Knicks' Offensive Woes Continue in Loss to Kobe Bryant and Lakers

Throughout his entire coaching career, Mike D'Antoni has been criticized for his teams' lack of defensive talents. In a large NBA market like the Big Apple, the noise and criticism only naturally has gotten louder and louder as D'Antoni entered his fourth season as Knicks head coach, so much so that he brought in Mike Woodson as a defensive preacher.

The fact of the matter is that an NBA team can win games one of two ways: by either playing lockdown defense, or simply running their opponent out of the building by outscoring them with ease.

D'Antoni's teams have always won games implementing the latter strategy, so it's no surprise that the defensive practices of these teams would be a cause for concern.

That being said, it is in fact a surprise that the Knicks were only able to score 78 points against the Warriors Wednesday night. The team's offensive woes continued on Thursday, as the team struggled its way to 82 points in a 99-82 loss to Kobe Bryant (the superstar poured in 28 points) and the Lakers.

For a team that was second in the league in points per game with 106.5 last season, out-dueling the Lake Show's 99 points (and the Warriors' 92 on Wednesday) should have proven to be no problem for the Knicks.

Unfortunately, the Knicks of last season (or even an improved version as of yet) is no more. An offensive flow has been thus far nonexistent as Toney Douglas has struggled to lead the charge.

Carmelo Anthony controlled the ball a bit Thursday as a point forward, powering his way to 27 points (while also dishing out a team high five assists), but simply is not as much of a playmaker for others besides himself.

The otherwise stagnant Knicks backcourt rotation struggled, with Douglas, Landry Fields, Bill Walker, and Mike Bibby combining to shoot 5 for 22 from the field (including 1 of 12 from downtown).

The team's offense fails to pick up a steady pace when the likes of Douglas, Bibby, and Walker run the ball up the court only to pull up in front of the three-point line to let bricks fly.

As a result, many of their Knicks teammates struggled as well. When the offense is not efficient in transition, failing to excel in dribble penetration, Landry Fields is often left without fitting shot opportunities. The lack of pace also limits what Amar'e Stoudemire can do with the ball, only finding him in awkward spots. He shot 4 for 17 from the field.

A couple of bright spots from tonight's performance? Though there aren't many at all, Steve Novak sunk two three-point fields goals for six points off the bench, and Tyson Chandler began to come into his own, scoring 13 points while grabbing 11 boards, blocking two shots and recording three steals. He was truly a stat sheet stuffer, also sinking 11 free throws.

Is the Knicks backcourt struggling because they are failing to play smart basketball in D'Antoni's free-flowing offense, or are the difficulties a result of D'Antoni's inability to conform his playbook to fit the current players' abilities?

Chances are that dilemma will continue exist for quite a while for quite a while, at least until Baron Davis makes his debut and the Knicks seemingly get the answer to that glaring question.

Will "Sure Shot" Steve Novak Prove To Be Clutch For Knicks?

Despite Tyson Chandler's slow start and Toney Douglas' struggles as a playmaker in the Knicks' offense, it's in fact the lack of depth and many questions surrounding the team's bench that will ultimately bring them down. That is, if the Knicks do not eventually find a balance and receive a boost off the bench.

Last season it came from Douglas and the gem that was uncovered in Shawne Williams.

Williams became a fan-favorite and was a sharp shooter from either corner of the court. He shot so efficiently through the first half of the season that he even garnered consideration for the "Sprite Three-Point Content"during the NBA's All-Star Weekend. Williams topped off a career season under Coach Mike D'Antoni and finished the season shooting over 40% from beyond the arc on his way to averaging a nice contribution of 7.1 points per game.

With Douglas now in the starting lineup and Williams now playing ball across the Hudson for the Nets, the Knicks' bench has been left somewhat bare.

Aside from strong options like Mike Bibby and Bill Walker, the Knicks should also look to Steve Novak for a solid contribution off the bench.

Novak's style of play signals that he could seamlessly fill the void left by Williams, should he be given ample time on the court. He knocked down a nice shot from beyond the arc during Wednesday's contest, but if he develops a flow and get involved in the offense the way Williams had, Novak could solidify his spot in the rotation. A player with his shooting ability in certain spots is essential in an offense that has players whom enjoy driving through the lane like many of the Knicks do.

It should also be noted that Novak's best season came in 2008-09 while playing for the Clippers, succeeding in similar fashion as Williams did with the Knicks. Novak averaged 6.9 points on nearly 42% from beyond the arc and an equally as impressive 91% from the charity stripe.

Because Knicks fans have only been treated to a little over 13 minutes of Novak's talents on the court entering tonight's game against the Lakers, take a look at two of the sharp shooter's finest moments in the league to date.

This game winner against the Nets finds Novak (then a member of the Clippers) the beneficiary of a pass from Baron Davis. The Knicks can only hope they are privy to this sort of play sooner than later.

The above clip from yet another game winner by Novak (then a member of the Rockets) shows not only that he can hit the big shot under pressure, but that his uncanny ability to hit the three-ball often may indeed take precedent over more prominent scoring teammates like Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming. Novak's low profile status (next to star teammates) and strong stroke from downtown can ultimately prove to be a deadly combo for the Knicks this season.

This would give the team the unique position of planting offensive juggernauts Amar'e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony as decoys, watching opponents guard them, only to watch Novak get the ball in the corner and sink a shot late in games. The way the 6'10 Novak can spread the floor will force opponents to leave a Knick (whether it be him or not) open on the court more often than not.

