Does New York Knicks Head Coach Mike D'Antoni Deserve To Be in the Hot Seat?

After Monday evening’s disappointing 96-86 loss to the Boston Celtics at Madison Square Garden, the New York Knicks dropped to 7-9 and 35-35 overall since the acquisition of Carmelo Anthony.

During this span, the Knicks have fallen to vastly inferior teams, including the Cleveland Cavaliers (twice), the worst team in the NBA, the Indiana Pacers (twice), the Detroit Pistons and the Milwaukee Bucks.

New York’s latest defeat came at the hands of a team tied for the best record in the Eastern Conference, who overcame a nine-point deficit with seven minutes left in the game to deal the Knicks their third consecutive loss.

In the aftermath, as is always the case in the Big Apple pressure cooker, fans, reporters and talk show radio hosts alike have congregated to commence a witch hunt, with head coach Mike D’Antoni winning by a landslide as the object of their contempt.

This is the same Mike D’Antoni who was asked to take over the reins of a team expected to be cellar dwellers, until the salary cap mess created by the previous regime was cleaned up. Now that he’s just been given some of the tools he needs to succeed, there are already calls for his job.

Can it be called justice when D’Antoni is being labeled the scapegoat for the slow adjustment to a blockbuster trade that shook up the majority of his starting rotation? Likewise, can a guilty verdict has been rendered when he’s had less than a quarter of a season to have everything running like a well-oiled machine?

The answers to these questions should be a resounding “No,” but the New York sports arena can oftentimes be an unforgiving place.

So instead of excitement building for the Knicks’ first playoff appearance in six years, the focus has become whether D’Antoni is the right man for the job.

With 12 games left in the season, New York has more victories than the team has averaged in the last nine (31) and are on the cusp of their first non-losing season since 2001.

Nevertheless, all that can be heard is grumbling and murmuring throughout the city about D’Antoni, whose first two seasons should really be considered a wash for all intents and purposes.

Championships aren’t won, and dynasties aren’t built, in 16 games.

Patrick Ewing’s great run with the Knicks didn’t begin until his third season, Kobe Bryant didn’t win his first ring until his fourth and it took Michael Jordan seven seasons before he could finally wrap his arms around the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy.

By all accounts, the Knicks are still an unfinished project because, although Amar’e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony form a superlative foundation, even more pieces need to be added before the team truly becomes a viable championship contender.

Until they do, anyone clamoring for D’Antoni’s firing at the end of the season should be ashamed.

The Knicks are in a state of flux, and D’Antoni deserves a stable nucleus to work with, for a significant period of time, before any aspersions are cast.

Click here to read the original article at SportsHaze.com.

Miami Heat vs New York Knicks For The East Finals: A Dream Come True

Two of the most celebrated franchises in NBA history.

Five superstars who have legitimate chances at making the Hall-of-Fame.

High octane offenses that want to get up and down the court with scores near 120.

Sounds like the beginning of a new great rivalry in the NBA.

If Sunday’s immensely-hyped match up between the Miami Heat and the New York Knicks showed anything to the public, it’s that this is the start of something special. Whether it’s Dwyane Wade throwing a lob for a left-handed thrashing at the rim by LeBron James or Carmelo Anthony sticking King James at the end of the game and getting a help side swat by Amar’e Stoudamire, this was a preview of what’s to come in the next five years for these two.

Now, the public can only hope for one outcome come playoff time: an Eastern conference final between these two squads.

Getting that dream to come true will be tough for both teams this season.

The Heat are one of the top seeds in their conference after a slow start to the season and are loaded with talent thanks to their big three with James, Wade, and Chris Bosh. What may stop them from reaching championship status is their lack of toughness and size on the defensive interior, while also dealing with concerns of a shaky outlook at the point guard position.

With the Knicks, their biggest problem is timing. While the Heat were able to gel the team since the offseason, the Knicks will look to take the crash course on molding a group together with only 23 games left in the season. They also have holes in regards to protecting the rim and issues swirling around the effectiveness of their complimentary players.

Along with their own personal questions, the Heat and Knicks face the dilemma of a new look in the league based upon geography.

The West has owned the title of being the elite conference since the 1990s. Teams that were dominant since that time are now hovering near the end of their runs with their stars entering the twilight of their careers (Spurs with Tim Duncan and Lakers with Kobe Bryant). Of all the current top four teams in the West, only the Oklahoma City Thunder have a face for their franchise under the age of 30 (Kevin Durant).

The dominance that has been the signature of the West is now slowly filtering over to the East. In regards to the top half of the current playoff standings in that conference, three of those teams have superstars in their mid to early 20s. The Heat’s big three are all in that age gap, along with Chicago’s Derrick Rose (22) and Orlando’s Dwight Howard (25). With many of the squads on the Eastern half of the United States improving and creating a strong core based upon youth, just getting to the conference finals will be difficult task for any of these teams, let alone a highly hopeful New York vs Miami matchup.

Yet, sports are never pre-determined, so a final of this magnitude is still quiet possible. Not only is this outcome achievable, but it would be extremely promising.

Of course, many will be screaming and clamoring for one half of the East Finals to feature the usual Celtic, especially after their hardship last season and their four year supremacy nearing the end. As deserving and enticing it would be to see a youthful team try to topple the veteran Celtic team, no other match up would have more hype and be more mouth-watering than to see New York and Miami go at it.

As former teammates on the U.S.A Olympic team in 2008, the five superstars are close with one another and all equally dying for a shot at the title. Only Wade and James were lucky enough to even reach the pinnacle that is the NBA finals, with the former Marquette superstar being the only one to actually taste success by winning it. Stoudemire, Anthony, and Bosh have all been superstars on their former teams, but never had enough to make it to that next step.

The star power of this matchup is the biggest draw of all. The idea of having all five of these players on the court, trying to out do one another, and being the key standout to win the series is fascinating. Imagine if either one of these players were to emerge as the main force carrying his team to the next level while beating the other out to earn a berth in the Finals. The concept that one of them could hold that above the others for the rest of their life would give them the gas they need to give it their all from the tip off at game one to the last horn sounding off to signal the end of the series.

If both teams were able to reach the Eastern Conference Finals, it would be a premature start to this new rivalry. Last Sunday’s matchup between the two only gave a microscopic look as to how intense and alluring this rivalry could be. Both will continue to improve with a stronger complement of players and time to gel with one another, leading to the magnitude of a rivalry that the public has never seen before.

Just as the Lakers vs Celtics rivalry changed the scope of the NBA in the 1980s, the Knicks and Heat rivalry will undoubtedly alter the landscape of the league and usher in a new era of professional basketball in the 2010s.

Maybe, if we are all lucky, we can see that time begin in the 2011 Eastern Conference Finals.

This Day in Black Sports History: February 28, 2003

Although he excelled at cricket and soccer growing up in Kingston, Jamaica, Patrick Aloysius Ewing rose from poor beginnings to become one of the 50 greatest players in the history of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

After his parents immigrated to the United States, settling in Cambridge, Mass., Ewing, his brother and five sisters would follow four years later when family funds permitted.

In spite of a marked Jamaican accent, Ewing was determined to succeed academically since entering grade school, taking summer school classes and obtaining help from tutors to ensure his education would not stop at the high school level.

Ewing first shot a basketball in a neighborhood pick-up game at the age of 12, quickly learning the game as he grew to six feet six inches by eighth grade, drawing the attention of several prep basketball head coaches.

As a high school student at Cambridge’s Rindge and Latin School, Ewing led his team to three state championships and earned an invitation to try out for the 1980 Olympic Men’s Basketball Team when no other high school athlete had ever been invited.

Impressed to find a team coached by an African-American man, Ewing chose to attend the University of Georgetown, where John Thompson stressed that his best bet was a college education because a small percentage of college athletes make careers in professional sports.

Ewing’s junior year would be marked by the sudden death of his mother and the unplanned pregnancy of his high school sweetheart.

