as he did while playing 13 minutes in game 1 of the playoffs vs. the Celtics.

A big surprise, though, was not seeing Williams enter the game whatsoever. For a while, he seemed to be steady in the team's starting lineup, but has sneakily been phased out as of late. One third of the Knicks' "three-headed monster" at center, Williams' defensive presence could really help his team throughout the series, although defense wasn't their problem last night.

Nevertheless, Williams has proven he can harass big men like Dwight Howard on defense, and even probably guarded the likes of Kevin Garnett and Glen Davis in practice last year while playing with Boston. Wouldn't that type of experience prove invaluable, to have a bit of an insid man?

The Knicks have seen firsthand what former teammates can do to each other, as the Pacers' Dahntay Jones pestered Carmelo Anthony all game long (the two were teammates in Demver) during a demoralizing loss to Indiana just a few weeks ago.

Guys like Brown and Mason Jr. probably won't see time simply because neither one really cracked the rotation during the season, but it doesn't hurt to have Mason Jr.'s playoff experienced three-point shot waiting in the wings if need be during a crucial moment.

Fields has continued to look lost, unfortunately, as the season progressed, and that didn't change last night. It's almost as though he's invisible. It's a discouraging development, given how good the Knicks know he can be, and probably need him to be in the playoffs. Nevertheless, he's a rookie and struggling spurts like this occur.

Turiaf and Jeffries played really well on defense, which is perhaps why Williams didn't see the court. Turiaf played like he had in the very early goings of the season, scoring 9 points, grabbing 5 boards, and swatting away 4 blocked shots in true Turiaf-fashion. Jeffries not only did what is known for, drawing nice charges, but also grabbed an impressive 9 rebounds off the bench, second on the team only to Amar'e Stoudemire, who had 11. It's safe to say that almost on any other given night, those 9 rebounds could have led the team.

One last rotation tid-bit (not particularly a questionable one, but a surprising one) was when D'Antoni substituted Bill Walker in for Carmelo Anthony with over 10 minutes left in the first quarter (after he committed 2 personal fouls), rather than Shawne Williams. Walker responded nicely with 7 quick points, but not to see Williams enter the game until the second quarter (especially considering the circumstances) was a bit perplexing, given his consistent spot in the rotation this season.

Though the substitution worked in the Knicks' favor this time, it is noteworthy that Williams' +/- of 7 was tied for the highest on the team in just 9 minutes of play.

While the substitutions seemed a bit scattered in game 1, perhaps it's a good thing as the Knicks continue to explore and unveil how much depth they really have, because the playoffs are all about longevity.

Knicks Lose to Celtics, But Promise Is There

Though every Knicks fan and their mother seemed to be giddy with playoff excitement this entire past weekend, the team looked composed, professional, and focused as their first round series with the Celtics began in Boston last night.

The Knicks played strong in the first half, even coming away with an impressive lead. They even showed strong resilience when Carmelo Anthony headed to the bench with 2 personal fouls after a mere minute and a half passed in the first quarter. A surprising insertion of Bill Walker (as opposed to Shawne Williams, perhaps) paid off for the Knicks as the former Celtic made sure his team didn't miss a beat without 'Melo.

To me, that type of resiliency, to continue to play well without one of the team's major stars on the floor, was a major plus for the Knicks. Anything can happen in the playoffs, and the Knicks immediately showed that they would not waiver and simply falter to the circumstances.

Even though 'Melo came back in the second quarter to knock down a few shots, this wasn't his game--it was Amar'e Stoudemire's. As good as Anthony has played in his short stint with the Knicks so far, this is STAT's team, and he was simply on fire as he led the way last night.

He, as well as Anthony, in fact, have both been to the Conference Finals before, and while people may just simply view that as a ceiling (not having gone to the Finals proving they aren't perhaps "winners"), are not looking at the big picture. For one, the Knicks have not made the playoffs in seven long years. Powering through to the Conference Finals would be a huge accomplishment, even if it weren't quite the ultimate goal. What STAT and 'Melo could ultimately accomplish together may take some time to pan itself out.

