KnicksJournal.com Podcast #4 With Phife Dawg: Knicks Look Ahead To A Tough Week

The Knicks' struggles only seemed to continue following the All-Star break, as the team's losing streak reached four frustrating games.

But could Sunday night's commanding victory over the 76ers have been a sign that New York's fortunes are changing? As the Knicks look to build upon some potential momentum, myself and Phife Dawg of "A Tribe Called Quest" took time to examine the week ahead.

The Knicks have a few tough games this week, beginning with a matchup against the Warriors on Wednesday. From there, New York faces a Wizards squad that beat them bad just a couple weeks ago, the first place Heat, and a Kyrie Irving led Cavaliers. None of these teams represent easy victories for the Knicks, especially considering how things have been going.

But what can the Knicks do to make sure they continue bouncing back from their recent slump? Phife and I discuss certain possibilities, as well as ponder what record the team may finish with by week's end.



Have the Knicks become too complacent? Will blame be placed on Mike Woodson's shoulders if he doesn't make necessary adjustments? Who needs to step up? How important is it that the Knicks keep their cool on the court? Were enough changes made by the trading deadline? We tackle all these very questions, and much more.

In addition, in an attempt to perhaps help the Knicks' players get motivated, Phife Dawg shares what music he's been listening to as of late, and suggests a couple of tracks that should be on the Knicks' pre-game music playlist if they truly want to get amped up.

Enjoy! As always, you can follow me on Twitter @KnicksJournal and hit up Phife Dawg as well @IamThePHIFER.

Kurt Thomas Discusses NBA Longevity and His Love For the Knicks

New York Knick Kurt Thomas is an easy fan-favorite in the Big Apple. The fact that he currently stands tall as the NBA's oldest player would be enough of a novelty reason to root for him, but there's no denying he can partially be credited with bringing the last visible sign of greatness to the Garden.

In addition to being a double-double threat and an on the fence all-star during the early 2000s, Thomas was a key member of the 1998-99 Knicks squad that made a trip to the NBA Finals. The big man started 44 out of 50 games that season. After experiencing such rich success, he couldn't be more thrilled to be back for another shot.

"We have a great group of guys here," Thomas gushed. "We all get along in the locker room, on the court, and off the court. We've been having a good time, and I think that shows on the court as we play.  There's about 30 games left, so the key for us is just staying healthy. We need to fight off the injury bug. We just got off a four-game losing streak. That was a tough stretch, but hopefully it'll actually make us a better team as we bounce back and finish the regular season."

With the addition of Kenyon Martin, the Knicks have gotten older but added some more experience too. Having competed against so many of the players on the team that have been around the league, Thomas talked about putting that competitive attitude towards one another aside for the ultimate goal. He said that the team chemistry is great, and the players have been putting individual goals aside for a shot at a championship. His statement only further suggests that players like Martin and even Amar'e Stoudemire don't mind giving up some playing time down the stretch. The Knicks have seen various players make other sacrifices as well, such as Carmelo Anthony with regard to emerging as more a team player.

Over the years, Thomas has previously played with guys like Stoudemire, Raymond Felton, and Marcus Camby on different teams. The 40 year old shared the secrets to his longevity, adding, "Earlier in my career, I did get stung by the injury bug. I broke my ankle four times in a period of two years. Since then, I've had injuries but overall, I've been able to stay healthy. For me, it's about getting off my feet during the summer time and letting my body heal. I change up my workouts year round. I do a lot of yoga."

Thomas spoke with KnicksJournal.com live from New York City at the John Starks Foundation's annual Celebrity Bowling Tournament. The foundation does great work year-round to raise money for the less fortunate youth, awarding college scholarships to those who shine with regard to academic and athletic achievement in the tri-state and Tulsa areas.

Though the two never played with one another, they've cleared bonded through being part of the Knicks fold for quite some time. Thomas was also found joking around with the likes of Allan Houston, Larry Johnson, Herb Williams Anthony Mason, and Charles Oakley throughout the night. Current Knicks Jason Kidd and Raymond Felton also made appearances at the event.

But unfortunately for them, none of those guys were as solid of a bowler as Thomas. Displaying quite the competitive edge, the big man knocked down strike after strike and showed enthusiasm by getting into huddles with his teammates for the night.

There's no doubt that as Thomas was swarmed by fans and supporters all night long, people are happy to see him return for a second stint that could be culminated by something really special. He's sincerely just as thrilled, so much so that he couldn't quite come to a decision as to what his favorite thing about being back really is.

Gushing once again, the veteran said, "Oh wow. This is the best city in the world. We have the best fans. There's so much to do in this city, no matter what mood you're in. If I had to say one thing I enjoy the most, it'd be playing in the Garden."

If the team's overall attitude and mentality is that of what Thomas insisted it was, the moral is still as high as can be and the players believe that the current group has what it takes to win it all. Perhaps the big man's overwhelmingly positive attitude is infectious.

Source: Knicks Still Have Plans of Signing Chris Smith

When the Knicks' signed Chris Smith to a training camp contract this past fall, it was assumed that such a signing was a result of the team's loyalty to his brother, J.R. Smith.

Many wondered how far the courtesy would go. After donning a Knicks' Summer League jersey and spending training camp with the team, would the Louisville guard go on to make the squad?

Such discussions were put to a halt when the younger Smith injured his knee and was forced to have surgery on his left patella tendon. The Knicks went on to waive him following the injury.

In October (the time of the injury), initial reports signaled that Smith would be out of commission anywhere from three to six months. Should he be sidelined for the full amount, the brother of the Knicks' sixth man would be scheduled to resume basketball activities in April.

But despite his injury, the Knicks haven't exactly let Smith loose to fend for himself during his rehab. The young gun has remained around the team all season long, working out at the team's training facility, appearing at most home games, and even making a couple of road trips, too.

Is New York simply keeping him around out of courtesy, or do they have plans for him in the future?

Sources tell KnicksJournal.com that the Knicks still plan to sign Smith, as they continue to visibly keep him in the fold this season.

