The New York Knicks Thread.

[dxjayrock2008]

Amar'e Stoudemire says Knicks shouldn't blow up current roster to bring Carmelo Anthony to New York

BY Frank Isola
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Saturday, January 8th 2011, 4:00 AM

Sipkin/News
Amare Stoudemire (c.) says the Knicks can compete with their current roster, including Raymond Felton (l.) and Bill Walker (r.) and don't need to make a move for Carmelo Anthony (below).

Sipkin/News


PHOENIX - Amar'e Stoudemire is starting to sound like he doesn't want to see the Knicks blow up their roster, which is what they'd likely have to do in order to acquire Carmelo Anthony.
Saying "we don't really need much," Stoudemire seemed to suggest that he'd be fine if management gave the current roster a chance to prove itself this season.
"Right now, in New York we have a solid team," Stoudemire said Friday. "We don't really need much. We're playing well. We feel like the team we have can be very successful if we keep improving individually and as a team on the defensive end."
Anthony, who can become a free agent on July 1, is expected to be moved by the Nuggets before the Feb. 24 trade deadline. Anthony has made it known that the Knicks are his preferred destination, but team president Donnie Walsh doesn't have the assets, namely first-round picks, to satisfy Denver.
The emergence of Raymond Felton and Wilson Chandler has Stoudemire optimistic that the Knicks can be a solid playoff club. He also hinted that Mike D'Antoni's willingness to stress defense more than he did in Phoenix has made a difference as well.
"We're not the Suns east, not at all," Stoudemire said. "We're the New York Knicks and we're playing great defensively. We're going to take that momentum on the defense throughout the rest of the year. But I do think the system Mike D'Antoni created was something special, and the fact that he now has it in New York and players willing to play defense from the point guard down to the center position, he's going to get the best of them."
In November, Stoudemire said the only coach to teach him defense has been current Suns head coach Alvin Gentry, which was viewed as an obvious knock on D'Antoni. Yesterday, Stoudemire called D'Antoni "a genius" offensive coach and added, "For us now the difference is we're starting to figure out how to play defense and buy into it."

[giljr]

It seems that they want Carmelo in their team. I think they are good as a team now but with Carmelo its a lot much better team. They have good record and maybe they can acquire Carmelo to their team. I bet they can also keep up to the playoffs with their solid games.

[CKR13]

Wilson Chandler has been playing well of late. Credit goes to Isiah Thomas for drafting him back in the NBA 2007 Draft. With that thought, Thomas praises his former player:

"I think he definitely is playing at an All-Star level and has potential to be an All-Star. Of all the players I drafted there, he's the only one who hasn't played in the playoffs, won a championship or been an All-Star. He's the only one."

"I'm happy for Wilson. I don't mind putting my stamp on any guys I drafted there. Look at the players we had there, they're all doing well in the league. A few aren't doing well. There's more doing well than aren't doing well.''

Also Thomas is willing to help the team despite not having an official post with the team.

"Donnie Walsh has always been nice to me. He's always had good things to say to me and said good things about me. Sometimes people read into a lot of things that aren't necessarily there. I don't perceive Donnie has a problem with me. I don't have a problem with him. We both want the Knicks to do well, and in any way we can, we will try to help him.''

"I can not be happier for Jim Dolan and Donnie and the Knicks. They all worked extremely hard. I'm really pleased Stoudemire is playing as well as he is. Wilson playing as well as he is. Felton playing good. It's a good energy. It's good to see the Knicks back and playing good basketball. I'm particularly happy for the friends I have there. I love where I'm at. All is good now.
''

[dxjayrock2008]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slu...oudemire011111

[dxjayrock2008]

Knicks beat Blazers, now 12-8 on the road

3 hours, 36 minutes ago.



PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)—For one night, it was the New York Knicks’ defense that stood out.
Amare Stoudemire(notes) had 23 points and eight rebounds, Raymond Felton(notes) added 17 points and 14 assists, and New York beat the Portland Trail Blazers 100-86 on Tuesday.
The Knicks (22-15) held Portland to 34.5 percent shooting, and the Blazers took themselves out of the game with poor shots down the stretch.
“Our defense was great,” Felton said. “Our defense is what fueled our offense tonight and that’s what allowed us to win this game.”


Ronny Turiaf(notes) had a season-high 19 points and tied a season best with 10 rebounds for the Knicks, who improved to 12-8 away from home, surpassing their road win total from last season. Wilson Chandler(notes) added 17 points. Stoudemire has scored at least 20 in 22 straight games.
LaMarcus Aldridge(notes) had 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Blazers. Rudy Fernandez(notes) scored 12 of his 18 in the first half, while Andre Miller(notes) had 14 points and Nicolas Batum(notes) 13.
Portland had an eight-game home winning streak snapped in an overtime loss to Miami on Sunday. The Blazers looked as though they had not recovered, falling behind by 12 in the first half and wilting after briefly taking a third-quarter lead.
“I thought we looked mentally fatigued,” Portland coach Nate McMillan said. “We were just a step slow in everything we did.”
Portland led 57-56 in the third on a layup by Wesley Matthews(notes), but Chandler nailed a 3-pointer to regain the lead for the Knicks. Bill Walker(notes) hit a 3 to put them up 71-62 and they led by nine going into the final quarter.
Portland got within 81-76, but Stoudemire hit two free throws and Chandler silenced the Rose Garden crowd with an alley-oop slam that ended the comeback threat. The Blazers were just 4 of 18 on 3-pointers. There were no easy baskets.
“I’d say we are getting it,” New York coach Mike D’Antoni said about his team’s defense. “The key is that players are buying into it and trying to get better at it.”
The 6-foot-10 Turiaf started in place of injured Danilo Gallinari(notes) and scored in double digits for only the third time this season. He held his ground against Portland big man Joel Przybilla(notes), keeping Przybilla and Marcus Camby(notes) out of the lane to open up opportunities for Stoudemire. Turiaf also had three assists and three steals.
Aldridge and Stoudemire renewed a rivalry that gained notice when the two clashed in the first round of the playoffs last season when Stoudemire was with Phoenix. Stoudemire averaged 20.5 points during that series, which the Suns won, while Aldridge averaged 19.
Stoudemire got the best of the matchup early on Tuesday. Aldridge picked up three fouls in the first half and played just 7 minutes. Without him, Portland struggled, shooting just 36 percent in the half while New York shot 55 percent.
Stoudemire had 13 points by halftime and the Knicks led by as many as 12 in the second quarter.
“We just didn’t make shots,” Aldridge said. “I tried to force the issue going to the basket, took some shots that probably couldn’t go in, but I didn’t want to just take jump shots over and over. It was tough.”
Notes: Stoudemire received his 11th technical of the season in the first quarter. … The Blazers had just eight assists. … Matthews went 2 of 13 from the field. … Camby had 16 rebounds.

[CKR13]

According to Chris Broussard of ESPN, Anthony Randolph is on the trading block in exchange for a future first round draft pick; preferably a 2011 draft pick.

[CKR13]

Former Knicks star and now Team Executive Allan Houston won the Knicks Player of the Decade (2000-2009) and Houston will be honored on February 23, 2011 on a ceremony at half-time.

Houston easily won over former Knicks players Latrell Sprewell and Kurt Thomas.

Alongside Houston's enshrinement, the following players will be added to the existing Players for the Decades alongside contemporaries like that of Willis Reed and Patrick Ewing.