Unfortunately, that "time" needed is not a positive for the Knicks right now. The mix of the two superstars (and ultimately having one try to find their place on offense) is one thing that hurt the team last night. The defense was there, and so was the intensity. But when one of those two superstars is hot, you need to pound the ball to him at all times. It should have been the STAT show, with 'Melo just standing by if Stoudemire began to cool off.

'Melo got lost on defense against Paul Pierce, committed five turnovers, and shot 5 for 18 from the field. The key is going to be how he bounces back. A playoffs veteran, it's safe to say 'Melo probably understands the longevity of a series like this, and how much the nature of such a series can change with each game.

The key is going to be how the Knicks continue to play throughout the series, as they cannot let one game get them down. If anything, they should build positively on the fact that they could have won (probably should have, but that's besides the point), and make sure they win game 2.

It was proven a couple of times in the regular season as well that the Knicks can keep up with the Celtics. Though they didn't really come away with victories against Boston, this is the playoffs and players can stay up, elevate their games, and do the unexpected.

The Knicks biggest and/or toughest opponent in this series is going to be themselves.

2011 NBA Playoffs: Sopranos Tough Guy Reflects on Tough Knicks-Celtics Matchup

After a long journey back to contention, the New York Knicks are finally back in the NBA Playoffs, and all of their fans are rejoicing. The long list of loyal fans ready to celebrate playoff success includes none other than Sopranos star and actor Steve Schirripa, who can often be found cheering his favorite team on at Madison Square Garden.

Schirripa appeared at Stew Leonard's Wines' grand opening of its new location in Carle Place, New York to promote, what else, The Sopranos Wines. The actor sat down to discuss the Knicks' tough road ahead in the playoffs (starting with their first round series vs. the Boston Celtics), the certainly eventful season, and of course, his passion for his favorite team.

To find out what he thinks of the Knicks' playoff chances, his favorite all-time Knicks playoff moment, and if he'll be tuning in to Carmelo Anthony's upcoming reality show, read on!

Q: Do you think the Knicks have a chance at defeating the Celtics?

A: Well, I think if there’s anytime that they will, now is it. The Knicks are peaking and the Celtics are just wavering. The first game is going to mean everything. We have to win that first game in Boston. If we do, I think everything is going to be alright.

Reflecting on his passion for the Knicks: I’m a true Knicks fan. I was there before all the hype. I was there for all the bad years. Every rapper and everybody else that comes out of the woodwork now—they are frontrunners. I’m a real fan and there is nothing I want more than the Knicks to win this series because the city is going to go crazy. This is the Knicks first playoff series in seven years, and first winning season in ten years, so the city really wants this to work, and I think it’s going to.

Q: Do you feel as though the Knicks' team chemistry is at a high enough level to win?

A: The chemistry has really looked good down the stretch here. The Knicks obviously have three really good players. I really like Fields too. Turiaf definitely has to play well, because defense is going to be the key, but I think the Knicks know that. The defense has been better lately. I think that they’re well aware that if they don’t play good enough defense, they’re not going to win.

Q: Do you think Mike D'Antoni is the right coach for the team?

A: Time is going to tell. I think he’s a good guy, but I don’t know whether the players have to fit into his system or if he has to fit into theirs.

Q: Do you have an all-time favorite Knicks' playoff moment?

A: Oh, it has to be when Willis Reed limped out onto the court during Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals. But the thing about that game is that Walt Frazier had the game of a lifetime! People overlook it and nobody remembers that he won the game for the Knicks. He was clutch. I know Willis came out, but that was Clyde’s game.

Q: I know you aren't the biggest fan of reality TV. Will you be watching Carmelo Anthony and his wife's reality show, "LaLa's Full Court Life," on VH1 this summer?

A: Ha ha, no I'm not. I won’t be tuning in, but that’s OK. Count me out, because I’ll be one guy that isn’t watching. It takes a certain guy to be on that type of show, but if he’s comfortable there, that’s fine. You’ve got to remember, if you don’t make things happen, nothing is very exciting.

Q: But do you feel as though Anthony is the true superstar the Knicks have been waiting for?