If you didn't get enough of Novak from the above clips, and cannot wait to see him check in against the Lakers tonight, watch the clip below full with a bevy of Novak highlights, including many from his college days at Marquette playing alongside NBA superstar to be, Dwyane Wade.

No True Point Guard Equals Winless Night for the Knicks

As the Knicks went for their first 2-0 start since 1999, it was clear that the team struggled despite commanding a lead against the Warriors through the first quarter last night.

Even with a lead, Amar'e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony each had difficulty getting into an offensive flow, as Landry Fields led the Knicks with 13 points in the first half. The Warriors slowly begin to fight back (despite struggling on offense themselves), forcing a 64-64 tie at the end of the first half.

Based on the scoreboard, it could have been anyone's game. But anyone watching the game knew full well that the Knicks were clearly off their game, and it was only a matter of time before the Warriors took control, despite playing without star guard Stephen Curry, who sat out with an ankle injury.

From the wake of the second half, it was almost as if the Knicks' thorough struggles gave way to wake up the sleeping dragon that was Brandon Rush, who erupted for 19 points off the bench.

The former Pacer also filled up the stat sheet with six boards, two steals and a couple of blocked shots. Monta Ellis bounced back from a forgettable first half to finish with 22 points as the Warriors flushed away any hopes of a Knickerbocker victory.

The Knicks' difficulties through this one were evident. Anthony struggled because he was not finding himself in the right spots on the court. Similar struggles for Stoudemire were due to an array of off balance jumpers. The Knicks' captain often found himself also getting the ball with his back facing the basket. The two combined to shoot 8 of 27 from the field.

Much of their uninspiring play was due to the lack of an efficient floor general on the court for the Knicks. Toney Douglas, the newly cemented starting point guard, following up an 8 for 19 shooting performance on opening day with an equally as unimpressive 3 for 11 from the field.

Douglas' style of play is not suited for him to run the floor, especially on a team that already includes two bonafide scorers. He's excelled in the past coming off the bench, and with the team's depth already an issue, that's where Douglas belongs. Many have noted that he fits better as a third guard.

The Knicks' offensive plan is supposed to allow Anthony to bring the ball up, but that does not appear to be happening as much. As a result, whenever Douglas has the ball, his first instinct is to shoot. This bodes well when the team needs a scoring boost off the pine, but not to start things off. Douglas doesn't fit as a starter, and that's why Baron Davis' presence on the court will be so celebrated (whenever it should happen): because he can make things happen and create opportunities for his teammates.

One thing to note is that although reserve Mike Bibby converted only 1 of 5 shots in his Knicks debut, he did dish out four assists. While this may not be such an eye-popping statistic, many of those passes did come in the third quarter, when the Knicks went on a very short-lived run while attempting to keep their heads above water before being sunk completely.

The reason why Bibby's small production was so important is because it simply proves the Knicks need a pass-first minded point guard.

Call it growing pains, say the team still needs time to gel, or even chalk it up to injuries. However one wants to phrase it, this just was not the Knicks' game to be had.

In addition to not having an efficient point guard presence, the Knicks have also not fully felt the impact of Tyson Chandler, who committed five fouls and was thus, limited to 21 minutes of play. Chandler cited the team's overall defensive struggles as the reason for his foul trouble, but the fact of the matter is the Knicks need much higher production from the big man. Perhaps that will come soon enough.

In addition to receiving double-digit scoring efforts from STAT, Melo, and Fields, the Knicks were also paced by Billy Walker's 14 points off the bench. Steve Novak provided fans with a case of Deja Vu (a la Shawne Williams) as he spotted up in the corner to drain a three-point field goal for the only 3 points of his Knicks debut. Making his NBA debut, big man Jerome Jordan efficiently scored four points and grabbed two rebounds in just five minutes of play. With Josh Harrellson still trying to shake rookie nerves, the Knicks should give Jordan a more serious look.

In any event, the Knicks will look to bounce back as they take on the Lakers tonight in Los Angeles.

The key to the team's success going forward is going to be proving they can break the habit(s), showing the struggles displayed in last night's loss do not become constant issues. Needless to say, there is a lot of pressure on Toney Douglas.

Will Jeremy Lin Have Enough Time to Make His Mark With the Knicks?

The Knicks claimed guard Jeremy Lin off waivers from the Rockets on Tuesday, giving the team another option at point guard while rookie Iman Shumpert nurses the sprained MCL he suffered opening day.

With the Knicks' rookie potentially out two to four weeks, Lin is likely to see some minutes while part of Coach Mike D'Antoni's deeper rotations this season. He joins a group of point guards that of course includes Shumpert, the free-shooting Toney Douglas, Mike Bibby (who missed the Knicks' opener but should be ready to go for tonight's game vs. Golden State), and two-time all-star Baron Davis, who is not expected to be active for quite some time.

With Douglas and Bibby, at the very least, still healthy from that group, it may be a bit surprising to see the Knicks sign yet another point guard. After releasing Chauncey Billups, the team appears set on occupying the minutes at the point guard position by means of a committee, at least until Davis makes his debut.

Keeping that in mind, perhaps there is a place for Lin on the Knicks. He does happen to have different skills than the rest, the most notable one by my standards to be sound defensive talents. The young guard out of Harvard averaged 1.1 steals in only 9.8 minutes per game through 29 contests with the Warriors last season. That's over four steals per every 48 minutes, which is a phenomenal statistic. Who else produces at the level?

Call it beginners luck, but out of qualifying players (Lin's 29 games were not enough), Tony Allen was the only player even close to Lin's production, with 4.14 steals per 48 minutes. Next up was Chris Paul with 3.13 steals.

