Who's Lin, Who's Out For New York Knicks in Game Two?

With a feeling of deja vu in the air, the injuries appear to be mounting for Knicks at the worst possible time.

Last season, the team's playoff hopes hit a colossal iceberg when both Amar'e Stoudemire and then-point guard Chauncey Billups sat out with nagging injuries. The team was swept in sorry fashion in the first-round by the Celtics.

Unfortunately, the Knicks are in fact experiencing more of the same difficulties this postseason as well. Though the team had originally expected Jeremy to sit out through the first round with a knee injury, they have received even more devastating news as time goes on. Not only is Iman Shumpert out for the playoffs with a torn ACL, but Tyson Chandler is plagued by the flu and Baron Davis is nursing a nagging back injury.

It may excite fans to see some of these players rise above and hit the hardwood amongst the adversity, but at what cost to the team would it come? Chandler struggled to be effective on both sides of the floor during game one, and Davis has struggled to build up any level of consistency as he's continued to climb back to 100% health.

Though it was reported earlier Chandler was "probable" for tomorrow's game, the fact that he sat out practice is apparently making Coach Woodson a bit more skeptical of the situation, just about downgrading the big man to "questionable" for tomorrow's contest. Again, it's great that he showed tremendous heart and even stepped out on the hardwood, but it may not be worth him slowing the Knicks down if he is indeed still feeling that under the weather.

Davis is also not a guarantee for game two in Miami. His back injury has limited his minutes in the past, and if he's not able to display some hop in his step, the veteran guard causes the Knicks' offense to fall stagnant. Whether or not he should play at half-strength, my pal Howard Beck tweeted that Davis asserted he will give it a go tomorrow, nevertheless.

But the injuries don't end there for New York. Though the Knicks were saving Jared Jeffries in the weeks leading up to the playoffs, he returned to the court yesterday only to struggle in just seven minutes of play. With Chandler potentially out once again and Anthony struggling to keep with LeBron  James, the team could certainly use Jeffries' agility and lengthy frame to throw opponents off offensively.

Through all this frustration, there may be a silver-lining for the Knicks. As Beck first reported earlier in the week, Jeremy Lin appears ahead of the schedule that originally pegged his recovery time to be six weeks. There can certainly be optimism surrounding a potential return, given that Lin has begun playing one-one-one.

However, Lin did assert after practice this afternoon that he was feeling more sore today than he was yesterday, so full contact may in fact not be in his future. That said, a game four return is still a remote possibility.

Is a Jeremy Lin at 50% better than a Baron Davis at 75%? That's probably true, but the Knicks need to be careful they do not rush him back and risk further injury. With the team's poor outing yesterday, and other various injuries mounting, however, perhaps Lin will feel compelled to get back on the court.

Fans should only expect Lin back in the first-round series at all if it appears competitive at the point of any potential return. Should the Knicks be down 3-0 to the Heat, there's no point in risking throwing him out there to be the savior. A healthy Lin struggled mightily vs. Miami this season, so no one should expect a rusty one to thrive against them either.

Iannazone: Knicks' Tyson Chandler "Probable" For Game Two

After failing to make enough of an impact in the Knicks' 100-67 game one loss to the Heat, Newsday's Al Iannazone is reporting that Tyson Chandler still remains just "probable" for game two tomorrow.

Chandler, who grabbed just 3 rebounds in 21 scoreless minutes yesterday, did not attend the team's practice today in Miami.

With the flu still plaguing Chandler so severely, is it better for him to sit out or play in game two? On occasion, a key player persevering through hardship to play in the playoffs (see Michael Jordan, Willis Reed, etc.) can ultimately turn out to be a huge moral booster for his team. Though early reports had originally stated Chandler was likely out for game one, the big man rose above the illness in order to participate as the Knicks began their playoff journey.

But aside from being a moral booster, at what point does an ill player plague his team on the court, more than help them? If Chandler truly is not 100%, his presence on the hardwood could also handicap for the Knicks. Should the Heat opt to attack the basket on a consistent basis, there's a chance the big man won't be able to effectively stop them. Their strategy would be to hit Chandler hard, all the while knowing they'll have success inside. This obviously wouldn't fend well for the Knicks.

With New York already playing without the likes of Jeremy Lin and Iman Shumpert, there's no use creating other weaknesses for the Heat to potentially exploit.

There's no question Chandler has emerged as a leader on and off the court for the Knicks all season long, elevating their play perhaps more than anyone could have imagined. With that said, if he is so sick that he's unable to partake in practice, who's to say he's prepared to take on the toughest form of competition (in addition to trying to fend off the flu) ?  One has to wonder whether Chandler has made day to day progress (and the team is just taking precautions by holding him out of practice), or if he is just physically unable to go through the activities.

If progress has been made, that's great, but if the team is just holding onto false hopes, perhaps it's better to prepare the best possible strategy without Chandler, and allow him to be counted on as a top-notch cheerleader from the bench until he's healthy enough to make an impact.

Knicks Neutralized in Game One Loss To Heat

With the likes of LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, and Amar'e Stoudemire all looking to reignite a blazing hot Knicks-Heat playoffs rivalry, one would think the series would come down to each respective team's offensive firepower.

But in game one of the first round matchup, that assumption wouldn't have been more wrong. The contest came down to nothing but defense; the Heat's intense ball pressure, and the Knicks' lack there of.

With Tyson Chandler, the Knicks' defensive heart and soul, plagued by the flu yesterday, New York struggled to remain on steady footing defensively. The big man usually sets the tone, and because he was unable to make an impact, such a team effort appeared non-existent.

What's more, Carmelo Anthony was simply lit up by LeBron James. James came out with a vengeance, playing like the M.V.P. many expect him to be, leading his team with 32 points in just under 32 minutes. In addition, James and his teammates simply looked like they were prepared for Anthony defensively (something the Knicks' couldn't say about themselves against James).

The Heat pressured the ball, effectively trapping Anthony at the top of the key throughout much of the game. As a result, Anthony was left to force up shots, unable to penetrate to the basket. He finished with a miniscule 11 points on just 3 for 15 shooting from the field.

The rest of Anthony's teammates didn't fare too much better against the Heat. By doing a nice job defending the post, Miami made sure Amar'e Stoudemire was unable to get into a groove offensively. Aside from a ferocious slam in the game's early minutes, STAT failed to be effective, scoring just 9 points.

By trapping the Knicks, the Heat threw off much of their offensive game, not allowing their opponent to spread the floor. In doing so, Miami neutralized players like Steve Novak. If New York's offense becomes bunched up, the sharpshooting Novak is often not left open to knock down shots from long range.

With so many potent offensive options shut down, like Anthony, Stoudemire, and Novak, the Knicks' game plan becomes letting J.R. Smith run the floor, throwing up whatever shot he can in hopes that the majority fall. Though he did lead the team with 17 points, Smith was unable to pace New York's offense on his own. The team clearly needs more than just a good day from him.

As if losing game one in such ugly fashion wasn't enough for the Knicks, there was also the injury seen around the world. In a peculiar offensive sequence, Iman Shumpert suffered a non-contact injury to his left knee.

The rookie fell to the ground in agony, clutching his knee in more pain than fans are used to seeing such athletes in. After what was a chilling sight for just about any New York fan (for all the wrong reasons), the Knicks announced Shumpert had torn his ACL and meniscus in the left knee, effectively shutting him down for the rest of the playoffs. His recovery time is expected to be 6-8 months, also causing him to miss Summer League this coming July.

Shumpert was looked at as a key contributor for the Knicks all season long, and thus was also expected to defend Dwyane Wade all series. As much as the loss hurts, you can't cry over spilt milk. New York will have to continue making adjustments in hopes that they can contain the "Big Three."

Though their 100-67 loss in game one was ugly, there's a long series still ahead for the Knicks. They have time to buckle down and put forth a different kind of effort. It'll be interesting to see if they do.

