On Friday, Team Fat Joe Melo defeated Team Kidd-Gilchrist, 76-67. It was tight for most of the way but near the end the Fat Joe Melo squad took over and ended it. Speaking of Team Fat Joe Melo, Fat Joe and Carmelo Anthony were there to support! They were there just as the park was getting packed. Also there was Cleanthony Early, the Knicks draft pick from this year. Also, we were invited to an Inside Streetball segment with the announcer Cha-Ching and a couple of players that had done well from both sides. So, here is the segment that the Inside Streetball team worked hard on and I think it came out great.

Here is the Behind the Scenes video.

I also met a streetball legend, Shane the dribble machine. You can follow him on Instagram and twitter with the tag @dribblemachine. Anyway, he was really nice to meet and he was very kind to us. I hope I can see him at another tournament sometime soon.

So, to sum it up, team Fat Joe Melo comes away victorious and the Tri-State Classic was very excited to see Carmelo himself be there. I hope I can see him again sometime. Anyway, thanks for reading and please comment!

In the land of free agency, there are a lot of possibilities. Fans can’t help but dream of the remote chance that Carmelo, LeBron, or Dwyane Wade will sign up with their team. Here’s what I’d like to see happen and what I think will happen with some of the most wanted free agents of this summer. For Carmelo, I’d obviously like to see him stay with New York because of all he has done for the Knicks. I think he will end up staying with New York after looking at other options. I believe this for a simple reason. He always wanted to come to New York when he was in Denver and he finally got here. I feel like there is no way he is going to leave New York. Once you make it here, you want to stay here.

What I’d like to see happen is for LeBron to go back to Cleveland. I think it would be funny deciding between Kyrie, Andrew Wiggins, and LeBron James to take the final shot in a Cleveland game.  In my opinion, it’s Kyrie for the game-winning shot out of those three. However, in the end, I think he will stay with Miami. He wanted Shabazz Napier to come badly. He kept tweeting about him and persuading him to come to Miami and Napier came. I just don’t see him leaving Miami at this point.

Lastly, I want D-Wade to leave Miami. I don’t really care where he goes after that, just get out of Miami. However, I think he will unfortunately stay with Miami because he’s pretty comfortable there as the team leader and nobody else really wants him. He already has the best player in basketball taking a second seat to him. I just cannot see him leaving Miami to go to another team and having to get used to the other players.

Here are some other notable free agents that are worth mentioning:

Chris Bosh: I think he will stay in Miami. I can’t see the Big three splitting apart.

Eric Bledsoe: I think he may move but it would be hard for him to say bye to Phoenix.

Luol Deng: It’s anyone’s guess but if I had to choose, I think he will be find a home in Miami or possibly LA if Carmelo took that route.

Pau Gasol: Sadly, I think Pau will be moved to Miami because he has been talking with Pat Riley.

Nate Robinson: I believe that he will stay with Denver.

Lance Stephenson: I think he will move, but I don’t know where. I can see him fitting in nicely with the Knicks.    

Evan Turner: He should be moved, but I don’t think he will go anywhere.

Well, that is what I got. I think this should be an interesting free agency period and it should be very cool. What do you think about this year’s free agency period? Who goes where? Anyway, thanks for reading and please comment!

The New York Knicks have been battling for the eighth seed for a while now and after about a month of hard-fought games, they stand 1 game behind the Atlanta Hawks for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Tonight, the Knicks play the Jazz and the Hawks play the 76ers. I feel like the Knicks are certainly capable of defeating the Jazz like they did last year on Utah’s home floor, however I feel like the 76ers may lose to the Hawks. Hopefully, after losing 26 of their last 27 games the 76ers can pull out their second victory in the last 28 games. Michael Carter-Williams might go off or something like that, you never know! Most importantly for the Knicks, they need to defeat Utah tonight after defeating a tough Golden State squad by 5 points.

Anyway, let’s get into some key matchups that I am looking at seeing in both games. The point guards for the Hawks and Sixers will be a matchup I am looking forward to. Jeff Teague and Michael Carter-Williams are good young talent for both of these teams. In the long run, I feel that Carter-Williams will be a better player and I feel that he has the advantage over Teague because of his height and quickness. The point guards for the Knicks and Jazz game will certainly be cool to watch as well. I would like to see if Raymond Felton can keep up with the fast Michigan point guard Trey Burke. The key to this game will be if it comes down to the wire because Burke has hit big time shots in crunch time situations. Another key matchup will be the small forwards for the Knicks and Jazz game. Carmelo Anthony and Gordon Hayward are matched up in this category and they are both phenomenal players. Carmelo is Carmelo but Hayward is more of a diamond in the rough type of guy. He was picked up from Butler in the NBA draft and he has been a great pickup by the Jazz. Carmelo easily wins this matchup because he is way too skilled for Hayward. My final key matchup is the power forwards for the Hawks-Sixers game in Paul Millsap and Thaddeus Young. I feel that Millsap is bigger and stronger than Young but Thaddeus has speed and quickness on his side against Millsap. I can’t wait to see this matchup. I also can’t wait to see both of the games. What do you think? Do you think that there is a matchup that is worth mentioning that I forgot about? Tell me, what are your thoughts? Anyway, thanks for reading and please comment!

Let’s start with the Eastern Conference:
Fully Deserved:
Kyrie Irving (Cleveland Cavaliers Point Guard) - It’s KYRIE! Yeah, he certainly deserved this appearance. Even though his team is not great right now, he still averages 21.5 points per game and 6.2 assists per game. He also still has that great crossover, well deserved.





Joakim Noah (Chicago Bulls Center) - Great job this year, got into the 4th seed without Derrick Rose again, averaging 11.9 points per game and 11.5 rebounds, fully deserved.

Paul Millsap (Atlanta Hawks Power Forward) - Phenomenal job carrying team into 5th seed without all-star center Al Horford helping out, averaging 17.6 points per game and 8.2 rebounds per game at the power forward spot, well deserved.

John Wall (Washington Wizards Point Guard)- Beautiful job carrying Wizards into what could be their first playoff appearance in a while, averaging 19.8 points per game, 4.3 rebounds per game and 8.5 assists per game, fully deserved.

Carmelo Anthony (New York Knicks Small Forward) – 62 Points for Carmelo in one game, thank God he is in this team. Even though my Knicks led by Carmelo are not doing great this year he still averages 27.3 points per game and 8.6 rebounds per game, fully deserved.

LeBron James (Miami Heat Small Forward) - Yep, it’s LeBron. His Miami team is in the 2nd seed right now just behind the Indiana Pacers who cannot have a better season, he averages 26.5 points per game, 7 rebounds per game, and 6.6 assists per game, fully deserved.

Paul George (Indiana Pacers Small Forward/Shooting Guard) – If Paul George did not make the team this year, I’d be shocked, he has his Indiana Pacers squad in the 1st seed at 40-12 and he averages 22.2 points per game and 6.4 rebounds per game, well deserved.