Nevertheless, Ewing turned down the endorsements and millions of dollars waiting for him in the NBA to keep the promise he made to his mother that he would graduate from college.

With Ewing patrolling the paint, the Hoyas reached the NCAA Championship Game three consecutive years, winning the title in 1984 as their imposing center captured the Outstanding Player of the Tournament Award.

During that same year, Ewing would also win Olympic gold as a member of the men’s basketball squad.

In 1985, the league instituted the first ever Draft Lottery to prevent teams from deliberately losing games to secure a better chance of obtaining Ewing, who was unanimously considered the draft’s grand prize.

The New York Knicks would end up winning the Lottery, and selected Ewing with the first overall pick in the 1985 NBA Draft.

Although injuries marred his first year in the league, Ewing was named the Rookie of the Year, averaging 20 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks per game. In the seasons that followed, Ewing would come to be regarded as one of the premier centers in the league.

From 1988 to 1999, Ewing led the Knicks to 13 consecutive playoff appearances, four Eastern Conference Finals and one NBA Finals appearance, while averaging better than 21 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks per contest.

Over the course of 15 seasons, Ewing played in a franchise-record 1,039 games for the Knicks, the only player to play 1,000 games with the team.

As part of a seven-player deal, the Knicks shipped Ewing to the Seattle SuperSonics in 2000, where he would play one season. He added another with the Orlando Magic before he announced his retirement on September 18, 2002.

On February 28, 2003, the 11-time All-Star’s jersey number (33) was retired by the Knicks in a grand ceremony at Madison Square Garden, officially going down as one of the greatest players in the franchise’s storied history.

Five years later, Ewing was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as an individual player, and in 2010 as a member of the 1992 gold medal-winning United States Olympic Men’s Basketball “Dream Team”.

Ewing has been an assistant coach with the Magic for the past five seasons.

Click here to read the original article at Examiner.com.

Who Got The Better End Of The Key NBA Deals?

Thanks to the trade deadline, the NBA has a new theme with a line borrowed from “The Jefferson’s”:

“Movin’ on up, to the eastside…”

Carmelo Anthony is now a New York Knick, playing in the city that he grew up in and has been dying to play for since the Lakers ended the 2009-10 season. Not to be shown up with that move, the New Jersey Nets pulled off a stunning swap and nabbed Utah Jazz franchise star, Deron Williams.

These changes illustrates both teams need to improve quickly and become a squad that must be reckoned with in the Eastern Conference.

Yet, did both teams come out their deals smelling like roses or could these transactions make them wilt in a year or two?

Here’s the complete breakdown of the Anthony trade (this was a three team trade involving the Minnesota Timberwolves):

Knicks Get:

F Carmelo Anthony
G Chauncey Billups
F Corey Brewer
F/G Renaldo Balkman
F/C Shelden Williams
G Anthony Carter

Nuggets Get:

F Danilo Gallinari
G Raymond Felton
C Timofey Mozgov
F//G Wilson Chandler
Knicks 2014 1st Rounder
Two Second Round Picks
$3 Million Cash

Timberwolves Get:

C Eddy Curry
F/C Anthony Randolph
$3 Million Cash

For now, the Timberwolves will be excluded from this discussion (along with the fact that they receive little to nothing in the trade except money, an underdeveloped, big man in Randolph and the expiring contract of Curry).

The Knicks gave up most of their youth to get proven commodities. Anthony is a top ten player in the league who believes nothing can stop him from putting the ball in the hoop. He accomplishes this in multiple ways on the offensive end, a unique ability that no one on the New York team has. The attention he garners from the opposition will give Amar’e Stoudemire more space in the middle to flush dunks.

Billups is a battle-tested point guard who thrives off late game situations. While Felton will have more upside and continue to improve with more years in the league (he’s 26), he will never reach the merits that Billups has gotten throughout his career. With Anthony and Stoudemire monopolizing all the attention, the 34-year-old point guard won’t have to work hard to get open shots in Madison Square Garden.

Where the Knicks will hurt more is with their role players and their bench. Brewer will be a spark off the bench, but after him the options are thin. Balkman, Williams, and Carter are all averaging less than 17 minutes per game this season and will be asked to do more in New York.

The Nuggets will lose a cornerstone piece and his sidekick in Anthony and Billups, but now have a nice foundation to reconstruct their future. Felton (26), Mozgov (24), Chandler (23), and Gallinari (22) will be key components within that outlook. They will team up with many of their current young prospects (Aaron Afflalo and J.R. Smith are both 25 and Ty Lawson is 23) and their established stars (Nene Hilario, Kenyon Martin), making this one of the deepest teams in the West.

Despite that, nine role players will not win you a championship. Not to mention that having a player of Anthony’s caliber comes around once every ten to fifteen years, that’s if you are lucky (google the Nuggets history and check their star players). New York has been praying for redemption of historic greatness, and now have that in Stoudemire and Anthony.

Advantage: New York

Here’s the deal between the Nets and the Jazz:

New Jersey Gets:

G Deron Williams
F Brandan Wright
C Dan Gadzuric

Utah Gets:

G Devin Harris
PF Derrick Favors
Nets 2011 1st Rounder
Warriors 2012 1st Rounder

Golden State Gets:

F Troy Murphy

(Similar to the Anthony trade, this discussion will not include the Golden State Warriors.)

Williams joins a situation that is different from Anthony; he is now on a team that is nine games out of the playoff hunt. He does have a potent weapon in C Brook Lopez, who is only 22 and could develop into a counterpart that resembles the old Utah years with Carlos Boozer for a post option.

The Nets get a superstar who is third in the category of best all-around point guards (behind Chris Paul and Derrick Rose). They also finally acquire that centerpiece to build a team around in Williams. Since their last appearance in the 2003 NBA Finals with their Jason Kidd-led team, the Nets have been in need of a first tier player to return to greatness.

If Wright can ever stay healthy, get consistent playing time and regain the supreme talent that made him a top prospect at North Carolina, he could be the steal of this trade for the Nets. The Warriors were skeptical about keeping a player on board with so much promise in F Ekpe Udoh, but their loss is the Nets gain. Gadzuric is picked up because of his expiring contract.

Utah understood that when Jerry Sloan left, their franchise would have to detour in a new direction. Getting rid of Williams was in their future scheme, but premature in its timing.

Harris is a speedy point guard who can zip around the court, as if he’s built with light speed. Utah will most likely pattern their offense into an uptempo, up-and-down style team that fits the way their new point guard plays. While he doesn’t have the size or the range that Williams is armed with, he does have a great feel for the game and can distribute the ball just as well as the top point guards in the league.

Like Wright, Favors could end up being the jackpot of this move for the Jazz. At the age of nineteen, this forward has the body type and raw talent that could make him an impact big man within the next five years. Surrounding him with the likes of Al Jefferson, Paul Milsap, and Andrei Kirilenko will help him fine tune his game steadily instead of stunting his growth by playing him big minutes as an under-developed post player.

The other possible big payoff down the road may be the two first round picks. New Jersey’s will most likely remain a lottery pick in the 2011 Draft. They will also have their pick, which could possibly also get lottery draw, giving them a chance to land two top ten picks this year. They may have that same situation in 2012, with the Warriors pick in hand with their own next season.

New Jersey will love having Williams be the face of the team, but with the length of his tenure in doubt(he could become a free agent after next season), it’s hard to imagine a player of that caliber sticking around if he doesn’t have the right parts around him. The promise of Favors and the two picks in the next two years is too appetizing to not like if you are the Jazz, but getting Harris in the deal is the cherry that tops the cake.

Advantage: Utah Jazz

Despite the contradiction of who won and lost in these moves, the Nets and the Knicks are as happy as Kenny Smith when Blake Griffin won the NBA Slam Dunk contest. Both teams get a significant star that are icons in the NBA.