The guard was quite confident that he would have made the Knicks straight out of training camp, had he not suffered the injury. Though New York has struggled as of late, the team's clear goal this season is to chase a championship. How would giving up a roster spot to the younger Smith (as opposed to adding a veteran instead) have affected the team?

Contrary to Smith's beliefs and/or hopes, it appears more likely that the Knicks have the D-League in mind when it comes to his immediate future. Of course, New York could always assign him to the Erie BayHawks (even if he were contracted with the big league club), but why bother if they plan to have him spend the bulk of his time in Erie anyway?

The Knicks have allowed Smith to stick around with their team in hopes that they can monitor his progress, and then still bring him into the BayHawks' fold later on.

Following training camp, Erie acquired Henry Sims, Mychel Thompson, and Oscar Bellfield after the Knicks let them loose following training camp. Whereas Sims has gone to emerge as an NBADL All-Star, Thompson was traded elsewhere and Bellfield was released less than two weeks into the season. Given how the latter two appeared not very high on the BayHawks' priority list, it makes sense that Smith would have occupied one of their spots instead, had he been healthy.

According to ZagsBlog, Smith hopes to hit the practice hardwood in April and begin scrimmaging with the Knicks. That said, should his rehab process be even the least bit ahead of schedule, don't be surprised if he practices and/or plays some in Erie instead. The team's regular season ends in early April, but if Smith is able to go a couple weeks before that, it would make sense for him to turn up in the NBADL a bit first.

How Long Will Kenyon Martin Stay With New York Knicks?

After months of speculation and closely monitoring his situation, the Knicks signed Kenyon Martin. But what's perhaps more important than that is the fact that they did it the right way.

The Knicks started the season 18-5, but in their last 28 games, have gone only 14-14 and furthermore, do not look much like a team that could advance to the second round of the playoffs.

Thus, no matter how big or how small, a change was undeniably necessary. Perhaps New York needed to be careful not to shake things up all too much, but the squad's most recent struggles suggested an injection of life was crucial to any forthcoming progress. It was simply up to Glen Grunwald to gauge how big or small that injection of life needed to be.

At least Grunwald recognized that a boost was needed either way. After trading Ronnie Brewer away to the Oklahoma City Thunder in return for a future draft pick (freeing up a roster spot), the Knicks subsequently signed veteran big man Kenyon Martin to a ten day contract.

It could've been argued that the Knicks needed some extra insurance at the shooting guard position with Brewer all but irrelevant and Iman Shumpert still on the slow and uphill battle of regaining his rookie season form. Nevertheless, the organization believed a bit more front court depth was a higher priority need.

By taking a chance on Martin, the Knicks will hope to bolster their lineup by inserting that gritty, physical, and vocal big man presence that the team has clearly been lacking as of late. With Rasheed Wallace and Marcus Camby still sidelined, Martin has the potential to step in and fill a huge void.

But at this stage in the game, Martin represents nothing more than an insurance policy. With Wallace and Camby both still unavailable, such an insurance policy in Martin needs to be put to use.

If and when either or both players return, however, there likely won't be enough minutes to go around. Should Camby and/or Wallace return to the hardwood by the time Martin's contract is up, will he still be retained?

Even if Martin plays well through his less than two week stint (and there's no guarantee that he does), he could find his return to the tri-state area to be a rather short one. The fact is that the Knicks also have other pressing needs (for example, a need for an extra floor general or a wing that effectively spreads the floor). Should the Knicks see one of their already present big men hit the hardwood sooner than later, there may no longer be a similar pressing need for a player like Martin.

But that's the beauty of a ten day contract. Of course, no organization wants to disrespect a veteran by letting him loose so quickly (especially if he's playing well). That said, the advantage of not committing to one specific player is having the huge benefit of shuffling a committee of players in and out if necessary, depending on the bigger void as the weeks go on.

It'll be interesting to see how well Martin does when he hits the hardwood donning those orange and blue colors for the first time. One can only hope his stint is a successful one, but there's no guarantee he'll be around for the long haul. Perhaps his fate in New York has more to do with Camby and Wallace, and less to actually do with any of his own potential success.

Knicks Send Ronnie Brewer to Thunder On Quiet NBA Trade Deadline

For weeks, rumors have swirled as to whether or not the Knicks would ship Iman Shumpert to a team like the Suns in exchange for perhaps a more versatile contributor in Jared Dudley.

As fate would have it, when push came to shove, New York actually ended up putting more eggs in the Shumpert basket as the NBA trade deadline came to pass.

According to reports, the Knicks have sent former starting two guard Ronnie Brewer to the Oklahoma City Thunder for a future second round pick.

The Arkansas product had been playing sparingly after losing his job to (who else?) Shumpert, appearing in a game for more than five minutes only once in New York's last ten contests.

Though Brewer wasn't playing all too much, there were talks of reinserting him back into the starting unit as the Knicks continue to struggle to find the right formula for success again. Trading him away before rolling the dice for a second time means New York ultimately have even more faith in Shumpert, who has experienced his own struggles since returning from a knee injury in January.

Frankly, Shumpert hasn't looked the same all season long. It may be a risky move to assume he'll resume his lockdown defensive ways come playoff time. Whatever happened to having an insurance policy?

Alas, perhaps the Knicks believe an insurance policy is more necessary when it comes to their front court depth. With Rasheed Wallace and Marcus Camby still sidelined, perhaps a big man like Kenyon Martin or Lou Amundson will be reeled in to take up Brewer's spot on the roster instead.

Brewer undoubtedly fell into a rut after experiencing a severe shooting slump with New York. There's no denying his inability to spread the floor (like he had to begin the season) offensively made him a liability in the starting five. That said, he's certainly no slouch, either.

A bargain after signing the league's minimum contract, Brewer is a sound defensive player who started 43 contests for the Eastern Conference leading Chicago Bulls just last season. The fact that a contending team like the Thunder is willing to take a chance on him (even if as nothing more than an insurance policy of their own) signals what kind of value the guard has the potential to bring a skilled squad.