In the Middle:

Roy Hibbert (Indiana Pacers Center) – Hibbert is a center who can dominate in the low post and occasionally can pull off a hook shot once or twice, but I think Paul George was the only Pacer fully deserving of this all-star game, but he averages 11.8 points per game and 7.7 rebounds per game. I don’t know where to put him. Good job this year.

Demar DeRozan (Toronto Raptors Shooting Guard) – DeRozan is having a very good year with his team averaging 22.4 points per game but I would have much rather liked to see Kyle Lowry in this game over DeRozan. Still, good job this year.

Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat Shooting Guard) – Wade, wade, wade. I think we have had enough of him in the all-star game. He is getting older but still averaging 18.7 points per game. I honestly think that he should get on with his all-star years and just forget about it. I don’t know what to think of him. Good job for the Heat so far this year.

Not Deserved:


Chris Bosh (Miami Heat Power Forward/Center) – Chris Bosh is the third best player on the Miami Heat. Come on man! This guy only averages 16.6 points per game and 6.8 rebounds per game while mostly playing center for the Heat. He does not even average as many rebounds as Carmelo or LeBron and he is a center/power forward. This guy should not be here. Not deserved.

Joe Johnson (Brooklyn Nets Shooting Guard) –Joe Johnson is having a decent year with Brooklyn averaging 15.2 points per game but seriously??? Brooklyn worked as a team to get to the 7th seed it was not just one player. I don’t feel like he deserved this all-star game. Not deserved.

Now the Western Conference:


Fully Deserved:

Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder Small Forward) – KD! Kevin Durant is having a breakout season and is so far, in my opinion, the MVP of the league by far. Durant averages 31.5 points per game, 7.8 rebounds per game, and 5.5 assists per game. Also, Durant carried his Thunder without Russell Westbrook to the 1st seed in the extremely difficult Western Conference. KD! Superstar for sure. Fully deserved.

LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland Trail Blazers Power Forward) – Aldridge has had a phenomenal season with the Trail Blazers and Damian Lillard. Currently tied for the 3rd seed in the West with Houston, I feel they can do well when it comes to the offseason. I mean, when averaging 23.9 points a game and 11.4 rebounds per game at the power forward spot, how could this guy not be an all-star? Fully Deserved.

Dwight Howard (Houston Rockets Center) - D12 or Superman as they say, has done phenomenal work this season for the 3rd seeded Rockets, averaging 18.8 points per game, 12.5 rebounds per game, and 1.8 blocks per game. To most people, Howard is considered the best center in the game today and I can easily agree. Great job Dwight! Well deserved.


Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers Point Guard) – Lillard is having a great season with the Trail Blazers and he has the highest clutch percentage in the game today. While averaging 20.7 points per game and 5.7 assists per game, his Trail Blazer squad is tied for the 3rd seed with Houston. They have improved since last year and they are a very fun team to watch. Good job Damian! Fully Deserved.

Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers Point Guard) – Chris Paul or CP3 has had a great year with Los Angeles. While putting a separated shoulder behind him, CP3 has averaged 19.2 points per game and 11.1 assists per game pushing his Clippers to the 4th seed in the Western Conference. He has done well as always and is definitely deserving of his 7th appearance to the All-Star Game. Well deserved.

James Harden (Houston Rockets Shooting Guard) – James Harden has had a phenomenal season pushing his Rocket team to tie with the Blazers in the 3rd seed and averaging 23.9 points per game, 4.7 rebounds per game, and 5.3 assists per game. In his second season as a Rocket, I feel they can do some work in the playoffs. That’s Harden for you! Fully deserved.

Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas Mavericks Power Forward) – Dirk Nowitzki at 35 years of age averaged 21.7 points per game and 6.1 rebounds per game as a 7 foot jump shooting power forward. He is certainly deserving of being named to his 12th all-star game and putting up great numbers at his age. He also put the Mavericks into the 6th seed of the Western Conference. Well deserved.

In the Middle:

Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers Power Forward) – Blake Griffin is pretty much the same as Kevin Love, he is doing great averaging 24.2 points per game and 9.8 rebounds per game but he is not really a starter for an all-star team. He made it the last two years when averaging nothing like his numbers today and he still started. Good job though for BG.

Tony Parker (San Antonio Spurs Point Guard) – Parker is questionable to me. He averaged 17.7 points per game and 6.2 assists per game so far this year and at his age I don’t think he would bring too much excitement to the all-star game anyway, but his Spurs are in the 2nd seed so I just don’t know what to do.

Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves Power Forward) – K-Love is not really questionable as an all-star, but I just don’t know if he should be a starter or not for this game. His team is not doing too great in the West but he still averages 25.8 points per game and 13.2 rebounds per game but I just don’t think he should start. Definite all-star though.

Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors Point Guard) – I feel that Curry is a bit overrated and everyone should check the game winners that he missed when chucking it with his left hand to try to win but it did not hit the rim. He is doing well averaging 24.6 points per game and 9 assists per game but he shoots nearly 20 times each game and his team is barely in the playoffs at the 8th seed. He is deserving of the position of being an all-star off the bench but not as a starter to me.

Not Deserved:


Anthony Davis (New Orleans Pelicans Power Forward) – Anthony Davis has been putting up pretty good numbers this year  with 20.5 points per game and 10.1 rebounds per game and he leads the league in blocks per game but I don’t think he should be here over people like DeMarcus Cousins or even Serge Ibaka. DeMarcus Cousins averages 22.5 points per game, 11.7 rebounds per game, 1.6 steals per game, and 1.2 blocks per game. Which is better? You tell me. Just because the event is in New Orleans does not mean that someone has to represent the town. Not deserved.

These deservings were my opinions but I also would like to hear other people’s thoughts and ideas. Please comment below and tell me if you agree or disagree and who you would have liked to see in the All-Star game. Thanks for reading and please comment!

Okay, I admit it. It’s been pretty hard to write about the NY Knicks lately, even for a diehard fan.  But last night provided a flicker of hope for Knicks fans, even if it doesn’t last long. The Knicks Iman Shumpert let loose last night after a season-long slump held him down. He scored a career-high 27 points and went six for eight from the three point line!  To cap off the night, he jumped higher than the rim to tip in Melo’s missed three with absolute finesse to help secure the win. 

I was happy for Shumpert, who has not been much of a factor for the Knicks. This night belonged to him and it was a sweet victory in an otherwise sour season for Knicks fans. Thinking about this season, I started to feel bad for the Knick players and thought about what I would say to them if I could give them a pep talk about this season.