All this talk about Lin's talents may all be useless, should he not even get a substantial opportunity to strut his stuff in New York. On a non-guaranteed contract, many only expect him to be a Knick for the duration of Shumpert's injury. Even so, "Jeremy's just looking for an opportunity to show what he can do," his agent Roger Montgomery told ESPN New York on Tuesday. "And, what better place to do so, than on the biggest stage in basketball?"

The Knicks certainly have maintained the mentality that one man's trash is another man's treasure, opting to claim the likes of Lin and Steve Novak off waivers from other teams to improve the roster, rather than use the "room exception" to sign a veteran player.

Lin has drawn comparisons to former Knick Chris Duhon, who excelled in Coach D'Antoni's offense early on. With similar defensive skills, he is recognized as a better finisher at the basket. At least one can rest assured Lin would be able to find his way in the offense should he be given a chance.

The Knick coach claimed Lin would strictly be used as a third-guard off the bench after Douglas and Bibby, but due to the lack off depth and natural shoot-first mentality of Douglas (and even Bibby to an extent), I could see Lin finding playing time alongside either one of those players.

D'Antoni also went on to point out that the Knicks' staff was impressed by the Harvard graduate during draft workouts last year.

Because the Knicks' point guards have different talents and are completely different players, there may be a chance that Lin sticks with the team even after Shumpert returns. All that depends on if he is able to hold his own at the point well enough to allow the likes of Douglas and Shumpert to play more comfortably at the two. This is all purely speculation right now, but there are certainly enough ways for Lin to fit in for now.

If his basketball skills don't pan out in New York, perhaps the Knicks can employ Lin as a halftime performer, giving him the opportunity to wow the crowd with this great display of singing and dancing prowess.

Is the New York Knicks' Bench in Disarray?

For much of last season, the New York Knicks had a balanced rotation. With a decent amount of (at the very least) marginal talent at every position, Coach Mike D'Antoni had a number of different lineups he could roll out while shifting guys up and down in the rotation.

Highlights off the pine last season included double-digit scorer Toney Douglas, three-point specialist Shawne Williams, and the energy-filled Ronny Turiaf. Prior to the trade for Carmelo Anthony, the team even benefitted from bringing Wilson Chandler off the bench during 21 contests.

It's safe to say while none of mentioned players caused opponents to envy the Knicks' bench too much, the team certainly had plenty of options to create a balanced attack.

Will this season prove to be a similar campaign for the Knicks, or will they struggle after sacrificing much of their depth as a result of acquiring stars like Anthony and Tyson Chandler?

With Williams and Turiaf no longer donning orange and blue, and Douglas penciled in as the opening day starting point guard, where will the boost off the bench come from for the Knicks?

Though D'Antoni's possibilities for a strong rotation do not look quite promising enough, it's important to remember that gems like "Extra E" were not uncovered until the season began to get underway.

In lieu of Williams and company, the Knicks will surely look to a few of their more recent acquisitions to fill the voids. Mike Bibby is a sharp shooting veteran who has had a steady career, and now has arrived in New York with a desire to play for Coach D'Antoni in an attempt to better feature and preserve his offensive touch.

With Douglas in place and Anthony likely to play as a point-forward, Bibby likely won't have to worry about playing floor general all too often. Instead, if he can maintain a steady hand beyond the arc, he could benefit the Knicks immensely by providing some much needed scoring off the bench.

Also looking to step in to make an impact from downtown is Steve Novak, whom the Knicks recently claimed off waivers from San Antonio. The 6'10 forward is a player who could certainly stretch the floor, positioning himself in the corners to knock down timely three-point field goals. Though the 41% three-point career shooter struggled to break into the rotations of his previous teams, his breakout year did come in 2008-09, when he averaged 6.9 points on 44% from the field (41% from three-point range) through 71 games with the Clippers.

With a nice opportunity under the bright lights of New York playing in a free-flowing offense, Novak could very well turn into a fan-favorite just like Williams did.

And then there are the rookies. The Knicks have been drafting pretty favorably in the past few years, and this year looks like it should prove to be another strong season for their prospects.

The team is very excited about the potential defensive contributions of Iman Shumpert this season, but the fact of the matter is the versatile guard likes to shoot the ball and can fill it up in a hurry. The rookie averaged over 17 points during his senior season at Georgia Tech, and turned in an impressive performance with 16 points in the Knicks' preseason opener against the Nets. His skill set certainly indicates that he could replace Douglas as a strong combo guard who provides a scoring boost off the bench.

The team's second round draft choice this past June, the rugged Josh Harrellson, also appears to be the type of role player who can provide the Knicks' with much needed skills. The former Kentucky big man proved in the NCAA that though he is not much of a scoring threat, he has no problem throwing his body around on defense. He could turn out to be a decent backup to Tyson Chandler, with whom he will likely pair up with to endure the bumps and bruises from some of the Knicks' bigger opponents. The rookie also grabbed 10 rebounds in the team's preseason finale, another win against the Nets.

The energy and strength Harrellson brings as a complement to some of the Knicks' more notable scorers could suffice as a spark plug off the bench, a la Turiaf.

The has been talk about potentially bringing Landry Fields off the bench, but the defense and smart play he provides is best suited to be mixed with the bevy of scorers the Knicks already have present in their starting lineup. The key is having a balanced attack. The team is in need of more scoring off the bench than Fields can really provided. His off-the-ball style makes him a perfect fit next to the likes of STAT and 'Melo.

Surely, there will be much speculation as to who will start and/or come off the bench as the NBA season finally begins and the Knicks work towards getting into a groove. With nothing set in stone just yet, however, it's important the likes of Mike Bibby, Steve Novak, Iman Shumpert, and Josh Harrellson hit the ground running and make an impact off the bench.