NBA Playoffs: What New York Knicks Need To Do to Beat Miami Heat

The Knicks will open up their first round playoff series with the Miami Heat this afternoon, revitalizing a postseason rivalry that has been dormant, waiting to erupt for eleven long years.

Though New York ultimately had Miami’s number during much of the 1990’s, coming out on top during many of their playoff battles, they will instead hit the hardwood in 2012 as the underdogs.

It will take a larger than life effort from the Knicks to defeat the Heat this time. What’s the main objective in this series, you ask? Containing the Heat’s “Big Three,” and furthermore, proving their opponent’s offensive firepower is not too much for them to handle.

As if the challenge didn’t appear daunting enough, the Knicks’ defensive anchor, Tyson Chandler, did not practice with the team in Miami and is questionable for game one as he suffers from flu-like symptoms.

Because of this, even more of the weight will fall on the shoulders of Carmelo Anthony. Just named the “Eastern Conference Player of the Month” for April, the star forward will take all of that momentum with him into the playoffs. As he demonstrated while leading the Knicks to a 9-4 record this month, Anthony can emerge as a leader, even carrying the team on his back when necessary.

That said, though Anthony exploded for 42 points in a game vs. the Heat just less than two weeks ago, it still resulted in a losing effort for the Knicks.

This is why he’ll require some help if the Knicks want any chance at besting the Heat in this series of seven. Amar’e Stoudemire will need to rise above with some old school STAT offensive prowess, displaying aggressiveness at the basket. The big man’s few efforts since returning from his back injury have shown promise, so perhaps there is hope Stoudemire has regained his strong form in time for a playoff run.

But the offensive game doesn’t just end with the stars. Efficiency from the point guard position is perhaps more crucial than anything else. Though Baron Davis was widely expected to be the team’s floor general savior throughout the season, he has failed to show any level of positive consistency. Instead, he’s ran the point quite erratically, turning the ball over and/or displaying a rather flat jump shot.

With Davis representing quite the question mark as the Knicks enter the postseason, it may be smart to attempt to cash in on the strong month of April from Mike Bibby. The veteran’s play has been far from flashy, but he gets the job done by distributing the basketball effectively. Considering what’s at stake, it’ll be better for the team to roll with whomever has the momentum in their favor. The need for efficiency is severe, no matter who it comes from.

The Knicks will also look to overwhelm the Heat with its strong bench production. Steve Novak and J.R. Smith, both of whom have the ability to sink opponents by draining the long ball again and again, are just two components of the second unit otherwise known as “Mobb Deep.”

Novak and Smith can both pour in double-figures with ease. What’s more, Landry Fields has begun to build up his comfort level while coming off the pine, forming some chemistry with that unit as well. A player like himself only stands to make that secondary attack even stronger.

With New York looking to overwhelm Miami on the offensive end, it’s important they also stand their own ground on defense as well. With an offense headlined by two M.V.P. worthy candidates, the Heat can hit an opponent in a number of different ways. In the interest of stepping up, Anthony is certain to be tasked with guarding LeBron James. As such, his defense needs to be stellar. Simply playing a game of “anything you can do, I can do better” on offense will not cut it this time. By trying to match James’ offensive output, Anthony makes things that much more difficult for himself. If he is able to use his agility to keep up with James, buckling down on defense, everything else will come in much easier fashion.

Should Chandler in fact sit out game one, Stoudemire will have the burden of containing Chris Bosh all by his lonesome. Bosh has been able to torch the Knicks before due to lack of defensive pressure. Not a strong defender himself, STAT needs to be careful not to allow Bosh to get inside. His defensive strategy should be simple: keep Bosh handicapped around the perimeter and force him to take jumpers, because he’s bound to miss some. While Stoudemire may not be capable of shutting Bosh down, the least he can do is make the effort to throw him off.

Though these two one-on-one matchups will surely prove to be entertaining, perhaps the most intriguing of all is Iman Shumpert vs. Dwyane Wade. Such a matchup pits the Chicago kid up against a rising Chicago legend. Though he’s been beaten by Wade multiple times before, Shumpert has also never been one to back down from a challenge nor defensive assignment. The playoffs represent a whole new season. If Shumpert has gotten the opportunity to watch some tape and learn from past mistakes, he could potentially use that knowledge (and the defensive prowess he’s showed against the likes of Derrick Rose and Paul Pierce already this season) to keep up with Wade throughout the series.

There is no doubt that an abundance of things have to click and go the Knicks’ way in order to get a series win over the Heat. After a season of twists and turns, it’s safe to say New York has found a good receipt for success. It’s simply a matter of whether or not they are able to cook it up and serve it to Miami. 

Knicks Push Over Bobcats as They Gear Up For Playoffs

Though the Knicks did not know the identity of their first-round playoff opponent (be it the Bulls or the Heat) heading into Thursday's game vs. the Bobcats, it was safe to assume an intense matchup lies ahead.

Even with the Bobcats hungry to avoid the league's worthy record of all-time, New York still began to segue into full playoff mode, resting Tyson Chandler, Carmelo Anthony, Baron Davis, and Jared Jeffries. Toney Douglas also sat out the game with an unrelated illness.

With the 76ers' loss Thursday night, a Knicks-Heat playoff series was in fact confirmed. The team's resting players got a head start to begin mentally preparing, but for the rest of the Knicks, there was still other business to be taken care of.

And indeed they did. New York closed out the regular season in strong fashion, defeating the lowly Bobcats by a score of 104-84. Leading the way in limited fashion (only playing the first and third quarters), Amar'e Stoudemire continued to show the utmost of positive signs that he will be 100% for the playoffs, pouring in 21 points. With a ferocious slam that made even the home crowd rumble in awe, STAT further proved he was back in rare form and is ready to go.

J.R. Smith continued his offensive tear off the bench, also scoring 22 points for the Knicks. Steve Novak continued to do what he does best, knocking down an array of shots from deep, contributing 9 points of his own. Receiving yet another start, Iman Shumpert scored 12 points and kept up his solid defensive effort, the same one that will be crucial to the Knicks shutting down Dwyane Wade and the Heat come Saturday afternoon.

By resting some of their key players, the Knicks also gave away to some pleasant surprise performances in the victory. Rookie Josh Harrellson, who displayed promise earlier in the season while filling in for Stoudemire, played well in a rare start, scoring 18 points and grabbing 9 rebounds. His primary backup for the night, Jerome Jordan (still fresh off a couple of dominating performances in the D-League playoffs), scored a career-high 13 points as well.

Despite the bevy of impressive performances, perhaps the most crucial one to take notice of at this point was Mike Bibby's. Filling in for Davis yet again as starting floor general, Bibby dished out a season-high 12 assists while only committing one turnover. With Jeremy Lin out the entire first-round series vs. the Heat, the Knicks should feel relatively confident turning to Bibby in a time of need, should Davis struggle early on. It seems as though Bibby's performance has peaked at the most opportune time of the season.

Nevertheless, the Knicks will go into Saturday all guns blazing as they look to hopefully take control of the Heat early in the series. Game one tips off on Saturday afternoon at 3:30pm EST.

Knicks To Rest Stars Following Win Over Clippers?

Following the Knicks' 99-93 win over the Clippers last night, gearing up for the playoffs will become first priority. With just one game left in the regular season (tonight against the lowly Bobcats), and game one of the playoffs to be played on Saturday, the team can use all the rest they can get.

This is why, according to ESPN New York, Carmelo Anthony is expected to sit out the season's final game tonight. What's more, it's believed Tyson Chandler will play limited minutes as well, if he plays at all.

Should the Knicks beat the NBA's worst team tonight in Charlotte, they will automatically clinch the Eastern Conference's seventh seed, no matter what else happens. That said, should New York lose and the 76ers win, the Knicks will drop down to the eighth seed.