Harry Gallatin - 1950's New York Knickerbockers Player of the Decade

Dick Barnett - 1960's New York Knickerbockers Player of the Decade

Earl Monroe - 1970's New York Knickerbockers Player of the Decade

Mark Jacksn -1980's New York Knickerbockers Player of the Decade

John Starks - 1990's New York Knickerbockers Player of the Decade

[dxjayrock2008]

Randolph deal just isn't true

Knicks Blog
Berman on Twitter

By MARC BERMAN
Last Updated: 2:41 AM, January 21, 2011
Posted: 2:41 AM, January 21, 2011
SAN ANTONIO -- A wild Internet rumor had Anthony Randolph traded yesterday to the Pacers. However, when reporters were let into Knicks practice at the AT&T Center, Randolph was sitting on a chair icing his ankle.
"I'm still a Knick," Randolph said.
Last Friday, as The Post reported, agent Bill Duffy told team president Donnie Walsh that Randolph prefers a trade if he is not in the plans to play. Walsh told Duffy he would keep an "open mind."
Walsh has long considered trading Randolph for a first-round pick, which he can use in a Carmelo Anthony deal with Denver. Timberwolves president David Kahn still has interest in Randolph.



"I just worry about basketball," Randolph said yesterday. "My agent handles that stuff. That's their job and I let them take care of that."
The 6-foot-11 high flier was taken out of the rotation in mid-November and it coincided with the Knicks' 13-1 surge. Coach Mike D'Antoni is reluctant to go back to him, though he said he is one big-man injury away from playing. That does not seem the case as Randolph still didn't play when Ronny Turiaf was shelved.
"I love to play basketball," Randolph said. "This makes me realize how much I love the game. I just have to wait for my opportunity. When it comes, I'll be ready."
Reflecting on his November banishment, Randolph said, "Coach [D'Antoni] found a group he felt more comfortable with, thought he had the best chance of winning and that's what he went with. I try not to think about stuff because it's in the past. When I do get my opportunity, I'll make the best of it."
*
Wilson Chandler, whom the Nuggets have interest in despite his restricted-free-agent status, is looking for a new agent after parting ways with Chris Luchey.
The Post reported earlier this month that Walsh planned to sign Chandler this summer. The Post reported Chandler's old camp was looking for a deal in the five-year, $60 million range -- which could be a turnoff for Denver.

[CKR13]

In a recent publication by Forbes, the New York Knicks has topped the Los Angeles Lakers as the NBA's most valuable franchise.

Knicks 1st, Lakers 2nd on Forbes list

NEW YORK -- The New York Knicks have overtaken the Los Angeles Lakers as the NBA's most valuable franchise, and 17 of the 30 teams are estimated to have lost money last season, according to Forbes.

The Knicks' value rose 12 percent from $586 million to $655 million, the magazine said Wednesday in its annual evaluation. The rise was attributed to increased ticket sales and sponsorships at Madison Square Garden.

The Lakers went up 6 percent from $607 million to $643 million.

Chicago was third at $511 million, followed by Boston ($452 million), Houston ($443 million) and Dallas ($438 million).

After signing LeBron James, the Miami Heat had the biggest percentage rise, a 17 percent increase to $425 million, good for seventh place. Following the loss of James, Cleveland dropped a league-high 26 percent to $355 million.

The average value of a franchise increased 1 percent to $369 million, down from $379 million two years ago.

Forbes estimated teams averaged $6.1 million in operating income. It said the total of teams that lost money is the most since the lockout-shortened 1998-99 season.

-ESPN

[dxjayrock2008]

Stoudemire likely an All-Star starter


By HOWARD KUSSOY
Last Updated: 5:19 AM, January 27, 2011
Posted: 3:00 AM, January 27, 2011


Amar’e Stoudemire has succeeded in his first season in New York, making basketball matter again to those it matters most. Tonight, he will be recognized for it.
Stoudemire likely will be named as a starter for this year’s All-Star Game, which will be announced before tonight’s game. He would become the first Knick to start in an All-Star Game since Patrick Ewing in 1992 and the first Knick to play in one since Allan Houston and Latrell Sprewell in 2001.
“I think [it’s a big deal],” Stoudemire said. “I think the fans appreciate it. It wouldn’t be possible if it wasn’t for the fans. They’re very appreciative of the hard work that we’ve put forth in New York as a team, and so I’d be honored to be a starter.”