Baron Davis Should Not Be Considered Starting Point Guard of the Knicks

The acquisition of Baron Davis is a huge move for the Knicks. There is no doubt about it.

To go out and sign a player with Davis' level of talent and garnered accolades, and bring him into a fold that already includes two bonafide All-Stars in Amar'e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony, along with a first-rate defensive big man in Tyson Chandler, is surely an impressive accomplishment for the Knickerbocker front office.

Though Davis is a two-time All-Star himself, his most recent appearance came in 2004. Riddled with and weighed down by injuries for nearly the last seven seasons, the argument could certainly be made that his best years are very well behind him.

That's not to say Davis cannot and/or will not help improve his new team. In fact, that's exactly what he's arrived in New York to do: help the Knicks. "Helping" his new team, however, should not at any time be confused with saving and/or carrying them.

Davis is certainly not a long-term solution for the Knicks. A team doesn't need to take "a risk" on a long-term piece. The type of risk that the team took on Davis is perfectly fine, because they are simply looking for him to improve and aid the foundation already in place.

Though there have been conflicted reports regarding how many weeks Davis will initially sit out to start the season (the maximum suggestion being ten weeks), the fact of the matter is that Davis has arrived in New York with a back injury, and cannot be depended and/or leaned on to solve any real pressing issues for the Knicks.

Toney Douglas is the starting point guard. Entering his third year in the NBA, TD has already gotten votes of confidence from the likes of Anthony and Coach Mike D'Antoni. During his first two seasons, he has shown signs of explosiveness, a sweet stroke from behind the arc, and steady defensive skills.

However, the durable combo guard has also displayed questionable decision making on the court. Does Douglas have the necessary instincts to run the floor in D'Antoni's offense?

With so much offensive firepower already packed into the lineup, there is perhaps no better time than to grant Douglas his turn at point for a trial run. The fact that Anthony can handle the ball so effectively both in a half-court set, as well as the open floor, may very well take some pressure off Douglas as well. The time is now for the 25 year old.

With Douglas coming off a nice season, having averaged double-figures as the team's sixth man, the momentum is in his favor to become the full-time starter. This might mean that even when/if Davis is set to make his debut for the Knicks, he may very well do so coming off the pine.

Given his extensive injury history, along with this season's compacted schedule (one that is sure to exhaust even the most healthy and in shape athletes), perhaps Davis' explosiveness will be better preserved in spurts. As it stands, he only averaged 28 minutes through 58 games last season.

Of course, the Knicks can let B-Diddy loose when need be, but the priority needs to maintaining him so that he only proves to make an even bigger impact when it really matters.

Furthermore, though a smaller role may reduce Davis' playing time, he may turn out to be more successful during the minutes in which he actually

does take the court. Bringing Davis off the bench would not only provide the Knicks with a more balanced lineup from A-Z, but also allow him to dominate while matching up against opponents' weaker players.

The signing of Davis itself was a no-brainer for the Knicks, and for doing so the front office should be commended. How well Mike D'Antoni and his coaching staff utilizes the 2007 NBA Playoffs hero remains to be seen, however.

Davis stands to help the Knicks in a variety of ways, if only he is viewed as an elevator, rather than the savior.

What Kind of Impact Will Baron Davis Make For Knicks?

The New York Knicks formally announced today that they have in fact signed oft-injured point guard Baron Davis.

Davis' talent alone should answer a lot of questions for New York at the point guard position. With Mike Bibby the only other point guard on the roster, The Knicks were prepared to thrust Toney Douglas into a starting role come Christmas Day, when the team opens the season against the Celtics.

A two-time all-star, Davis can score the basket at will, but is also effective at getting his teammates involved as well. With no shortage of offensive firepower in his new Knicks teammates, B-Diddy could serve as a first-class orchestrator.

Yes, it's true that his talent answers many questions surrounding the Knickerbockers this season, which would be fantastic, if only his injury history didn't raise so many more.

Davis has an extensive history with various injuries, having only played in 75 or more games in a single season twice since 2003. What's more, he will join the Knicks, already plagued by a back injury that will reportedly keep him out for a minimum of eight weeks.

Did the team make the right move? Was Davis a solid choice to solve all of their newly created point guard woes?

Howard Beck of The New York Times reports that Davis did in fact sign for the veteran's minimum, rather than the Knicks' "room exception," worth $2.5 million. In this case, signing Davis was a worth while move to make.

Though the shortened, compacted schedule is likely to hamper oft-injured players like Davis along the way, there is no doubting his ability and production while on the court. He averaged a steady 13.1 points and 6.7 assists through 58 games while splitting last season with the Clippers and Cavs. His numbers have hovered around the mentioned production since 2008.

That being said, he isn't quite the answer to anyone's prayers. At least, no one can depend on him as though he is.

His injury history is certainly not a joke. Anything B-Diddy contributes to the Knicks will purely be a bonus to whatever production they already have on the court from their point guards, or anyone else for that matter. The Knicks need to proceed like normal, working with the other players currently on the roster to get the team where it needs to be.

Whenever and if he's healthy, Davis will come in and elevate his new team. His talent, along with the small contract, makes this union between he and the Knicks an absolute no-brainer.

By accepting the league's minimum contract for a veteran, Davis made sure that his new team only stands to benefit from any contribution he makes (be it small or large). Should #85 play in say, forty four games (66% of the season), during this shortened campaign, the Knicks should consider themselves lucky.