My advice to the Knicks and every other player in the NBA is to remember they’ve already won. They have the best job in the world. Whether they win or lose each game, they’re already are all winners. They are living the dream of so many people, a dream most will never have come true because they may not have the talent, the strength, the height, or maybe even the luck that is needed. But they did! I would tell each player to think back to when they were 12 and what the game meant to them at that time.  I would tell them to hold on to that feeling and never let it go. I would tell them to enjoy every day they are on the court and to give it their best shot each and every game.  I would tell them to live in the moment. And I would remind them that nothing lasts forever and that seasons change. 

Just ask Iman Shumpert.

Thanks for reading! Please comment.

Hello everyone, I’m here today to show you how I thought the each Knick player individually did throughout the season and throughout the playoffs because there were players that were different in the season than they were in the playoffs. I thought that some people did better in the season than they did in the playoffs. This is why I decided to make to separate grades, playoffs and regular season. We will start off with the reserves on the Knicks. Quentin Richardson and Earl Barron do not qualify.

James White-Regular Season-D, Playoffs- DNQ. What a disappointment! I thought this guy could play! It turns out that all he could do is dunk. I think he only had one highlight the whole season. What more can I say, Knicks, please get rid of this guy! He did absolutely nothing this season except get in the dunk contest and get one highlight!

Kurt Thomas (When he was on the Knicks)-Regular Season-D+, Playoffs- DNQ. He did well for his role which was a bench warmer but if he had gotten more minutes, then this grade could have been judged more fairly.

Rasheed Wallace (Before Retirement)-Regular Season-C-, Playoffs- DNQ. Rasheed had a good final year of his career this year with the Knicks for the time when he was not injured. He did well for his time, but he could not stay away from injury. So, Rasheed have a good life outside of basketball. Alright!

Marcus Camby-Regular Season-C-, Playoffs- DNQ. Camby had some pretty solid work with the Knicks this year and I think that he gave it all he got. If we could get him next year, I would love to have him back!

Those were my grades for the reserves, if you do not agree on something, come talk about it with me in the comments because I like to see what other people think about stuff. Anyway here are the role players and the sixth man of the year.

Steve Novak-Regular Season-C-, Playoffs-DNQ. Novak was having a fine season for his role at the role player and I thought that we should stick to the same strategy throughout the playoffs. We did not. This guy played about 2 minutes in our whole NBA Playoffs when in a regular season game he had been playing a good 10-15 minutes. Why would Woodson change the strategy? If you are winning, keep doing what you are doing. Don’t fix what is not broken!

Amare Stoudemire-Regular Season-C, Playoffs-DNQ. Stoudemire again had troubles with injuries for the second straight year and I think it is time to consider trading him. I gave him a C because he is still dunking out there with all the pain on him. I give him credit because after every injury he went through he toughened it out and came back out on the floor and for that I give him credit.

Jason Kidd-Regular Season-C+, Playoffs-D-. Jason Kidd was one of those players that had a great regular season and lost it all in the NBA Playoffs, I cannot even remember if he scored in the playoffs against the Celtics or Pacers. Please write in the comments below if you remember this man making a shot in the Playoffs. In the regular season, however, the whole thing is a different story. He did very fine in the regular season and I thought he was a great addition to the team. Then, the playoffs arrived and all matters with Jason Kidd were downhill. Anyway, he did retire at 40 years of age and is now the Nets head coach and I wish him the best of luck with that.

Chris Copeland-Regular Season-B-, Playoffs-B-, Was this guy a shock to us all or what? Nobody even thought he would be on a team this year and it turned out that he is actually a very fine player who hits shots when you need them. Copeland did show up in the playoffs and played the way he did in the regular season. He gave us a huge boost in the season and in the NBA Playoffs, he was phenomenal. Copeland, this is your team stay with us!

Kenyon Martin-Regular Season-B, Playoffs-B+. Kenyon Martin was a solid player for the Knicks in both the regular season and the playoffs. He would dunk the ball and give the Knicks the momentum that they needed to win. Then, he would scream at the crowd when he blocked a shot or dunked it and the crowd would jump up and down and they would go crazy. I remember sitting at home watching this guy get me out of my seat going nuts. Point is, Martin thank you for helping us with a great season!

JR Smith-Regular Season-A-, Playoffs-C+. Choke in the playoffs! I’m sorry JR but you did not help us after that elbow on Jason Terry in Game 3 of the 1st round. After that happened, JR could not do anything, he was missing shots that he would usually make all the time and he is one of the reasons why I think we got out by the Pacers in the playoffs. In the regular season, though, I could never stop applauding you. Making every shot, putting an incredible dunk in every single night. Awesomeness! If you had only shown up in the playoffs it would have been a totally different story. If it was my choice though I would still get JR back for next season because he did well in the regular season and the Knicks could use someone like that this year.

These were my grades on the role players, do you think I was correct or do you think different comment about it below and I can see what you think. Now, the starters and the coach.

Raymond Felton-Regular Season-B+, Playoffs: C-. In the playoffs this man was failure. Our starting point guard in one of the playoff games against Indiana scored 4 points! Are you kidding me? That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard of before. Felton is supposed to be the second scoring option behind Carmelo in the starting lineup and he is giving us 4 points in the whole game! Sorry, Felton but you deserve a C- for that performance in the playoffs. In the regular season he was better but still struggled. At least he did not have 4 points in a game on a consistent basis.

Pablo Prigioni-Regular Season-B+, Playoffs-B+. Another shocker right here. Nobody thought that 35 year old Pablo Prigioni was going to be on an NBA roster for his first year in the NBA. He shocked the world, the steals, the threes, the veteran, he had everything. He helped the team so much this year and he was one of the reasons why we even got to the 2nd round and got to six games in that second round. He truly played his heart out and I cannot thank him enough for giving the Knicks another big boost. Thanks Pablo!

Tyson Chandler-Regular Season-A-, Playoffs-C. Here is a player who did not show up for the 2nd round of the playoffs. Tyson Chandler got owned by Roy Hibbert in six straight games, oh wait that was the whole series against the Pacers, why would you betray us Tyson! Why? However, in the regular season he was a dominant force on the boards putting up two 20 rebound games and getting an alley-oop jam every single game. Good job by Tyson on the regular season, not so good in the playoffs.

Iman Shumpert-Regular Season-A-, Playoffs-A-. Never let this guy go! Iman Shumpert tore his ACL in game 1 of the NBA 1st round against the Miami Heat, and it looked like it really hurt. He came back during this season and worked hard to get back to his normal strength. He played great in that elimination game in the playoffs with those 5 three-pointers and those clutch buckets. Also, how about that ferocious jam in game two of the Conference Semifinals, that was awesome. Shumpert has a lot of time to develop and can become a really solid basketball player when at full strength. Good season, Iman.