Stoudemire, who ranked second in fan votes for forwards in the Eastern Conference during the last announced update, likely will be joined in the East by two of tonight’s opponents, Heat stars LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, as well as Chicago’s Derrick Rose and Orlando’s Dwight Howard. The projected Western starters are L.A.’s Kobe Bryant, New Orleans’ Chris Paul, Minnesota’s Kevin Durant, Denver’s Carmelo Anthony and Houston’s Yao Ming, who will need to be replaced because of injury for the Feb. 20 game in Los Angeles. The remaining All-Stars will be announced on Feb. 3.
* Wilson Chandler, fresh off a 25-point performance in Monday’s 115-106 win over the Wizards, did not practice yesterday as a precautionary measure, but will be starting tonight.
“His calf was bothering him,” coach Mike D’Antoni said. “It was a little sore, but he’ll be 100 percent to go. He’ll be ready to go [tonight].”
* The Heat do not have a definitive date when Chris Bosh will return from a sprained ankle he suffered on Jan. 15. The power forward took part in shooting drills yesterday, but may miss the team’s next four games. Miami is 1-1 without Bosh.
James said he hopes the All-Star’s absence will give the rest of the team a chance to emerge from the Big Three’s shadow. Mike Miller’s 32 points and 10 rebounds in the Heat’s 120-103 win over Toronto on Saturday may just be the beginning.
“We want our guys to play with confidence,” James said. “I think it’s a great opportunity.
We want C.B. back as quick as possible, but it’s given guys opportunity to play with confidence and just let their hair down. We’re going to need a full team effort, especially [tonight] with that team we’re playing against.”

[dxjayrock2008]

Knicks' Stoudemire needs a running mate



Last Updated: 5:06 AM, January 27, 2011
Posted: 3:00 AM, January 27, 2011

Marc Berman


LeBron James always will be regarded in New York as poultry for refusing to join Amar’e Stoudemire on the epic Broadway stage.
But that does not mean LeBron won’t become a LeChampion in the next two years — if not this June. Stars win titles. More the merrier.
LeBron’s Dream Team left the South Beach sunshine yesterday for the snowy freeze of New York. Amid tonight’s likely cold, boo-infested Garden reception, James and Dwyane Wade likely will provide a chilling reminder these Knicks don’t have enough star power to compete with the elite.
Not without Carmelo Anthony as Stoudemire’s sidekick.



