The LoHud Knicks Blog

It’s a good thing New Yorkers have the NFC Champion Giants to keep them distracted, because when it comes to the Knicks, these are dark times. Completely erasing the goodwill reserved by Tuesday night’s blowout victory in Charlotte (see, I knew that abberration didn’t warrant my typical effort), Mike D’Antoni’s club reverted to form against the lowly Cavaliers last night, and there seems to be no end in sight to the Knicks’ bottomless abyss. Losers of seven of their last eight, the ‘Bockers (7-11) don’t appear likely to turn things around anytime soon, either, especially with the Heat looming in Miami tomorrow night.

Just one game removed from tantalizing the fans with a free-flowing offense that featured crisp ball movement, proper spacing and (gasp) shot making, New York’s execution – and more disturbingly, their effort – was putrid against the Cavs (7-10). On-court calamities aside, of far greater concern right now has to be the mental and physical state of one Carmelo Anthony. “Carmummy” is definitely playing hurt – that’s plain to see by the full body cast he’s playing with – but last night the small forward displayed a level of unprofessionalism that was practically “Staburian.”

It started at the 8:18-mark of the third quarter, right in the middle of a nearly four-minute Knick scoring-drought. With New York trailing 52-51, ‘Melo streaked down-court off a Cleveland miss. Iman Shumpert was trying to push the ball up the floor, and for just a split second could have hit Anthony for a layup, but the rookie either never saw him or was unwilling to risk a turnover. Shockingly, instead of finishing the play, ‘Melo threw his arms up in disgust and turned his back on the action. Shumpert, who had by then driven into the lane, tried to set up an open Anthony in the corner, but the flat-footed #7 had not yet recovered from his hissy fit, and the ball sailed out of bounds. It was just one of 23 turnovers on the night for the Knicks, but at least symbolically, that was the most critical one (later in the game ‘Melo acually passed out of a double-team, but the ball went comically through Stoudemire’s legs). New York would later tie the score twice, but that was the moment at which they lost the game, as evidenced by the players’ bad body language the rest of the way.

It’s one thing for Carmelo to play hurt. It’s quite another for him to play without respect for his teammates, the organization and the fans. I have seen enough of his career to believe him to be a fiery competitor, and there are very few players in the history of the game that have possessed his raw scoring ability, but last night’s effort and behavior was completely unacceptable. Sure, ’Melo is outwardly frustrated over the team’s and his own struggles (and that’s okay, you want him to care), but between injuries hampering his ability to play to the level he is capable of (he is shooting 34-freaking-% over his last ten games!), rumors of off-court distractions, and the team’s continuing malaise, something needs to be done.

Not that it will happen, but ‘Melo should sit out the next two games against Miami and Houston. Seriously, what good can come of him playing? Yes, we all know how jacked up he gets to square off against Lebron, but an injured Anthony, however “motivated,” hurts more than he helps. Instead, D’Antoni should mandate five full days of rest – of the physical and mental variety – for his star player and wipe the slate clean in advance of next Tuesday’s game against the Pistons.

WHAT WENT RIGHT:

• “D-Fence!” On the bright side, the Knicks held their opponent to under 100 points for the 12th time in 18 games this season. That said, league scoring is way down in this lockout-affected season, so this probably isn’t as impressive as it sounds.


• The team’s pre-game dance-ritual went off without a hitch. Nothing will ever be as funny as seeing Harvard’s Jeremy Lin shoulder-to-shoulder with Billy Walker in a rhythmic circle.

WHAT WENT WRONG:

• There is no leadership on this basketball team, and if you don’t believe there is something terribly afoul with the Knicks’ interpersonal-dynamics, then you’re not watching – and you’re certainly not listening – closely enough. ”[W]e have to figure out how to play with one another and what it’s going to take to win games,” said a visibly dejected Tyson Chandler after the loss. ”We’re inconsistent with everything we do. To be an elite team in this league, we have to be consistent every night and we lack that right now.” Elite?! Heck, mediocre would be a step in the right direction at this point. And D’Antoni, who for the first time this season looked absolutely shell-shocked, was even more blunt. ”[W]e have some things that have to be solved.” Just for giggles, go back and re-read those quotes, only this time, substitute “STAT & ‘Melo” for the word(s) “we.” Startling, isn’t it?


• If Amar’e Stoudemire thinks that lowering his shoulder and barreling to the rim are going to get him added to the U.S. Olympic Team roster, he’s sorely mistaken. Stoudemire led New York with 19 points and 14 rebounds, but he also committed six turnovers and converted on just 1-of-7 from outside of the paint. Whether due to his off-season rehab or those new goggles, the Knick power forward simply cannot buy a bucket from mid-range.


• Once again the Knicks were dreadul from 3-point range. They shot a mind-numbing 3-for-20 from beyond the arc, and it’s only natural to ask why Steve Novak isn’t getting any burn in the absence of Josh Harrellson, who had surgery on his broken right wrist yesterday and isn’t expected back for at least six weeks.


• Man, Toney Douglas, do you make it hard to watch a Knicks game. On the same day when the Knicks picked up his contract option, TD played just 25 minutes, and even that felt like far too many. It’s becoming more and more difficult to craft an argument in the non-PG’s favor nowadays, and I’m beginning to wonder not so much if the light will come on, but whether there’s actually anyone home.

KNICK KNACKS:

• O Baron, where art thou? Despite some reports suggesting that Knick-savior Baron Davis might return to action against his former team, the PG was glued to the bench in street clothes. At this point, the expectations of Davis lie somewhere between an NBA Championship and keeping the franchise from imploding. Both sound like a challenging task.


• Chandler was called for a technical foul in the fourth quarter after grazing Sideshow Bob’s face  while fighting for a rebound.  ”That shouldn’t have been a technical foul,” Tyson said. “He was on my back on every play and free throw. Hopefully the league looks at it and sees what really happened.” He now has four technical fouls already, one shy of the Knick-leading Stoudemire.