No matter where they land on the playoff ladder, the Knicks will have a formidable opponent either way. Though the Bulls are recognized as the conference's best team by way of seeding, the offensive firepower of the Heat may very well prove too hot for New York to handle. The Knicks have the ability to shut down the Bulls if they throw off Derrick Rose, thus setting a negative tone for the entire team. There's no one main source of productivity on the Heat, however. Because they can hit you in a number of different ways, there's no one player to stop as a means of throwing off the entire team.

Nevertheless, they Knicks will have a tough matchup ahead of them regardless. Due to the lockout, the league's segue into the playoffs is so tightly packed in. Aside from not risking any injuries, key contributors may simply benefit from an extra day of rest.

Anthony and Chandler have represented the team's two anchors, respectively, on offense and defense. Though Amar'e Stoudemire impact is certainly crucial to New York's playoff success, he could in fact benefit from some more burn on the court. Still making his way back from a back injury that plagued him for weeks, STAT could use the season's final game to continue to find a rhythm offensively. Perhaps the fact that Anthony will sit means the big man will also get more touches as well. Being featured as the main option on offense tonight could help Stoudemire build up a bit of momentum heading into the postseason.

Those suggesting the Knicks are tanking by resting two of their better players (in hopes of securing the eighth seed in order to play the Bulls instead), should think twice. Instead, the type of effort and drive the team exudes will define what they're ultimate plan is (rather than which players actually take the court). As we have seen this season, the Knicks have been able to win with various players stepping up. If the likes of J.R. Smith and Steve Novak heat up from deep, they alone can be enough to carry the team to victory. What's more, the fact that Stoudemire will be the team's offensive leader tonight may motivate him to erupt for a powerful points explosion.

Despite all that potential, Coach Woodson may very well choose to only play many of his key players limited minutes in preparation for a much more intense series ahead. We'll see if all of this speculation as to who steps up becomes a moot point later tonight.

Does Amar'e Stoudemire Represent the Knicks' Playoffs X-Factor?

It’s not everyday that an NBA team’s superstar also fills the role of X-Factor.

But with Amar’e Stoudemire having just recently made his return to the court, that’s exactly what he could represent.

Overcoming obvious obstacles in the form of injuries to Stoudemire and Jeremy Lin, the Knicks powered through to a 9-4 record with both players sidelined. Thanks to an M.V.P.-like month of April by Carmelo Anthony, the team hasn’t missed a beat at all. Already having clinched a spot in the postseason, New York still has its sights set on climbing the playoff ladder to sixth seed before the season comes to a close.

Re-arriving just in time for a playoff party, Stoudemire stands to elevate his team tremendously at such a crucial time. The Knicks have been playing some of their best basketball of the season under Coach Mike Woodson, and though Stoudemire has sat out nursing his back injury as of late, he too showed early signs of promising things to come under the new coach.

The man otherwise known as STAT flourished offensively in March before being sidelined.  After averaging 18 points per game while shooting an impressive 56% from the field, there’s no question as to why the Knicks crave his presence at a time like this.

With Carmelo Anthony continuing his dominating play, Stoudemire’s task is now to simply step back in and play efficient basketball, doing his part to complete one of the most formidable one-two offensive punches in all of the league.

After missing thirteen consecutive contests, Stoudemire appeared to have returned with a vengeance in just his second game back on the court. He had his way with the Atlanta Hawks’ defense over the course of New York’s 113-112 victory on Sunday, pouring in 22 points and grabbing 13 rebounds.

As productive as the numbers were for Stoudemire, his impressive outing was about so much more. The power forward began to develop quite the pleasant pick & roll rhythm with Baron Davis (who tied a season-high 10 assists in Sunday’s Knicks victory), being set up in all the right spots again and again to knock down easy shots.

What’s more, STAT further proved he was back as he propelled to the basket, exploding under the hoop for a healthy helping of slams. Between the array of dunks and jumpers he cashed in on from Davis’ delicious dimes, Stoudemire seems to have found the perfect receipt for his offense once again.

It’s the perfect time for STAT to serve opponents with what he’s being cooking up in his kitchen. Though the Knicks are used to having his offense pace the team, they are now in the unique position (after playing so well in his absence) to receive a boost from Stoudemire’s offensive firepower.

The Knicks have been building on their success all season long, and as they look forward to making a deep playoff run, Stoudemire could now emerge as a late-season X-Factor. 

What Does Mike Woodson Need to Accomplish to Return to Knicks?

Following the resignation of Mike D'Antoni, interim coach Mike Woodson has had a lot of pressure on him to help the New York Knicks succeed.

D'Antoni's resignation was much about putting a new voice in place. The Knicks need someone who can get the most out of his players, eliciting such an effort that can bring them to that next level.

With a 16-6 record thus far, Coach Woodson has undoubtedly done his best to elevate the team as they look forward towards the playoffs. Carmelo Anthony has had an explosive month of April, perhaps even doing enough to emerge as a late M.V.P. candidate. What's more, Amar'e Stoudemire has shown strong signs of being able to contribute amongst Anthony playing his best basketball of the season. With both players on the court, Coach Woodson has led the Knicks to a 7-2 record.

The fact of the matter is that the Knicks have experienced all sorts of improvements under Woodson. The question, however, is if all of this is still not enough for Woodson to warrant a return to the bench next season, what will be?

Both Anthony and Stoudemire have spoken out, not only to praise the job Woodson's done thus far, but also to give him an endorsement for next season. When a team is winning as much as the Knicks have, it's difficult to argue the coach doesn't a chance to finish what he's started, especially if the players buy into his system. Winning solves everything. 

That is why if Woodson wants to keep his job, the Knicks simply have to keep on winning; through the playoffs, that is. Woodson has to get his team to the second round of the playoffs, not only to simply keep progressing, but to give the Knicks their best possible chance at competing.

Though Jeremy Lin was seen slowly jogging around at practice earlier this morning, the timetable for his return is still the second round of the playoffs. If Anthony can continue his M.V.P.-like dominance and Stoudemire can do enough to play efficiently alongside him, the Knicks may produce a scrappy enough effort to beat a team like the Bulls or Heat in the first round. 

If they can advance to the second round (even though Lin wouldn't necessarily be at 100%), the Knicks would be able to compete with as complete of a roster as they'll get. This would give management the best possible idea (as small of a sample as it may be) as to whether or not Woodson can potentially lead the team towards a title in the years to come.

After taking the time to cement the groundwork and put the right building blocks in place, the Knicks can finally look ahead to the ultimate goal. Should Woodson not be able to show signs that he is the man to help them reach such a goal, there are an array of other worthy candidates who could thrive on the big stage with the bright lights, otherwise known as The Big Apple.

That said, with improvement and advancement being the team's primary goals, management should only decide against bringing Woodson back if they feel they can bring in a coach who has proven to be able to attain such success. Phil Jackson is a championship winning coach, who not only can get the most out of an array of talent, but also may relish the opportunity to have things come full circle in the heart of New York City. A former NBA champion as a New York Knick himself, Jackson may enjoy finishing things where they started.

Because of his track record, Jackson is the man most worthy of replacing Woodson. An NBA team shouldn't fire and/or decline to bring a coach back, only to put one in place that will produce the same results. It's Mike Woodson or Phil Jackson for the Knicks. It just depends on who they decide to put their faith in. 

Baron Davis Feeling The Pressure To Keep His Starting Job?

Baron Davis returned to the Knicks on Sunday after missing the last two games with a stomach bug.

To this point in his Knicks tenure, Davis has failed to live up to any of the expectations the team had for him going into this season. In fact, as poorly as he has played thus far, that's how oh so very refreshing the play of Mike Bibby has been for the team as of late.

Giving the Knicks a taste of what an efficient floor general can do with their offensive firepower, Bibby averaged 7.6 points and 6 assists in three games before Davis' return. Though none of these numbers are particularly outstanding, each one represents an upgrade from what Davis provides. What's more, the Knicks' went 2-1 with Bibby playing major minutes, and were visibly elevated under the orchestration of the veteran.