“I think they are a lot better this year because of Stoudemire, [Raymond] Felton and Landry [Fields],” former Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy said yesterday. “But to compete for the championship, I think they have to acquire one more legitimate star player. Donnie Walsh, Mike [D’Antoni] and his staff and the players have really done a great job this year at maximizing the talent on hand.”
In last week’s Sports Illustrated profile on Anthony, it was reported that before Chris Paul’s infamous wedding toast about a joint Knicks venture, James chided Anthony at the reception.
“If you want any chance against us in Miami, you’d better team up with Stoud’ in New York,” James reportedly told Anthony.
From The King’s lips to Walsh’s ears.
Van Gundy, now a commentator for ESPN, always has believed a coach is only as good as his stars. Before the season, Van Gundy predicted 72 wins for the Heat. At 31-13, they won’t get there, but they should exceed 60, and James, Wade, and Chris Bosh should have a solid chance of lifting a championship trophy in five months.
“Obviously, I was wrong about my win total prediction for the Heat, but I believe they are one of four teams that could win the championship,” Van Gundy said. “I feel they have the best talent in the league, and when Bosh, Wade and James are healthy, they are the best defensive team. I disagree with anyone who believes it has not worked or won’t work in the future. They are too talented, have high basketball IQ’s and are unselfish with the ball.”
Bosh will miss tonight’s Knicks showdown with a high ankle sprain. But two stars still are better than one. James and Wade should be enough to overpower the regressing Knicks (23-21), with Stoudemire looking to be running on empty during their recent six-game slide.
James got revved up from the relentless Garden boos on Dec. 17 to post a triple-double (32 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists) for his fifth straight victory at the World’s Most Famous Arena. He is averaging 38.8 points, 8.0 rebounds and 8.1 assists during his 5-0 Garden spree.
“We got two guys that really enjoy playing in that building,” James said yesterday, referring to himself and Wade. “I don’t know where [the Knicks] are right now, but we’ve got two guys from this team that thrive to play in the Garden.”
It would have been nice if James had that Garden epiphany last summer and realized he could have won it all with Stoudemire in New York. That’s the past. Knicks fans no longer think about James anymore, unless he’s in the arena. ’Melo is on the brain, all the time.
Walsh has done an excellent job turning the Knicks from a laughingstock to a likely sixth-seeded playoff team and now plays a good game of Rocky Mountain Hold ’em. He has 28 days until the trade deadline to show his hand.
The Knicks could get a favorable first-round pairing against the beatable Bulls, who occupy the third seed. The Knicks are 2-0 against Chicago. But that’s the ceiling — a second-round playoff berth. The Knicks are not going where Miami, Boston and Orlando are going. The Knicks are 0-5 vs. the Eastern power trio this season.
Stoudemire sounded delirious yesterday when he said, “We had a chance to win both [Heat] games.”
The Knicks played one excellent half in the Garden meeting before caving in a 113-91 loss Dec. 17. They fell behind by 22 points in the second quarter in Miami on Dec. 28 before the Heat relaxed and pulled out a 106-98 victory, but it really wasn’t that close.
On a freezing night in New York, James and Wade will remind us of the gap all over again.
marc.berman@nypost.com

[sinobball]

At the beginning of the season I predicted this will be Ray Felton's breakout season. However I didn't think Amar'e would still be putting out the numbers he did. Landry Fields came out of nowhere. If they can get Carmelo this team will be championship material. It's hard to believe they did it without getting LeBron, so soon after last year's terrible record.

[twilost]

If they can get Carmelo without trade and after this season. They will be very successful. Gallinari is necessary for D'Antoni system. They should keep him in roster.

[CKR13]

New York Knicks 93 Miami HEAT 88

The Knicks out-scored the HEAT 29-15 on the 4th quarter as HEAT superstar LeBron James struggled with 7-24 from the field. Amare Stoudemire lead the Knicks with 24 points. Danilo Gallinari added 20 points.

[eliooo93]

New York Knicks 93 Miami HEAT 88

The Knicks out-scored the HEAT 29-15 on the 4th quarter as HEAT superstar LeBron James struggled with 7-24 from the field. Amare Stoudemire lead the Knicks with 24 points. Danilo Gallinari added 20 points.

Miami needs a PG badly! Their execution in the 4th qtr was simply TERRIBLE

[CKR13]

The New York Knicks have employed former Denver Nuggets GM Mark Warkenstein as a High Level Consultant for the organization.

[dxjayrock2008]

Mozgov enjoyed moment in sun

Knicks Blog
Berman on Twitter

By MARC BERMAN
Last Updated: 5:19 AM, February 3, 2011
Posted: 2:35 AM, February 3, 2011


When Russian rookie center Timofey Mozgov entered the Knicks' locker room after his breakout game Sunday, the game ball sat at his locker. The Knicks will inscribe it with the date and his numbers for the night -- 23 points, 14 rebounds, 40 minutes. But Mozgov struggled in last night's 113-97 loss to Mavericks, scoring four points and grabbing two rebounds in 16 minutes.
Nevertheless, Sunday was a breakout game for Mozgov, who in his Russian blog on Sports.ru, called it "My first NBA trophy."
Mozgov got a congratulatory text from fellow Russian Andrew Kirilenko of the Jazz, and many of his teammates mimicked the fictional boxer Ivan Drago after the contest. Landry Fields has nicknamed him "The Wizard of Moz."
ap
Timofey Mozgov