Owners James Dolan and Mikhail Prokhorov have got to be dancing like George Jefferson with their new acquisitions and singing a new tune in their mind…

“We’re movin’ on up…”

New York Knicks' Amar'e Stoudemire Among Starters for NBA All-Star Game

When the 60th NBA All-Star Game is played at the Staples Center on Feb. 20, Big Apple hoop fans will be treated to the sight of Amar’e Stoudemire being on the floor for the opening tip.

Barring injury, Stoudemire, the fifth leading vote-getter in the Eastern Conference, is slated to become the first New York Knicks player to start an All-Star Game in nearly two decades.

Since signing as a free agent last summer, Stoudemire has infused new life into a franchise that was once regarded as the laughingstock of the league.

This season, Stoudemire is averaging a career-high 26.1 points per game, second only to Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Kevin Durant. Most importantly, though, Stoudemire has the Knicks poised to make the playoffs for the first time in six years.

Surprisingly, given the franchise’s rich history, Stoudemire is just the fifth Knick selected to be an All-Star starter since fans began voting in 1974. The last Knickerbocker to start was Patrick Ewing in 1992. The Hall of Famer was elected again five years later, but couldn’t play due to injury.

Stoudemire will join Derrick Rose, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Dwight Howard to complete the Eastern Conference starting lineup.

The players voted onto the Western Conference starting roster included Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant and Yao Ming.

Sidelined for the rest of the season after playing only five games, Ming will be replaced by a player of NBA Commissioner David Stern's choosing.

The All-Star reserves will be selected by the 30 NBA head coaches, who must vote for seven players within their conference, including two guards, two forwards, a center and two players regardless of position. Coaches are not permitted to vote for players on their team.

If a player is unable to participate in the All-Star Game, Commissioner Stern will select a replacement. The reserves will be announced February 3 on TNT.

Notes

Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers was the overall leading vote getter.

Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic was the leading vote getter in the Eastern Conference.

Dwyane Wade and LeBron James, who received over two million votes apiece, will be playing their first All-Star Game as teammates.


Eastern Conference All-Star starters

Derrick Rose (G) – Chicago Bulls

Dwyane Wade (G) – Miami Heat

LeBron James (F) – Miami Heat

Amar’e Stoudemire (F) – New York Knicks

Dwight Howard (C) – Orlando Magic


Western Conference All-Star starters

Chris Paul (G) – New Orleans Hornets

Kobe Bryant (G) – Los Angeles Lakers

Carmelo Anthony (F) – Denver Nuggets

Kevin Durant (F) – Oklahoma City Thunder

Yao Ming (C) – Houston Rockets


2011 NBA ALL-STAR BALLOTING

EASTERN CONFERENCE

FORWARDS: LeBron James (Mia) 2,053,011; Amar'e Stoudemire (NYK) 1,674,995; Kevin Garnett (Bos) 1,407,601; Paul Pierce (Bos) 804,838; Chris Bosh (Mia) 571,734; Carlos Boozer (Chi) 504,610; Danilo Gallinari (NYK) 390,658; Josh Smith (Atl) 387,843; Luol Deng (Chi) 291,118; Danny Granger (Ind) 279,522.

GUARDS: Dwyane Wade (Mia) 2,048,175; Derrick Rose (Chi) 1,914,996; Rajon Rondo (Bos) 1,587,297; Ray Allen (Bos) 890,951; Raymond Felton (NYK) 397,301; John Wall (Was) 337,368; Gilbert Arenas (Orl) 312,903; Brandon Jennings (Mil) 301,225; Jamal Crawford (Atl) 246,130, Joe Johnson (Atl) 224,571.

CENTERS: Dwight Howard (Orl) 2,099,204; Shaquille O'Neal (Bos) 906,284; Joakim Noah (Chi) 432,127; Andrew Bogut (Mil) 301,896; Al Horford (Atl) 287,083; Roy Hibbert (Ind) 250,614; Andrea Bargnani (Tor) 215,123; Brook Lopez (NJ) 166,844; JaVale McGee (Was) 146,474; Ben Wallace (Det) 113,443.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

FORWARDS: Kevin Durant (OKC) 1,736,728; Carmelo Anthony (Den) 1,299,849; Pau Gasol (LAL) 1,100,772; Blake Griffin (LAC) 1,033,646; Tim Duncan (SA) 839,599; Dirk Nowitzki (Dal) 785,120; Lamar Odom (LAL) 529,854; Kevin Love (Min) 492,173; Luis Scola (Hou) 411,576; Rudy Gay (Mem) 284,021.

GUARDS: Kobe Bryant (LAL) 2,380,016; Chris Paul (NOH) 1,281,591; Manu Ginobili (SA) 748,840; Steve Nash (Pho) 718,934; Russell Westbrook (OKC) 660,244; Deron Williams (Utah) 657,806; Tony Parker (SA) 436,958; Jason Kidd (Dal) 394,793; Monta Ellis (GSW) 390,237; Vince Carter (Pho) 353,143.

CENTERS: Yao Ming (Hou) 1,146,426; Andrew Bynum (LAL) 974,546; Nene (Den) 599,048; Marc Gasol (Mem) 524,932; Emeka Okafor (NOH) 435,218; Brendan Haywood (Dal) 352,811; Marcus Camby (Por) 279,026; Chris Kaman (LAC) 196,268; Andris Biedrins (GSW) 175,547; DeMarcus Cousins (Sac) 152,976.

Click here to read the original article at SportsHaze.com.

New York Knicks Top Forbes List Of NBA's Most Valuable Teams

In the past three years, either Kobe Bryant or LeBron James have taken home the Maurice Podoloff Trophy as the National Basketball Association’s MVP, but neither superstar can claim to play for the most valuable team in the league.

According to Forbes.com, the New York Knicks now hold the distinction of being the NBA’s most valuable franchise, supplanting the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers.

The value of the resurgent Knicks rose from $586 million to $655 million in the past year, an increase of 12 percent. The rise was directly linked to the free-agent signing of Amar’e Stoudemire, who has helped the team earn victories both on court and in the boardroom with sponsors.

For the first time in nearly a decade, the Knicks sold out their full season-ticket inventory, while their parent company, Madison Square Garden, Inc., signed a sponsorship deal with JPMorgan Chase that’s worth at least $30 million annually over 10 years.

With superstar forward Carmelo Anthony on his way to the Big Apple and ongoing renovations at the Garden, the Knicks could very well own the top spot for several years to come.

Although the name LeBron James doesn’t appear anywhere on the Knicks’ roster, he drastically impacted the fortunes of two teams when he took his talents to South Beach.

After signing James to join Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, the Miami Heat’s worth increased 17 percent—the best percentage rise in the league—to $425 million.

Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers’ valuation plummeted 26 percent—the largest decrease—to $355 million.

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

Forbes’ Most Valuable NBA Teams

1. New York Knicks - $655 million

2. Los Angeles Lakers - $643 million

3. Chicago Bulls - $511 million

4. Boston Celtics - $452 million

5. Houston Rockets - $443 million

6. Dallas Mavericks - $438 million

7. Miami Heat - $425 million

8. Phoenix Suns - $411 million

9. San Antonio Spurs - $404 million

10. Toronto Raptors - $399 million

Click here to read the original article at SportsHaze.com.

New York Knicks Can Build Champion Without Trading For Carmelo Anthony

As reported here, the New York Knicks recently offered a package for Denver Nuggets superstar Carmelo Anthony that included Landry Fields, Wilson Chandler and a future first-round draft pick.

However, the Nuggets front office declined the proposal, leaving Knicks president of basketball operations Donnie Walsh no other option but to sweeten the deal if Anthony is to don a Knicks jersey this season.

The most obvious question is why the Knicks, or any other NBA team for that matter, would aggressively pursue a trade for the three-time All-Star, who has made it abundantly clear he wants to play in New York when he becomes an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.

"That's like the ultimate dream at the end of the day," Anthony, a Brooklyn native, said in an interview with ESPN. "Who wouldn't want to go back home to play?”

So the Knicks’ willingness to part with a promising rookie in Fields, the top rebounding guard in the league, and a budding star in Chandler (16.9 ppg, 6.2 rpg) to acquire ‘Melo just doesn’t add up.