Davis did assume the starting position once again upon his return (despite Bibby's strong outings), but apparently took note of the backup guard's success. Davis responded by pouring in 13 points and dishing out a season-high 10 assists in his team's victory.

With Bibby making such a positive impact, Davis may have seen the writing on the wall. The starting job is his to lose, and thus far, has only kept it by default. The Knicks have very few alternatives, and Davis has gotten lucky because of that. Now that Bibby has gotten even a small-sample of an opportunity, it's time for the UCLA product to step it up.

The Knicks do not need much from their floor general. The 13 points Davis added in the team's win over the Hawks was a nice added bonus, but certainly isn't necessary. Better yet, all that's required from a New York Knick point guard is efficient passing. Bibby limited the turnovers during his time on the court, and if Davis wants consistent minutes of his own, he'll need to follow suit.

Davis has played erratically over his Knicks tenure, making errant passes and turning the ball over more times than not. His struggles consistency shine through for the worse. He has continued to bring the team down with his play, but perhaps he's set to turn over a new leaf now that Bibby has set the tone. Davis began to display an impressive pick & roll rhythm with Amar'e Stoudemire, elevating the play of them both.

Stoudemire's own success is often dependent on a point guard getting him the ball in the right spots. The Knicks are going to want someone on the court who does that, furthermore maximizing all of his teammates' different talents. This will be the key to Davis remaining on the court.

Should he be able to clamp down and successfully fill a void for the Knicks, not only will Davis keep his starting job, but he'll also be leading the team through the playoffs.

Knicks Need To Help Landry Fields Thrive By Letting Him Do What He Does Best

**This editorial was written by Knicks Journal contributor, Zach Horst. You can follow Zach on Twitter @zd183.**

After an exciting rookie season, it seemed Landry Fields’ potential was sky-high - an excellent rebounding guard who was explosive around the rim and could knock down open shots. His struggles up to this point suggest a “sophomore slump” is the perfect way to describe his season.

Still, it’s easy to recognize Fields’ intelligence and savvy for the game, as well as his hustle (hence Spike Lee’s nickname for him, “Muddy”). His faults often are not “mistakes,” per say, rather just lack of talent.  Instead of turnovers or dumb fouls, his main weakness is not being able to hit the open shot.

After emerging as one of the top-rebounding guards in the first half of last season, it’s understandable his numbers have gone down.  Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler both account for most of the rebounding now, and thus, Fields is less needed down low. His 4.2 rebounds per game is still a respectable number for a guard/small forward hybrid. In addition, his averages in both steals and blocks have hovered around last season’s numbers as well.

Most of Fields’ grief this season has come from his long-distance shooting - it has been, plainly, awful. He hits corner threes only 20% of the time, and all other three’s just 27% of the time. For a shooting guard, these are unacceptable numbers. Upon first glance, it seems he is simply a very poor shooter. While this can certainly be argued, I believe he is just being utilized incorrectly.

Fields is shooting a respectable 43% from mid-range this year - an improvement over 40% from last year- yet only 15% of his shots are taken from this area. Conversely, nearly 25% of his shots are from three-point range. He is constantly placed beyond the arc to either knock down threes or pump fake and drive into traffic. It is clear the first half of last year was an anomaly for Fields. His three-point shooting in college was always poor, so the Knicks cannot expect it to get much better than it currently is.

Fields is built as a slasher. He is excellent at moving without the ball, and thus, scores most of his points at the basket.  Mike Woodson needs to develop his mid-range game in order for him to be effective. In New York’s thrilling 113-112 victory over the Hawks on Sunday, Fields came up in the clutch by knocking down 7 of 8 fields goals (including three shots from downtown), good for 18 points. Though he did hit shots beyond the arc, Fields’ biggest strength still comes from his ability to cut to the basket. If Fields is unable to develop a shot from deep, Coach Woodson will only hurt the team when he puts the sophomore in position to shoot the long ball. Instead, Fields needs to be fed off curls and screens around the elbow for 15-foot jumpers. 

Evan Turner, shooting guard for the 76’ers and the second overall pick in Fields’ draft class, plays his game in this exact way. Surprisingly, he is built almost identical to Fields in both height and weight. Turner, like Fields, is poor at shooting from downtown. He combats this, though, with the brilliant tactic of never taking three-pointers. Instead, Evans has become a weapon on the offensive end with mid-range jumpers. He is shooting roughly the same percentage as Landry from this area, yet they account for a much larger percentage of his shots on the season - nearly 50%.

Fields will never put up 20 points a game in this league, but he can certainly be a valuable piece of the puzzle for a contending team. He’s an extremely durable player who hustles every night, fighting for rebounds, loose balls, and tip-ins. He also always plays with intelligence on the court. These are the intangibles and invaluables many players not only on the Knicks, but in the entire league, do not possess.

The Knicks have other scoring threats and lockdown defenders, but Fields still has the ability to bring a consistent, hard-earned, 12 points and 6 rebounds every night as a utility player. The coach needs to support him with consistent playing time, and if he does, I guarantee Fields’ determination will help bring the Knicks to another level.

Knicks Fly Away With a Victory Over the Hawks

After the Knicks were sunk by the Cavaliers Friday night, many fans were left disheartened by the team's lack of killer instinct against the league's weaker teams.

Looking to bounce back, the team would have to do so without Tyson Chandler, who sat out this afternoon's game against the Hawks in an attempt to rest up with the playoffs near. Ironically enough, not playing may have been all Chandler needed to clinch the NBA's "Defensive Player of the Year" award.

Without the big man pacing their defense, the Knicks allowed the Hawks to shoot 54% from the field (including 63% from downtown) as Atlanta made it rain from all around the court. The Hawks were led by three 20 plus point performances (Marvin Williams, Joe Johnson, and Jeff Teague), with Williams' 29 points being a team-high. The offensive outburst from the North Carolina product was an individual season-high as well.

Luckily for the Knicks (as poor as their defensive effort was in spurts), the game became a "anything you can do, we can do better" contest. New York's offense was on point, with Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire both playing rather efficiently. Anthony kept up his explosive month of April by scoring 39 points and grabbing 11 boards. The superstar kept the Knicks afloat throughout by hitting big shots down the stretch.

In just his second game back from a back injury, Stoudemire broke out for 22 points of his own. Though STAT struggled to get into a rhythm offensively against the Cavs, he instead used his physicality to aggressively get inside, having his way with the Hawks defense. He also grabbed 12 rebounds.

The fact that Stoudemire showed promise and was still able to blossom alongside Anthony's dominating play is an incredibly positive sign for the Knicks. When at his best, Stoudemire completes one of the league's stronger one-two offensive punches with Anthony.

That said, they key to the two of them co-existing on the court will be Stoudemire's ability to thrive while allowing Anthony to do his thing as well. Anthony's play has been enough to keep the Knicks in nearly each and every game down to the final seconds, and that's something Stoudemire should be adding to, rather than taking away from it.

STAT's impressive outing this afternoon was certainly enhanced by Baron Davis' best game as a member of the New York Knicks. Returning from a two-game absence with a stomach bug, Davis hit the hardwood with the knowledge that Mike Bibby elevated the team's play as starter.

Davis, who scored a season-high 18 points against the Wizards last Friday, actually showed flashes of the point guard the Knicks signed him to be. He and Stoudemire seemed to begin developing an effective pick and roll rhythm, excelling on offense. Davis not only knocked down three daggers from downtown on his way to 13 points, but also tied a season-high in assists, dishing out ten dimes.

The offensive onslaught didn't stop there for the Knicks, who were also pleasantly surprised by 18 points from Landry Fields. Finally consistency hitting shots from long range, Fields' point total was his highest since March 9th.

After trading buckets with Atlanta all the way down to the final seconds of the game, the Knicks' defense showed up with the game on the line. Stoudemire went to battle with Williams during the game's final possession, throwing him off enough to help secure a 113-112 victory for New York.

The Knicks, who will have Chandler back for Wednesday's game vs. the Clippers, helped Coach Mike Woodson go home happy with his first victory against his former team.