A: He certainly seems like it. Look, I was for the trade since day one. I loved all those players—Felton, Gallinari,--but the Knicks had to make that trade. They acquired two really good players, and they’re still a couple of pieces away from the puzzle—they need a big man. But I would make the same trade tomorrow.

Q: Did you and Gallo ever talk about your Italian culture while he played here?

A: Nah, but I met him a bunch of times. I would see him around because we used to go to the same Italian restaurants, but I’m sure now he’s eating at a "Pizza Hut" out in Denver! That’s about as good of a meal as he’s going to get.

Q: Tell me a bit about your relationship with Stew Leonard's Wines.

A: Stew’s a great guy, we were friends for a few years before I starting doing these types of things. He often gives money to the charity I support (part of the proceeds for The Sopranos Wines go to the Child Abuse Prevention Program), and I think he’s a really good guy. That’s why I wanted to do this.

On how well he interacted with fans, exchanging hugs and bouncing various fans' babies on his knee: You know, everyone came out and supported The Sopranos Wines, Stew Leonards Wines, and my charity. They trekked all the way out here to see me and were all very nice people. There’s nothing on my part not to be nice about.

Q: Before I let you go, you have to tell me about "Nothing Personal," the show about real life murders for hire, that you host.

A: It just got picked up for a second season! It’s on Investigation Discovery, and the show really did well. The ratings were great. People have really seemed to enjoy it and still find it on TV, so I’m looking forward to continuing that. I’m also on "Secret Life of the American Teenager" on Monday nights at 8pm EST on ABC Family. That show is going great. People can catch the third season airing now, but we are also shooting the fourth season as we speak.

Should Amar'e Stoudemire Play Against Celtics in Regular Season Finale?

With a playoffs matchup against the Celtics guaranteed, the Knicks have opted rest Amar'e Stoudemire for the season's final few games.

The burden of the Knicks' impending success was on Stoudemire's shoulders all season long, and he was experiencing ankle pain as of late as well. The pain is said to be minor by an array of sources, including Stoudemire himself, who asserts that he could play if the team needed him too.

Better safe than sorry is what the people always say, but the Knicks have nevertheless gone 2-1 in his absence, with the sole loss coming against the top-seeded Chicago Bulls last night. The team has been playing well, and Coach D'Antoni has taken advantage of giving role players more minutes in hopes of forming a more concrete rotation come playoff time.

The Knicks will close out their regular season tonight ironically against their first-round opponents. The game would serve as a perfect playoff preview, for the exception of Stoudemire once again being inactive.

The Knicks' rationale not to play Stoudemire in the regular season finale is understandable, giving how much more is actually at stake in the days and even weeks to come. That being said, the game could have answered questions and and shored up any doubts or concerns about how the Knicks will match up to the Celtics. Having STAT play would give the Knicks' the most accurate projections and could give Coach D'Antoni insight as any type of last minute adjustments he and the team may or may not need to make.

There's so much at stake for the Knicks, now that a playoff appearence is once again finally here after seven long years. The risk of playing Stoudemire may be incredibly high, but might it also be in the team's best interests when it comes to figuring out exactly how to beat the Celtics and advance further into the playoffs?

What do you think? Is a more accurate playoff matchup projection worth the risk of playing STAT tonight? Let me know on Twitter @KnicksJournal.

Shelden Williams Thinks Knicks are Ready for Celtics and What Else is to Come in Playoffs

It’s been seven long years since the New York Knicks made it to the NBA Playoffs. At the time, the team was led by New York’s own, Stephon Marbury. Unfortunately, the Knicks failed to make any noise, and have failed to make it back ever since.

However, Donnie Walsh has finally molded the Knicks into a winner once again, and the team is finally led by true superstars in Amar’e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony.

A winning team, by definition, is a team that finishes with an above .500 record, and with 42 wins already this season (with two still remaining), the Knicks are guaranteed a winning record of their own for the first time in 10 years.

As the regular season closes out, the Knicks’ playoff opponent for the first round has finally been confirmed as the Boston Celtics.