• Up next for the Knicks: they travel to Miami to face the Heat (Wednesday @ 7:00 pm, TNT)

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Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images

 

The New York Knicks destroyed the Charlotte Bobcats last night, but since it was the Bobcats, there is absolutely no meaningful analysis that can be gleaned from the affair. That six-game losing streak is history, and Baron Davis may or may not make his long-awaited debut in the Knick backcourt tonight. Hallelujah.

Seth Rosenthal has the particulars right here, but if you’re ADHD-afflicted, this was a particularly enjoyable summary as pertains to Jared Jefferies’ performance:

Jefferies swished two long jumpers in the first half. Elsewhere, twin fawns got separated from their mother in a bitter alpine forest. In the second half, Jeffries attempted two more long jumpers; one barely grazed the rim and the other airballed long by about seventy yards. The young fawns ambled out of the forest and back into the custody of their relieved mother. All was right with the world.

WHAT WENT RIGHT:

• Carmelo Anthony scored just one point, the lowest total of his entire NBA career.

WHAT WENT WRONG:

• Carmelo Anthony scored just one point, the lowest total of his entire NBA career.

KNICK KNACKS:

• Star NFL Defensive End and University of North Carolina grad Julius Peppers was courtside, and the esteemed @TinaCervasio shared with us that Peppers’ middle name is Frazier. As in Clyde, Walt. By the way, if you’re not following Tina on Twitter, you’re missing out on some social media goodness.


• Up next for the Knicks: they travel to Cleveland to face the woeful Cavaliers (Wednesday @ 7:00 pm, MSG Network)

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AP Photo/Chuck Burton

Just when Carmelo Anthony buried the hatchet with one adversary, he seemed to discover that he might actually be his own worst enemy. Minutes after the Knicks’ brutal double-OT loss to the Denver Knuggets on Saturday night, an unusually candid ‘Melo for the first time admitted publicly that a self-evaluation of his game is necessary, and for coach Mike D’Antoni and New York’s other “superstar” player, Amar’e Stoudemire, the revelations couldn’t have come at a better time.

We as a team need to do a better job getting Amar’e the ball. I have the ball in my hands. Maybe it’s on me. Maybe I have to give him the ball a little more, help him out with that. We’ll talk and try to figure it out together. If I’m doing too much, I want him to tell me. I want the guys on the team to tell me if I’m doing too much. -  Carmelo Anthony

Only in ‘Melo’s ‘Melocentric world can the word “maybe’ be drenched with such unintended irony, but it’s a start.

The Knicks (6-10), losers of six-straight, are a team in free-fall. Making matters worse, their shockingly awful play has come against the second-easiest schedule in the NBA thus far, so it isn’t crazy to ask just how much worse things will get before the Knicks turn it around. If they turn it around.

One thing is clear: New York will not win games if ‘Melo continues to dominate the offense. See, e.g., the following:

 

Notwithstanding the fact that none of the above ”Sidekicks” would take kindly to being labelled as such, the numbers are revealing. Player A and Sidekick A, as you’ve no doubt already surmised, are the Knick-duo of Anthony and Stoudemire. As you can see, ‘Melo is shooting disproportiately more often than is STAT. Both are mired in severe shooting slumps, but a 100+ disparity in attempts between the two max-contract players – each of whom is known for his offensive game - is one reason why the Knicks are four games below .500. Factoring in the quality of those collective shots – or lack thereof - and you’ve got a toxic Garden-mix.

Player B and Sidekick B are Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol. At first glance, Kobe kind of shoots a lot. He leads the NBA in FGAs by a wide margin, having jacked up 127 more shots than his closest peer, none other than Mr. Anthony, and a whopping 15% more shots than Gasol. Bryant also plays with Andrew Bynum, who missed four games due to an early-season suspension, but it would seem that Laker coach Mike Brown’s offensive philosophy is Kobe, Kobe and more Kobe. Oh, if the playoffs started today, the Lakers would be the Western Conference’s ”tenth seed.”

Player C and Sidekick C are LeBron James and Chris Bosh (Dwyane Wade has missed almost half of Miami’s games this season due to injury). Not only are James and Bosh playing with lethal efficiency, but they also share the basketball with one another, a strategy that historically leads to winning, something the 11-5 Heat know a little something about.

Player D and Sidekick D are Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Durant is quite possibly the best basketball player in the world, yet he seems to coexist with Westbrook, an elite player in his own right. The 13-3 Oklahoma City Thunder? Yeah, they’re only sporting the league’s best record.

None of this means that ‘Melo is Kobe, Lebron or Durant, because he isn’t, and he never will be. But that’s not the point, and Anthony doesn’t need to be those guys to be a winning player. What he needs is to understand that just because the NBA is a star-driven league, head-down star-drivin’ to the basket isn’t always called for. Sure, Kobe can get away with a “me-first’ attitude on and off the court, but he’s afforded that luxury on account of those five rings. ‘Melo at this stage of his career? Not so much.

Stoudemire is a 53% career shooter and despite whispers that the power forward is hiding an injury, there is simply no reason for ‘Melo not to be fully-invested in the former’s success. After all, if we are to believe Anthony’s post-trade proclamations about winning – and I’m not sure I do – then his only priority should be to find a way to elevate the play of his teammates.  

Anthony’s comments after the Denver loss struck me as heartfelt, honest and profound. I almost sensed an I-was-absent-the-day-they-taught-sharing-in-Kindergarten tone, but with the Knicks facing four road games in five nights, we’ll find out soon enough whether his actions speak louder than his words.