Carmelo Anthony-Regular Season-A, Playoffs-A. Melo, you are going to win a championship one of these years, just keep working. Carmelo Anthony had one of the best regular seasons of his career averaging 28.7 points per game in the regular season and winning the scoring title, but if you think that is good enough. He averaged 28.8 points per game in the playoffs! Finally, a clutch performer! This is what a star has to do for his team, put up big numbers. Melo did some incredible things throughout the season including a 54 win season, a division title, home court advantage for the first two rounds, and the second seed in the Eastern Conference. Thank you so much Carmelo for everything you have done! Please do this next year and we will keep inching closer to that ring. Melo, next year is the one!

Mike Woodson-Regular Season-A, Playoffs-D+. Big Difference! In the regular season, Woodson was up for Coach of the Year in the NBA and was almost able to coach the East All-Stars. He got the Knicks a division title, 54 wins, and the 2nd seed in the East. I give a lot of credit to Woodson for that and I applaud everything that he did in the regular season, but the playoffs were a whole different story. He was screwing up every game and that is why I gave him a D+ in the playoffs. If Iman Shumpert hits 4 straight three-pointers to end the 3rd quarter in an elimination game, would you take Shumpert out for the 4th quarter. Sounds stupid, right! Woodson thinks different, he subs him out in the 4th quarter and we lose the Knicks are now out of the playoffs. What do you think the main reason was? WOODSON!! Mike Woodson just needs to make smarter decisions and he will be fine.

These were my predictions on each Knicks players grade, do you have a different opinion on what their grade should be? Tell me in the comments below. Please comment and thanks for reading!

The loss of our most recent playoff game, when the Knicks fell to the Pacers 82-71, still has that stinging feeling from it. This was a huge loss for us because game 4 still gives them home court advantage. Moving into game 4 on Indiana’s soil makes it that more challenging and that more important for the Knicks. They need to tie the series now and regain winning momentum. 
 
One sure way to win game 4 is to let Carmelo loose and let him do what he does best. I’m expecting 40+ points from him to help us secure the win.  It’s do or die time. This is what all the hard work during the season is for and Carmelo needs to shine.  So far, each playoff game that the Knicks won this season, Carmelo has averaged 29.8 points per game and led the team in scoring. He is key to our success in this next game.  He has to show he is clutch and can lead us back to MSG in victory. 

Another big factor in my opinion for game 4 is Raymond Felton. What happened to him in game 3? He had 6 points, shot 1-8 from the field and only dished out 2 assists in game 3, but he gave us 34 minutes. That added up to 34 minutes of wasted time in the game because he didn’t show up. Come on, man!  You can do this Raymond!!! 

#1: Melo must have a great scoring night. 

#2: Felton must be more involved and show up for game 4.

  #3: Stop Paul George. 

Paul George is clearly the best player on the Pacers and will be very difficult to shut down. I think the way to stop him is by putting our best defender on him, Iman Shumpert. He has to work hard and frustrate George. If we stop him, I say a win for the Knicks. The Pacers in game 3 were certainly working hard like they always do and a lot of their shots were dropping. I  mean, come on, everything was going in for them last game. Three-pointer is good by Hill. Paul George with an outstanding move. Hibbert tips it is again!  We heard those three sentences A LOT in game 3! Things have to change moving forward. 

I believe we will win game 4 in a nail biter decided by 6 or less points. I would prefer to blow them clear out of Indiana but I will settle for a win of any score.  That is, of course, if the refs haven’t decided the game before the first jump ball. Some of their calls have certainly been questionable. I remember one specific play where Shumpert got pushed out of bounds but he was on defense, and then Hansbrough got the ball and barely got touched and they called a foul. Shumpert had been guarding Paul George and George drove down the lane and became wide open because Shumpert got pushed out of bounds and he passed it to Hansbrough where he missed the shot, barely got touched, and a foul was called against the Knicks. It was just unbelievable. So, hopefully the referees will be a little bit less lopsided and let the teams play ball. Only time will tell…Tuesday at 7pm New York time to be exact!! 

Let me know what you think? Are we going to tie the series on Tuesday?  

With the NBA Playoffs starting, I was thinking about which team
would win each series in the playoffs. Of course, there are a lot of exciting
things going on right now in the playoffs, so it was hard for me to think of
which team would win series and in how many games would that team win it in. It
was very hard making these choices, and of course some were easier than others.
Plus, these are truly who I think will win, not necessarily who I want to win.
So, anyway, let me start off with the easiest ones that I could think of with
the 1 seeds vs. the 8 seeds.

In the East, the #1 seed is the Miami Heat and #8 seed is the
Milwaukee Bucks. My predictions are that Heat will win in 5 games. I really
  truly think that the Bucks can pull off one game on their home floor, but the
  Heat are too good and too talented for the Bucks, who had a losing record this
  year, but I think the Bucks could pull off one of those two home games because
  of their backcourt duo which is Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis. So, my
  prediction for that series is that the Heat will win in 5 games. In the West,
  however, the #1 seed is the Oklahoma City Thunder and the #8 seed is the
  Houston Rockets. My predictions are that the Thunder will win in 6 games. The
reason why I think Houston will pull out two games is because of two words, “The
  Beard”. James Harden can definitely bring two games home to Houston, in my
  opinion. The Rockets did pull out one game out of three against the Thunder by
  two points. However, I think that the Thunder will win this series because of
  the dominance of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and Serge Ibaka. Anyway, I
  think the Thunder will win in 6 games. Next, we have the 2 seeds vs. the 7
  seeds.

In the West, the #2 seed is the San Antonio Spurs and the #7 seed
is the Los Angeles Lakers. My predictions for this series are that the Spurs
will win in 5 games. I think that the Lakers cannot pull out this series against
the Spurs without Kobe Bryant, plain and simple. I think that the Spurs have
more talent than the Lakers because of Parker, Ginobili, and Duncan. Even though
the Lakers have D-12, I just don’t think they can do it. In the East, the #2
seed is the New York Knicks and the #7 seed is the Boston Celtics. I think that
the Knicks will win this series in 5 games. I think this because Boston will
definitely win a game on their home court, in my opinion. I think the Knicks
will win this series for sure if Raymond Felton plays well and he has so far so
keep it up, RAY! After that, we have the 3 seeds vs. the 6 seeds.  

In the West, I come to my first upset prediction. The #3 seed is
the Denver Nuggets and the #6 seed is the Warriors. My prediction is that Golden
State will win in 7 games. I think that the Warriors have enough talent to pull
this off. With the dominance of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson from beyond the
arc, I think that the Warriors will win. However, I think that the Nuggets will
make it close because of their backcourt in Andre Igoudala and Ty Lawson. In my
opinion, this will be a great and fun series to watch. Again, I think that
Golden State will win in 7 games. In the East, the #3 seed is the Indiana Pacers
and the #6 seed is the Atlanta Hawks. This was one of the easiest choices to
make. I think that the Pacers will sweep the Hawks simply because of the
dominance on both ends of the floor. With a lineup of George Hill, Paul George,
Lance Stephenson, David West, and Roy Hibbert, I think that the Pacers are going
to be very difficult to stop for the Hawks. I can see Josh Smith possibly
winning a game for them, but I think it will be a sweep by the Pacers. Lastly,
we have the #4 seeds vs. the #5 seeds.