Though the Celtics were the Eastern Conference’s top dog for much of the season, and even had four players named to the All-Star team, they have struggled with injuries and fatigue as time has progressed.

While the Celtics have grown exhausted in recent weeks, the Knicks have been riding a train full of momentum, currently on a seven game win streak heading into Tuesday’s game against the Bulls.

Shelden Williams, who came to New York in the Carmelo Anthony trade, and has started at the center position for much of the team’s streak, told Bleacher Report, “Everyone is feeling really good about the way the team is playing. When I first got here, we won our first couple of games, but then went on a bit of a losing streak. We knew this team could play, so it was just a matter of letting guys begin to gel and go through some growing pains.”

Since that same losing streak, the maturation has been incredibly noticeable.

New additions like Williams, Jared Jeffries and Anthony Carter have found their niches on this team and have begin to fill voids for the Knicks in areas that they previously struggled.

Toney Douglas and Landry Fields have adapted to redefined roles, with Douglas playing a more prominent and aggressive role, while Fields has had to find ways to continue to contribute amongst the increased star power.

That star power can be attributed to Stoudemire (all season long), Chauncey Billups and Anthony, who has stepped up to effectively lead the team in Stat’s absence and proved he can propel his team to many celebrated victories.

All of this has taken a while to come to fruition, but is all coming together at just the perfect time for the Knicks.

Though the Knicks may have the advantage over the Celtics in manpower and momentum, the Celtics have invaluable experience that cannot be matched.

No one on the Knicks knows more about that experience than Williams, who spent all of the season in Boston during the team’s run to the NBA Finals.

Reflecting upon his time with the big time contender, and providing potential insight as to how they are approaching their upcoming playoff series with the Knicks, he said,

“Well I had a chance to play with Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and even Rasheed Wallace last year. They are all Hall of Fame type of guys. They set a goal at the very beginning of the season, and that was to win a championship. I was able to experience firsthand how they approached that goal each day.

They weren’t all just talk—they stressed that goal to the entire team every single day, so that no matter what happened, we were going to have a championship caliber journey. Now that I’ve come to New York, I’ve taken those lessons with me and have continued to work with those things in mind to help put us in a good position.”

Nevertheless, Williams said last week that the Knicks weren’t yet concerned with whom their opponent may be, because, “if a lot of us just continue to play well, I think we’ll be a difficult team to play against [in the playoffs].”

Williams has been one of the many Knicks to play well down this strong stretch. Though he’s been seen to hit the occasional jump shot, which has been scarce amongst other Knicks’ centers this season, Williams’ best work often comes on the defense end.

Citing his contributions thus far, he asserted, “I’ve just been doing things that I’ve done pretty much all my life, like play good defense and rebound the basketball. I do things that not every player is able to, like the “dirty work.” I may not do the prettiest things on the court or stuff that shows up on the stat sheet, but I’ve always continued to just do all that I’m able to.”

Williams’ work ethic is that of a very dedicated and focused player, as he is often in the gym working on his game as he tries to improve. His defensive intensity, along with his playoff experience, are two things sure to help the Knicks, as the franchise’s playoff teams of the past have always been known to thrive on swarming and pestering defense.

If the Celtics are any example for how success is to be reached (having been NBA champions in 2008), defense will certainly be a factor in the Knicks-Celtics first round playoffs matchup.

Knicks Center Position: The Three Headed Monster?

After signing LeBron James and Chris Bosh to play alongside Dwyane Wade, the Miami Heat had to look for relative bargains to fill out the rest of their team.

With Dwight Howard and Blake Griffin being two of the league's most dominating, athletic, and impressive players, it's easy to understand how crucial having a dependable big man can be to a team's success.

That being said, the Heat brought in Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Erick Dampier to form what many called a "three-headed monster" along with resident center Joel Anthony.

While Dampier's presence has been underwhelming, Ilgauskas (as proven in a game against the Knicks earlier this season in which he scored 14 first quarter points) can still score in bunches. His soft defense is made up for by the physical play of Anthony, whose wrath was also felt by Amar'e Stoudemire and the Knicks earlier this season.