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Photo by @therick20

Time really must fly when you’re having fun, because I was shocked to discover that it’s been over nine months since we last sat down with Knicks’ legend Walt “Clyde” Frazier — or more specifically, his Twitter alter ego, @NotWaltFrazier. Clyde was eager to share his views on the no-luck Knicks and some other topics, so without further ado:

I’m ready for more mixin’ with The LoHud Knicksin’! Let’s do it.

My man! It’s been a while since we last caught up with you. How was your off-season? Did you spend the summer in St. Croix?

Lo-Hud the Stud! As always, it’s a pleasure beyond measure. My off-season was a combination of relaxation and mental taxation. With all the doubt caused by the lockout, I considered messin’ with another profession! Imagine me and my championship ring at Burger King. Biggie sizin’ and side of fries’n!

The Knicks shocked everyone by signing Tyson Chandler, seemingly out of nowhere. What was your reaction when you heard about Grundwald’s acquisition?

I’ve always thought Tys was nice, even as a neophyte alongside Eddie “McFlurry” Curry. That tandem left a sad memorandum. They had a chance to be terrific and prolific! And you know me; anyone who brings defensive pugnacity I’ll support with voracity!

Now, just 15 games into the season, New York is just 6-9, and they seem to lack chemistry on offense and defense. What’s wrong with the team?!

Ah, yes, that full-court fluidity remains reclusive and elusive! I think it’s still a bit precocious to leap to a diagnosis, but I’ll tell you this: with no clear orchestrator, you’re stuck at the .500 equator. An NBA team is like a wardrobe, in order to rise you must accessorize!

Do you think Coach D’Antoni deserves the blame for the team’s sluggish start?

The truth is, when the play’s this unpleasant, the blame is omnipresent. I won’t be singlin’ the man whose mustache is Pringlin’. Speaking of that ‘stache, though, Coach D’ needs a consultation in follicular conservation! A little Just For Men dabbin’ and he’ll be back to lady-heart grabbin’!

You played PG when you were in the NBA. Let’s talk about Toney Douglas. What’s wrong with him?

Ha-ha! TD as an offense-creator is like Craig Sager as a fashion-innovator. Such a blunderous miscastin’, it’s no wonder they’re lambastin’! Playing the point takes both a special capacity and a natural sagacity. If he doesn’t have it by now, it’s probably time for band-aid rippin’ and abandon shippin’!

And rookie Iman Shumpert? Are you impressed by his game already? He reminds some people of you, specifically on the defensive end.

Iman the Don Juan? He’s got NYC romancin’ and Shumpty Dancin’, with his impressive inkin’ and big shot sinkin’! There’s no doubt his Shumpin’ gets fans’ hearts thumpin’, but I’ll need to see some maturity before I can stump for Shump with more security.

What about Baron Davis, is he the missing ingredient for the Knicks?

First of all, his beard is weird, right? It’s like a cross between LeBron’s hairy neckin’ and Harden’s triple deckin’! I like BD – after all, he called me the foundation for his style inspiration! But I’ll stop short at calling him the missing piece that will give this team release.

Recently, we’ve heard grumblings from the media and fans alike about STAT ‘n Melo’s inability to mesh on the offensive end. What have you seen, and what can be done to fix things?

I made this prediction with conviction a year ago! But fans weren’t having my truth-bombin’ and Nostrodamin’! Bottom line is, I think this precipitous mixin’ is far beyond fixin’. But perhaps Amar’e can do some outreachin’ in the form of fashion teachin’. If they’re both Italian-cut swaggin’, maybe it’ll extend to victory snaggin’!

Speaking of style, Craig Sager’s still working the sidelines in his iconic wild outfits. How is your relationship with your fellow fashion maven?

Iconic?! Sager’s suits are moronic! Histrionic! Bubonic! These days, there’s more civility than hostility, but a friendship will always be haltin’ as long as he continues his ocular assaultin’! Did you see this guy wore a glittered necktie?! I guess some are just driven to create while others choose to nauseate!

You’ve got a new partner in the booth these days, former Lakers play-by-play man, Spero Dedes. How has he handled the transition?

Ha ha! Spero the Hero! The neophyte is a delight, isn’t he? He’s made an instant contribution with his precocious elocution. And his youthful follicular sheen is a Just For Men dream! I just hope Mike “The Machine” Breen doesn’t get too jealous. I’m way too old to be entanglin’ in commentator love-trianglin’.

News broke last year that you’re planning on getting into the restaurant biz. What can we expect from a dining experience with Clyde at the helm?

Food has always been a passion beyond my flair for fashion. Just ask all the lovelies who’ve succumbed to temptation and shared my copulation. Come sunrise, before I was evictin’, I’d always treat them to some eggs benedictin’! As you’d expect, at any restaurant with my namesakin’, the deliciousness is gonna be heart-achin’! Take it from me, there’s no better prelude to a night of lady-pleasin’ than some gastronomical-aphrodisin’!

Thanks a lot for sitting down with me, Clyde. Let’s do it again soon.

Anytime. Can’t help but smilin’ when you pop up on my speed-dialin’!

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I wasn’t in attendance last night, but rumor has it that by the end of the Knicks’ latest debacle – this time against the previously winless-on-the-road Milwaukee Bucks – the audible groans from the MSG-faithful had morphed into full blown “FIRE D’ANTONI!” chants.

Now, far be it from me to tell long-suffering Knicks fans what to yell from the relative comfort of their own high-priced seats, but is there no sense of fairness in this town? I thought this was the “Mecca of Basketball.” Aren’t New Yorkers supposed to be the most legitimate and knowledgeable fans around?

Let’s at least feign fairness when discussing the state of affairs, shall we? What, exactly, is Mike D’Antoni working with here? The Knick roster is a virtual who’s who of hand-me-downs, has-beens, never-weres, and might-still-bes.