Wouldn’t it make more sense for the Knicks to sign Anthony as a free agent, to play with Fields and Chandler, as well as Raymond Felton (17.5 ppg, 8.7 apg), Danilo Gallinari (15.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg) and Amar’e Stoudemire (26.0 ppg, 9.0 rpg)?

The NBA’s precarious labor situation could result in Anthony leaving a significant amount of money on the table in the aforementioned scenario. Nevertheless, playing in the league’s largest media market, Anthony, who’s averaging 23.5 points and eight rebounds per game this season, would more than make up for the difference in endorsements.

If Anthony is willing to sacrifice up-front money for the greater good of his future team, the Knicks could bring another player into the fold to instantly transform New York into championship contenders next season.

With the addition of Dallas Mavericks center Tyson Chandler (9.3 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 1.25 blkpg), an unrestricted free agent this summer, New York would have the rebounding and shot-blocking presence that would allow Stoudemire to play a natural power forward.

That said, head coach Mike D’Antoni could potentially roll out a starting rotation comprised of Felton (PG), Fields (SG), Anthony (SF), Stoudemire (PF) and Tyson Chandler (C), with capable reserves in Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, Toney Douglas, Bill Walker, Shawne Williams and Ronny Turiaf.

Like the Jackson 5 classic tune declared, it’s as easy as 1-2-3, but the Knicks appear insistent on turning this situation into a complicated algebraic equation.

To reiterate, New York is Anthony’s preferred playing destination, and he’s an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.

Therefore, since the Knicks have the high ground, why are they in a rush to mortgage their future to bring a superstar into town this season that they can sign in July while keeping the current roster intact?

Mikhail Prokhorov got hip to the game when he broke off negotiations for a blockbuster deal that would have sent ‘Melo to the New Jersey Nets.

When will Donnie Walsh finally wise up and follow suit?

The Nuggets may act like they’re holding all the cards in the Car-Melodrama, but if the Knicks call Denver’s bluff the whole pot will come to the Big Apple, and so will the franchise’s first championship in nearly 40 years.

Do the math.

Click here to read the original article at SportsHaze.com.

Denver Nuggets Reject Knicks' Offer for Carmelo Anthony

When billionaire owner Mikhail Prokhorov slammed the door on a blockbuster deal that would have sent Carmelo Anthony to the New Jersey Nets, the New York Knicks emerged as the favorites to land the Denver Nuggets superstar small forward.

And Knicks president of basketball operations Donnie Walsh didn’t waste any time in pressing their advantage, as Anthony has publicly expressed that New York is his preferred playing destination.

According to ESPN 1050 Radio, the Knicks offered Landry Fields, Wilson Chandler and a first-round draft pick to the Nuggets for Anthony, who’s averaging 23.5 points and 8.1 rebounds per game this season.

The first-round draft pick the Knicks included in the proposed trade has yet to be acquired, but a rumored deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves for power forward Anthony Randolph is likely to yield the pick New York placed on the bargaining table.

Nevertheless, the Knicks will have to go back to the drawing board, because Denver’s front office rejected the latest offer for their highly sought-after three-time All-Star.

This begs the question of exactly what combination of players and draft picks it will take for New York to consummate a trade with Denver.

Fields, a second-round pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, is averaging 10.1 points per game, shooting 38.5 percent from three-point range and leads all guards in rebounding (7.4), opening many eyes around the NBA to his high basketball IQ and willingness to put the team ahead of individual accomplishments.

In his fourth year in the NBA, Chandler is on the cusp of stardom, averaging career highs in points (17.4), rebounds (6.3), blocks (1.40) and three-point shooting percentage (35.3 percent).

As a result, Chandler’s tremendous promise will be a valuable selling point for Donnie Walsh in future negotiations with the Nuggets.

So although the Knicks failed to entice the Nuggets in this round of negotiations, it appears only a matter of time before the Car-Melodrama finally ends and Anthony is playing in front of a capacity crowd at Madison Square Garden, right alongside five-time All-Star Amar'e Stoudemire.

Click here to read the original article at SportsHaze.com.

Amar'e Stoudemire on Track To Become First Knicks' All-Star Game Starter Since 1992

Over the past 10 years, the New York Knicks have averaged a paltry 33 wins per season, including nine consecutive losing campaigns.

However, with less than half the current season in the books and 22 victories salted away, the Knicks find themselves in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race and on pace to end a six-year postseason drought.

This startling reversal of fortune can largely be attributed to the arrival of Amar’e Stoudemire, who immediately became the first bona fide superstar on the Knicks roster since Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing roamed the paint from 1985-2000.

And the way fan voting has been progressing, Stoudemire will also become the first Knicks player to start in an NBA All-Star Game since Ewing was voted in as the starting center in 1992.

After fourth returns from the voting ballots were announced, it was revealed that Stoudemire, a five-time All-Star, had surged ahead of Boston Celtics power forward Kevin Garnett to assume the position as the second-leading vote-getter among forwards in the Eastern Conference.

If Stoudemire, who’s averaging 26.1 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game, maintains his lead over Garnett he’ll start in the All-Star Game alongside Miami Heat small forward LeBron James, a combination the Knicks unsuccessfully attempted to feature on Broadway in the summer of 2010.

The remaining starters will be announced on Jan. 27 during a special one-hour pregame show, live on TNT.

Following the completion of fan voting and the starting lineup announcement, the head coaches in each conference will vote to determine the remaining All-Stars in their respective conference, and the selections will be announced on Feb. 3 prior to a TNT NBA doubleheader.

But although Stoudemire, the second leading scorer in the league, is receiving his just desserts, the fourth return results continue to highlight significant flaws in the voting system.

In the Western Conference, Houston Rockets center Yao Ming remains the leading vote-getter, by an overwhelming margin, among centers while Los Angeles Lakers center Andrew Bynum is firmly planted in second place.

Prior to season-ending ankle surgery, Ming played in only five games and posted 10.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game.

Concurrently, in only 16 games of action, Bynum has registered 10.9 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game.

Where’s the love for Denver Nuggets center Nene Hilario (15.0 ppg, 7.5 rpg) and Utah Jazz big man Al Jefferson (16.6 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 2.0 bpg)?

And speaking of love, how is Minnesota Timberwolves power forward Kevin Love (21.5 ppg, 15.7 rpg) next to last in votes among Western Conference forwards?

Can the fans continue to be trusted to get it right?

2011 NBA ALL-STAR BALLOTING

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Forwards: LeBron James (Mia) 1,518,807; Amar’e Stoudemire (NYK) 1,143,391; Kevin Garnett (Bos) 1,049,544; Paul Pierce (Bos) 578,473; Chris Bosh (Mia) 427,551; Carlos Boozer (Chi) 320,661; Josh Smith (Atl) 280,158; Danilo Gallinari (NYK) 259,619; Danny Granger (Ind) 201,653; Luol Deng (Chi) 191,312.

Guards: Dwyane Wade (Mia) 1,499,768; Derrick Rose (Chi) 1,225,575; Rajon Rondo (Bos) 1,171,311; Ray Allen (Bos) 630,588; John Wall (Was) 260,893; Brandon Jennings (Mil) 254,614; Raymond Felton (NYK) 246,208; Gilbert Arenas (Orl) 240,586; Jamal Crawford (Atl) 163,971, Darren Collison (Ind) 156,230.

Centers: Dwight Howard (Orl) 1,537,619; Shaquille O'Neal (Bos) 639,661; Joakim Noah (Chi) 291,107; Andrew Bogut (Mil) 245,253; Al Horford (Atl) 193,449; Roy Hibbert (Ind) 183,092; Andrea Bargnani (Tor) 162,364; Brook Lopez (NJ) 125,022; JaVale McGee (Was) 106,710; Ben Wallace (Det) 79,017.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Forwards: Kevin Durant (OKC) 1,270,729; Carmelo Anthony (Den) 945,720; Pau Gasol (LAL) 851,456; Blake Griffin (LAC) 702,784; Tim Duncan (SA) 663,487; Dirk Nowitzki (Dal) 615,243; Lamar Odom (LAL) 364,950; Luis Scola (Hou) 347,986; Kevin Love (Min) 301,529; Caron Butler (Dal) 205,146.