Fans simply need to get on board with this mentality as well, keeping expectations low for Davis, so that he only surprises all for the better.

Tyson Chandler to Knicks: Pros and Cons of Signing Former Mavericks Big Man

Right now, the New York Knicks and their fans are simply elated.

The signing of big man Tyson Chandler not only brings an NBA champion to the Big Apple, but also provides the Knicks with the greatest defensive presence they’ve had in over a decade.

Chandler is not simply just an NBA champion. After watching the NBA Finals, many basketball fans may argue that he helped propel the Dallas Mavericks to victory last year, anchoring the defense for a team that already featured offensive talents like Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd and Jason Terry.

Let that thought settle in for just a second—on a team that was comprised of two future Hall of Famers, an NBA “Sixth Man of the Year” award winner, among others, Tyson Chandler was widely considered the “X-Factor.”

If his play was that influential for the Mavericks, Chandler is almost certain to make an even bigger impact on the Knicks.

His skill set will obviously be helpful to the Knicks. Chandler towers high at 7’1" tall, but furthermore, there’s a certain ferociousness about him that the team has been lacking in a big man. With long arms, he is able to attack the boards, truly playing above the rim to put back any missed shots.

He boasted a field goal percentage higher than 65 percent last season, and while that’s most likely because the majority of his shots were dunks and put-backs, that will suit his new team perfectly fine.

The Knicks already have a bevy of offensive weapons.

In fact, Amar’e Stoudemire’s already-impressive offensive production is sure to improve due to Chandler’s presence. All the team needs Chandler to do is plant himself under the basket, allowing STAT to take a step back, connecting on ample jump shots as a result of the pick-and-roll.

He will help Stoudemire on the defensive side of the ball, too.

Chandler is a very physical player who aggressively swats away shot attempts, often backing down opponents. He is clearly someone who won’t get intimidated easily, should anyone try to drive through the lane against him.

As a result, the Knicks’ team captain will no longer have to endure the bumps and bruises that often come with manning the paint.

There’s no question that Stoudemire and Chandler will form a well-balanced and formidable frontcourt duo. They will prove to be great complements to one another.

The Knicks clearly have their sights set on bringing home an NBA title, and having Chandler in the fold brings them that much closer, as nearly every championship-winning squad has a talented big man down low.

As much as the Knicks gain in Chandler, however, they will lose in the point guard position. Acquiring Chandler meant amnestying five-time All-Star Chauncey Billups, leaving the team with limited options in a floor general to fill his shoes.

The Knicks are confident that third-year guard Toney Douglas will respond well to a promotion into the starting five, but the fact of the matter is that TD doesn’t represent a Mike D’Antoni-esque point guard.

While Billups may not have fit that same description to a tee himself, (which is perhaps why the Knicks had a higher winning percentage with Raymond Felton than Billups), at least his experience gave him some credibility.

Coach D’Antoni prefers a point guard who can run the open floor and distribute the ball effectively. Douglas is a player who is very good at what he does, but unfortunately for D’Antoni, Douglas instead likes to shoot the ball.

With so many other shooters already on the squad, is Douglas really the best man to run the show?

The Knicks did sign Mike Bibby for a reserve role, but he himself will not be enough, as his play has declined over the years, and it remains to be seen if he can still handle the responsibility of running a playoff-contending offense.

Given the coach’s offensive philosophies, the addition of Chandler consequently takes away from the team on the offensive end a tad.

Perhaps the Knicks acquired the big man with the future in mind, regardless of whether or not D’Antoni himself is a part in that future. If he is not able to adjust his offense accordingly, he may not find himself in New York past this season.

The acquisition of Chandler (and the money owed to him: $56 million over a four-year period) also limits what moves the Knicks can make to improve the team in the future.

Sure, New York’s newly formed “Big Three” is supposed to finally be comprised of the talent worthy of carrying the team back to greatness, but what if it’s simply not enough? The team is not left with much room to improve.

Furthermore, is Chandler really worth a maximum contract? Will he be worth it throughout the duration of the pact?

The big man has never made an All-Star team, and furthermore, was only named to the Second All-Defense Team for the first time this past season—of course, his contract year.

In addition, he has only appeared in at least 75 games once in the last four seasons. How will Chandler’s body hold up throughout his time with the Knicks, especially over the course of this upcoming shortened season, where teams will be forced to play back-to-back-to-back games?

The answers to all of these questions will begin to reveal themselves this season. Did the Knicks overpay for Chandler simply because he represents something the team has craved for all these years?

If all bodes well, the big man will prove to be worth every penny of his contract, should he be able to propel the Knicks back into title contention.

Chris Mullin to Call Christmas Day Game on ESPN

ESPN/ABC must really value chemistry amongst its broadcasters for NBA games.

For four seasons, NBA fans were treated to a broadcast booth that featured the Knicks' play-by-play man, Mike Breen, former Knicks guard Mark Jackson, and former Knicks head coach, Jeff Van Gundy.

The chemistry and camaraderie between the trio was undoubtedly evident, as they would exchange knowledge about the NBA, challenge each other's instincts, and of course, banter with one another like they had known each other for years (which they had, in fact).

Jackson, however, has for years coveted a head coaching position, despite not having any other prior experience. However, with ESPN/ABC, Jackson did have a platform to preach his basketball philosophies. The Warriors had liked what they had heard enough to offer Jackson the opportunity he had been craving for quite some time.

With the former guard finally joining the coaching ranks, there is without question a void now present in the broadcast booth. With that said, ESPN/ABC has in fact found a way to allow the three partners to carry on their tradition of spending opening night of the NBA season together.