The Celtics, who are becoming the more likely matchup for the Knicks in the first round of the playoffs, have also mixed and matched when it comes to their center position, throwing injury-plagued former all-stars Shaquille O'Neal and Jermaine O'Neal into the fire. The team has also depended on Glen Davis since the trade of defensive-wall Kendrick Perkins.

Ironically enough, the Knicks have also formed their depth at center with a committee. Since the Carmelo Anthony trade (before which the Knicks had begun to roll with Wilson Chandler at the four and Amar'e Stoudemire at the five), the Knicks let Ronny Turiaf (when healthy), Shelden Williams, and Jared Jeffries run amuck at center.

Earlier in the season, Turiaf had represented the biggest burst of energy the Knicks have seen from a center, let alone any player (perhaps Nate Robinson rivals) in years, fighting for rebounds and swatting away blocked shots as he pumps up the crowd.

Williams is a very similar player, but perhaps better suited for the power forward position. Nevertheless, he played efficient defense against Dwight Howard in a win just weeks ago against the Magic, and can rebound as well. Furthermore, he has demonstrated the strongest jump shot out of the three big men.

Jeffries, who in his last stint as a Knick was recognized as a league leader in charges taken, has seemingly picked up right where he left off, playing suberb and smart defense. While his impact will never be felt by pure statistics, Jeffries has been filling a defensive void for the Knicks along the stretch.

With such a balanced committee of big man comes a question of who should start? Who is going to be the most productive and/or helpful right out the gate? Turiaf's energetic nature makes him the perfect spark plug off the bench, so then the choice becomes Williams or Jeffries. Both can do the job rather well, but my first instinct tells me to go with Jeffries and his defensive instincts to balance out the starting five, depending on the opponent's big men.

Nevertheless, when having Jeffries come off the bench, Coach D'Antoni has seemed to round out his minutes nicely, so either Williams or Jeffries taking the initial jump will suffice.

Regardless of who starts, it's rather interesting to come to the realization that although the Knicks' center position is represented by a more or less overnight formed trio, it can and should be able to contend with potential playoff opponents.

Knicks Beginning to Play Like a Contender

With their win over the Pacers on Sunday night, the Knicks are now winners of seven straight, which means the momentum is heavily in their favor as they prepare to close out the season with games against two top Eastern Conference contenders, the Bulls and Celtics.

Though the Knicks' streak has been filled with victories over sub-par .500 teams (for the exception of win number one vs. the Magic), defeating such teams has helped the guys in orange and blue prove something they haven't been able to in quite a while: the new-look Knicks won't get pushed around.

It's been said all season long by many, but being a real contender isn't just about matching up well with the league's top dogs, but also overpowering teams that should not be of any concern. That's exactly what the Knicks have been doing the last couple of weeks.

Though the current members of the Knicks have only been together for just over a month, maturation has absolutely been evident over their short time together. Players are beginning to find their roles, ease into a rhythm, and trust one another on the court.

While there were questions as to whether Chauncey Billups could run the floor in Mike D'Antoni's offense, the two have found a happy medium as Billups has begun to play at the playoff level he has become so accustomed to over the course of his career.

Landry Fields also deserves some praise as of late, because although he has struggled in the season's later months, he has stepped up once again on defense and has been doing all the little things right again. While his scoring is not yet on point, doing all the little things is what got him to such a high level in the first place.

With the increased maturity has come increased intelligence. Whereas Danny Granger of the Pacers was left open to stick a dagger into the heart of the Knicks last month, Carmelo Anthony (after hitting what turned out to be the winning shot) played strongly on the other end of the court, attacking Granger with swarming defense and a blocked shot to subsequently seal the deal for the Knicks.

In Amar'e Stoudemire's absence, Anthony has even further taken on the role of the team's go-to-guy, leading the Knicks and setting the tone on both ends of the floor.

While it was good to get Stoudemire a couple games of rest, it's now time to get him back on the floor as the Knicks face off against a couple of powerhouses to close out the season.

Having Stoudemire rejoin the team while on such a roll will give the Knicks an idea of how much damage they could really do as the steam ahead in the playoffs for the first time since 2004.