These two series are always the toughest to make,
but I made predictions, so here we go. In the East, the #4 seed is the Brooklyn
Nets and the #5 seed is the Chicago Bulls. In my opinion, I think that the Bulls
will win this is 6 games. I think this because the Bulls won the season series
3-1 and I think that they have a much better defensive team and can stop the
  scorers like Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, and Brook Lopez. Another reason why I
  think the Bulls will win this series is because of the 2 young all-stars named
  Joakim Noah and Luol Deng. These two have so much talent, Deng can hit the open
  shot, Noah is a beast around the basket and getting boards. This is why I think
  the Bulls can win in 6. In the West, the #4 seed is the Los Angeles Clippers
  and the #5 seed is the Memphis Grizzlies. My last prediction for the 1st round is the
Grizzlies win this series in 7 games. I think that Mike Conley is going to take
charge and have some phenomenal games and get the ball to Zach Randolph and Marc
Gasol for easy layups, dunks and jump shots. I also think that Zach Randolph is
going to have a 35+ point game throughout the series and it will be fun to see.
I cannot wait to see this series and I am sure it will be fun to watch. Again, I
think that the Grizzlies will win against the Clippers in 7
games.

These are my predictions, but I want to know what yours are.
  Please comment below on your predictions on the playoffs and who you think will
  go to the next round. I think the Heat, Thunder, Spurs, Knicks, Pacers,
  Warriors, Bulls, and Grizzlies will all play in the Conference Semifinals.
  Thanks for reading my predictions. Please comment!  

With March madness coming to a close tonight, I started thinking about the college players that have made this NCAA season so exciting and what they can do for the NBA. When the NBA draft rolls around this summer, here are five key college ballers that I would love to see play for the Knicks. I know it probably won’t happen because the Knicks won’t have a chance at early picks
(thanks to the playoff run!) but a guy can dream, can’t he? Take a look at my top five and what I think they would be able to do for my Knicks next year. Compare them with your own top five. Do
you agree? Who else should make the list? Why?

Trey Burke – Trey Burke, the star of Michigan University this year, would be a dream pick for the
  Knicks, considering that he won the 2013 Naismith NCAA Basketball College  Player of the Year award. Trey Burke is a player that I would love to wear a  Knicks uniform because he averaged 18.5 points per game, 6.8 assists per game, and 1.6 steals per game. Also, many people cannot forget the miracle shot he took against Kansas to knock that #1 seed out of the tournament. He also had some big scoring nights this year putting up 29 against Penn State and 27 against West Virginia. He also got 4 double-doubles this season and the most impressive one was when he got 19 points and 12 assists against Iowa. Trey Burke would help the Knicks because he can help the backcourt and then Carmelo will have a person to pass it to if he is not open. Trey Burke showed how clutch he is in the game against Kansas to move on to the next round and he would be able to help with that if Carmelo is not making shots, we could give it to him and he could make them. This is why I want Trey Burke on the Knicks next year.

Victor Oladipo – Victor Oladipo of the Indiana Hoosiers would be a very nice pickup for the  Knicks because he is a momentum changer and I believe that the Knicks need that because we are the oldest team in the league. He is a great dunker and can fly to the sky when he wants to. He averaged 13.6 points per game and 6.3 rebounds per game. This season he also shot just under 60% from the field which is one of the best in NCAA basketball. If we draft him, I really feel that he can help New York in a game where the Knicks are down a lot and then he does a crazy
  dunk and changes the momentum of the game so the Knicks come back and win. This is why I want Victor Oladipo on the Knicks next year.

Kelly Olynyk – Kelly Olynyk, a great player on Gonzaga, would be a great pickup for the Knicks next year because all of or big men for New York this season have been getting injured and Olynyk can be the big man that steps in for the older guys. On the season, Olynyk averaged 17.8 points per game, 7.3 rebounds per game, 1.1 blocks per game, and shot 62.9% from the field this season and was 3rd best in the league in field goal percentage. This year he also had 33
points against Santa Clara. He would be phenomenal in a New York uniform because the older guys on the team could teach him stuff and then he can use it in games and come up big for the Knicks. This is why I want Kelly Olynyk on the Knicks next year.

Shane Larkin – Shane Larkin, the key player on the Miami Hurricanes, would be awesome for the Knicks because he is a great fast, young player who can put the ball in the hoop whenever he wants. He averaged 14.5 points per game and 2 steals per game for the 2012-13 season. One reason why I would like him in a Knick uniform is because our weakest area is the point guard and he could fill that role for the Knicks and get his points and up his assists average. This is why I want Shane Larkin on the Knicks.

Shabazz Muhammad – Shabazz Muhammad the best player on UCLA would be a great scoring guard for the New York Knicks. The reason I say this is because he averaged 17.9 points
per game and 5.2 rebounds per game this season. He scored 27 points against Fresno State and Missouri. I would love him on the Knicks because of his ability to score and that would up the Knicks scoring even more and he can also help the backcourt veterans with his quick ability to score. This is why I would love Shabazz Muhammad on the Knicks next year.

These are the top 5 players I would like to see wearing a New York Knicks jersey next year. I know it is a longshot because of the Knicks run to the playoffs but I can still believe, right? Anyway, these are my top 5, what are yours? Who would you like to see wearing a Knickerbocker uniform in the 2013-14 NBA season? Anyway, I hope you enjoyed seeing my top 5 players I would
like on the Knicks next year. So, thanks for reading! Please comment.

With the trade deadline fast approaching, rumors are all over the place. By now, you’ve probably heard the Knicks trade rumor of Shumpert on the trade block. I’ve been thinking about what the Knicks should do, and my answer may surprise you because in the past I’ve been desperate for the Knicks to take action. But this time, I don’t think they should do anything! Absolutely nothing! That’s right. The Knicks have shown a lot of heart this season. I think the squad they have now will keep winning and they just need to stay focused…and rested.

I know what you’re thinking as you read this…the Knicks have been losing lately. But it’s really just a slump. This team is older and they are tired. Their older bodies need a rest and the all-star break came just in time.  They will now be well rested and ready to start claiming victories again. In fact, I think the all-star break couldn’t have come at a better time for the Knicks.  

And speaking of the All-Star weekend, did you catch some or all of it?  Thanks to my DVR, I was able to watch the entire weekend.  Here are some highlights that I truly enjoyed:

·        Seeing two Knicks, Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler, both in the all-star game. The best part about it is that they both showed they were all-stars because Carmelo led the East in points and rebounds, getting 26 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Tyson Chandler did not shine as bright as Carmelo had a decent glow, putting up 7 points and grabbing 8 rebounds.