KnicksJournal.com Podcast #3 With Phife Dawg: NBA Trading Deadline Edition

Though the Knicks had plenty of notable representation in Houston for NBA All-Star Weekend 2013, such a weekend was undeniably filled with a fair amount of respective highs and lows.

Fresh with reaction straight from Houston, myself and Phife Dawg of "A Tribe Called Quest" hit you hard with our thoughts from the weekend's array of festivities in the latest edition of the KnicksJournal.com Podcast.




With so much hype surrounding James "Flight" White heading into the weekend, Phife and I kick things off by discussing the swingman's failure to meet expectations, and what that meant for the Sprite Slam-Dunk Contest's continued fall from prominence.

From there, we touch on some of the weekend's other notable topics, such as how the other Knicks fared in Houston, as well as the greatness and recent rise of Kyrie Irving and other young all-stars.



A longtime NBA fan with great appreciation for the league's rich history, Phife also shares his thoughts about the most recent ongoing comparisons between Michael Jordan and the likes of LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. Who deserves to truly be called the best and why? Phife and I have the answers to those very questions.

It wouldn't be right if we didn't close things off with a little Knicks conversation, and that we did. We examine the week ahead for New York as they look to start the second half of the season off on the right foot. With the NBA trading deadline coming on Thursday, who will stay and who will go? What moves should the Knicks consider? Check us out to hear what we think.

Enjoy! As always, you can follow me on Twitter @KnicksJournal and hit up Phife Dawg as well @IamThePHIFER.

Knicks Have Their Moments At NBA All-Star Weekend

In a sense, NBA All-Star Weekend is nothing more than simply a few exhibition contests. Such a weekend is an entertaining one for the fans, but as one recognizes this, it's also important to realize there's a bigger picture in view for just about any all-star or key player and their respective teams. Not getting hurt becomes a majority priority.

Still it's nevertheless nice to have notable representation. Frankly, the better a team does and the more they succeed on the basketball court, the more representation they'll have throughout the weekend--not simply in the big game, but in all of the other contests as well.

In a big market like New York City, it's undoubtedly important for the team to have national recognition. The Big Apple commands it. Luckily for the Knicks, with their most successful start in quite a few seasons, the team sent four players to Houston to take part in the bevy of festivities. There were undeniably quite a few highs and low points, so let's take a look at how the weekend went for the talented foursome.

Carmelo Anthony, NBA All-Star Game

In a game that separates the men from the boys, it's completely evident that the Knicks not only have one of the better players in the league, but a clutch closer at that. Anthony went on to lead the Eastern Conference in points, rebounds, and free throws. What's more, he was looked upon to hit a couple of key shots late in the game that helped his team hang on a bit before suffering the loss. In a game that featured LeBron James and Kobe Bryant battling back and forth as the contest came to a close, Anthony managed to stand out as well. That's something that should make New York feel confident in the star as they head towards the postseason.

Anthony has emerged as one of the league's elite players over the last two seasons or so. Thus, this may be the year for him to make some noise in the playoffs.

Tyson Chandler, NBA All-Star Game

Participating in his first All-Star Game, Chandler tied former big man Vlade Divac as the longest tenured player to make his first appearance after playing in the league for so long.

Coming off the bench, it may have proved hard for Chandler to make an impact because such a game doesn't feature much defense at all. Still, the Knicks center impressed by crashing the boards. Fed passes by the East's bevy of skilled point guards, Chandler held his own this weekend by adding 7 points and grabbing 8 rebounds.

James White, Sprite Slam Dunk Contest

The NBA's "Sprite Slam Dunk Contest" has fallen far from grace in most recent years, but the man that Carmelo Anthony called "the league's best kept secret" was prepared to help it return to prominence a bit.

Unfortunately for James White (and the likes of Gerald Green and Eric Bledsoe, to name a couple other letdowns) and company, they fell way short of the mark. The contest is now clouded with an unlimited number of potential attempts for a single dunk, but what made things even worse was the fact that despite all those attempts, White failed to throw down a dunk in his second opportunity in the first round. He packed his bags without a trophy, much to the display of Knicks fans.

Nevertheless, White did have quite a moment with regard to his first dunk. Slamming home a two-handed dunk after taking flight from just inside the free-throw line, the swingman deserved much more than the awarded 45 points he was given. Perhaps if he was given a higher score, that may have changed things later on as far as his mentality went. We'll never know.

Steve Novak, Three-Point Contest

Sharpshooting Steve Novak finally got his oh so coveted chance to compete in the NBA's Three-Point Contest. Though his impact hasn't been felt by the Knicks as much this season, the fact is that the forward's percentages are still high. He deserved the opportunity.

That said, it's unfortunate that he fell victim to circumstance during the contest. Should the NBA have stayed with its traditional format for the contest, Novak's 17 points in the first round (which ranked as the third highest score overall) would have been enough to advance him to the next round. Instead, the new East/West rivalry to the competitions made the veteran's score just not enough to advance. He came in second in the East to Kyrie Irving.

Former Knicks' Guard Fred Jones Shares NBA Slam-Dunk Contest Memories & Predictions

Former NBA guard Fred Jones is perhaps best known for his victory in the 2004 Sprite Slam Dunk Contest.

It was during that very competition that Jones was truly released into the national NBA spotlight. He impressed and used that extra exposure to help teams catch on to the fact that he could be a valuable contributor.

Jones went on to enjoy seven NBA seasons, and spent the 2007-08 campaign with the Knicks, appearing in 70 games while stepping up to start 28 of them. He averaged 7.6 points (on 42% from the field) and 2.4 assists.

Throwing down a few eye-popping slams in 2004, at just 6'2", Jones turned some heads by not only beginning his dunks with a high bounce pass, but climbing up the ladder to go get it and throw it down with one hand. His style was undoubtedly unique.