Is Derrick Brown Knicks' Highest Flyer Since Latrell Sprewell?

Whenever Derrick Brown has been given the opportunity to get on the court for the Knicks, he soars--literally.

The Knicks' newest high flyer certainly has hops, but just how does he matchup against some of the team's better dunkers of recent years?

Knicks fans have gotten enjoyment from watching Bill Walker throw down dunks of his own. They roared as three-time Dunk Contest Champion Nate Robinson leap over the likes of Yao Ming and Dwight Howard.

As fate would have it, though, it appears as though the seldom-used Brown may be the Knicks' most powerful in-game dunker since Latrell Sprewell. Brown's throw down tomahawk dunk last night, to cap off a positive individual performance and even greater team win, was like those of Sprewell's that got many Garden playoff crowds up on their feet.

Where do you think Brown ranks among Knicks slammers of recent years? Let me know @KnicksJournal on Twitter.

Knicks Clip Claws of Raptors in Dominating Win

This one was pretty simple, for once: The Knicks dominated the Raptors, showing they won't get pushed around by the league's worse off teams anymore.

Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire both poured in 23 points apiece during the Knicks' 131-118 win over the Raptors at home on Monday night.

Anthony knocked down five shots from behind the arc (one off of his career-high of six three-point field goals, also set this year), and Stoudemire made his way to the free-throw line with ease through the contest. Rounding out the Knicks' contribution from their "Big Three" was Chauncey Billups, who added 13 points and dished out 9 assists of his own.

The above contributions certainly provided the Knicks with a steady foundation, but powering over the Raptors was an entire team effort.

Perhaps Billups' cohesiveness was contagious to the rest of his teammates, because the Knicks' performance was one of the most unified since the trade.

The Knicks as a whole are really clicking, and their newly formed "Big Three" are finally coming into their own, but after a win like this, it's about that time to pay homage to the "little guys."

Landry Fields apparently got the memo about playing with more confidence, because he made an effort to throw down a couple of dunks, as well as fight his way to the charity stripe for some easy points, adding 10 points, his highest total in four games.

Though just about all of the Knicks had their way with the Raptors' defense, it was none other than sixth man Toney Douglas who led the way as the team's high scorer with 28 points.

Bill Walker and Shawne Williams also came off the bench for 8 and 7 points, respectively.

While impressive scoring bouts have come to be expected by certain Knicks, Shelden Williams and Anthony Carter continue to shine, filling other huge voids off the pine for their new team.

Williams played swarming man-to-man defense, and was able to box out well and grab much needed boards, totaling 6 points and 4 rebounds. Aside from converting a behind the back pass from Douglas for a pretty deuce, Carter made the rest of teammates look good throughout the game, tossing 6 dimes and playing alert defense of his own, good for 2 steals, in addition to 4 points of his own.

Not to be forgotten, there were also Ronny Turiaf and Derrick Brown sightings. Turiaf, who has sat out a number of the team's recent games nursing a knee injury, entered in the first half to very loud cheers from the Garden crowd. Brown, on the other hand, was given the chance to strut his stuff once the game was more or less decided, and did not disappoint. The highflying wingman threw down some powerful dunks, including a massive tomahawk, on his way to 7 points in the game's final quarter.

It's obvious that some players came up bigger than others, but this game was all about the team effort, proving that the new-look Knicks may be finally starting to gel just in time for a playoff run.

The team will get a taste of the kind of pressure the playoffs will hold as they taken on the 76ers Wednesday night in Philadelphia. The Knicks are currently half a game behind Philly for the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference with five games left in the regular season.

The game could prove to be one of the season's most important.

Has Landry Fields Finally Hit the Rookie Wall for Knicks?

At the beginning of the season, Landry Fields, the Knicks’ second round surprise, began to take the league by storm as he transformed from a prospect no one had heard of into a sensation everybody needed to know.

A starting position and two “Rookie of the Month” honors later, Fields is beloved by Knicks fans and has been a key part in the Knicks improved play this season.

However, as the team speeds ahead towards the playoffs, Fields, whose impressive play came unexpectedly, has appeared to finally begin to hit the “Rookie Wall,” struggling mightily as of late.