Tyson Chandler To Sit For Knicks Against Hawks

After suffering an embarrassing 98-90 loss to the Cavaliers on Friday, one may think the Knicks would want all hands on deck as they look to regroup and build some consistency this afternoon vs. the Hawks.

Instead, Tyson Chandler (arguably the M.V.P. of the Knicks' entire season), will sit out the game. Chandler, who was been fatigued this season by various injuries, is not currently injured. Instead, he is simply receiving a break in all the action.

After the Knicks' feeble effort the Cavs, perhaps it's likely the team is looking to take things easy the rest of the way in hopes of placing eighth in the East (rather than seventh), in order to secure a first-round matchup with the Bulls, rather than the Heat.

Even so, the team needs to be careful that in taking things easy, they do not fall behind. Sometimes it can be difficult to get into a rhythm on the court, and if the Knicks relinquish any momentum at all heading into the postseason, it may be even more difficult to regain it going forward.

That said, there are other benefits to sitting Chandler, aside from the fact that he simply gets to rest. With Amar'e Stoudemire having made his return to the court Friday. a big priority for the team going forward will be re-acclimating him into the offense. The key will be STAT's ability to make an impact while still allowing Carmelo Anthony to dominate offensively as well. Perhaps starting Stoudemire at center and keeping Anthony at power forward will help the Knicks figure things out offensively as Chandler sits.

Come to Knicks Journal's Game-Viewing TweetUp Tonight at Traffic in NYC!

Knicks Journal is looking forward to meeting everyone at its first Game-Viewing Party TweetUp tonight, April 20th, at Traffic Bar & Restaurant on 48th St and 9th Ave in New York City!!

The game begins at 7:30pm as the Knicks take on the Cavaliers in Cleveland, but all are welcome to arrive as early as 7pm to begin meeting your favorite tweeps. Traffic will be running great food/drink specials all game long, including $12 pitchers of Coors Light, $18 buckets of Coors, and a $30 deal for a bucket of Coors and a bucket of 30 wings.

Want to win some awesome signed Knicks goodies, courtesy of Steiner Sports? Knicks Journal will be running two contests:

1) The "Best Dressed Knicks Fan" will be named one prize winner.

2) Hip-Hop site VladTV.com will be on hand to film the event, interacting with fans throughout the game to get their thoughts on "Mobb Deep," otherwise known as the Knicks' bench. VladTV will be selecting the MOST ENTHUSIASTIC fan on camera as the event's second prize winner.

We look forward to seeing some familiar faces (as well as meeting some new ones too) at tomorrow night's event. Come out for an enjoyable time, because there's clearly no better way to a celebrate the Knicks' playoff birth!! Friends and additional guests are welcome.

You can still go to CHARGED.fm to R.S.V.P. to the event. Facebook members can also click here too.

As always, keep it locked to KnicksJournal.com for more event details, or tweet @KnicksJournal with any other questions you may have.

Knicks Journal's Game-Viewing Party Goes Down Tomorrow In NYC

As they thrust towards the playoffs, the Knicks will look to extend their winning streak to three when they play the Cavs in Cleveland tomorrow (April 20th) night.

This season has certainly been an eventful one, filled with ups and downs, but New York has finally seemed to hit its stride under Coach Mike Woodson. Carmelo Anthony has played like an M.V.P. candidate all month long, not only leading the Knicks to many victories, but also giving way for some very exciting times ahead.

And tomorrow night, Knicks Journal invites all fans and readers alike to come celebrate this promising period. The blog is pleased to be hosting its first game-viewing party at Traffic Bar & Restaurant in New York City, located on 48th street and 9th ave.

With the Knicks in Cleveland, tomorrow's game stands to be a great opportunity for everyone to gather together and throw down some Knicks debate while enjoying the game.

You can R.S.V.P one of two ways. Facebook members can go here, and all non-Facebook members can go here to CHARGED.fm instead.

Come out to enjoy some great food/drink specials from Traffic and meet some of your favorite tweeps! There will be some very cool giveaways and a couple other surprises as well. Hope to see you all there!

Please tweet me @KnicksJournal with any questions and/or concerns.

Does Mike Bibby Deserve a Chance to Start for Knicks?

In last night's 118-110 Knicks win over the Celtics, Mike Bibby quietly recorded one of his better outings since he signed with New York.

Amongst four different twenty-plus point performances by his teammates, Bibby filled in for Baron Davis (who sat much of the game with a stomach bug), dishing out 6 assists in 27 points, committing no turnovers. What's more, the veteran guard had an efficient plus/minus of +16 while on the court vs. the Celtics.

Bibby's refreshing performance was one of the strongest recorded by a Knicks point guard since Jeremy Lin went down with an injury.

Stomach bug or no stomach bug, Davis has struggled all season long. He has in no way, shape, or form come close to the player the Knicks had hoped he'd be. Not only does he struggle to keep up with the league's quicker and younger guards defensively, but Davis has seemingly lost all zip in his offensive game.

It's been mentioned before, too. Davis' jump shot is completely and utterly flat, and he is no longer able to finish at the basket effectively. Lacking such simple offensive skills, the only way the veteran can help the Knicks succeed is to use his smarts, play fundamentally well, and get his teammates the ball in the most opportune spots.

But Davis has failed to even do that. Not keeping his head up in the open floor, Davis has been unable to cash in on his opportunity to be a celebrated playmaker in New York. He furthermore, hurts the Knicks, more so than help them, whenever he takes the court.

His level of play simply doesn't cut it enough to be starting point guard of a playoff team.

Granted, with Lin sitting out through the first round of the postseason, New York may not have many other options as it is. That said, how can anybody else do any worse?

That's why it can't hurt to give Bibby the opportunity to start a game or two at point guard prior to the playoffs. The Knicks have nothing to lose. With so much offensive firepower already packed into the rotation, there's no need for the team's starting point guard to be explosive on offense.

Bibby simply would need to do what Davis has failed to do thus far: get his teammates the ball. Davis' arrant passes often result in careless turnovers, and that's because he plays a bit erratically on the court. Bibby's tempo may indeed be on the slower side, but with experience already as starting floor general on Coach Woodson's Hawks squads for years, perhaps it is he who knows best how to get his teammates involved in the flow of this offense.

Woodson's former starting point guard certainly has a bevy of playoff experience. Whether or not he still has enough in the tank to pace the Knicks offensively through the postseason, however, is absolutely debatable. That's why it's crucial to give him a chance now before it's too late.

Should he succeed, the Knicks will be better prepared heading the first round. However, should Bibby instead crumble under the pressure, the team would still be able to regroup in time for the playoffs.

Either way, with little to no other options, Bibby deserves a sufficient look. It'd be a low-risk, high-reward move by New York.

Knicks Make It Rain in Win Over Celtics

Carmelo Anthony has steadily been making his case for "Eastern Conference Player of the Month," carrying the Knicks on his back in the absence of other key contributors.

It can't be denied that as he leads New York towards the playoffs, that Anthony is living up to his superstar reputation.

Last night, Paul Pierce and the Celtics looked to put an end to Anthony's dominance. Perhaps Boston thought with Anthony carrying the Knicks, should he be stopped, so would the team.

Though the Knicks' offense has looked stagnant in losses to contending teams such as the Bulls and Heat this month, Anthony played floor general last night as well, dishing out 10 assists. Steve Novak just so happened to capitalize on a bevy of Anthony's passes, cashing in for a career-high 25 points off the bench. The NBA's best three-point shooter thus far, the Marquette product knocked down eight long bombs.

Also making it rain from downtown was J.R. Smith, who knocked down seven three-point field goals on his own to pouring in 25 points as well. The Celtics looked to trap Anthony on defense, preventing him from getting into a true rhythm. He responded by finding his teammates in the right spots all night long.