Landry Fields, Toney Douglas, Jared Jefferies, Bill Walker, Steve Novak, Mike Bibby, and Renaldo Balkman would have trouble competing with the WNBA’s New York Liberty.

Knicks rookies Iman Shumpert and Josh Harrellson have each shown great promise and the ability to contribute at the NBA level right now, but neither can be relied upon to deliver with any degree of consistency.

Tyson Chandler would fit seamlessly as a valuable piece to any team’s championship-puzzle – he’s done it before, and the Knicks are beyond lucky to have him – but his game relies upon a skill set that’s complimentary to superstars around him, preferably one of whom is a point guard.

Which brings us to Gotham’s dynamic-duo du jour, Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire, whose pairing together is starting to look a lot like Riggs and Murtaugh’s in Lethal Weapon. It isn’t much of a stretch, either. Anthony stars nightly on Broadway as Detective Sargent Martin Riggs, a hair-triggered shooter who likes to go it alone. You remember Riggs, right? No one wants to work with him. He plays by his own rules. His superiors can’t get through to him. Riggs’ reluctant sidekick, STAT, plays Detective Sargent Roger Murtaugh, an overworked veteran on the apparent downside of his distinguished career. Sometimes it seems like Murtaugh is just mailing it in, just counting the days until free agency retirement. Heck, I keep waiting for Stoudemire to mumble during the post-game that he’s “too old for this sh*t.”

The striking difference between these on-screen and on-court partnerships? At the end of the day, Mel Gibson shooting people in the face tends to guarantee victory over the bad guys.

Look, D’Antoni deserves to be judged, but any evaluation of his performance needs to account for those more-than-just-ancillary factors that are contributing to the current Knick-malaise. Despite a roster that’s been flipped more often than Mitt Romney at a GOP Debate, despite an abbreviated training camp and exhibition season, despite not having a point guard, and despite the reliance on two not-quite-superstar players, New York fans and media alike inexplicably want the coach’s head on a platter and his heart on a plate.

There is no denying that New York’s offense has been putrid, and yes, D’Antoni is ultimately going to be held responsible for that, but anyone watching the Knicks since they acquired ‘Melo can plainly see that his and Amar’e games are not built to co-exist. Clearly, the two did not attend Summer School – as I called for last June – and I dare anyone to explain how changing coaches will suddenly alter their bad habits and selfish tendencies.

So please, let’s put away the pitchforks, and holster those sidearms. For now, anyway.

When Leo Getz Baron Davis comes back – and hopefully brings facilitation and ball movement with him – the Knicks fortunes will either improve drastically or they won’t. Then, and only then, will we know if New York’s answer to LeBron and Wade are here to win or if they’re content to let their “players’ coach” take the fall.

If that happens, and D’Antoni is unceremoniously dismissed, good luck convincing Steve Nash to play the role of savior in next year’s sequel.

Tomorrow! Tomorrow! I love ya, tomorrow! You’re only a Davis away!

The woes continued for the Knicks (6-8) last night night as the [previously] dreadful Phoenix Suns came to town to remind Mike D’Antoni of what it’s like to run his offensive system with a real point guard. Making matters exponentially worse, Phoenix was playing in the second half of a back-to-back set and came into the game riding a 5-game losing streak.

After the game, D’Antoni said the Knicks are “in a little bit of a crisis,” and though the comment was made in pseudo-jest, his choice of words isn’t likely to ease then tension surronding the team right now.

New York – now losers of four-straight themselves – hasn’t scored more than 93 points in their last six games, and if last night was any indication, the offensive disfunction is nowhere near to dissipating. On a night when Carmelo Anthony (12 points on 5-for-22 from the floor with 11 rebounds) was mired in a deep funk, the Knicks were seemingly unable to make easyany baskets when they needed themat all.

As usual, New York had absolutely no answer for the aforementioned Steve Nash (26 points, 11 assists, 5 rebounds). Predictably, the “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em” meme was all the rage before, during and after the game, as Nash’s affinity for the Garden and New York City was cited about as often as the Knicks missed jump shots – or, approximately every ten seconds or so. On the court, the youthful 37-year-old, who I am told lives in Soho during the off-season, sliced and diced the New York defense at will. It is a testament to the continuing defensive-impact of Tyson Chandler that the Suns only scored 91 points in the affair.

The early-season enigma which is Amar’e Stoudemire (23 points, 7 rebounds) brought a degree of intensity not often seen this year, but he also brought his questionable decision-making (6 turnovers) and inability to shoot (7-for-22).

Doom and gloom aside, things aren’t all bad. Surprising as it may be, the Knicks are technically already in the playoffs. Kind of. If the post-season started today, New York would make the tournament as the Eastern Conference’s 8th seed. It’s a good thing we’re still in January, though, because D’Antoni’s squad would surely be obliterated by competition far better than the Suns.

I just hope the coach lasts long enough to bet his bottom dollar on a Garden-revival.

WHAT WENT RIGHT:

• Chandler is an absolute beast. He grabbed 17 boards last night, and it isn’t a stretch to say that without his defensive-presence in the paint, the Knicks likely would have been blown out of the building by Phoenix. Chandler is now averaging just a shade under a double-double on the season (10.0 ppg, 9.5 rpg), and despite not taking many shots, he is incredibly efficient (sporting a ridiculous 69.4% shooting percentage). Honestly, where would the Knicks be without him?


• Landry Fields (17 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists) finally showed some signs of life, and perhaps he can use this game as a springboard to more consistent production. I still maintain that his inability to create his own shot or defend on-the-ball should relegate him to the bench if/when Baron Davis returns, but regardess, the Knicks will be a much better team if Landry can produce with any regularity.