The guard is in Houston for NBA All-Star Weekend, and kicked things off by appearing at a charity event for the John Lucas Foundation. Obviously an expert when it comes to thrilling dunks, what does Jones think of the chances of the man Carmelo Anthony called the league's "best kept secret," James White?

"Who don't know Flight White, man?" Jones said, grinning. "We just talked the other day. I saw him in the hotel in Indiana. He told me I was the original one with that jumper, but I told him he's got me by a lot! I hope does well, but my loyalty is to Terrence Ross. He's one of my young fellas from my hometown in Portland. There aren't many of us, so we definitely rep each other."

When he participated in the Sprite Slam-Dunk Contest, Jones breathed some life into the theory that smaller dunkers are exciting to watch thrown it down. The NBA has seen 5'9" Nate Robinson (a former teammate of Jones') emerge as victor of the contest multiple times, and this season, Clippers' guard Eric Bledsoe will strut his stuff during the competition on Saturday night.

But perhaps Jones should be given credit for sparking another interesting trend of his own. As a little used second-year player, the University of Oregon alum used the platform he was given to cash in on some popularity and earn more minutes on the hardwood. From Gerald Green, to Jeremy Evans, and this year James White, the NBA has seen similar players receive quite the boost of momentum from appearing in the contest and then go on experience moderate success in The Association.

Jones added, "Oh yeah, the Dunk-Contest definitely gives you a platform. When I won it, I was barely playing. From there, I started getting consistent minutes. It just gives you confidence and other things that you take into the game. It was definitely a platform for me to use so that everyone could see my game."

Since last playing in the NBA, Jones just recently founded a company called Player Population. He told KnicksJournal.com, "I've started a private social media company for current and former NBA players. It's a place where players can come to talk and communicate. They can share ideas and showcase their business and/or charities. It's all about being a fraternity and more of a unit."

The guard said that although he endorses players' willingness to interact with fans over social media, he added, "Our site is a little different. It's about keeping all the guys on the same page. Interacting with your fans via things like Facebook and Twitter is obviously a great thing, but what we do is unique because we focus on helping each other out."

While Jones may hope Terrence Ross is the man whom takes home the Sprite Slam-Dunk Contest trophy this weekend, he says he's always wishing the Knicks the best.

"Once you play for a team, you always have a place in your heart for them. I definitely want to see the team do well. It's a great organization, and I have a few friends on the squad, so it's been good to see them play well," the former Knickerbocker concluded.

KnicksJournal.com Podcast #2 With Phife Dawg: NBA All-Star Weekend Edition

Though the Knicks lost three out of their last four contests heading into NBA All-Star Weekend, there's no denying that as they hold the second best record in the Eastern Conference, New York displays more promise than they have in quite some time.

An elevated team effort and more overall success often translates to greater representation throughout all the festivities and competitions the next few days has to offer. This has proven true for the Knicks, as the team will have Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler in the All-Star Game, Steve Novak in the Three-Point Contest, and James White in the Sprite Slam-Dunk Contest.

Recording live from Houston, the site of NBA All-Star Weekend 2013, my co-host Phife Dawg of A Tribe Called Quest and I bring you the latest edition of the KnicksJournal.com podcast.



To kick things off, we discuss how the Knicks closed off the week. The team's struggles were undoubtedly evident, so the two of us break things down and address what improvements and/or changes need to be made to start the second half of the season off on the right foot.

From there on, it's all about celebrating the big weekend ahead. Listen in as Phife Dawg shares some All-Star related memories and we touch on the type of positive momentum the boys in orange and blue can swing the Knicks' way by making sure the weekend is filled with positive experiences while the rest of their teammates rest up.

Enjoy! As always, you can follow myself on Twitter @KnicksJournal and hit up Phife Dawg as well @IamThePHIFER.

Nothing Goes Right For Knicks in Loss To Raptors

The Knicks had hoped to go 9-2 over their last eleven games heading into the All-Star Break. Given some of the formidable opponents ahead, a couple of losses would have been understandable and easier to cope with.

A demoralizing loss to the Raptors certainly was never accounted for, however. Hosting Rudy Gay, Landry Fields, and the Raps at home in their final game before the break, the Knicks fell. And they fell hard.

Toronto didn't exactly do much to deserve a victory over the Knicks on Wednesday night. Instead, the home team defeated themselves by not getting the easy buckets to fall and failing to sink their free-throws when they counted most.

From the very beginning of the contest, the Knicks looked run down. The team lacked spacing early on, giving way to very stagnant ball movement. New York failed to truly move the rock around the perimeter to potentially cash in on easier shots. They didn't work hard enough to find better opportunities on offense, and it showed.

Carmelo Anthony seemed to struggle all game long (shooting 5 for 24), but it was later revealed to reporters that the star had hurt his shooting hard in the contest, and was feeling the pain throughout the game. Unfortunately for the Knicks, however, Anthony was not alone in wearing the collar in this one. The team collectively shot 35% from the field, and players like Anthony, J.R. Smith, and Raymond Felton all missed key free throws that would have otherwise further kept New York alive.

In a game where all his teammates seemed to struggle, Felton should be commended. Despite missing one free-throw late, the point guard attacked the basket and got to the free-throw line 12 times on the evening. His 16 points, 4 steals, and 5 assists led all starters. 

With players like Jason Kidd and Iman Shumpert failing to make their impacts felt, the Knicks' bench was the unit that helped the team hang on for as long as they did. Smith led the team with 26 points, and given the struggles of his teammates, even Amar'e Stoudemire looked half decent by adding 10 points and 7 boards during a night where others fell short of playing well. Displaying quite the high- heaving arc in his shot (one that will undoubtedly be well-suited for this weekend's Three-Point Contest), Novak tried to swing the momentum his team's way by adding 9 points of his own off the pine.

But the Raptors knew just how to kill any momentum that seemed to be going in the Knicks' general direction. Whether it was by getting a stop, matching New York shot for shot, or calling a timeout to stop play, Toronto effectively combated any positive vibes the Knicks had managed to conjure up through the contest. 