Guards: Kobe Bryant (LAL) 1,757,216; Chris Paul (NOH) 949,049; Manu Ginobili (SA) 593,718; Steve Nash (Pho) 522,215; Deron Williams (Utah) 487,887; Russell Westbrook (OKC) 463,250; Tony Parker (SA) 355,993; Jason Kidd (Dal) 303,164; Vince Carter (Pho) 277,430; Kevin Martin (Hou) 266,037.

Centers: Yao Ming (Hou) 928,928; Andrew Bynum (LAL) 660,576; Nene (Den) 389,263; Marc Gasol 352,136; Emeka Okafor (NOH) 317,677; Brendan Haywood (Dal) 276,777; Marcus Camby (Por) 201,133; Chris Kaman (LAC) 165,684; Andris Biedrins (GS) 126,567; DeMarcus Cousins (Sac) 110,230.

Click here to read the original article at SportsHaze.com.

New York Knicks Placed in Middle of Carmelo Anthony Trade Spat

After reports surfaced that the Denver Nuggets, the Detroit Pistons, and the New Jersey Jets were on the verge of consummating a 13-player deal that would have sent Nuggets small forward Carmelo Anthony, point guard Chauncey Billups and Pistons shooting guard Richard Hamilton to New Jersey, a new twist developed in the ongoing Car-Melodrama.

According to Yahoo.com, the Nuggets organization delivered a warning to the Nets by threatening to trade Carmelo Anthony to the New York Knicks if the trade discussions remain subject to public consumption.

The proposed trade would send Anthony, Hamilton, Billups, Nuggets guard Anthony Carter and forward Shelden Williams to the Nets.

In turn, the Nuggets would receive two first-round draft picks from the Nets, All-Star point guard Devin Harris, rookie power forward Derrick Favors, shooting guard Anthony Morrow, guard Ben Uzoh, and small forwards Stephen Graham and Quinton Ross.

Meanwhile, the Pistons would add Nets power forward Troy Murphy and center Johan Petro to their roster.

Did the Nuggets really expect the details of this blockbuster trade to be kept quiet?

If this is indeed the case, not only were their expectations unrealistic, but their threat to trade Anthony to the Knicks is blatantly immature, sophomoric and a bluff the Nets should call to remind Denver of an extremely harsh reality.

In no uncertain terms, Anthony, a three-time All-Star, has made it abundantly clear he would prefer to take his talents to New York.

Therefore, the Knicks, or any other NBA team for that matter, are under no obligation to lend the Nuggets a helping hand by compensating them for the loss for their franchise player.

And if the Nuggets did make an overture to New York in an attempt to make good on their threat, it would be prudent of Knicks President of Basketball Operations Donnie Walsh to immediately take Landry Fields, Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler off the table.

Within the next two seasons, Atlanta Hawks guard Jamal Crawford, Dallas Mavericks center Tyson Chandler, Denver Nuggets center Nene Hilario, Los Angeles Clippers center Chris Kaman, Minnesota Timberwolves power forward Kevin Love, New Jersey Nets center Brook Lopez, New Orleans Hornets power forward David West, Orlando Magic shooting guard Jason Richardson, power forward Brandon Bass, and center Dwight Howard are on track to become free agents.

So although Carmelo Anthony remains the Knicks’ primary target, they’re no longer the desperate franchise they once were before the signings of Raymond Felton and Amar’e Stoudemire.

This much is also clear, the Knicks, one of the NBA’s marquee franchises, aren’t a bargaining chip for the Denver Nuggets.

Click here to read the original article at SportsHaze.com.

New York Knicks' Fan Campaign Contributes to NBA All-Star Voting Dilemma

The leaders of both the Eastern and Western Conference players for the second returns from the 2011 NBA All-Star voting program were recently announced and, as was the case last season, the results provide salient evidence of the system’s fatal flaw.

A glaring example of this assertion is the fact that Houston Rockets center Yao Ming is the overwhelming leader in votes for Western Conference centers despite averaging 10.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per game in the only five games he’ll play this entire season.

Currently, the injury-plagued Ming, the third-leading vote getter in the Western Conference, has garnered nearly 300,000 more votes than his closest competitor, which happens to be Los Angeles Lakers center Andrew Bynum. The same Andrew Bynum who’s played in only nine games to the tune of 8.6 points and 6.2 rebounds per contest.

While on the subject of big men, it should be pointed out that former New York Knicks center David Lee was nearly snubbed for last year’s All-Star Game after leading all Eastern Conference centers in scoring and assists during the first half of the 2009-10 campaign.

But Lee’s token replacement of Allen Iverson on the roster gave the Knicks their first All-Star Game participant since 2001, when shooting guard Allan Houston and shooting guard/small forward Latrell Sprewell were selected.

Ironically though, with the placement of Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari and Amar’e Stoudemire on the ballots, the Knicks have initiated a double-edged sword campaign to boost All-Star voting support for their team stalwarts.

On the one hand, Stoudemire, a viable candidate for the Most Valuable Player Award, is more than deserving of the votes required to surpass Boston Celtics power forward Kevin Garnett to slide into the second starting forward spot on the Eastern Conference All-Star squad. The statistics don’t lie.

Stoudemire is averaging nearly twice as many points per game (26.4) as “The Big Ticket” (15.0) while pulling down just as many rebounds per contest (9.1 versus 9.5) and blocking twice as many shots (2.3 versus 0.73). In addition, Stoudemire is the primary reason the Knicks, one of the marquee franchises in the league, have experienced a marked resurgence.

On the other hand, although the Knicks’ floor general is worthy of consideration for a spot on the roster, Felton, as well as Gallinari, have absolutely no business being All-Star starters, which is what the voting program was designed to determine.

Felton (18.0 points, 8.9 assists per game) is a notch below Rajon Rondo (11.2 points, 13.8 assists per game) and Derrick Rose (24.0 points, 8.6 points per game) at the point guard position while Gallinari (15.2 points, 4.5 rebounds per game) isn’t even the second best forward on his own team, with Wilson Chandler (17.7 points, 6.4 rebounds per game) holding that distinction.

So although the Vote Knicks campaign is a clever way to reward fans for their creativity and support, it does the disservice of perpetuating the message that All-Star voting should be done with the heart rather than the brain.

Have Brandon Jennings, Gilbert Arenas and John Wall outplayed Raymond Felton this season?

Do Chris Paul and Kobe Bryant make for a better All-Star starting backcourt than Russell Westbrook and Deron Williams?

Are Andrew Bynum and Yao Ming more worthy All-Star starting centers than Al Jefferson or Nenê?

The fans have spoken loud and clear. But is David Stern really listening?

The second returns from the 2011 All-Star voting program are as follows (Courtesy NBA.com):

2011 NBA ALL-STAR BALLOTING - EASTERN CONFERENCE

Forwards: LeBron James (Mia) 969,459; Kevin Garnett (Bos) 712,555; Amar’e Stoudemire (NYK) 637,486; Paul Pierce (Bos) 381,348; Chris Bosh (Mia) 260,007; Josh Smith (Atl) 193,897; Carlos Boozer (Chi) 159,073; Danilo Gallinari (NYK) 127,726; Andre Iguodala (Phi) 115,660; Danny Granger (Ind) 107,145.

Guards: Dwyane Wade (Mia) 938,402; Rajon Rondo (Bos) 777,310; Derrick Rose (Chi) 721,122; Ray Allen (Bos) 392,441; John Wall (Was) 169,219; Gilbert Arenas (Orl) 144,889; Brandon Jennings (Mil) 128,556; Raymond Felton (NYK) 105,425; Joe Johnson (Atl) 99,598; Jamal Crawford (Atl) 97,809.