• Don’t be surprised if 21 Shump Street gets nominated for an award or two at this year’s Oscars. Iman Shumpert did his best to carry the Knicks to victory last night, scoring 20 points on 8-of-14 with 4 steals, and his two late-game 3-pointers cut what seemed like an insurmountable deficit to a one-poessesion game. On whether he was fouled on a potential game-tying 3-point-attempt as time expired, Shumpert quipped ”[T]here was no whistle, so now we move on to the next game.” For what it’s worth, Shumpert is now second in the NBA in both steals-per-game (2.5) and steals-per-48-minutes (3.76). Giddyup.

“WHAT WENT WRONG:

• I have no idea what is going on with ‘Melo, but his pre/in/post-game disappearing act may lend credence to the official Knick-statement that the small forward was dealing with a “family issue.” Anthony opened the game by executing a beautiful assist to STAT on a designed pick ‘n roll play, but it was pretty much all downhill from there. In fact, the entire month of January has been subpar for ‘Melo; despite maintaining his scoring average (25.0 ppg), his efficiency has been downright abysmal (just 39.7% shooting, 32.6% from long-range). UPDATE: Rumor has it that Carmelo has been excused from today’s practice to deal with his personal situation.


• As if ‘Melo’s shooting problems weren’t bad enough, STAT continues to look dreadful on the offensive end. It’s a good thing he’s hitting 80% of his free throws, otherwise things would be even worse. Stoudemire continued his season-long habit of utter discombobulation when driving to the basket, and even if you’re an eternal optimist, you have to at least be a little concerned about the disapperance of his mid-range jumper. To put things into perspective, Amar’e, a career 53.4% shooter, is now hitting at just a 40.8% clip this season, and it seems like the officials have taken notice. The Knick PF is repeatedly getting crushed by the opposition, but the calls don’t seem to be there for the “superstar.” This is definitely something to keep an eye on.


• The Knicks scored just 12 fast break-points last night, a shockingly low total, considering their opponent, and the style of basketball each team tries to play. A recurring theme emerged during the post-game relative to this point as several players expressed concern with the team’s lack of easy baskets in transition. Quite simply, taking bad shots late in the shot-clock is a recipe for disaster, and one can only hope that the players’ apparent awareness of this issue leads to significant adjustments. Immediately.

KNICK KNACKS:

• Former Knick Charles Smith was in the house prior to the game. He’s an interesting character, and I will be sitting down with him in the coming weeks to talk Knicks, his post-career doings, and of course, the 1993 playoff series against the Chicago Bulls.


• Up next for the Knicks: the Milwaukee Bucks come to town, Friday at 7:30 pm (MSG Network)

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AP Photo/Frank Franklin II

The New York Knicks have a dream.

A dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of an NBA Championship shall be revealed, and all New Yorkers shall see it together.

Ok, so perhaps Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. didn’t have basketball in mind almost 49 years ago when he delivered the iconic speech that changed everything, but for three quarters yesterday at the Garden, the ‘Bockers and their fans were able to celebrate the birth of of a transformative American and imagine a future where all is right in the hoops-world.

And then everything unraveled, and just as the road to peace and understanding remains littered with significant hurdles, so does the Knicks’ path to championship-ascension.

New York (6-7) lost its third-straight game Monday, falling to the Orlando Magic (9-3) under a barrage of three-pointers, once again reinforcing the notion that despite those lofty preseason expectations, this Knick team is simply not yet ready for prime time. As has been their wont thus far during the 2011-12 season, the ‘Bockers played very well for stretches of the game, but they were unable to deliver consistent effort and cohesion for a full 48 minutes.

At some point – and for coach Mike D’Antoni’s sake, that point better come soon – the Knicks are going to wake up. This is simply too talent-laden a roster for an awakening not to occur. Eventually.

Anyone fairly judging this team knows full well how significant their of lack of a point guard is, especially in this complicated offensive system, but despite the flaws – and no training camp, and a compressed schedule, and no Baron Davis – the Knicks have two players on their roster that should be able to score at will. Except that those two players have shown absolutely zero ability and/or interest in playing off of one another, and neither can do it alone.

Dr. King said that ”[A]gain and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.” Sooner or later, Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire need to unite forces, too, or those dreams of a long-awaited championship for Gotham will remain unfulfilled.

WHAT WENT RIGHT:

• “D-Fence!” Normally, when you hold Dwight Howard to just 8 points on 3-of-6 shooting, you expect to win the game. Tyson Chandler was an absolute beast for the Knicks against Howard, playing top-notch man-defense that would have made Patrick Ewing proud. In fact, Chandler held Howard to just 2 points for the entire first half, and it wasn’t until late in the second quarter that he picked up his first two personal fouls. Iman Shumpert (3 steals) was also active, as usual, and it will be interesting to see if D’Antoni goes with Chandler, Shumpert and a surprisingly effective Jared Jefferies more often going forward. If the Knicks can’t score, they sure as heck better stop the other team from scoring, too.


• New York made a concerted effort to get to the basket yesterday, as evidenced by their 33 free throw attempts. It was nice to see the Knicks eschew their tendency to settle for long-range and/or contested jumpers, for a change. Perhaps this is a trend that will continue, especially since New York is the fourth-best free throw shooting team in the NBA (79.9%).

“WHAT WENT WRONG:

• “D-Fence!” The Knicks allowed the Magic to shoot 49% (17-for-35) from 3-point range yesterday, and that was essentially why they lost the game. Ryan Anderson (30 points, 7 rebounds) drained 7 treys by himself, but it isn’t like the Knicks didn’t know about his lethal long-range prowess. I mean, he only leads the league in 3-point attempts and makes this season. Quite simply, when an opponent has certain things they like to do, taking one or more of those things away is absolutely critical. The Magic are second in the Association in 3-pointers attempted and second in 3-point shooting percentage. They shoot early and often from beyond the arc, so even though Chandler took Howard out of the game, that doesn’t mean the Knicks should have completely forgotten about the other prominent facet of Orlando’s gameplan. For the season, the Knicks are allowing their opponents to shoot 40.7% from 3-point range (only the Nets are worse). Also, New York tallied zero blocks against the Magic. How is that even possible?