At the end of the day, it wasn't the Raptors who played a great game, rather the Knicks who played a poor one. Hopefully the few days off will give the team some time to rest and regroup, and perhaps Novak and James White can bring back a couple of trophies with them to the Big Apple.

Former Knick Landry Fields grabbed 6 rebounds in the first quarter alone in his team's 92-88 victory, and he went on to finish with 4 points and 10 rebounds in his return to MSG. 

Watching A Team Like Clippers Proves Knicks Should Make A Deal

Seventeen year NBA veteran Grant Hill played all of 15 minutes, scored only 2 points, and didn't take a single field goal during the Clippers' matinee victory over the Knicks this past Sunday.

Looking at the stat-sheet, one could be led to believe that Hill has shriveled up into an old veteran that makes little to no impact for his team. They'd be all wrong.

The veteran swingman, instead, made all the difference as he came up in the clutch to play sound defense on Carmelo Anthony. Anthony scored 42 points in the contest, but was contained with the game on the line. It was Hill who was in his way.

Hill is simply one small piece to the Clippers' puzzle for success that's filled with notable and worthy veterans from A to Z.

When looking at the Clippers---both their roster and continued success-- it's easy to venture off and recall that such a squad is incredibly similar to the one the Knicks' aimed to put together this last offseason.

The Knicks' team looks deep, and judging by their 32-17 record, the squad has certainly been good enough to this point. But as New York's coaching staff continues to preach, what matters most is just how good the team will do in the postseason.

The Clippers are full of household names who have served as key role players for decent teams in the past. Essentially three and/or four deep with such players at every position, Los Angeles not only has the ability to keep things going at full speed for 48 minutes, but if one or two players go down, there are quality options waiting in the wings to step up.

Take Willie Green for example, who after starting 48 games for the Clippers to begin the season, has taken a step back and played limited minutes in February. His team can afford to do that, because of the ever so steady depth they have, in addition to the guard.

How many teams have the luxury of starting a player like Green in lieu of an injury, only to push down the bench completely when others return?

The Knicks certainly don't. The point guard combination of Raymond Felton, Jason Kidd, and Pablo Prigioni was considered incredibly strong prior to the start of the season. If all three players are healthy and hitting the hardwood each and every night, there's not a trio of floor generals in the league that can match up. By having three players of such quality on one roster, New York is able to preserve some of each one's respective energy from game to game as well.

But when/if one goes down, one can then poke holes in the existent depth the Knicks have at point guard. New York is only strong at the position when all three are healthy. Each guard does something different not only for the team, but for each other. Kidd shouldn't be playing regular starter minutes, and who's to say Pablo Prigioni could handle playing 20 or so minutes per game on a consistent basis either?

The same theory can be applied when addressing the Knicks' front court depth as well. The three-headed monster of Tyson Chandler, Marcus Camby, and Rasheed Wallace is formidable, but with the latter two currently sitting out for the long haul, the depth is minimized.

Of course, the Knicks now have the ability to go small and play Amar'e Stoudemire at center. There's no discounting how strong that is. But one can still make the point of asking where Camby and Wallace are, and what they add to the team as the season goes on.

These are just a couple of examples. There's no denying that New York is a team that is playing great basketball. But as the Clippers proved this past weekend, depth is absolutely necessary as teams propel towards the playoffs.

While the Knicks play a tired Carmelo Anthony, the struggling Steve Novak/Iman Shumpert, or the weaker James White at small forward throughout a contest for instance, a team like the Clippers can go through most of their options at the position and still have a player like Green or Matt Barnes raring to go after all is said and done.

With all this said, it would make sense for the Knicks (granted they have the assets to do so) make a minor deal or two before the trading deadline. This team is solid, but the fact is holes can be poked through the current depth. It's better to shore up those holes, however small they may be, now, rather than wait to truly discover the leaks come playoff time.

Former Knicks' Center Dikembe Mutombo Still Rules the World

Over at the Meloship, my buddy Taylor has a neat new feature that honors a beloved former Knickerbocker every week. You can go ahead and click here to read it, because it's a very good piece, even if the former Knick he chose wasn't David Wingate.

His post gave me a little reminder about a commercial on television that's quickly become one of my favorites.

If any of you haven't seen the GEICO ad featuring former Knicks center Dikembe Mutombo, it's hilarious. Needless to say, the big man stays true to what made him famous for 18 NBA seasons.

Without further adieu, here's Mr. Mutombo. He still looks pretty imposing...perhaps he would sign a ten-day contract with New York as the team waits for Rasheed Wallace and Marcus Camby to return?

Looking At A Few Links For Saturday Snowed In Knicks Fans

The snow has fallen and there's virtually nobody to be seen on the roads!

There aren't many people around the tri-state areas cruising the airways much either at this point, which has made it difficult for the Knicks to come back home following Friday night's victory over the Timberwolves.

Since we're all snowed in together, let's take a look at some links to figure out what's going on.

Seen here at Newsday, the Knicks were sidelined in Minnesota on Friday night, despite initially planning to fly home after the game. The article goes on to say that the team held hopes to fly back to the Big Apple at some point on Saturday.

Such plans appear to have been confirmed by the high-flying (pun-intended) James White, whose tweet from this morning suggests the Knicks are on their way home.

As far as the Knicks' matchup against the Timberwolves, it proved to be an up and down contest during which, although New York had a couple of hiccups throughout, Carmelo Anthony and company pulled away with a win. For more details, you can visit this link here to venture off to "Posting & Toasting" for our friend Seth's lively recap.

Despite his efforts to move on, Anthony's shuffle with Kevin Garnett last month proves to continue haunting him. Our buddies at ESPN New York have more information here about a heckler who tried to use that against Anthony on Friday night in Minnesota.