Breen and Van Gundy will perform an act worthy of broadcasting stuntmen, calling two games in two different cities on Christmas Day.

The two will call an NBA Finals rematch between the Heat and Mavericks, scheduled for 2:30 EST, then jet to Oakland to call their friend Jackson's first game as a head coach when the Clippers face off against the Warriors at 10:30 EST.

Joining the New York friendly duo to call the game in Oakland will be Brooklyn native Chris Mullin, who of course is no stranger to the Warriors, having entered the Hall of Fame as a Warrior just this past summer, as well as previously spending several season as the team's G.M. and President of Basketball Operations.

Mullin also just so happens to be a good friend of Jackson's as well, having been his teammate in college at St. John's, as well as on the Pacers in the NBA.

Breen is excited to work with the fellow New Yorker. The play-by-play man quipped, "It gives us an extra person to take shots at Mark and that really is basically the most important thing."

No word yet on whether or not Mullin, the Hall of Fame guard turned ESPN analyst, will ultimately replace his friend in the broadcast booth on a more permanent basis. He was also seen last season providing commentary for a string of St. John's games.

One thing is for sure; if he does, there certainly won't be any loss of major chemistry. Having all spent a great amount of time in New York, the three would have that in common. Breen has known Mullin personally for years. Furthermore, Mullin played on many of the Pacers' squads that squared off against Van Gundy's Knicks teams in the '90's.

A union of the trio is certainly supported by Knicks Journal. On a side note, both Breen and Mullin participated in offseason interviews with the site.

Knicks Fans Shouldn't Sleep on Mike Bibby Just Yet

**This piece marks new contributor Zach Horst's editorial debut here at Knicks Journal. More information on him and fellow new addition Jason Pafundi later on, but in the meantime, you can follow Zach on Twitter.**

“Mike Bibby? I thought the world didn’t end until 2012.”

It was official: the Knicks had signed Mike Bibby. The deal had gone through late Saturday afternoon, and the general reaction of fans and critics alike was one of disappointment, nearing horror, as evidenced in the text above from a tweet I had read following the move.
It was difficult to find any positive reaction amongst Knicks fans at all, save from my own brother, who quickly reminded me of the strong Sacramento Kings squad that the guard duo of Bibby and Bobby Jackson helped propel into the playoffs.

Compared to all of the other drama surrounding the NBA, the Knicks’ acquisition a 33-year-old point guard should have just been a side note. The more I thought about it, though, the more I began to realize that this was exactly the kind of piece New York needs to win a NBA title.

The Knicks finally have their core group in place now. If anyone thinks a team featuring Carmelo Anthony, Amar’e Stoudemire, and Tyson Chandler as their three best players cannot win an NBA title, they are wrong. Even a team simply highlighted by the likes of STAT and Melo had a slim chance at taking home the championship trophy, but now the Knicks stand tall that much improved.

The fans need to forget about the Chris Paul debacle and what could have been. Luckily for Bibby, he’s not as bad as most fans are making him out to be. With a strong foundation already in place, it’s now all about adding the right missing pieces to the Knicks’ championship puzzle, and come playoff time, fans may just see Mike Bibby being one of the most important.

The veteran point guard has been to the playoffs nine out of thirteen years throughout his career, playing one hundred postseason games in total. This type of experience is hard to come by, and should prove to be truly invaluable. Like all veterans, Bibby’s production has decreased over the years, but fans should not take lightly the fact that he was once a premier point guard.

In six full seasons running the point for the Kings from 2001-2007, Bibby averaged nearly 18 points and 5 assists per game. More recently, having logged three and a half seasons with the Hawks, the veteran still proved steady, averaging an impressive 13 points and 5 assists. Last year, splitting his time on the Hawks and Heat, he averaged 9ppg and 3.5apg---not at all bad for a 32 year old point guard seemingly exiting his prime.

More importantly, Bibby shot a respectable 43% from the field on 7 attempts per game, and 44% from behind the arc, with 4.5 attempts per game last season. Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni’s philosophy weighs heavily on three-point shooting, and last year, his squad only shot 37%. Additionally, no one on the team shot three’s with a higher percentage than Bibby. As an option off the bench, these numbers are undoubtedly attractive.

Knicks' fans may be sleeping Bibby for now. His veteran savvy, playoff experience, along with his ability to man the point are sure to help the team, and his strong three-point shooting may even win a few games in the regular season and, more importantly, the playoffs.

So, before Knicks fans are ready to write him off, Bibby deserves an opportunity to prove he can in fact hold his own, handling twenty or so minutes per game off the bench.

With so many scoring options already present on this Knicks squad, Bibby no longer has the pressure of needing to fill it up on the court. His assist numbers have stayed consistent over the years, and that, paired up with his ability to knock down the occasional shot from long range, should benefit the Knicks.

At the very least, fans can take comfort in knowing Bibby is in good company: his father, Henry, donned orange and blue for the 1973 NBA Champion Knicks. Let’s hope the younger Bibby can duplicate some of that success during the upcoming season.

Tyson Chandler Ready to Roll (And Other Knicks Notes, Too)

The Tyson Chandler signing is official, and he he's ready to hit the ground running. The big man is looking forward to attacking the boards and anchoring the Knicks' sure-to-be revitalized defense.

The Knicks' new "Big Three" certainly has a nice balance of talent and skill to it. Chandler is going to specialize in enduring the bumps and bruises in the paint, fighting off opponents with his physical nature. The beautiful thing will be that he won't have to do much on the offensive end, which may help his transition into orange and blue. The fact of the matter is that the team is lacking talent (or was) in all of the major categories in which Chandler succeeds. He's a great fit. Furthermore, even though his point production won't be a necessity for the Knicks to succeed, his 10 points per game is still more than Knicks centers (not counting the out of position Amar'e Stoudemire or David Lee) have averaged in the past few seasons.