While Fields has become known for doing all of the little things, often times things recognized as pure intangibles on the court, his impact has been felt less and less as the months have gone by.

Though at one time he led not just rookies, but all NBA guards in rebounds per game with over seven per contest, Fields has not totaled seven boards in a single game since March 1^st. Furthermore, he has shot 3 of 11 and committed six turnovers in the Knicks’ most recent three game winning streak.

To be fair, Fields made his biggest impact earlier in the season as a member of almost a completely different Knicks squad. His role was greater and he was certainly depended on more so than he has been in the last couple months.

With Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups now in town, in addition to Amar’e Stoudemire, Fields has taken a back seat. Though he’s been known to do more with less, Fields’ productive has fallen off considerably while playing with his new teammates.

Moreover than that, however, his efficiency has trailed off as well. While having a big game here and there (as Fields had been known to do) is often all about waiting for your number to be called, Fields needs to stay fresh and consistent. As a rookie, big games are not always apparent, but it’s important he continues to knock down shots, grab rebounds, and play good defense, proving he still deserves a key role in D’Antoni’s rotation, let alone the starting lineup.

With Toney Douglas, Bill Walker, and Anthony Carter all seeing increased minutes at the guard positions, Fields’ has seen his time on the court decrease. After seeing such a level of success early on from given playing time, perhaps the decreased amount of minutes is messing with Fields’ mentality.

Without a true center cemented in the starting lineup (Shelden Williams is the current big man on his tour of duty at the five), perhaps the Knicks could benefit by highlighting Fields’ rebounding ability, giving him a chance at power forward while Stoudemire stands in at center.

Playing power forward and focusing on grabbing boards could help Fields once again get in the right mindset, concentrating on all the different things he can do on the court besides scoring the basketball.

Though Fields is a tad small to be an everyday power forward, the Knicks have been known to play shorter lineups, and as one of the team’s better rebounders, Fields may be a more fitting choice at the four than Shawne Williams. Doing so could potentially assist Fields with getting back into a groove.

As the playoffs approach, Fields needs to regain his confidence. It’s been said all season long that good role players are needed on contending teams, so now is when and where the Knicks need him to be at his most efficient. Fields needs to keep up his level of hustle, and stay focused in case one of his superstar teammates is double-teamed and needs to kick out the rock to him so that he can knock down an important shot.

Is Fields lack of consistency, efficiency, and production a result of him finally struggling through every rookie’s given transition, or is he simply having trouble finding his place with the new-look Knicks, as a few have already this season?

Either way, while both are understandable for a player like Fields to go through, the Knicks need him to snap out of it. It’s time for him to step up once again, as in the playoffs just about anyone’s number can be called, and anybody can become a hero overnight.

Knicks End Playoff Drought in Winning Fashion

During yesterday Knicks-Cavs game, the Knicks not only set to clinch (with a win and a Bobcats loss) the team's first playoff birth since 2004, but they also were looking to prove they would be pushed around by the Cavs no more, after three embarrassing losses already this season.

Luckily for the Knicks, their "Big Three" certainly came to play, with Chauncey Billups pouring in 11 first quarter points on his way to 23 total, and Carmelo Anthony added 25. However, the team was led by none other than Amar'e Stoudemire, who with 28 points continued to prove that "the Knicks are back," with a confident 123-107 victory.

Having STAT lead the way in such focused fashion was quite the way to clinch the Knicks' first playoff spot in quit some time, being that he was the pioneer who originally sought out to bring winning basketball back to the Garden.

Now that it's official, the Knicks cannot let up. Looking ahead to the playoffs, the team needs to finish strong, potentially moving up to sixth seed. As it stands, the Knicks as the seventh seed would play the Heat, the second seed. Having beat the Heat before, perhaps STAT, 'Melo, and company would be more evenly matched against Miami's favorite sons rather than a defensive-minded Celtics team, currently the third seed.

Nevertheless, the Celtics are a tad injury-ridden and their defensive intensity has fallen a bit since the trade of Kendrick Perkins, so perhaps the Knicks can take advantage of the competition's tired legs with the momentum building in their favor.