• Stoudemire picked up two fouls in the first 0.1 seconds of the game, and was mostly invisible during his 22 minutes of play, save for a brief flurry early in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, and mostly to protect Howard, who was playing with 5 personal fouls, the Magic then switched to a zone-defense, and New York was thereafter unable to keep getting Amar’e the ball. STAT looked and sounded positively dejected after the game, and his mental well-being is something to keep an eye on. We all know that an unhappy Stoudmire is not the Stoudemire you want to see around here. See, e.g., his Phoenix days.


• The continuing lack of chemistry between Carmelo Anthony and Stoudemire is now approaching ludicrous-speed. Anthony had a dominant first-half, and finished with 33 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals, but once again, he took way too many 3-pointers (1-of-8). ‘Melo’s long-range shooting is a recipe for crowd-pleasing when they go in, but it’s also a recipe for disaster over the long haul.


• Toney Douglas was brutal once again, taking a step back from his pseudo-encouraging game in Oklahoma City. He finished just 4-of-12 (0-for-3 from long-range) and put up a -15 plus/minus in 22 minutes. I still believe Douglas will find his confidence and be an intregal piece to the Knick-puzzle, but right now, he’s major liability.


• Landry Fields (6 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists) was fine, but then again, starting-caliber NBA two-guards generally tend to be a wee-bit better than just fine. As far as I’m concerned, Fields’ time may be running out. If the Knicks had any better options on the roster, it’s doubtful he’d be playing more than 15-20 minutes a night. But, oh, that hair. Has anyone ever rocked a tapered-fade with more authority?

 KNICK KNACKS:

• There were lots of rumors flying around the press room about Dwight Howard’s future yesterday, and I had the chance to talk to him after the game. On his trade demand, he said “I’m just trying to do what’s best for me. Everyone else has the ability to make decisions that put themselves in the best position, why shouldn’t that apply to me?” I also asked him about legendary Knick, Patrick Ewing, who was wildly cheered by the Garden-faithful upon introduction by the P.A. announcer. “Pat has been huge for me,” said Howard. “Not only with his knowledge and advice about the on-the-court stuff, but also the off-court things I am dealing with right now. He tells me all the time, I just need to go out there and dominate on both ends of the floor, impose my will, and everything else will take care of itself.” There is no denying that Howard has a magnetic personality, and though our discussion was brief, I found myself instantly lamenting that fact that the Knicks have no conceivable way to bring the Big Fella 2.0 to New York. Despite rumors of Howard’s aversion to cold weather, I have no doubt that he would have thrived in the Big Apple. I guess Brooklyn may just have to do.


• New York Yankee C.C. Sabbathia attended the game yesterday and chatted with MSG’s Jill Martin at halftime. In case you missed it, Yankee GM Brian Cashman pulled off yet another stealth-mode trade last Friday, and Sabathia was clearly pleased by recent developments.


• The carcass of former-Knick Quentin Richardson made a holiday-appearance for the Magic, draining two first-half 3-pointers before disappearing for the remainder of the game. I wonder if he sprung a formaldehyde-leak during during halftime.


• Up next for the Knicks: the Phoenix Suns come to town, Wedneday at 7:30 pm (MSG Network)

***

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Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

(Jamie is snowboarding somewhere in Vermont, so filling in today is the esteemed Jared Dubin of Hardwood Paroxysm and Outside the Arc)

If you thought the Knicks couldn’t possibly play worse than they did a couple nights ago against the Memphis Grizzlies, well… you were wrong.

New York (6-6) got smacked around by the Oklahoma City Thunder last night, staying close for about half of a quarter in a game that wasn’t anywhere near as close as the 104-92 final score indicates. Expecting a win against the West-leading Thunder, winners of six-straight, was probably expecting too much, especially with Carmelo Anthony out with a sprained ankle, but this one was really ugly.

Bill Walker started in Anthony’s place and Landry Fields was sent to the bench in favor of Mike Bibby.

The game was essentially ended when James Harden entered the game and Bibby, who had been defending Thabo Sefalosha and  roaming to help his teammates, was forced to defend the far-superior Harden.

In the first half alone, Harden, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook combined to shoot 18-for-28 from the field, 5-for-7 from three and 12-for-12 from the line, and the dynamic-trio scored 53 of OKC’s 70 (!!!) points before halftime. At one point, it appeared as if the aforementioned Harden literally faked Fields out of his pants (Note: I re-wound the DVR, and Fields’ pants did NOT fall off).

Although the box score doesn’t show it, the Knicks actually started off the game looking pretty good on defense, and they were moving the ball extremely well on offense, too. We saw ball-movement, dribble-driving and getting in the lane, and even passes to hit the open man. But once the Thunder started to find their groove on offense, the Knicks quickly lost theirs, reverting to isolation hero-ball for the better part of the night, which predictably didn’t work. At all.

Sure, ‘Melo wasn’t playing, but there is little doubt that the Knicks’ offense is dreadful right now. The scary part may be that there is no easy way to fix what ails this team.

WHAT WENT RIGHT:

• Uh, Jorts, I guess? Josh Harrellson hit a few three-pointers in the first quarter, played his typically-solid defense, and ended up with 12 points, 4 rebounds and 3 steals.


• Toney Douglas (gasp) hit some shots. He was 5-for-10 from the field and had 14 points in 14 minutes. He somehow wound up a plus-4 in the plus/minus column off the bench.