"They were having fun," Mozgov wrote in Russian.
After the game, he went to his favorite Russian restaurant, Mari Vanna, on Broadway in Manhattan, celebrating with herring salad and fried potatoes.
In an interview with a Russian newspaper "Sovietsky Sport" and his blog, Mozgov was able to reveal details he still isn't comfortable doing because of his very limited English. Mozgov was quoted as saying he nearly had a nervous breakdown and smashed a TV set in his hotel room during the Knicks' recent West Coast trip. Nevertheless, last night Mozgov told The Post something was lost in the translation.
Mozgov's supposed meltdown occurred after the Knicks' blowout win in Phoenix in early January, when he was inserted in the final minutes of garbage time. He promptly was ejected for shoving Suns center Robin Lopez, costing him the chance to impress coach Mike D'Antoni.
"At some moment I was close to a breakdown," Mozgov said in the Russian interview. "I wanted to break a TV in my hotel room. But I'm an even-tempered guy. I told myself that there would be another chance, and went back to practicing hard. My girlfriend Alla was supporting me very well. I don't even know what I would do without her."
In the interview, translated to English by Russian journalist Alexander Chernyk, Mozgov admitted after his Phoenix ejection he was concerned about his NBA future.
"I won't lie to you, I was terribly worried," Mozgov said. "I felt that I only needed a tiny chance, that if I got 15 or 20 minutes I could do a lot. But, when you get on the court for two minutes in the end of the game, when it's done, what can you do in that time? But I didn't lose hope, because I was getting prepared to spend my first season sitting on the bench and learning. Everything was going great during practices. Then why can't I mix it up like that in a game? And then that terrible incident in Phoenix."
Mozgov didn't speak a word of English when he signed in July but he has improved noticeably in the past month. He still has difficulty articulating his true feelings after the fans chanted "Mozgov" in the final minute. With the Knicks back in action last night, the chants and Mozgov's playing time may exist again.
"I couldn't even believe that all of that was happening to me," Mozgov said in the Russian interview. "Just yesterday everything was different, and there it goes. I can say that I took a deep breath and could finally exhale."
Mozgov got the call to duty Sunday because of Shawne Williams' suspension, Wilson Chandler's calf injury and early foul trouble to center Ronny Turiaf. D'Antoni yanked him from the rotation in early December after having him start the season.
"I thought for the next 10 years he'll be our center," D'Antoni said. "He was so good in preseason. But there's no scars."
Mozgov missed his first four shots Sunday -- all in-close, his first attempt a clumsy airball.
"Yes, it was a nightmare," Mozgov said. "I got two fouls, made a terrible shot and committed a turnover. Amare [Stoudemire] came to me and tried to make me calm down, but I only had a single thought in my head: 'It's over. Mike is going to bench me now.'
"But he didn't say anything and I rushed into battle again. From there I got really angry, and from that moment everything started to fall in its place."
marc.berman@nypost.com

[CKR13]

The League has fined the New York Knicks franchise a sum of $200,000 and Knicks scout Rodney Scout with a sum of $20,000 for violations based on violating league rules regarding try-outs conducted on College Prospects during the 2007 off-season and 2010 off-season.

[CKR13]

Amare Stoudemire poured in 41 points as the New York Knicks avenged their previous defeat against the Philadelphia 76ers by winning tonight 117-103.

Knicks rookie Landry Fields had a double double game of 25 points and 10 rebounds.

[CKR13]

The New York Knicks playing without star Amare Stoudemire, who is out with an unjured toe, managed to win against their rivals across the river, the New Jersey Nets 105-95. Wilson Chandler lead other Knicks in scoring double figures with Chandler scoring a team high 21 points.