Centers: Dwight Howard (Orl) 988,572; Shaquille O’Neal (Bos) 410,663; Joakim Noah (Chi) 153,657; Al Horford (Atl) 120,404; Andrew Bogut (Mil) 110,153; Andrea Bargnani (Tor) 92,822; Brook Lopez (NJ) 77,048; Roy Hibbert (Ind) 70,698; JaVale McGee (Was) 59,508; Ben Wallace (Det) 44,375.

2011 NBA ALL-STAR BALLOTING - WESTERN CONFERENCE

Forwards: Kevin Durant (Okc) 735,521; Carmelo Anthony (Den) 602,516; Pau Gasol (LAL) 597,201; Dirk Nowitzki (Dal) 447,737; Tim Duncan (SA) 436,651; Blake Griffin (LAC) 435,857; Lamar Odom (LAL) 232,299; Luis Scola (Hou) 197,728; Kevin Love (Min) 171,945; Caron Butler (Dal) 168,937.

Guards: Kobe Bryant (LAL) 1,153,694; Chris Paul (NOH) 585,690; Manu Ginobili (SA) 403,632; Steve Nash (Pho) 321,659; Deron Williams (Utah) 313,011; Jason Kidd (Dal) 234,779; Russell Westbrook (Okc) 233,593; Tony Parker (SA) 219,378; Vince Carter (Pho) 185,213; Eric Gordon (LAC) 179,917.

Centers: Yao Ming (Hou) 637,527; Andrew Bynum (LAL) 376,283; Brendan Haywood (Dal) 215,905; Nenê (Den) 211,475; Marc Gasol (Mem) 205,227; Emeka Okafor (NOH) 172,012; Chris Kaman (LAC) 131,741; Marcus Camby (Por) 111,346; Andris Biedrins (GS) 65,908; Robin Lopez (Pho) 62,199.

Click here to read the original article on Examiner.com.

LeBron Who? Amar'e Stoudemire Is Holding Court at Madison Square Garden

For the better part of the past two years, New York Knicks President of Basketball Operations Donnie Walsh emptied his bag of tricks in the hopes of coronating LeBron James as the King of New York.

However, those plans went up in a plume of smoke when the most sought-after free agent in NBA history publicly decided to take his talents approximately 1,300 miles south of Madison Square Garden.

Coincidentally, on the same day James put an end to a seven-day whirlwind of countless rumors and speculation, five-time All-Star Amar’e Stoudemire was introduced as the newest member of the Knickerbockers after agreeing to a five-year, $100 million contract with the organization.

So when New York became among James’ spurned suitors, the Big Apple was left to wonder whether the signing of Stoudemire would be enough to instill some life back into one of the marquee franchises in the league.

But even with the additional signing of Raymond Felton, the Knicks started the season by dropping 8 of their first 11 while losing six consecutive games in the process. Tell tale signs that New York was picking up right where they left off from last season and Mike D’Antoni’s days as head coach were on the verge of being numbered.

In the midst of New York’s early struggles though, the 28-year-old Stoudemire established himself as a leader and reversed the team’s fortunes with a raw and stinging critique of his supporting cast after a fifth straight loss to the injury-depleted Houston Rockets.

“I’m not sure if it’s the fact that maybe a winning mentality has never been here. I’m just not used to it. I’m used to winning. I’m used to talking about winning and having that confidence toward winning. You just can’t have guys complacent and comfortable with losing.”

Stoudemire went on to say, “I don’t understand why we’re not playing with the urgency. I’m not used to that. We’re not playing like we’re on a four-game losing streak, now five. We don’t have that sense of urgency. It’s almost as if it doesn’t matter.”

Since this honest assessment of what has become a losing culture over the past six seasons, the Knicks have gone on to win 12 of their last 14, including a winning streak that was extended to seven with a victory over the Washington Wizards Friday evening.

To put it perspective, the last time New York won seven straight games was ten years ago (December 22, 2000 – January 7, 2001) when Jeff Van Gundy was the head coach, Allan Houston was the team’s leading scorer, Mike D’Antoni was an assistant coach with the Portland Trail Blazers and Amar’e Stoudemire was a junior in high school.

Speaking of Stoudemire, his play has taken the Knicks from Eastern Conference cellar dwellers to viable playoff contenders, inspiring recent chants of “M-V-P!!! M-V-P!!!” from the Madison Square Garden faithful.

During New York’s seven-game winning streak, Stoudemire has averaged 34.4 points and 11.3 rebounds per game while shooting 58.6% from the field. In addition, Stoudemire has tied the Knicks’ record for most consecutive 30-point games, equaling the franchise mark set by Willie Naulls in 1960.

Naysayers may point to the fact that the teams New York has beaten, including the Toronto Raptors twice, have a combined record of 55-105 (.344) and they won’t fare as well against better squads such as the Denver Nuggets, the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat, all of whom the Knicks will be facing over the course of the next several days.

But with a little more than a quarter of the season in the books, those with a ‘glass half full’ perspective can retort by informing their counterparts, New York is the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference and more than half way toward eclipsing the number of victories they have averaged over the past six seasons (29).

More importantly though, the “World’s Most Famous Arena” is buzzing again and the city of New York is falling back in love with the Knicks because of the All-Star and MVP-caliber play of Stoudemire, a superstar the likes of which the team hasn’t had since Patrick Ewing.

Thus, amongst the myriad of signs that will be directed at LeBron James when the Miami Heat pay a visit to the Garden next week, this two-word message should encapsulate the feelings of Knicks’ fans perfectly: ‘LEBRON WHO?'.

Click here to read the original article on Examiner.com, which includes relevant links and highlights from the New York Knicks' seventh consecutive victory.

Summer of LeBron James Results in Box Office Success for NBA

As the summer of 2010 gradually becomes a distant memory, Commissioner David Stern and the National Basketball Association can reflect upon it with tremendous pride due to the record numbers produced at the gate in its wake.

And the teams whose coffers saw the largest boons were the ones who were able to land the biggest fish in the most talent-laden free agent pool in NBA history.

According to Street & Smith’s SportsBusiness Journal, the NBA will begin the 2010-11 season later this month with more than $100 million in new full-season-ticket revenue, a record amount for the league, as well as new full-season ticket sales surpassing the tally for all of 2009.

The five teams with the highest number of new sales through the end of September were the Chicago Bulls, the Miami Heat, the New York Knicks, the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Orlando Magic; the majority of whom were prominent players in the LeBron James sweepstakes and made huge splashes in free agency.

The acquisition of Carlos Boozer by the Bulls, LeBron James & Chris Bosh by the Heat, and Amar’e Stoudemire by the Knicks significantly contributed to the major storylines in the off-season that will continue to play themselves out during the regular season.

Will the formidable triumvirate of Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh shatter the NBA record for wins in a season on the way to the first of multiple championships?

Can the Chi-Town trio of Derrick Rose, Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah become an Eastern Conference power to rival ‘Miami Thrice’?

Did the resurgence of the New York Knicks, one of the marquee franchises in the league, truly begin with the arrival of Amar’e Stoudemire in the Big Apple?

Easily numbering in the thousands, fans of these respective teams sincerely believe the answer to the aforementioned questions is a resounding ‘yes’; and that firm belief has manifested itself in increased new ticket sales and will do so in the form of higher television ratings during the regular season as well.

So for all the criticism heaped upon LeBron James for the manner in which he announced his ‘Decision’, all he really did was serve as the backbone of the most intriguing off-season in league history, leading to a series of difference-making maneuvers by several franchises in preparation for his potential arrival or eventual snub.

And in all likelihood, the summer of 2010 will be viewed as a box office and television ratings bonanza for the NBA, the likes of which hasn’t been seen since Michael Jordan was at the apex of his legendary career; which is a winning combination for the owners, the players and, more importantly, the league fan base.

The hope for teams like the New York Knicks is that this also translates to on-court success; especially after the past three years where they have averaged a dismal 28 wins per season.