·        Watching the Denver Nuggets’ Kenneth Faried nail 40 points and grab 10 rebounds as well as 10 dunks all in the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge. He also won the MVP for that competition.

·        Rewinding the plays of Kyrie Irving of Cleveland, breaking the Piston’s Brandon Knight’s ankles two times in the Rising Stars Challenge. He crossed him over 3 times, and he fell twice. Once he did that, it became a 1-on-1 contest in Houston. It was so much fun to watch. Also, Kyrie Irving was in the 3-point shootout and got 23 out of 30 possible points. He won that competition with style and also competed in the All-Star game.

·        Enjoying the All-Star game. It especially was a pleasure to watch was CP3 in the all-star game. He lit up 20 points and dished out 15 assists leading the West to a victory against the East. Also, Chris Paul won MVP for his phenomenal performance in Houston, Texas.

Anyway, thanks for reading my latest blog posting and I hope you liked reading it. Also, respond to me about what YOUR favorite highlights were from all-star weekend and post what you think the Knicks or any other team should do trade-wise.

Thanks for reading! Please comment.

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Knicks have their last battle of the regular season against the Nets at Madison Square Garden at 3:00 PM. The last time that these two teams played together at the Garden was on December 19th, back in 2012. Now it is 2013 and the Nets are doing great to start off the New Year only losing one game! That’s stupendous! The Knicks, however, have not been looking very good getting their first three game losing streak while having Mike Woodson as head coach during the regular season. I still think though that the Knicks and Nets will play some phenomenal basketball.

In my opinion, I think that Carmelo Anthony will easily hit 30. The reason I say that Carmelo will get 30 points because against the Nets he averages 37 points per game. Here is how many points he scored in each of the battles: Part I: 35 points, Part II: 45 points, Part III: 31 points. I’m saying: Part IV: 30 or more points. This game should definitely be a very rough one, but still a close game. I believe that it might come down to the very final shot, maybe even at the buzzer of the 4th quarter. Just like Parts I and II of the battle. Part I: Overtime Thriller as Nets hold on to win 96-89, Part II: Jason Kidd hits a three pointer and the foul with around 15 seconds left, misses the free throw, but the Nets could not tie the game, Knicks win 100-97, Part III: Knicks win in blow out 100-86. As you can see, it will be rough, for neither team has gotten one point more than 100 in all three battles. That is some good defense and hustle! Raymond Felton will not play in the game because he fractured his right pinky finger on Christmas Day against the Lakers.

Next up are the matchups. They are: Point Guards: Jason Kidd vs. Deron Williams. I think that it will be tough for D-Will to score on Jason Kidd because Kidd has an extremely high basketball I.Q. However, I think Deron Williams will win this matchup because he has speed over the 38 year old Jason Kidd. Also, as being one of the rising stars in the NBA, Deron Williams can hit contested shots over Kidd. In my opinion, the point guard matchup goes to the Nets. Shooting Guards: Iman Shumpert vs. Joe Johnson. I think that Iman Shumpert will play great defense on Joe Johnson, but has still not fully recovered from his big injury yet, so I think the shooting guard matchup goes to the Nets, as well. Small Forwards: Chris Copeland vs. Gerald Wallace. I know that most people are going to disagree with me on this, but I think Copeland wins this matchup. Chris Copeland shoots with such confidence over defenders and makes it in. He also has had about 4 or 5 games this year where he started and got 20 or more points. Gerald Wallace, on the other hand, gets injured way too much. That’s why they call him CRASH! In my opinion, the small forward matchup goes to the Knicks. Power Forwards: Carmelo Anthony vs. Kris Humphries. This is probably the easiest choice to make and I have got to go with Carmelo. I think this matchup goes to the Knicks. Centers: Tyson Chandler vs. Brook Lopez. I think that Brook Lopez is really overrated and Tyson Chandler is clearly better. The centers matchup goes to the Knicks.

I think and hope that the Knicks win. I think that the Knicks can win the season series against the Nets as 3 wins and 1 loss.

I cannot wait to see this game Brooklyn vs. Manhattan, Nets vs. Knicks. Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day and please comment! 

On Monday, when the Knicks were facing the Celtics at the Garden, Jared Sullinger drove the lane and got stripped. It ended up being the Knicks ball. Sounds normal, right? Nope. As soon as that happened, Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Garnett started talking crazy trash to each other. It was not the first time in the game that that had happened. It was, however, the first time that the refs had reacted to it.

The ref called a double technical. One on Carmelo, and one on KG. Carmelo during the game, said that he would see Kevin Garnett after the game. And he was not kidding! He was at the Celtics bus after the game trying to find Kevin Garnett. Garnett eventually came, and they both began, once again, to talk trash. Now, the NBA gave Carmelo a one game suspension because he went to the Celtics bus and tried to find KG. However, the NBA did not give Kevin Garnett a suspension.  Here is what I tweeted when I first heard he got suspended... 

 In my opinion, I absolutely agree that Carmelo should be suspended, but I think that KG should have been suspended as well. I mean, even though Carmelo started it, they both kept it up. So, shouldn’t they both have suspensions?? Anyway, that is the past. The game that Carmelo is going to be suspended for is the game against the Pacers on January 10th at 7:30 PM. This is a game that I would not want Carmelo to miss, but you have to pay the price.

So, Carmelo should not have gone to the Celtics bus to talk with KG. It’s simple, he shouldn’t have done it. I love how he shows that he has so much passion for the game, but he needs to keep it on the court, not off the court. It was really not a good move for him, the sport of basketball, and the NBA. It really is just unnecessary. Anyway, I hope the Knicks can prevail in the game, Thursday, against the Pacers. Knicks against Pacers, no Melo, no Felton. GOOD LUCK NEW YORK KNICKERBOCKERS!!!

GO KNICKS!!!

I know that everyone who predicted the winner of this game most probably went with the Knicks because the Kings were truly struggling this season. However, with superstar Carmelo Anthony and starting point guard Raymond Felton out, someone needed to step up. The starting lineup for the Knicks in that game was Jason Kidd, Ronnie Brewer, James White, Kurt Thomas, and Tyson Chandler. I thought this lineup was going kill the Kings lineup, but I was all wrong.

The Kings started out beating the Knicks on every play and possession. Then the most embarrassing play of the whole game happened, but sadly it was not in the Knicks favor. Chris Copeland drove in to the basket very slowly and tried to bank it off the backboard and in to get 2 easy points. Then, when he placed it off the backboard 6 foot guard Aaron Brooks swatted it off the backboard for a rejection. He fell out of bounds, but saved the ball. Chuck Hayes got it and passed it to Jimmer Fredette for 3 and they got it in. Mike Woodson was not very happy at Copeland after that.