But he didn't stop there. Anthony responded beautifully as the playmaker, but the fact is that the star was able to power through the Celtics' swarming defense nevertheless. The Brooklyn native attacked the basket and got to line effectively, pouring in 35 points to lead the Knicks. By also grabbing 12 rebounds, the star completed his first triple-double as a Knick. It was only the second of his entire career.

Paul Pierce appeared unstoppable for the Celtics, exploding for a game-high 43 points. That said, his team's overall grit and intensity was simply not enough to overcome the Knicks, as New York took control (and never looked back), following a 15-0 run in the second quarter.

Boston did appear to have a somewhat slim chance at a comeback late in the fourth quarter, however. The Celtics had possession of the ball and were only facing an eight-point deficit with about a minute remaining in the game. Instead of looking to claw their way back into the game, Coach Doc Rivers subbed out his stars for weaker backup players, thus submitting to the Knicks.

Winning 118-110, New York was clearly paced by one of the team's strongest offensive performances of the season. In addition to Anthony, Novak, and Smith all making it rain, Tyson Chandler played aggressively under the basket, using his physicality to pound in an efficient 20 points of his own.

All four players who scored twenty plus points deserve to be commended, by someone else who also played surprisingly well was backup point guard Mike Bibby. With Baron Davis plagued by a stomach bug, the veteran Bibby stepped up in a pinch, dishing out six assists while committing 0 turnovers in 26 minutes off the bench. He had a fantastic plus/minus rating of +16 for the game.

After such an exhilarating victory, the Knicks will venture out to New Jersey to play the Nets later tonight. The game marks the last time the Knicks will play in New Jersey before the Nets move to Brooklyn next season.

Amar'e Stoudemire Better Off in Supporting Role?

With the Knicks preparing to match up with either the Bulls or Heat in the first round of the playoffs, it's clear they are going to welcome back the offensive firepower of Amar'e Stoudemire with open arms. Already without Jeremy Lin for the beginning of the playoffs, the team is going to need all other hands on deck.

Even so, with Carmelo Anthony thriving as the sole starring attraction, there's concern as to whether or not Stoudemire's return will take away not only from Anthony's recent surge, but also the team's overall offensive rhythm.

Along with this concern comes the age-old question of whether or not Stoudemire and Anthony can truly co-exist on the hardwood. Under interim head coach Mike Woodson, the Knicks have featured Anthony in isolation, thus allowing him to shine. In doing that, however, they more often than not take the ball out of the point guard's hands. Without a formal set-up man, Stoudemire struggles to create for himself offensively.

Whether or not Stoudemire erupts for an offensive explosion on a nighty basis, and furthermore, lives up to the reputation of a $100 million man is irrelevant. His contributions, no matter how large or small, simply need to be efficient enough to make a positive impact on the Knicks.

In asking whether or not the team's two resident stars can "co-exist," most make the assumption that both need to be scoring 25 plus points per game in order to make a worthy enough contribution. That's simply not true.

Stoudemire's struggles from the field earlier in the season certainly stemmed from the lack of a point guard, but the big man has also dealt with an abundance of on and off the court troubles throughout the campaign. That said, he began to bounce back during the month of March before going down with an injury. Though STAT's numbers weren't flashy at 18 points, 7.7 rebounds. and 1.1 blocks per game, all that production is something the Knicks otherwise haven't had as of late. Receiving such an injection of life would only help moving forward.

Perhaps more importantly, his offensive output finally happened to come at an efficient rate. His 56% shooting percentage was a pleasant yet, familiar, site to many.

For the Knicks to be successful, Stoudemire does not currently have to rise up as the M.V.P. candidate many fans came to know him to be during last season's run. Anthony has seemed to find himself at the most opportune time, embracing his role as "the man" on offense.

What's more, for the most part, the entire Knicks squad has found its groove, playing relatively well under Coach Woodson during this important stretch. There's nothing broken that needs fixing. Better yet, the Knicks could simply benefit from some enhancement, and that's exactly the type of boost Stoudemire stands to provide once he returns.

Playing within his means, going with the flow of the offense, will help Stoudemire make a positive impact to the Knicks' potential playoff run. If he can simply lend a helping hand, while allowing Anthony to do his thing offensively, STAT may be able to make his most notable contribution yet.

Knicks Aren't Yet Ready to Handle the Heat

NBA fans were treated to a playoff preview of sorts on Sunday afternoon, as the Heat came to the Big Apple to take on the Knicks.

With the Heat sitting pretty as second seed in the Eastern Conference, and the Knicks just a half game behind the 76ers for the seventh seed, it's probable both teams could meet in the first round of the playoffs, igniting once again the rivalry that has carried on for years.

Heading into the game with a 9-0 record at home under new head coach Mike Woodson, the Knicks were looking to stay perfect at MSG, while at the same time, asserting they may have enough to handle Miami in a playoff series.

Unfortunately, the Heat were too hot for the Knicks to handle on Sunday. The Knicks were slow out the gate, and though they were able to claw their way back, it just wasn't enough to overpower Miami.

More often than not, teams blame early 1PM game starts as the reasoning for coming out on tired legs. That said, the Knicks did not necessarily look exhausted on the court, rather, more handicapped by the Heat.

The opposing defense made it difficult for the Knicks' offense to really get things going. They contested shots efficiently and made it tough for New York to truly space the floor. As a result, Carmelo Anthony was left to carry the scoring burden on his own once again. Needless to say, his 42 points were not enough to get his team the victory.

Despite scoring a season-high 18 points during the Knicks' romp of the Wizards Friday night, the veteran point guard has shown little to no proof that he will be half the player the Knicks had hoped he'd be come playoff time. He's a driving (negative) force in what makes the team's offense so stagnant, and clearly no longer has that hop in his jump shot. His jumper is flat, and he is furthermore not able to finish at the basket. This means his prime alternative with the ball in his hands is to kick it out to his teammates to find them for easy buckets, but Davis has failed to do that on a consistent basis.

Landry Fields also struggled, on both sides of the floor, against the Heat. His confidence has slowly been fading away, thus leading to an array of missed shots. What's more, the second-year player is just simply not able to handle a player like LeBron James. This proved to be a huge shortcoming, as James lit the Knicks up 29 points. That said, perhaps the coaching staff should have realized such a mismatch early on and not assigned Fields such a formidable opponent.

Dwyane Wade also shot efficiently to cash in with 28 points of his own. Both players' erupting for offensive explosions proved enough to overwhelm the Knicks, reasonably so.

Davis and Fields are only two pieces to the puzzle, but many of the team's existent flaws shined for the worse yesterday afternoon.

What's more, the Heat covered the perimeter well, all but negating Steve Novak from the equation too. This left Anthony and J.R. Smith (who scored 16 points on 6 of 15 from the field) to fend for themselves and elevate the team to victory. It just didn't happen.

Without Amar'e Stoudemire and Jeremy Lin, it will be difficult for the Knicks to not only maintain the same tempo through a longer playoff series, but also to matchup with Miami at all.

It may be better for the Knicks to end up as the eighth seed and take on Chicago, rather move up and then be left to deal with the Heat's overwhelming firepower.

Would Amar'e Stoudemire Ease Back Into Lineup As Sixth Man?

The Knicks have had to overcome various bumps along the road this season, including the resignation of Mike D'Antoni, as well as injuries to Carmelo Anthony, Amar'e Stoudemire, and Jeremy Lin.

Despite missing key contributors, the team has been playing consistently well, and chemistry appears to be a big factor. The Knicks have come together through trying times, pulling behind Coach Woodson as they catapult towards the postseason.

With Stoudemire inching closer to his return from a bulging disc in his back, the Knicks are obviously hopeful inserting the superstar back into the lineup will result in the team gaining some momentum as an underdog in the playoffs.

Stoudemire's talent and potential explosiveness is undeniable, but with the team playing so well through his absence, it's important his return doesn't rock the boat. There's a chance attempting to get STAT involved into an offense already displaying good rhythm may risk doing more bad than good.