As balanced as the skill set of the "Big Three" may be, it will be interesting to see how well (and how quickly) they mesh. As previously noted, STAT only stands to benefit from the addition of Chandler. However, it will be Carmelo Anthony whom may lose out more so from the subtraction of Chauncey Billups, rather than benefit from the addition of Chandler.

In Mike D'Antoni's now slightly rearranged offense, Anthony will be required to handle the ball more. "Dominating" the ball, which Anthony has proved to do well (which isn't necessarily a bad thing, because he is in fact a great scorer) is not the same as "handling" it. What I mean here is this: Anthony is great at creating his own shot, hitting a jumper or driving into the lane at will. But can he create offensive opportunities for his teammates? He is now expected to play as a point-forward, a la LeBron James and Scottie Pippen. Only time will tell if he is going to be up to the challenge. The first order of business, will likely be getting the "pick and roll" with Stoudemire down pat. The two seemed to lack a bit of chemistry last season, so hopefully that can be improved upon.

Needless to say, it will be interesting to see how the three adjust to sharing the court together.

In any event, the question of whom will play the actual point guard position for the Knicks (and take care of the ball when Melo is not), has been addressed by some of our friends. Take a look!

Does no Chauncey Billups ultimately leave a huge gap at point guard for the Knicks? Jared Zwerling attacks that question, examining the floor general rotation that will likely include new signee Mike Bibby, the confident Toney Douglas, rookie Imn Shumpert, and possibly others.

Seth from "Posting & Toasting" further expresses his feelings about Baron Davis possibly joining that point guard rotation in the highlighted post. Davis is known to love the bright lights of New York City. But will the Big Apple love him (and his bad back) just as much?

All of these questions and/or rumors regarding what's to come can be quite overwhelming. If you're getting into the holiday spirit and would like to convene with your fellow Knicks fans amongst all the mayhem, be sure to head down to New York City this Friday night, December 16th, for The Knicks Blog's (sure to be fun) gathering to kick off the season!

Recapping the Recent Twists and Turns of the New York Knicks

Even before the NBA's official "free agency" began on Friday afternoon, the media began buzzing Thursday about what could be.

The Knicks, who perhaps considered themselves still in the Chris Paul sweepstakes early in the day, were reportedly looking to keep things simple by signing a few talented and savvy veterans (a small group that was highlighted by Grant Hill) to short-terms pacts. This would indeed provide the team with solid talent for the upcoming season, while still keeping them primed to acquire Paul next summer.

Instead, other teams began to make more aggressive pushes to acquire CP3 now, rather than wait until summer.

With very few assets with which to mold a potential trade offer, the Knicks may have been down, but certainly weren't out. Instead, they quickly made a splash no one had seen coming.

One move has led to another in the past two plus days, as a full domino effect has taken place. Many of these moves are merely considered likely and/or agreed upon, (not official until perhaps this afternoon), but in any event, let's recap many of the of likely additions and subtractions, and take a look at how they impact the new-look Knickerbockers.

For starters, Tyson Chandler formally announced he's agreed to terms with the team, which has obviously been the biggest splash of all. Chandler is obviously one of the league's better big men, and is an exceptional defensive player. He is exactly what the Knicks need, in more ways than one. For years, this team has craved an intimidating defensive presence. Chandler's physical play and skillful rebounding ability with furthermore allow superstar Amar'e Stoudemire to play his natural position of power forward. As a result, not only will STAT's play improve, but also, his stamina and durability is likely to increase due to Chandler taking the burden of many bumps and bruises down low. The two are a perfect combination. Needless to say, the Knicks' captain is excited about the move.

How this move goes down is not quite determined yet, with Chandler previously announcing it would not be via a sign & trade. That notion took many by surprise, as it was unclear why Mark Cuban would like Chandler leave without anything to show for it. The latest word on this development has Knicks guard Andy Rautins (best bud of Landry Fields), on his way to Dallas in a S&T for Chandler, in which the Mavs will acquire a large trade exception that would prove to be a huge asset next summer.

As a result of the packed defensive punch New York has landed, the team must part with a couple important pieces from last season. Chauncey Billups and his rather large expiring contract will be amnestied, rather than released. This will allow teams under the cap to first bid on the five-time all-star and NBA champion, before he is given an opportunity to pick his own team. If one of the said teams bids on Billups (like the Clippers), he will be forced to pack his bags for that city, rather than make his own choice. Apparently, he's not too happy about that, either.

The question now becomes, who will be the starting point guard of the Knicks? The good news, is, the team's big guns support Toney Douglas running the show. TD has certainly shown potential and flashes of brilliance during his tenure with the Knicks. The coaching staff is visibly tougher on him than most players while on the court, which may coincide with the faith and expectation they have always had of his underlying abilities. That said, the third year guard may not be ready to take on the burden of taking control of a new-look team with championship hopes. Alongside Douglas' hard-nosed play has always been some questionable decision-making on the hardwood, so only time will tell whether or not he's exactly ready to assume the pressure-filled role of floor general in New York.

In any event, the Knicks appear ready to throw some support and/or competition Douglas' way. Sharp-shooting veteran Mike Bibby, who struggled in the playoffs with the Eastern Conference Champion Heat, is reportedly flying to New York today with intentions to sign a pact to eventually don orange and blue. Or...maybe he just wanted to see the Christmas Tree lit up in Rockefeller Center? I hear it's nice this time of year. We'll find out for sure soon enough.