The Kings looked like they had it in the bag pulling off a 27 point lead in one part of the first half. However, Jason Kidd hit a buzzer beater at the end of the half to symbolize that a comeback would happen. And it did. J.R Smith was going insane with his jumpers and layups. Tyson Chandler got 21 points and 18 rebounds which is very impressive. Jason Kidd was great too. Then the 4th quarter was going down to the wire and the clock was ticking down 4 minutes, 3 minutes, 2 minutes, and kept going. Jason Kidd hit a 3 pointer to give us the lead 103-101. Chris Copeland then hit a jump shot making the score 105-101. Isaiah Thomas on the Kings hit a big shot to make to score 105-103, Knicks are winning. Then, Kidd tried an alley-oop to Chandler but it was stolen by Cousins. He passed it to Isaiah Thomas who took a clean jump shot but badly missed. James Johnson got the rebound and tried to power up a shot but that was an epic fail. He got the rebound again and passed it to John Salmons in the corner with 3 seconds to go. Salmons saw James Johnson, who was the one who kept getting the rebound, and passed it to him. The Kings did not want to take a 3 pointer during that possession, but with 1 second left, James Johnson had no choice.

Now, James Johnson before this shot was 0 for 11 on the season from downtown, but when he took the shot and the buzzer rang, the only 2 things you could here were the crowd cheering and the ball spiraling into the net. The Kings won the game 106-105.

It was truly a lucky shot. Now, I, myself, cannot call this a true loss for the Knicks. I mean, Carmelo Anthony and Raymond Felton were both out and we only lost by one point. It just shows how good of a team we are. I guarantee that if Carmelo had played in that game we definitely would have won, possibly even destroyed them.

Please comment!

After yesterday’s game, I can’t help but talk about the Lakers. When the Lakers first started the season, they were doing terrible with Mike Brown being their head coach. So, the Lakers fired him. The Lakers were looking for someone to hire to be their new head coach, they could have possibly gotten Phil Jackson, one of the best coaches ever, they could have gotten former player, Brian Shaw, or they could have Mike D’Antoni, former Knicks and Suns coach. They chose Mike D’ Antoni. I thought that they were joking when I first heard about it. He was a terrible coach in the Knicks and the Lakers just picked him up. The Lakers record prior to last night’s games was 4 wins and 8 losses. Remember, this is the Lakers we are talking about. Then came last night’s game against the Knicks.

Now, most people probably thought that it would be a blowout with the Lakers taking the game and Kobe scoring like 50 points. No way, they were wrong. The Knicks started the game out strong and went up by around 25 points. With Kidd on Kobe, there was no way Kobe was going to score too easily. D’ Antoni was upset at his team thinking they could do better and he was right, they could. The Lakers came back and then it was a trading baskets kind of thing. A two there, a three here, a two here, a two there, it was crazy. Then, the Lakers finally started making a comeback, but the only way they could do it was by injuring Carmelo who scored 9 of the Knicks first 11 points in the first quarter. Let me explain what happened if you didn’t see it and if you did, just relive the glory.  Melo drove down the lane hard, tried to do a dunk and then Dwight Howard knocked him to the ground all body. After that, Carmelo’s leg landed and when his body came down it twisted back just a little bit too much. He left the game diagnosed with a sprained left ankle. No flagrant?!! I promise you if that was any other team that would have been a flagrant and for the Heat, Grizzlies, or Spurs it would be an ejection. Anyway, back to the game, the Knicks were up by 20, then 18, then 16, and it kept growing shorter in the 4th, until it was a 7 point game. I was now shivering when I was watching the game at this point. However, we pulled it off. The Knicks won 116-107 and Melo was the leading scorer for the Knicks! The guy gets injured early in the 3rd quarter and doesn’t return but is still the leading scorer with 30 points. That’s insane!!

In my opinion, D’Antoni is a terrible coach, whether he is in the Knicks or Lakers. I just want to say to Kobe “Good luck with D’Antoni” because it is not going to be easy. There is one thing I am looking forward to, though. I want to see what happens when Steve Nash comes back because the only team D’ Antoni did pretty well in was the Suns with Steve Nash and Amar’e Stoudemire. So I am looking forward to seeing that, but that is a long time from now because Steve Nash is injured. Anyway, I’m just glad he is not with the Knicks!

Thanks for reading my post. Please comment!!

The Knicks definitely surprised many people with their 11 wins and 4 losses start this season. They surprised me too. I love the fact that they are still undefeated at home, with all their losses being on the road. I think this is one of the best starts for the Knicks in franchise history, certainly in my lifetime anyway. The real surprise is that it shows the team is up for a championship run this year so far. The only other times they started seasons like this was back in the 1970 season when they won their first of two titles, and in 1994 when they went to the finals, but lost to Hakeem Olajuwon and the Rockets.

The person that I am most impressed with is Carmelo Anthony. He leads the league in points per game in the first quarter with 10.5 points. Also, he is third in the NBA in points per game throughout the whole game, right behind Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant. However, those are not the things I am most impressed with, what I am most impressed with is his passing of the ball. He is starting to drive in and bring the defenders in and then kick the ball out to the open man. That is called good basketball.

Another player I am impressed with is Jason Kidd who has back spasms now. I did not even know he was third all time in three-pointers made. He is a very unselfish player and is clutch. Ronnie Brewer and J.R. Smith are also making their mark. Ronnie Brewer is starting to hit the three point shot. I thought that he was just a defensive player and was a good finisher in the lane but I was wrong, he is much more than that. He does everything from rebounds to assists to fantastical dunks, and I am just glad he is on the team. Also, J.R. Smith is probably having the best year of his career. Now, many people were saying that he is a big ball hog and he never passes, and they were right, in the beginning. Now, he is starting to pass more and is finding players like Steve Novak for three and finding Carmelo for the open jump shot.

On Monday November 26th, the basketball battle for New York will occur. I expect there to be some hard fouls and a lot of chanting from the crowd in the game of the New York Knicks going up against, the new team, the Brooklyn Nets. The Brooklyn Nets roster contains one of the best backcourts in the league having two all-stars named Deron Williams and Joe Johnson. For the Knicks though, they have Raymond Felton at the point guard and future hall of famer Jason Kidd.

The point guard matchup, Raymond Felton vs. Deron Williams, I think is the key matchup. Raymond Felton has a lot to show in this game, for example, he has to show if he can stop the best player on the Nets, Deron Williams. Now to the shooting guard matchup, which is Jason Kidd vs. Joe Johnson. I think that Jason Kidd has to move those old legs fast up and down the court and get back to defend Joe Johnson because he is younger and quicker than the third oldest player in the NBA right now, Jason Kidd.