Click here to read the original article on Examiner.com, which includes relevant links and a special video presentation.

DISH Network pulls plug on Devils, Islanders, Knicks and Rangers

Subscribers of the DISH Network, who also happen to be fans of the New Jersey Devils, the New York Islanders, the
New York Knicks and/or the New York Rangers, woke up Friday morning to the realization they no longer had access to the MSG Network and MSG Plus as well as no idea when their sports viewing experience would be fully restored.

According to the New York Post, DISH Network Corporation, the second-largest United States satellite provider, and the Madison Square Garden Networks failed to reach an agreement before the October 1 expiration of their previous carriage contract. The impasse in negotiations occurred when the two sides could not come to terms on how much of an increase in fees would be paid to Madison Square Garden.

No new talks have been scheduled.

In the interim, MSG has encouraged DISH subscribers to switch to other cable or satellite companies for access to their favorite programming on MSG and MSG Plus.

Meanwhile, DISH has stated it will make ESPN Classic, NBA TV, NFL Network and other pay channels available at no extra charge to those affected by the blackout.

This is small consolation to the nearly 350,000 DISH subscribers in the Tri-State Area who have been looking forward to the start of a new season for their beloved basketball and hockey teams.

"We are disappointed with DISH's decision to drop MSG Network and MSG Plus. DISH has rejected numerous fair and reasonable proposals at rates, terms and conditions consistent with our deals with other operators," said Dan Ronayne, Executive Vice President and General Manager of MSG Networks. "Instead of negotiating for a new agreement, DISH has decided to deprive their customers of our award-winning networks and their favorite New York teams."

On the flip side of the coin, Dave Shull, Senior Vice President of Programming for DISH, had this to say: “These are really tough economic times and we have to make sure we have the flexibility with our customers to meet their needs and provide content at a reasonable price.”

Doesn’t this empty rhetoric between millionaires haggling over huge slices of a billion-dollar pie sound eerily similar to the ramblings of Charlie Brown’s school teacher in the Peanuts' television specials?

And if either side is looking for a sympathetic ear, it won’t find a single one among its loyal customers who are the real losers in this asinine dispute.

Click here to read the original article on Examiner.com, which includes relevant links and a special video presentation.

The Magnificent Seven: The Most Important Players in NY Sports Today

As the fiercest hurricane in twenty years prepares to slam the East Coast with winds in excess of 130 miles per hour, another storm is brewing which fans of the major professional sports leagues will embrace with open arms.

Between September 9 and October 26, the 2010 regular seasons for the National Football League (September 9) and the National Hockey League (October 7), as well as the 2010 postseason for Major League Baseball (October 6), will monopolize the airwaves with their respective opening acts.

However, on October 26, the ‘perfect storm’ ensues when the National Basketball Association lifts the curtain on a new season to give rise to that ecliptic moment on the calendar where sports fans can have their pick of meaningful games to watch, at home or in-person, among the four major sports in North America.

And with the steady approach of this annual confluence, player performance, prospectively and retrospectively, is broken down, dissected, and examined ad infinitum like at no other time during the year; especially in New York where the demands for success can overwhelm those with the strongest of resolves.

In light of this information, there’s no time like the present to enumerate the seven players in New York sports who had and/or will have the most significant impact on their teams as baseball’s postseason looms on the horizon and the NBA, the NFL and the NHL prepare for the dawn of their new seasons. One player per team will be named.

CC Sabathia, New York Yankees

It can never be overstated how valuable Charles Carsten Sabathia has been to a New York Yankees starting rotation that has been beset by inconsistent performances from A.J. Burnett and Javier Vazquez throughout the season, hampered by shoddy post All-Star break showings from Phil Hughes and decimated by an injury to Andy Pettitte.

Sabathia leads the Yankees in wins (18), ERA (3.14) and strikeouts (160), which place him in first, eighth and ninth in the American League in those respective categories.

And although second baseman Robinson Cano may receive more consideration and support for the American League MVP Award, Sabathia’s candidacy should be taken as seriously as his bid to win the Cy Young Award.

Hitting may rule the day in the Bronx but, ultimately, pitching wins championships. And of the current postseason contenders, no starting pitcher has been nor will be more crucial to their team’s success than CC Sabathia.

Angel Pagan, New York Mets

New York Mets third baseman David Wright leads the team in home runs (21) and RBI’s (86), but Angel Pagan has given the Mets hope for the future.

In an outfield where Carlos Beltran’s best days are behind him and their search for another steady corner outfielder is ongoing, Pagan has quietly emerged as a star in his own right.

Pagan leads the Mets in batting average and, among all National League outfielders, he is first in stolen bases (32), sixth in hits (137) and seventh in batting average (.294), all while playing a Gold Glove-like centerfield for the majority of the season.

So along with first base (Ike Davis), shortstop (Jose Reyes) and third base, Pagan has given the Mets’ front office one less position to concern with reloading this coming off-season and opened up intriguing trade possibilities involving Carlos Beltran.

Amar’e Stoudemire, New York Knicks

Prior to the beginning of the 2005–06 NBA regular season, Amar’e Stoudemire underwent microfracture surgery on his left knee and, as a result, ended up playing only three games for the Phoenix Suns during the campaign.

Surprisingly though, the Suns would go on to post a 54-28 record and reach the Western Conference Finals before gallantly falling to the Dallas Mavericks in six games.

The New York Knicks won’t even come close to achieving similar results if their $100 million man misses any significant time due to injury this coming season and beyond.

In the most talent-laden free agent market in NBA history, Stoudemire became the cornerstone in plans to resurrect one of the marquee franchises in the league as well as the best big man the Knicks have had on their roster since Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing.

Fresh off a season in which he averaged 23.1 points and 8.9 rebounds per game and played all 82 games in the regular season for the first time in his career, the 27-year-old Stoudemire appears primed to lead the Knicks into an era where mediocre basketball is a thing of the past.

But if Stoudemire’s shoulders aren’t broad enough to carry that burden, the Knicks will have to look to the NBA Lottery for answers.

Eli Manning, New York Giants

When starting quarterback Eli Manning left the New York Giants’ preseason opener against the New York Jets after suffering a three-inch laceration to his forehead, fans of ‘Big Blue’ held their collective breaths knowing full well they could ill afford to lose the Super Bowl XLII MVP.

However, twelve stitches and one missed preseason game later, Manning was back in the saddle again, accompanied by an enormous sigh of relief.

Over his six-year career, Manning has proven to be extremely durable. After starting in 87 consecutive regular season games through last season, Manning has the third longest active streak among NFL quarterbacks; behind only Brett Favre (285) and Peyton Manning (192).

This distinction bodes well for the Giants, who need Manning to play all sixteen regular season games for the sixth straight season more than ever.

With back-up signal caller Jim Sorgi on injured reserve and third-stringer Rhett Bomar still waiting to take his first regular season snap, New York’s depth at the position is severely compromised; which is why the Giants have started to make inquiries about Arizona Cardinals disgruntled quarterback Matt Leinart in a classic demonstration of desperate times call for desperate measures.

Therefore, New York’s hopes for a successful 2010-11 season ride largely on the health and well-being of one Eli Manning.

Darrelle Revis, New York Jets

Click here to read why the Jets’ Super Bowl talk means absolutely nothing without Darrelle Revis.

John Tavares, New York Islanders

Last season, New York Islanders rookie center John Tavares finished first on the team in points (54), second in goals (24) and third in assists (30). Among rookie skaters, Tavares finished second in points, tied for first in goals and third in assists.

Islanders captain Doug Weight said that “John’s going to be a big piece (of an Islander rebuilding effort)” after Tavares’ first NHL game last year, which is why the 19-year-old was taken with the first overall pick by the Isles in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

In his sophomore season, Tavares will be expected to continue the steady progression toward becoming one of the elite players in the league while elevating the play of his teammates in the process.