And then finally...we've got a link from a developing story to share. When two teams each have a player the other one has interest in, one would think they'd engage in some trade talks about a potential swap, right? Well, should one employ that line of thinking, it would make sense that with the Knicks' interest in Suns' swingman Jared Dudley may come talks between the two squads about a trade for Dudley and Iman Shumpert, who Phoenix has long coveted since his draft year. My friend Tommy Dee from "The Knicks Blog" shares his thoughts here on the interesting development. 

That's all for now! Here's to staying safe amongst all this snow.

John Wall The Latest Floor General to Unearth the Knicks' Kryptonite?

The Knicks scored 96 points against the Wizards on Wednesday night. The defensive effort that New York normally puts on display usually allows 96 points to be enough to come away with a win.

But the game in Washington was different, as the Knicks failed to get stops throughout the game. The Wizards have the recently returned John Wall to thank for the victorious effort, as the floor general seemed to be the latest to unearth what appears to be New York's kryptonite.

Wall simply became the next in line in an ever-growing list of point guards to overwhelm the Knicks with speed and explosiveness.

He may have had six turnovers in the Wizards' 106-96 victory over the Knicks, but one is certainly bound to have a few turnovers here and there if they're running the floor and commanding the ball as much as Wall did. Also adding 21 points and 9 assists, Washington's offense seemed to run through the point guard at all times.

But to say that the offense "ran" through Wall is simply an understatement. In Washington, the Knicks experienced an offense than seemed to otherwise "sprint" through the point guard all game long. The floor general's speedy and flashy ways proved to be too much for the Knicks because as he continued to run and gun all night long, Wall was simply too much for the Knicks to keep up with.

Such a trend seems to be an ongoing one for New York. Whether it be Wall, the Hawks' Jeff Teague, or the 76ers' Jrue Holliday, opponents have run the Knicks ragged by allowing their point guards to run circles around the Big Apple team's defense.

Anchored by a defensive wall in Tyson Chandler, the Knicks' overall effort on defense has been one of the best in the league over the last two seasons now. In addition to allowing the first-time all-star to man the middle, Coach Mike Woodson has also worked with his team to help them better understand how to switch defensively and execute a zone-defense well if necessary.

This all said, there seems to be one thing the Knicks just can't stop. Having also grabbed 5 rebounds in his team's win on Wednesday, Wall could be seen crashing the boards, only to look up, go forth, and never look back. Wall's speedy nature allowed him to run the length of the court and get to the other side at the blink of an eye. From there, it was easy for him to executive effective plays, whether they be to find the open man or take it to the hole. Whatever he went on to choose, there would be no Knick to stop him.

Without Raymond Felton for approximately a month recently, it's been preached again and again how crucial having even just an average to above-average point guard on the floor really is for New York. Felton's play gives the Knicks a boost and makes all the difference because his ability to run the floor paces the offense.

But does Felton have the ability to also pace the defense and keep opposing floor generals at bay as well? It doesn't appear like it. In his older age, Jason Kidd no longer displays the ability to slow down fellow point guards, either.

And that's how recent opponents have hit the Knicks hard, simply because they figure out New York hasn't come up with the formula necessary to stop them. Pablo Prigioni's quick and pestering ability to chase down the defender in the half way puts a lot of pressure on the opponent, and there's no doubt by doing that in spurts off the bench, he could help turn the momentum in the Knicks' favor if given more minutes.

But perhaps the trust in Prigioni just isn't there yet. In that case, who does Coach Woodson trust to handle the burden of slowing down leaders of opponents' offenses?

A worthy candidate would appear to be, Iman Shumpert, who's in the past, taken pride in attempting to shut down the likes of Dwyane Wade, Derrick Rose, and Paul Pierce.

Granted, "The Rook" is more of a versatile player who now plays the three in the Knicks' new and improved starting lineup. That said, depending on the matchup, Shumpert may be the only one to call upon in times of needing the slow down speedy point guards.

Shumpert's obviously still recently coming back from a severe injury, but he's been back for a few weeks now. If he's going to command substantial minutes on the court each and every game, it has to be because he can execute and do what he does best. In the past, that's been his ability to slow down (or shut down) an opponent's best player. Before some of the Knicks' tougher competitors start catching on, it's worth it to begin making that switch defensively and allowing Shumpert to defend tougher floor generals before New York continues to get overwhelmed and show vulnerability.

KnicksJournal.com Podcast #1 With Phife Dawg: "You Have to Sacrifice To Attain"

We here at KnicksJournal.com are proud to release and publish our inaugural podcast in what will become a weekly series co-hosted by myself (Keith Schlosser) and a rapper of one of the greatest hip-hop groups of all-time, A Tribe Called Quest's own Phife Dawg.

This week's podcast begins with an introduction of sorts to the program, complete with a closer look at the role Phife Dawg had at Super Bowl 47 and his enjoyable experience over the weekend.

From there, we jump right into Knicks basketball. While examining the team's most recent success as of late, we discuss how crucial its been that things are fitting into place for New York as key players continue to accept their roles in hopes for a championship and the betterment of the team. 

How would Phife Dawg handle Amar'e Stoudemire's minutes? What are the keys to getting Steve Novak more involved in the offense? Will the Knicks need to bolster their lineup come playoff time? Questions like these are answered are the rapper and myself share our respective prospectives from a fantasy G.M. and coaching point of view.

Listen in above to the first of many fun KnicksJournal.com podcasts as we go on to cover all that, a couple of NBA All-Star snubs, and a bit of Lakers basketball too. 

Enjoy! As always, you can follow myself on Twitter @KnicksJournal and hit up Phife Dawg as well @IamThePHIFER.

Knicks Continue Living Up To Potential With Win Over Pistons

In most recent years, the Knicks have left fans hanging their heads in disappointment as New York continued to fail at beating the worse-off teams in the league. Despite the evident talent on rosters of the past, no clutch gene was consistently found in such squads, as the Knicks were left losing to teams they should have and could have defeated on a nightly basis.

But the 2012-13 season continues to be different than a bevy of others in recent memory for the Knickerbockers. This campaign instead draws ongoing parallels to successful teams of the past, undoubtedly with good reason.