Taking this into consideration, it may be the opportune time to resurrect a suggestion made by Alan Hahn. Could Stoudemire help the Knicks off the bench? Bringing an all-star talent off the bench has worked in New York before, as Hahn notes. In fact, the team reached the NBA Finals in 1999 with Latrell Sprewell providing a boost off the pine.

Carrying out such a strategy with STAT would not only allow him to ease back into the lineup with monitored minutes, but it would also prevent the star from taking away from any of the good things the Knicks have going for them offensively at the moment.

Alternating Anthony and Stoudemire could very well create a balanced attack, the type necessary for a team to play 48 quality minutes of basketball. Featuring a potent offensive option like STAT off the bench would catch opponents off guard, as they more likely than not wouldn't be able to match up effectively with the big man. What's more, subbing into the game along with Steve Novak would grant Stoudemire a partner who spreads the floor, taking the pressure off of him inside.

Bringing Stoudemire off the bench would certainly be a bold move, but doing so may actually put both he and the Knicks in the best possible position to succeed for the remainder of the season.

Iman Shumpert Quickly Becoming Heart & Soul of Knicks?

Without Amar'e Stoudemire and Jeremy Lin, the Knicks have had to make adjustments to the lineup. In doing so, there's been hope that other key players step up in the clutch as the team steadies itself towards the playoffs.

In search of some extra offensive firepower, the Knicks have been refreshed by the recent contributions of J.R. Smith, who has been excelling off the bench as a main offensive option. The swingman has averaged 13.7 points since the beginning of STAT and Lin's time off the court, and though he still displays an erratic shooting touch, Smith's clutch play has allowed the team to depend on him when it matters most.

Smith is a playoff veteran, and the man he teamed up with for some formidable playoff battles while playing for the Nuggets, Carmelo Anthony, has not only re-emerged as a dominant scoring machine, but a influential leader as well in New York. With the Knicks' playoff hopes not appearing very promising following the two gut-wrenching injuries, Anthony has stepped up, perhaps, to begin writing the first few notable pages in his Big Apple legacy. During this stretch, the superstar has been living up to his reputation, averaging 28.8 points on nearly 50% shooting from the field while grabbing 7.2 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game.

There's no denying Anthony is carrying the Knicks offensively, and as many fans will recall, so did Patrick Ewing while on many of the successful New York squads during the 1990's. Though Ewing was the starring attraction, many will argue that it was instead John Starks who represented the heartbeat of those teams over the years.

Starks could score the basketball, but it was the fact that his grit, desire, and determination oozed out every time he hit the court that truly made him a fan-favorite. Fast-forward to 2012, and as the Knicks once again begin to form an identity (one with a lot of defensive prowess), rookie Iman Shumpert may very well represent the new-school John Starks.

In my most recent contribution to The New York Times' NBA blog, "Off The Dribble," I not only examine the similarities between the two players, but also assess the various tangibles and intangibles Shumpert provides the Knicks with.

Iman Shumpert is quickly becoming known for his grit and determination as he fills in as the team’s starting two guard. The high level of intensity he plays with each night is similar to that of Starks. The rookie excels and paces the Knicks by playing hard-nosed defense, coming up with steals and diving for loose balls. Even more important, he is a lockdown man-to-man defender.

Shumpert never shies away from a big moment. Whether it is being posted up by the seven-foot Dirk Nowitzki, or trying to contain the league’s reigning M.V.P., Derrick Rose, he seems to welcome challenges. Able to come through in the clutch, Shumpert distracted Rose into an 8-of-26 shooting performance in the Knicks’ thrilling 100-99 Easter Sunday victory over the Bulls.

The 6-foot-5 guard’s skill set will remind New Yorkers of Starks as well. Shumpert can will his way to scoring when his team needs it most, but his real value comes from all of the other things he does well too. Besides providing the Knicks with a strong defensive presence, he rebounds the ball well for a guard and pushes the break.

Anthony may be the star, but in the absence of other key players, Shumpert has emerged as an engine of sorts, propelling the Knicks with his array of different talents. The rookie's heart and the way he preserves are crucial because of the tone he sets whenever he hits the hardwood (much like Starks) often elevates his team.

The Georgia Tech product has been called upon to guard some of the league's top talents already this season, and if he can do enough (all while playing on a sprained ankle) to contain the Heat's Dwyane Wade, perhaps he can help inspire a Knicks victory tomorrow afternoon.

Knicks Take Down Wizards in Preparation for Heat

As the Knicks continue to surge under interim coach Mike Woodson, all the team has on their mind is making advancements and climbing up the playoff ladder in the Eastern Conference.

By downing the Wizards in what was a scrimmage-like victory by a score of 103-65 Friday night, the Knicks simply continued onward in their quest. Getting a bit of help in the form of 76ers and Celtics' losses, the team was not only able to inch closer to potentially taking over the division lead, but also officially took control of the 7th playoff seed.

If the NBA season were to end today, securing such a spot would net the Knicks a first-round playoff matchup with the Miami Heat, whom they take on tomorrow afternoon at the Garden.

Though the Knicks have moved up in the standings and tomorrow's game could very well represent an entertaining playoff preview, there's certainly enough irony to the situation.

After having played competitively well against the Bulls, shutting league M.V.P. Derrick Rose down at times, New York may in fact have a better chance at playoff success against Chicago, rather than Miami. Iman Shumpert seemingly has found the right formula necessary to distract Rose.

While New York could carry out a similar strategy and sick Shumpert on Dwyane Wade against the Heat, the 2011 Eastern Conference champs have a lot more firepower where that came from, and it may ultimately prove too much for the Knicks to handle in a prolonged series.

Looking back at last night's game, the Knicks came out to prove they would no longer be pushed around by inferior NBA squads, and they certainly succeeded in doing so. Jumping out to a commanding lead early, the team never looked back and was able to rest many of its key players through the fourth quarter as the Knicks sailed to victory.

Unfortunately, a substitution couldn't come fast enough for Shumpert, who though he only played 23 minutes in the game, sprained his ankle in the third quarter. He is officially listed as questionable for tomorrow's intense matchup.

Aside from the injury, all else went smoothly for the Knicks. Carmelo Anthony poured in 18 points before taking a seat, and the team continued to receive a huge boost from spark plug J.R. Smith, who erupted once again for 23 points off the bench. Steve Novak also added 18 coming off the pine.

The feel good story of the night, however, belonged to Baron Davis, who put on a scoring display of his own with his Knicks-high of 18 points in the romp, all coming on his 33rd birthday.

The Wizards' disastrous 65 points represented the least allowed in a game by the Knicks this season.

The team will look to stand their ground against the Heat tomorrow at home, beginning at 1PM EST.

Knicks Display Playoff Worthy Gritty Effort To Beat Bucks

If there was ever a "must win" game for the New York Knicks, that game was Wednesday night against the Bucks in Milwaukee. With the Bucks breathing down the Knicks' necks for the final playoff seed in the Eastern Conference, New York has to do everything in its power to not only hold the Bucks down, but also make strides to catch a team like the 76ers for better seeding in the postseason.

Winners of four of their last five, the Bucks have certainly had a strong start to the regular season's final month and appear to finally be finding the right rhythm with new acquisition Monta Ellis on board. The team is peaking at exactly the right time.

But so are the Knicks. New York's gritty effort against the Bucks on Wednesday was just enough to propel them to a exhilarating 111-107 victory, granting them a two game lead over Milwaukee for the East's final spot in the playoffs. The team now only has eight games remaining in the regular season.

The contest was ugly in parts (mainly the defensive ones), as the Knicks struggled to contain Monta Ellis, who poured in the points for his highest output as a member of the Bucks, 34 points, on 14 for 25 from the field. Brandon Jennings, who is quickly becoming known as a Knicks' killer, added 22 points of his own, and Mike Dunleavy, who has torched New York before as well, bolstered his team off the pine with 19 points.