• Jared Jeffries rejoined the lineup, and he did some Jared Jeffries-like things on both sides of the court. He grabbed five rebounds, stole two basketballs, blocked two shots, gave it away to the other team thrice. Oh, Jefferies also made exactly zero of his four field goal attempts. A very Jared Jeffries game from Jared Jeffries. I just love to say Jefferies.

WHAT WENT WRONG:

• The Knicks turned it over 21 times, which led to 16 OKC points. New York also had 11 of its shots blocked. Not what anyone would call ideal, per se.


• Amar’e Stoudemire was hit another technical foul. He now leads the league with four, and Mike D’Antoni should be concerned. In the compressed season it only takes 13 to earn a one-game suspension.


• The Knicks did a lot of complaining to the refs, and it was quite unseemly, but making matters worse, they also did a lot of yapping with the Thunder. Talking trash against a quality opponent can be a good thing, but when you’re down by 30 points in the third quarter, it just makes you look foolish. Step your game up, then start talking, not the other way around.

KNICK KNACKS:

• Walt “Clyde” Frazier’s in-game discussion of Serge Ibaka (Congo) and his broken English was pretty much the apex of the evening from a Knick fan’s perspective.


• Mike Breen REALLY wants people to like Toney Douglas. The constant positive spin, much like how he’s discussed Jefferies in recent years,  makes me think the Knicks are shopping Douglas. Probably not, though.


• Westbrook finished just shy of his sixth career triple-double (21 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists) and thoroughly dominated rookie Iman Shumpert. It was definitely a Forrest Shump kind of evening for the PG, scoring just 6 points on 3-for-10 shooting, with 3 rebounds and 3 assists in 23 minutes.


• Kevin Durant was ridiculously efficient last night, pouring in 28 points on just 13 shots. He made 10 of them and went 7-7 from the free throw line. Even for a Knick fan, it’s ridiculously fun to watch him work.

***

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Photo by Newsday

Sometimes, an NBA team mails it in. And sometimes, so do the writers who cover that team. This, is one of those times.

WHAT WENT RIGHT:

• Nothing

WHAT WENT WRONG:

• Everything

KNICK KNACKS:

• Carmelo Anthony isn’t a huge fan of vacationing in Tennessee, as he sustained a sprained right ankle and left wrist (non-shooting hand) last night. Here’s hoping D’Antoni lets him pick up some sweet Memphis BBQ before boarding the team flight to Oklahoma City.


• Next up for the ‘Bockers: Saturday night @ OKC (which should be especially fun if ‘Melo can’t play).


• Special thanks to Stacey Gotsulias for inspiring this incredibly-lazy, Knick effort-emulating post.

***

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AP Photo/Alan Spearman

 

There is no such thing as a bad win in the NBA, but the phrase “winning-ugly” may soon find itself etched on the Knicks’ locker room dry-erase board.

New York (6-4) nailed down its fourth victory in-a-row last night, besting division-rival Philadelphia in an intense, physical affair that should quiet critics of Mike D’Antoni’s alleged-aversion to defense, at least for a little while. In fairness, while holding the Sixers to just 79 points would normally be an impressive feat, Philly was playing its fifth game in six nights, and last night completed a brutal back-to-back-to-back stretch.

Clearly playing with tired legs, the Sixers managed to shoot just 3-of-15 from beyond the arc, and their normally-lethal transition game was held largely in check (11 fast-break points).

That said, it is impossible to deny that the Knicks were well-prepared for their opponent. Philadephia was repeatedly forced to abandon their offensive sets, and their frustration was obvious as things got chippy as the game progressed.

Once again, the Knicks relied on a healthy dose of Carmelo Anthony (which is awesome, except that it’s kind of not), but it was the crowd-energizing effort from Josh Harrellson on both ends of the floor that really made all the difference.

What remains encouraging is that New York continues to win despite the absence of two key players in Baron Davis and Jared Jefferies, and a continuing more-than-occasional lack of offensive-cohesion. Combine that with the fact that the Knick-bench is thinner than Lindsay Lohan on a sight-seeing trip to Columbia, and even Stephen A. Smith must admit that playing .600 basketball to start the season ain’t too shabby.

WHAT WENT RIGHT:

• Apologies to Bernard King, but ‘Melo (27 points on 9-of-24, 9 boards, 5 assists, 3 steals) may just be the best pure scorer ever to wear a Knick uniform. This is more problematic than it sounds. He opened the affair by hitting his first three attempts – a 3-pointer, a razzle-dazzle spinning-jumper in lane, and mid-range shot, all within the first four minutes - but then proceeded to shoot 29% for the rest of the game. Admittedly, some of his makes were among the most impressive you will ever see, but the attempts themselves were more often than not ill-advised. Still, how can you tell Anthony not to “do this,” when he’s so good at doing it? Praise should also be given to the way that Anthony competes. He does not back down from opponents under any circumstance, as Andre Iguodala learned full-well (double-technicals were issued in the second half). That match-up will be one to keep a close eye on when the Knicks and Sixers next meet; there doesn’t seem to be any love-lost between the two.


• NewYork has now out-rebounded its opponents in five-straight games. This is absurd, who are these Knicks?!


• The more I see of Harrellson, the more befuddled I become on how 29 other teams’ front offices and scouts missed on the burly-rookie from Kentucky. At 6’10”, 275 lbs., Jorts plays defense like a 10-year league-veteran, rarely falling for shot-fakes, and generally staying out of foul trouble. He’s virtually impossible to move off of his spots, and his motor runs surprisingly well for a man of his considerable-girth. With those attributes, and his surprising three-point accuracy, Harrellson strikes me as the kind of player – health willing – capable of maintaining a long career in the league.