Tavares has also been a huge draw at the box office for the Islanders. After winning the Draft Lottery, the team’s ticket sales department reported a "300% increase in phone calls and e-mail inquiries” from 2008-2009 and were "on pace" to renew 90% of its season tickets in 2009.

Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers

Behind a porous defense, Henrik Lundqvist single-handedly carried the New York Rangers to the brink of making the playoffs last season.

Lundqvist faced the third most shots of any goalie in the NHL, but yet finished eighth in the league in goals against average (2.38) and save percentage (.921).

And no one in the Rangers’ locker room took losses harder, as well as take the most responsibility for those defeats, than Lundqvist did.

Entering the 2010-11 season, the Rangers will once again rely heavily on Lundqvist to keep their anemic offense in games and cover for their glaring defensive liabilities.

There it is, folks. Agree? Disagree? Your voice is welcome to be heard.

Click here to read the original article on Examiner.com, which includes relevant links and a special video presentation featuring one of the most important players in New York sports today.

Isiah Thomas: The Freddy Krueger/Jason Voorhees/Michael Myers of Basketball

When it comes to horror cinema, the films of the ‘Friday the 13th’, ‘Halloween’ and ‘Nightmare on Elm Street’ series are among the most iconic in Hollywood history.

And the theme that is common to these masterpieces of cinematic art is the omnipresence of an unstoppable killing machine who can’t be put down with bullets, fire or any form of stabbing weapon.

This simple formula has resulted in a total of twelve ‘Friday the 13th’, ten ‘Halloween’ and nine ‘Nightmare on Elm Street’ films over the past thirty years.

Although this movie genre has gradually lost its luster in recent years, it appears the basketball world has a burning desire to see a revival as they’re responsible for creating and sustaining the life force of an unstoppable killing machine of their own.

According to NYDailyNews.com, in a surreal twist of events, former New York Knicks President of Basketball Operations and head coach Isiah Thomas has rejoined the organization as a team consultant; and for Knick fans who are wishing this is some sort of cruel joke or a bad nightmare they will soon be awakened from, it isn’t.

As for those still living in the world of the oblivious, this latest development is just further confirmation that Thomas has as many lives in basketball as Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees and Michael Myers do on the silver screen.

After bankrupting the once defunct Continental Basketball Association (CBA) due to mismanagement and exorbitant spending, Thomas was rewarded by being hired as the head coach of the Indiana Pacers in 2000, where he guided the team to three consecutive first-round playoff exits.

Three years later, Thomas once again found new life when New York Knicks owner James Dolan named him President of Basketball Operations, which resulted in a team record of 112-216 (.305) and no playoff appearances over the next four seasons, questionable trades (Eddy Curry to the Chicago Bulls for future draft picks, two of which turned out to be lottery picks) and signings (Jerome James) that placed the Knicks in ‘salary cap hell’ and a sexual harassment scandal that cost Madison Square Garden close to $12 million.

But even after singlehandedly turning one of the marquee franchises in the National Basketball Association into a perennial laughingstock, Thomas managed to land yet another job in basketball, this time on the college level, as head coach of Florida International University (FIU) in 2009; and the team finished 7-25 in his first season at the helm.

So while maintaining his head coaching position at FIU, Thomas will serve as a consultant for the New York Knicks, the same team that has spent the last two years cleaning up the huge mess he created.

What’s even more shocking is that Thomas’ part-time position with the Knicks could merely be a prelude to a full-time return as general manager.

In an economy where thousands of adept, qualified individuals are having tremendous difficulty finding employment, it’s truly amazing that Isiah Thomas, who is as inept a basketball executive as they come based on his resume, can continually find work with virtual ease.

This is the inexplicable reality that has become the post-playing career of one Isiah Thomas, the unstoppable killer of basketball leagues and franchises.

Freddy, Michael and Jason would be proud.

Click here to read the original article on Examiner.com, which includes relevant links and a special video presentation featuring Isiah Thomas.

Underage Sex Settlement Rears Ugly Head Again for Knicks’ Eddy Curry

Nearly a decade removed from being considered one of the best high school basketball players in the country and becoming the fourth overall pick in the 2001 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls, the life of New York Knicks center Eddy Curry continues its downward spiral into the abyss of unfulfilled promise.

According to NYDailyNews.com, a Chicago judge has issued an arrest warrant for Curry after learning the troubled Knicks big man hasn’t paid approximately $200,000 of a $660,000 settlement for having sex with an underage girl. The warrant is the second that has been issued for Curry’s arrest since June.

The payout resulted from a 2001 case in which an 18-year-old Curry was sued for engaging in sexual relations with a 14-year-old girl. Curry agreed to the settlement in 2007.

However, when it was discovered that he still had about a third of the settlement balance left to pay almost two months ago, a judge issued the first arrest warrant, which was revoked when Curry signed a new agreement to resolve the matter.

This is only one in a litany of problems that has plagued the enigmatic Curry since 2007, when he averaged career highs in points (19.6), rebounds (7.1) and minutes played per game (34.9) for the Knickerbockers.

In January of 2009 alone, Curry was sued for sexual harassment by his former chauffeur, David Kuchinsky, while having to contend with the shocking murder of his ex-girlfriend, Nova Henry, and their nine-month-old daughter, Ava.

And despite an annual salary of $10.5 million, Curry is deeply in debt, including being significantly behind in payments on a Chicago mansion that is in foreclosure.

To add injury to insult, the 6’11” Curry has played only four games in the past two seasons due to conditioning challenges and a problematic right knee.

This is the enormous weight, no pun intended, which the 27-year-old husband and father of five has to carry on a daily basis.

So for every Kobe Bryant and LeBron James there are hundreds of stories that are being written or have been written about players in the National Basketball Association who gradually fade into anonymity by squandering their respective fortunes and talent; all due to their emotional, mental and spiritual unpreparedness for the pressures that come with fame and wealth.

Unfortunately, Eddy Curry is one of those stories that is still being written. Therefore, amidst all the criticism he receives for not living up to his basketball promise, it should never be forgotten that beneath the surface beats the frail heart of a young man who’s still trying to find his way in life.

Click here to read the original article on Examiner.com, which includes relevant links and a special video presentation featuring Eddy Curry.

Knicks Agree to 3-year, $25 million Contract With Raymond Felton

The New York Knicks have quickly bounced back from the heartache
LeBron James’ defection to Miami caused by dipping back into the most talent-laden free agent pool in NBA history.

On the heels of finalizing a sign-and-trade deal that shipped All-Star power forward/center David Lee to the Golden State Warriors for Kelenna Azubuike, Anthony Randolph and Ronny Turiaf, Knicks President of Basketball Operations Donnie Walsh dispelled rumors of his impending retirement and went about the task of upgrading the engine of head coach Mike D’Antoni’s offense.

According to NYDailyNews.com, the Knicks have reached an agreement in principle with Charlotte Bobcats unrestricted free agent point guard Raymond Felton. The contract is believed to be a three-year deal worth approximately $25 million.

Felton, the fifth overall selection in the 2005 NBA Draft, averaged 12.1 points, 5.6 assists and 1.5 steals per game for the Bobcats last season and, in five seasons as Charlotte’s starting point guard, Felton has posted 13.3 points, 6.4 assists and 1.4 steals per contest.

Equally as important though is the fact that Felton has proven to be extremely durable since he entered the league, appearing in at least 78 games in each of the past five years.

In addition to being an upgrade over former Knicks point man Chris Duhon, who signed as a free agent with the Orlando Magic recently, Felton will be a nice complement to small forward Danilo Gallinari and newly signed power forward Amar’e Stoudemire.

While far from being a playmaker/scoring threat of Steve Nash’s caliber, Felton is more than capable of finding Gallinari for a fair share of open looks and Stoudemire for a bountiful of thunderous dunks while penetrating to the basket to create his own offense in D’Antoni’s high-scoring system.

But if Felton isn’t up to the challenge, Chris Paul and Tony Parker will become available in next year’s free agent market.

Click here to read more about 2010 NBA free agency on Examiner.com.