In addition to Billups, the Knicks will also have to say goodbye to the ever energetic and exuberant Ronny Turiaf, a fan-favorite who proved to be the ultimate spark plug while on the court for the Knicks. The only problem was, his time on the court was limited due to various injuries. Turiaf will be on his way to the Washington Wizards as part of a salary dump to help the Knicks ultimately add Chandler, but Wizards bloggers seem pretty pleased with their new addition.

Fear not, Knicks fans! The team will still have a backup center in the form of rookie big man Jerome Jordan, who has been playing in Russia to improve his game. With Turiaf gone, the team has decided its finally Jordan's time, who was of course acquired by the team in last year's draft.

The signing of Chandler will subsequently allow the Knicks to finally re-sign Jared Jeffries, among others, in addition to inking Iman Shumpert and Josh Harrelson to their rookie contracts.

More on these moves as they become official later today.

Chauncey Billups Upset Over Likely Move Out of New York

Many can and will argue that the addition of Tyson Chandler will make New York a championship contender. And why can’t the argument be made? The team has two explosive scorers in Amar'e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony, and would now have a championship-worthy talent anchoring its defense.

A team with that core is certainly headed for greatness, but what is to come of the rest of its personnel? Looking at the team’s offensive makeup, it’s clear that a player like Anthony dominates the ball in a half-court set, so a pass-first point guard (the kind Coach Mike D’Antoni likes) is not quite necessary, or at the very least, wouldn’t be able to find his place in the offense alongside Anthony.

As it just so happens, the number one causality as a result of the Knicks adding Chandler will have to be floor general Chauncey Billups, whose contract will need to be amnestied and/or traded in order for the Knicks to bring Chandler into the fold.

The guard’s agent, Andy Miller, told Yahoo! Sports that Billups is “irate” with these new developments. The Denver native had been previously uprooted from his home while playing for the Nuggets, only to be traded to the Knicks and live out a hotel. Now it appears the five-time all-star will be on the move again. The energetic Ronny Turiaf should have to be jettisoned as well to make room for Chandler.

Could the Knicks coach very well be following Billups and Turiaf sometime soon? It certainly appears that way. The team New York is building and/or finally putting in place after so much time is one with much talent and a good balance of skills.

That said, D’Antoni’s run and gun offense does not seem to suit this group of players particularly well, especially with a second-rate point guard sure to man the position in New York following these likely moves. Though he still has one year left on his contract, D’Antoni does not appear to be in the team’s future plans.

Will Phil Jackson, no stranger to NBA championships or New York City (winning two titles as a player on the Knicks), return to the bench in 2012?

That question will lead to another discussion for another day, but one thing appears certain: Chris Paul, or no Chris Paul, the Knickerbockers’ championship prospects are shinning bright at this point.

Tyson Chandler In, CP3 Out? Are New York Knicks Poised to Make Free Agency Splash?

Perhaps more than anything else, the 2010-11 NBA season was dominated by the trade rumors surrounding Carmelo Anthony, and the New York Knicks’ efforts to bring the Brooklyn native home.

The said union was all anybody could talk about, and affected Anthony and the NBA for months, as documented on his wife’s reality show, “La La’s Full Court Life.”

The rumors were of course sparked by the wedding toast that was once considered humorous, in which Anthony, Amar’e Stoudemire, and Chris Paul expressed their desires to join forces to play with one another at The World’s Most Famous Arena.

With Stoudemire already in town, the Knicks, as everyone knows, gave up the farm (for better or for worse), trading away just about all assets to reel in Anthony to the Big Apple. With two down, and only one (Paul) to go, it appeared as though that wedding toast fantasy would become a reality, at the expense of similar trade rumors, this time, dominating the upcoming lockout-shortened instead.

With the NBA season scheduled to begin on Christmas Day, the question was becoming when (not if) Paul would eventually join the Knicks. But all of that quickly changed on Thursday, a day before free agency begins and players report for training camp.

The reality of the situation is that no matter how burning his desire to play in New York may actually be, the Knicks simply do not have the assets to make the appropriate competitive trade offer, and furthermore, would be unlikely to be able to offer CP3 a maximum contract come this summer, when he is scheduled to hit the free agency market.

Whether Knicks came to terms with this harsh reality before or after the rumors surrounding a completed trade (one that was, but never quite will be) to send Paul to the Lakers began to swirl is unknown. What is for certain, however, is how quickly they have seemed to execute their “plan B.”

According to Yahoo! Sports, the Knicks swooped in to push the Warriors aside and dazzle newly crowned NBA champion Tyson Chandler with a four-year deal, worth $58 million, one that he reportedly intends to sign Friday.

Not much else is better than acquiring a four-time all-star like Paul, but Chandler just might be the better fit for the Knicks. Easily the best defender the team will have had since Patrick Ewing, perhaps the ever so intimidating big man will usher in a new era of defensive greatness and intensity along with him on his way to New York.

That is, of course, what Chandler provided the Dallas Mavericks with last season, en route to an NBA title. Chandler’s physical play propelled the Mavs past the Heat in the Finals. His presence even prompted veterans like Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry, and Jason Kidd to credit him with “changing the culture” in Dallas. Apparently he changed it enough so to earn a championship ring.

One would think Chandler’s great season and value to his team would entice the big-spending Mark Cuban and the Mavericks to grant Chandler his payday, but that isn’t the case. In order to preserve cap room for future more substantial free agent classes (as well as maintain enough space to eventually find a replacement for the aging Nowitzki), Dallas will actually let him walk.