New York put some of those very reasons on display Monday night, as the team defeated the Pistons for what was their fifth straight victory at home by a score of 99-85.

Able to set a dominating tone early on in the contest, the Knicks were propelled by the strong early efforts of Carmelo Anthony. After taking it easy in his team's win over the Kings this past Saturday, the forward returned to his efficient scoring ways, adding 19 points (on his way to 27 total) in the first half alone.

The Knicks pulled ahead of the younger and weaker Pistons squad by double-digits in the game's first quarter, and never looked back. Though they did waver a bit to start the second half, the lead New York had built early on was enough to last them the rest of the night.

And that's what rising up as a contender is all about. In addition to setting ongoing goals for themselves, one of which has continuously been to protect home court and enforce such an advantage, the Knicks know full well that losses to some of the NBA's poorer teams is unacceptable this season. Such losses can and would undoubtedly become the difference between a contender like the Heat, and a pretender who otherwise lets those noted victories slip away.

Alas, by finishing their homes-stand on the highest of notes, the Knicks knew better to come out victorious against Detroit. The home team went on to earn a victory by allowing their better talents to simply play to their strengths and do what they do best.

As noted earlier, Anthony's efficient offensive manner was what truly helped the Knicks set the tone for the rest of the game. But the team's balanced effort was further stamped by a varied amount of other contributions.

Quickly emerging as as the "two" in a strong one-two punch that is he and Anthony, Amar'e Stoudemire continued to make strides while coming off the bench. The big man continues to work his way inside and have his way with opposing defenses. Putting on display an explosive physicality around the basket, STAT delivered quite the notable spark for his team by adding 20 points on 8 of 14 from the field.

Proving that the Knicks still truly ride or die by the three-point bomb, J.R. Smith, Jason Kidd, and Steve Novak were a combined 8 for 25 from long range. Though Kidd struggled, Smith and Novak confidently knocked down shots to help pace their team's offense throughout the game. Where the Knicks may have struggled from deep, their post-players picked up the slack to give the team a more balanced effort to keep the Pistons' defense on its toes.

A number of different Knicks' players seem to excel against Detroit. There's no doubt about that. That said, there's no one player more deserving than Tyson Chandler to get all the credit in the world for his efforts on both sides of the court during this most recent successful stretch.

Tying an all-time Knickerbocker record, the big man propelled himself into the team's history books by logging his third consecutive 20 rebound outing. Such an accomplishment is one that is clearly not easily matched, but also impressive was Chandler's offensive contribution. His 8 points may not seem like a lot on the surface, but when you consider the fact that they all come in the flow of the offense, it's quite the helpful stat. Chandler certainly has Raymond Felton to thank for that. The point guard did his own part to help his team by dishing out 9 dimes.

There's no overlooking that the Pistons are a lowly team in a time of transition at this point. Coming away with a victory against Detroit should not be overly celebrated by the Knicks. That said, the fact that New York keeps winning the right way should be. The team's most recent efforts as of late are simply proof that the team is using these games as tune-ups for something much more meaningful in the future.

Knicks Complete Revengeful Romping & Stomping of Sacramento Kings

After a bitter ending to a comeback attempt against the Kings towards the end of December, there's no doubt that Knicks fans all over had a bad taste in their mouths for the West Conference squad.

Apparently, so did the Knicks themselves.

Saturday night's matchup against the Kings began in an eerily similar fashion with the Knicks falling behind by double-digits as they looked rusty out the gate. Luckily for them, their secret (or not so secret weapon) changed the complexity of the game.

Amar'e Stoudemire has been a menacing force on offense for opposing teams off the bench as of late. STAT righted the Knicks' ship in the proper direction on Saturday night, giving them the boost necessary to pull ahead. Unlike the failed comeback attempt in late December, New York was sure not to fall short in this one. Once the team got in front, there was no turning back.

That's because Stoudemire's key second unit mates happened to follow suit, as a handful of them each had arguably their best individual outings of the season. With 21 points of his own, complete with a 10 for 10 shooting performance from the field, it's easy to see STAT is quickly getting back to his old ways. He's a force to be reckoned with off the bench, and with the Knicks rolling, that appears where he'll stay. Clearly not a negative connotation with regard to the way he's been playing, STAT's been able to succeed by hitting opposing team's second units really hard.

He may not have hit all his field goals like Stoudemire, but J.R. Smith's own respective outing was good enough to make him go dancing and prancing all around the court on Saturday evening as well. Undoubtedly a game where the swingman was feeling it, Smith drained three-point field goals all night long. He knocked down 7 from deep with ease on his way to 25 points.

As good as the pair was for the Knicks, it wasn't just the STAT and Smith show. Steve Novak came to play as well, undeniably in a big way, too. With rumors swirling that the sharpshooter will compete in the Three-Point Contest during NBA All-Star Weekend, perhaps Novak figured he had to remind everybody why. The forward broke out of quite the shooting slump, getting open as his teammates fed him the ball. In one of his better outings this season, Novak poured in 15 points. His scoring seemed to come beautifully within the flow of the offense.

The Knicks' starters could have taken the night off. After struggling to begin the contest, it was clear this was the bench's game. While the second unit propelled the Knicks' efforts and set a team-record with 82 points, the starters could sit back and relax. The most notable contribution, however, came from Tyson Chandler, who pulled down a season-high 20 rebounds for the second night in a row.

But with such a victory is surely to come a little fun as well. With what could be considered the Knicks' third unit on the floor to run out the clock in the fourth quarter, elder statesman Kurt Thomas put on a shooting display of his own. The NBA's true old-timer knocked down just the ninth three-point field goal of his career (much to the excitement of his teammates) and excitedly scored a season-high 11 points in the win.

The Knicks clearly wanted to do their part to ensure Coach Mike Woodson had a shot to coach the NBA All-Star Game later this month, but what else did this game prove? New York is going to remember their tough loses and look to avenge them later on. What's more, Woodson's use of all his talented players is proving to have a beautiful balance to it. Not assigning too much negativity to "bench roles," the coach has been able to motivate the likes of Stoudemire and Smith to help the team where they need it most. The altering of first and second units on the court throughout various contests have given the Knicks quite an attack as they look to propel themselves atop of their conference.