With Baron Davis playing through the pain and coping with various injuries, Iman Shumpert had some difficulty taking on both stellar offensive options of the Bucks' backcourt. It's understandable the rookie couldn't do it all on his own.

Though Ellis and Jennings did enough to frustrate the Knicks defensively and keep their own team in the game, New York certainly made adjustments as time went on, their defense becoming sharper later in the game. By turning up the intensity, the Knicks distracted Dunleavy into finishing with a 5 for 16 shooting performance on the night.

On a night that their defense fell victim to its own flaws, New York received a pick-me-up from an elevated offensive effort. Picking up the pace and moving the ball more effectively, the Knicks were not only paced by Carmelo Anthony's 32 points, but also struck while the iron was hot, pouring in 36 points during the game's first period.

That strong start set the tone for the game, as the Knicks received a bevy of positive contributions. Aside from Anthony's 32 points, Iman Shumpert added 16 points and 5 assists, and Landry Fields scored 11 points while dishing out a team-leading 6 assists as well.

The league-leaguer in field goal percentage, Tyson Chandler, had an utterly perfect night from the field, converting on all six shot attempts and sinking all seven of his free throws. The impressive outing added up to a nice 19 points from the big man. The offensive boost he provided the Knicks with was Chandler's highest points total since February 8th, when he scored a season-high 25 points in a win against the Wizards.

Clearly a night during which the Knicks' supporting cast came to play, Milwaukee's own hometown kid, Steve Novak, broke out of a slump to score 10 bench points, including 7 in the final quarter. Hitting two shots from long-range, he seemed to find his sweet shooting stroke once again.

Despite an elevated offensive effort from Knicks all around, the hero of the night was indeed the erratic swingman, J.R. Smith. A late addition to the Knicks this season, Smith honed in to his array of playoff experience and come up big in an even bigger moment, nailing a three-pointer that eventually won the Knicks the game.

Smith still struggled from the field, sinking just five of his thirteen shot attempts. That said, he received a vote of confidence from Coach Woodson following the game for the very fact that he came up in the clutch, despite everything else. He finished with 14 points and certainly put the stamp on the huge Knickerbocker win.

The game definitely wasn't the prettiest one of all, and not many have appeared so for the Knicks, following the losses of Amar'e Stoudemire and Jeremy Lin. That said, the team knows what's at stake and is displaying a gritty effort each and every night in an attempt to rack up the wins. The team is 6-3 since both players went down.

It's difficult to predict what kind of effort will ooze out of the Knicks on any given night. This is what causes so many fans to stay awake at night worrying about the team's playoff fate. However, it's of course, not how you start the game, but how you finish. Each player on the Knicks is playing with the type of effort that implies they know the team is fighting for its life.

As they power through the last eight games of the season, it's important to carry this type of effort and mentality into the playoffs along with them if they want any chance of advancing. The fire needs to stay lit.

Should the Knicks Have Signed a Point Guard Like Mike James?

With strong defensive play propelling the Knicks to many victories already this season, the surprising concern thus far has actually been the team's fluidity on offense.

Toney Douglas' early season struggles as starter set the negative tone for the Knicks offensively, and New York has struggled throughout without an efficient floor general. Of course, Jeremy Lin provided a spark as LINsanity struck, and the Knicks couldn't help but be relieved that their point guard woes appeared over.

But now that Lin is sidelined through (at least) the potential first round of the postseason, the Knicks' offense has been impaired, falling completely stagnant. Though Coach Woodson has motivated the team enough to keep persevering through various injuries and adversity, there's no doubt the team's playoff chances have taken a hit as they've struggled to find a rhythm on offense.

Although the team opted to roll with the backup point guards already in place, the difficulties they've encountered on offense certainly leads many to wonder what could have been, had the team chosen to bring in an outside option. According to ESPN New York, not only was Amityville native Mike James considered for a roster spot on the Knicks prior to Lin's emergence, but he was also willing to step in to help out following the Harvard grad's injury.

Following three different 10-day contracts with the Bulls, James was recently signed for the remainder of the season. The Knicks had quite the close look at James as he surged in the D-League while playing for the Knicks' minor league squad, the Erie BayHawks. James soared during his comeback attempt, and apparently it worked, as the NBA's best team took notice.

Since being signed for the rest of the season, James has actually played sparingly for the Bulls. It's clear he would have had a much larger role on the Knicks, who have voids they still have been yet to fill. The only thing signing James would have cost the Knicks (besides a minimum contract) would have been freeing up a roster spot. Mike Bibby, who after struggling earlier this season, hasn't even found playing time under his former Hawks Coach Mike Woodson, likely could've been the victim. With the veteran not getting court time as it is, the release would have been a low-risk, high-reward reward action by the Knicks.

While James isn't necessarily a pass-first guard, he impressed while filling in for Derrick Rose during an injury-plagued month of February. James averaged 7.8 points and 3.5 assists during four contests that month, proving he still has plenty in the tank.

Whereas the Knicks crave a guard who can create offensive opportunities for his teammates, they could also use players who are also able to create for themselves as well. Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith represent the only two Knicks who have been thriving as of late, and James would have joined them by pouring in the points off the bench.

Richard Hamilton Turns Back the Clock Against Knicks as Bulls Win

Following Carmelo Anthony's Easter Sunday heroics against the Bulls, there was no doubt that Chicago was going to come out all guns blazing on Tuesday night, ready to avenge the astonishing loss.

The Knicks caught a break with the news that Derrick Rose would be sitting out the game with an injury. The league M.V.P. would not be available to return the favor to Anthony and force his team to suffer a loss.

Instead, it would be NBA champion and three-time All-Star Richard Hamilton who turned back the clock against the Knicks to help the Bulls pull away with a 98-86 victory. The 34 year old scored double-digit points in the third quarter, on his way to pouring in a team-leading 20 points in the contest. Though the Knicks were able to keep their heads above water and stay in the game heading into the second half, the Bulls used a third quarter run to help them ultimately secure the win.

Still holding the Bulls under 100 for the game, the Knicks' solid enough defensive effort was paced by anchor Tyson Chandler, who had 16 boards, and Anthony, who grabbed four steals of his own.

Though their defense was strong, the problems that plagued New York in this loss were all too familiar. There was little to no ball movement throughout the game, and their offense fell stagnant. Anthony was able to carry the Knicks with his 43 points and long-range daggers on Sunday, but his 29 points weren't enough to propel the team to victory last night.

Anthony and J.R. Smith, another swingman who thrives in isolation situations on offense, have both been the Knicks' top options on offense during the absences of Amar'e Stoudemire and Jeremy Lin. That said, without an efficient point guard, the likes of Steve Novak, Landry Fields, and even the team's big men struggle to find their way in the flow of the offense. Starting point guard Baron Davis did have six assists in the game, but simply didn't do enough to effectively get his teammates the ball throughout.

The Knicks will be on enemy grounds once again tonight as they take on the Bucks in Milwaukee. Clearly a game with playoff implications, the contest stands to be the most crucial game of the season, with the Knicks looking to hold the Bucks back and secure a playoff spot of their own. The key to the game will be shutting down Brandon Jennings, who carries a vendetta against the Knicks for passing on him in the 2009 NBA draft and comes out to prove himself each and every game against New York.

Jennings, who is averaging a career-high 18.7 points on the season, has led the Bucks to a 4-1 record so far this month. It's clear the Knicks are looking to move up the playoff ladder enough to potentially catch the 76ers and/or the Celtics, but that simply won't be possible if they can't hold the Bucks back. As well as the Knicks have played under Coach Mike Woodson, that's how closely the Bucks have been breathing down their necks along the way.

Hopeful of getting things going offensively and finding a rhythm, the Knicks will surely look to Steve Novak to catch fire once again in his hometown. Novak, the NBA's leading three-point shooter, has missed his last seven attempts from long range. Completely shut down by the Bulls, the two contests marked the first pair of back to back games in which Novak has not made a single three-point shot. His production certainly appears crucial in any potential victory tonight.