With still nearly a couple weeks left in the regular season, the Knicks can at least exhale as it's official: the Knicks are back...in the playoffs.

Amar'e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony Team Up With Grover on Sesame Street

Could Amar'e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony's newest blue furry friend be helping them form a "Big Three" on the MSG hardwood anytime soon?

Not quite, but the two Knickerbocker stars recently teamed up with Sesame Street's resident star, Grover, to film a a segment for the show.

From the looks of things, it seems as though Anthony not only could help Grover with his jumper, but Stoudemire, too! Watch the clip below and see what I mean.

Why Carmelo Anthony Should Be Playing More in Fourth Quarter for Knicks

The Knicks' desire to acquire Carmelo Anthony (or any other second major marquee star behind Amar'e Stoudemire, for that matter) stemmed from the team's need for another serious option on offense

With more star power, the Knicks are able to pack even more of a punch on offense, with Anthony and Stoudemire both easily capable of scoring 25 (or more) points on any given night.

There's no question the duo could overpower just about any opponent's defense, as they are currently the second-highest scoring combination in the NBA. The only question is, how does coach Mike D'Antoni keep them on the court together long enough to continue to do so?

It's clear that with the burden of the Knicks' pending continued success on his shoulders, Stoudemire has gotten exhausted. He, as well as Anthony, both need appropriate rest.

On one hand, having not one, but two, potent scorers, gives the Knicks chance to maintain a balanced attack, guaranteeing one of those options will be in at all times.

That being said, a simply "balanced" attack may not be enough to beat teams like the Bulls, Celtics and Heat. The Knicks need to overwhelm these teams and come at them with vigor, especially late in the game, in order to come away with the victories.

It's understandable that players need rest, and however Coach D'Antoni chooses to balance his rotation through three quarters in order to keep his guys fresh is fair game. The fourth quarter is the time to turn up the heat, though.

Since Anthony arrived, much of the fourth quarter has been his time to rest during games. With Stoudemire on the court, the Knicks' more "balanced" attack comes into play, allowing Anthony to sit until midway through the quarter, at times even later.

The problem with that is the Knicks are still trying to develop a sense of consistency as a team, and have been often known to falter late in games and give up massive leads, giving way to heartbreaking losses.

Through the first three quarters of any given game, perhaps Coach D'Antoni should rely upon on his other readily available options on offense to get the Knicks going.

Chauncey Billups is an NBA champion and five-time NBA All-Star (and for those fans who may say Chauncey is beginning to slow down, his most recent All-Star appearance came last season, so he's in no way finished). Toney Douglas has been known to provide tremendous sparks, being able to catch fire as he makes it rain, pouring in 20-plus points on multiple occasions.

The wild card to the Knicks' flow on offense is Landry Fields, who before the Carmelo Anthony trade could also be seen scoring in bunches when necessary. Though his number hasn't been called on offense much since, perhaps it's time to give him the opportunity to shine once again.

Featuring these three players on offense (in addition to some of the Knicks' better role players) early on in the game would allow Anthony and Stoudemire to take a backseat at times, preparing for when the team needs them most: the final quarter.

For quite a few years now, the Knicks have lacked that final push to get them through the game. An NBA game is a full 48 minutes—not 36. A big component to the Knicks finding consistent success again is keeping up the same intensity throughout the entire game.

There are certain players who can come up big more than others in late game situations filled with pressure. Anthony and Stoudemire are absolutely two of those players, so it's important they be given the opportunity to propel their team to victory. Sitting either one for prolonged periods during the fourth quarter (no matter who else is on the floor) should at no time be an option, because it's been proven that a contest can slip away from the Knicks rather quickly.

D'Antoni has been seen mixing up his rotations quite a bit during his tenure with the Knicks, and that's perfectly fine. Sometimes it's about finding the right fits, and other times, a change is simply needed here and there to keep things fresh. Nevertheless, with the Knicks' chances of winning in his best interest, D'Antoni needs to have Anthony and Stoudemire together on the court late in games at all costs.