Going up as much as 50 points in this one, the Knicks went on to beat the Kings by a score of 120-81.

Knicks Still Riding & Dying By Some Of Mike D'Antoni's Up Tempo Style?

With the Knicks currently sitting at 29-15 (good for half a game out of first place in the Eastern Conference), Coach Mike Woodson has undoubtedly made strides with this team to help prove he's the right man to lead them to something really special.

Woodson's been able to shift the Knicks' ship in the right direction by preaching higher intensity on the defensive end of the floor. Led by Tyson Chandler, New York continues to respond as they rise up as one of the better defensive teams in the league. There's no doubt Woodson's influence has been felt and embraced.

Still, though Woodson may indeed be the right man for the job, there's no denying that traces of old coach Mike D'Antoni's offensive beliefs still remain.

With past D'Antoni disciple Raymond Felton back in town, it certainly would make sense. But that's not exactly all there is to it. The Knicks have so many skilled offensive weapons, each of whom who, without a doubt, enjoy being able to scoring the basketball. It'd be silly to run an isolated offense for the benefit of one or two players, when New York truly has the ability to hit opponents hard in a bevy of different ways.

D'Antoni's offense is one that a team readily rides or dies from. Teams will run that up tempo/run and gun style for better or worse. The Knicks' 96-86 victory over the Bucks on Friday night clearly had a stamp of solid defense on it as the home team outscored Milwaukee 22-13 in the game's final quarter. But it could also be argued that after a rusty start, the Knicks' offense finally clicked more so in the second half as well.

The likes of Carmelo Anthony, J.R. Smith, and Jason Kidd all seemed to struggle from the field early on. As the trio led their team in hoisting up long bombs from deep, it was clear that as long as those same shots weren't falling, the Knicks wouldn't come away with a victory very easily.

That's where D'Antoni's offensive style can hurt a team, obviously. But making the extra pass and acting quickly as they looked to exhaust the opponent seemed to work for the Knicks late in the game. Woodson may refer to such an extra pass as the "hockey assist," but whatever one goes on to call it, it's easy to understand that more ball movement is the key.

The Knicks act quickly in doing so. Speeding things up on offense and finding that open teammate as soon as possible makes it more difficult for the opponent to catch up. Frankly, whether that means passing it around the perimeter, or hitting big men like Chandler or Amar'e Stoudemire hard inside for a pass down low, keeping things moving (rather than taking time to plan a play out in the half-court set, allowing the offense to fall stagnant) has been undoubtedly beneficial in the flow of the offense for New York.

Coach Woodson deserves all the credit in the world for the Knicks' ongoing success this season. He's changed the basketball culture in the Big Apple without question. While it may be unfair to label a coach as an offensive or defensive coordinator, perhaps Woodson is all the better of a coach because he's been able to recognize what works and what doesn't with regard to getting his team to win. In some cases, as it's been said before, maybe D'Antoni's offensive style is part of what is getting them there. 

James White To Fly High In 2013 NBA Sprite Slam-Dunk Contest

And the good news just keeps on rolling in for the Knicks.

As the Knicks gun for their third straight victory later Friday evening, they can rest assured Jason Kidd and his veteran presence will hit the hardwood ready to help pace them to victory.

With just hours to go until the contest, New York has still continued to receive good news with regard to NBA All-Star Weekend.

Earlier, we here at KnicksJournal.com discussed Eastern Conference squad captain Dwyane Wade's appointment of former college teammate Steve Novak into the Sprite Three-Point Contest.

As he joins Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler in Houston during the weekend, it appears as though the short-lived trio has quickly become a foursome.

After much speculation, Wade announced that the high-flying James "Flight" White" will be throwing it down during the Sprite Slam-Dunk Contest.

Though he hasn't seen too much time on the court this season (White does, however, have six starts), the 30 year old swingman has returned to NBA after a bevy of seasons abroad. Highly regarded as one (if not the) of the best dunkers in the league, this is quite the opportune time to give White his shot.

For more on White's leaping potential, check out this piece over at RidiculousUpside.com to view the prowess he displayed during the 2009 NBADL Slam Dunk Contest.

Steve Novak To Finally Make Trip to NBA All-Star Weekend?

In an effort to make NBA All-Star Weekend a little bit more exciting for fans, the league has thrown in a few twists and turns. Both respective All-Star squads have been appointed honorary captains (Dwyane Wade for the East, and Chris Paul for the West).

Each captain has the unique duty of recruiting participants for the rest of the weekend's festivities, including the Three-Point Contest and the Sprite Slam-Dunk Contest.

Though Wade may no longer be considered a top-five player in his conference anymore, his popularity propelled him into the starting five. He may in fact be a heated rival (pun intended), but his selection as captain of the Eastern Conference squad appears to reap benefits for the Knicks.

Sharpshooting Steve Novak was snubbed for the long-range shooting contest last season, despite emerging as one of the league's most efficient scorers from deep and not to mention, a nice feel-good story with regard to his road to success. Though he was denied such a chance to display his shooting range last year, a former college teammate is making sure he gets his shot.

Wade and Novak played together at Marquette, and according to ESPN's Brian Windhorst, Wade has asserted that the Knicks' forward will participate in the Three-Point Shootout. While Novak has struggled to cash in on some of the same success he had last season, such an appointment to the contest is still very deserved given his effort and abilities.

What's more, one of Novak's best buddies from the Knicks may be set to join him in Houston for the week. Wade is also said to be recruiting J.R. Smith (who felt he was snubbed in his own way with regard to not getting named to the All-Star Team) for the Sprite Slam-Dunk Contest. It'll be interesting if Smith returns to the contest and joins Novak, Carmelo Anthony, and Tyson Chandler in town for the weekend.