Now the small forward matchup is Ronnie Brewer vs. Gerald Wallace. This I think will be an interesting matchup because Brewer is a good young defender and can handle Gerald Wallace, who is a fast and aggressive scorer and a big part for the Nets. I’ll definitely be looking at this matchup during the game. Next, the power forward matchup, Carmelo Anthony vs. Kris Humphries. This matchup I think is the least exciting because Carmelo Anthony is a complete superstar and can beat Kris Humphries any day he wants. Plus, Kris Humphries is not having his greatest year this year either. The only possible way for Humphries to win the matchup against Carmelo is that he will have to guard him like Thabo Sefelosha guards Kobe Bryant. That’s the only way.

Finally, we have the center matchup, which is Tyson Chandler vs. Brook Lopez. This will also be a very interesting matchup because Brook Lopez is having one of the best years of his young career and averaging 8.5 points in the first quarter, right behind New York Knick player Carmelo Anthony who averages 10.5 points in the first quarter, but Tyson Chandler won Defensive Player of the Year last year, so it will be very interesting.

I think this game will come down to the wire and it will be a very close game, but I really want the Knicks to win. What do you think is the key matchup? Do you think this will be a very close game at the end?

 I want to know your thoughts, so please comment!!

The countdown to the start of the NBA’s regular season is over and I think the Knicks season opener is going to be very exciting!  Yet before we jump ahead, let’s take a look back and recap the preseason for the Knicks. In their first preseason game, the Knicks played the Wizards and won 108-101. The player that was best on the Knicks for that game had to have been Steve Novak. He was the leading scorer with 21 points and he also made all 7 three pointers that he took (impressive!).  The next game was against the Boston Celtics, which the Knicks won in overtime 98-95. In my opinion, the main reason they won this one is because of backup forward Chris Copeland. He scored 21 points throughout the game and also got the game winning block. Carmelo also scored 23 points but that is to be expected from him at this point.

The third game, the Knicks faced the Toronto Raptors and lost 107-88. The Raptors were led by former Rockets point guard, Kyle Lowry. He had a phenomenal game with 17 points, 3 steals, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds. Carmelo and Amar’e combined for 42 points but it wasn’t enough.  This game was followed by another game against the Celtics but the Knicks luck ran out this time. The Celtics claimed an 11 point victory, with the final score of 109-98. Chris Copeland had another phenomenal game for Boston, scoring 34 points. However, in my opinion, the reason why the Celtics won was due to the support of Jeff Green, who scored 25 points.

In our second to last preseason game, the Knicks fell to Philadelphia, losing 98-90. The Sixers had the best preseason record in the league going into the game. Jason Richardson scored 23 points and Thaddeus Young scored 22 points. Finally, our last preseason game was the much anticipated game against the Brooklyn Nets. It was definitely the most fun game to watch for me in the preseason. Before I say who won, let me say that Tyson Chandler got injured in the beginning of the game. Gerald Wallace was trying to cut through the screen and he hit Tyson’s knee. Fortunately, it was only a bone bruise. As you probably know by now, the Knicks won against the Nets in overtime 97-95. MarShon Brooks went up for a layup at the end and missed. The Knicks then ran out the clock.

Well, there’s more criticism out there for the Knicks dynamic duo. This time the chemistry between Stat and Melo comes under fire from former Knick, Stephon Marbury, who has new found fame as a basketball superstar in China. Marbury, who played with Stoudemire on the Phoenix Suns back in 2003, believes the two Knicks stars are a complete mismatch. He thinks Stat needs someone who is a pass first point guard, like Steve Nash. Carmelo is a shoot first, ask questions later (oh, you wanted me to pass?) type of player, so I can understand Marbury’s point of view.

Still, I think that Stat and Melo have no choice but to make it work if the Knicks are to have any real success this season. There has to be some give and take in adjusting both of their games, which means Mike Woodson has his work cut out for him.  For now, what I think they should do during the games is put Carmelo at power forward with Stat on the bench, and then alternate Stat at power forward with Melo on the bench. They will both be given their own time to shine on the court. It’s not ideal but until they learn to come together, or until the Knicks learn how to put together a winning team worthy of New York in its name, it’s what we are left with right now.

I expect more people will weigh in on the dynamic duo and their ability to make it work as the season draws near.  Well, I hope they surprise everybody, including me.  I still love the Knicks and will continue to root for them. Do you think they have it in them? Please comment.

The former Houston Rockets star, Hakeem Olajuwon, was helping the Knicks forward Amar’e Stoudemire by teaching him post moves in the paint, such as the “Dream Shake”. Now he is coming to New York to help out Carmelo Anthony, Tyson Chandler, and Marcus Camby improve their post game as well as helping Amar’e a little bit more.

With Hakeem training these four Knicks players, I think the Knicks will have a much better chance, better than expected for this season anyway. Hakeem can make the Knicks so much better because Olajuwon is absolutely one of the top 15 greatest players of all time. He was so good at making ball fakes and tricking his opponents by using lots of different post moves. I can’t wait to see how much more dominant the Knicks will be with Carmelo dominating the post with Stoudemire doing the same on the outside. I think he will make a difference in how this two players work together.  I also think that Tyson Chandler will become a better offensive force with Olajuwon teaching him how to use his height to his advantage. He will, in my opinion, average around 15 points per game. Lastly, let’s talk about Marcus Camby. Camby may be old but I believe that with Olajuwon will be able to help him regain some of the dominance he used to show on the floor.

Former New York Knick, Charles Oakley is making headlines again. This time he is making comments on Stat and Melo and their roles as leaders on the Knicks. He questions their ability to be able to blend their teamwork and bring out the best in each of the other players. Yet, Stat and Melo are getting off easy. Back in February, Oakley made some pretty harsh comments on Charles Barkley, KG, and Kendrick Perkins. It’s clear he isn’t a fan when it comes to those three.  

It seems that Oakley earned the right to speak his mind after his career performance in the NBA. My parents (Knicks fans) always talk of him as the NBA legend that represented the true spirit of New York – determined, strong, gritty, relentless, fearless and built like an oak tree. To hear my parents tell it, Oakley always gave “110% every game” and he was a “defensive monster” who intimidated the other team just by being on the court. He was known for his rebounding abilities and pure hustle on the floor.

When I talk about the ’92 Dream Team, I also think about the USA team today. Sometimes I even think about having the best players from ’92 and ’12 and putting them together to make an all-time USA Team. Today, that is what I will be talking about. Let’s get this started! Chris Mullin and Christian Laettener are out of there following with Tyson Chandler and James Harden. Scottie Pippen and Russell Westbrook are out as well. Jordan, Magic, Bird, LeBron, and Kobe are in that team. D-Will shouldn’t be in there at all. Kevin Love and Andre Igoudala are not in there. John Stockton and Charles Barkley are definitely in it. Cp3 and Carmelo are in. Anthony Davis is no way no how going to be in this team. I have to make a choice to eliminate someone and Ewing is a no go for me. Also, Kevin Durant is, as well. The Admiral, Clyde “The Glide” Drexler, and Karl Malone finish out the remaining spots.