• “D-Fence!” The Knicks now rank 7th in the NBA in Defensive Efficiency. No, not seventh from the bottom, but 7th! I’m no stat-geek, so I have no idea what this means, but I’m pretty sure being ranked in the top-third in the league in a category with the word “defense” in it is a good thing. As an aside, having a press credential paid real dividends last night as I was able to check out D’Antoni’s pre-game instructions and reminders to the team. The anti-MDA crowd might be surprised to learn that at least 80% of the white-board scribblings – D’Antoni’s handwriting is horrible – pertained to defense. Stopping the 76’ers in transition, hitting the defensive boards, rotation-assignments, zone-traps, switching v. not switching; it was all there. At some point, players have to execute what they’re being coached. Just food for thought, folks.

WHAT WENT WRONG:

• I was tempted to leave this entire section void today on account of the winning streak, but instead, I shall be very brief.


• The Knicks need to learn better clock-management when they have a lead in the fourth quarter. On far too many possessions last night, New York hoisted bad shots with lots of time remaining on the shot clock, and those misses allowed Philly to cut what was once a double-digit deficit. This game should should have been an easier win, not a pseudo nail-biter with under 2:00 to play.


• New York surrendered 21 points off 24 turnovers. That cannot happen with regularity.


• Oh, Amar’e Stoudemire (20 points, 10 rebounds, -8), you frustrating man, you! I tweeted last night that STAT at times displays an astonishing lack of focus, interest and/or hustle for a player of his caliber, but he remains a truly gifted (and flawed) asset for the Knicks. More on him over the next few days and weeks.

KNICK KNACKS:

• The MSG-faithful gave a raucous-ovation for New York Giants Michael Boley and Jake Ballard last night. Unless you’re living under a rock, you know the G-Men head to Green Bay this week to square off against the Packers. I predicted that New York would beat Atlanta last week, but I am far less confident against GB, if only because no one has been talking about Rodgers and the Pack since they lost to Kansas City. Packers win by 4.


• The ‘Bockers are in Memphis tonight to take on the Grizzlies. No Zach Randolph, who is out with with a torn ligament in his right knee, so this would be a prime opportunity to snag a road-win against what is still a quality team.

***

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Photo by AP Photo/Frank Franklin II

Anyone who’s anyone remembers where it all got started for Hollywood A-lister, Johnny Depp, but despite industry insiders’ best-efforts to keep things under wraps, this blog has recently learned that New York Knicks rookie PG Iman Shumpert is close to an agreement to play the lead role in a forthcoming-reboot of Depp’s iconic series, 21 Jump Street.

Details are still sketchy, but one producer with knowledge of the situation was willing to speak on a conditon of anonymity, citing the delicate negotiations that are underway: “We just love Iman’s intensity and mass-appeal, especially with the 16-28 female-demographic. Seriously, have you seen this guy with his shirt off? Plus, his ability to wrap up the plotlines in 48-minute episodes, or “games,” as you call them, will be integral to our tight filming-schedule.”

Rumors of another Shumpert project have also been making the rounds, but at present, this blog is still unable to confirm plans for a long-awaited sequel to Tom Hank’s classic feature film, Forrest Gump.

Geez, is there anything this kid CAN’T do?!

***

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Special thanks to Jonah of The Knicks Wall for help with the images above and to Jim Cavan of Knickerblogger for the inspiration to whip this post together.

Try, try again, Knickerbockers.

It wasn’t exactly a “something’s gotta give” game, with New York (5-4) riding a two-game winning streak and Charlotte having lost two straight since upsetting the Knicks in MSG last Wednesday, but it was an important test nonetheless.

And in the end, on a night when the Knick-bench “poured in” just 3 points, it was New York’s Big-Three – for the first time each eclipsing 20 points in the same game – that made all the difference. After surrendering 118 points to this same Bobcat team just five days ago, the Knicks’ defense was much more accountable tonight, and their surprising use of a zone-defense at times was a welcome sight.

Of course, nothing comes easy for this D’Antoni-team, and their proclivity to go stand around and watch Carmelo Anthony (22 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists) play iso-ball resurfaced yet again, this time during a stagnant opening nine-minutes of the fourth quarter in which they made just two buckets.

The Knicks are now back over .500 for the first time since their opening-day win against the Celtics on Christmas Day, but with the red-hot Philadelphia 76’ers coming to town tomorrow, the good vibes may not necessarily last.

WHAT WENT RIGHT:

• Tyson Chandler was in full-on beast-mode (20 points on 7-of-8 shooting, 13 rebounds, 3 blocks, 3 steals), and the Garden-faithful were once again treated to several “Lob City East” moments. Of particular interest was that the Knicks seemed to be playing a zone-trap defense for various stretches of the game, with Chandler directing his teammates from the paint. As noted previously, if the Knicks can mix up different looks on the defensive end from time-to-time, their individual defensive shortcomings can be masked somewhat. Again, as Chandler himself has repeatedly said, the communication and trust will take time to fully develop, but they are making progress, as evidenced by the Knicks holding Charlotte to just 42% from the field.


• Much like the poor execution, good results-win against the Wizards last Friday, New York found way to win last night, even when their two stars, Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire (25 points, 12 rebounds), shot the rock poorly. The All-Star duo combined to go just 13-for-43 against Charlotte,  but once again, just when it seemed like the game might be slipping away, ‘Melo simply refused to let New York lose. Sort of. More on that later.


• If you haven’t already ordered your Iman Shumpert jersey, you might want to get right on that. As is becoming a nightly-occurrence, the rookie from Georgia Tech impressed again, pouring in 16 points on 7-of-13 shooting and adding 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals. Of all the early-season accolades for Shumpert, I remain most impressed by his defensive tenacity. He simply never gives an inch, and his ridiculous 7’0 wingspan confounds opposing guards to no end. In theory, Iman’s size and moxie should be a potentially-major weapon for the Knicks when they do battle against the Miami Heat, as New York has never had a defensive answer for Dwyane Wade. Now, this is not to say that Shumpert can or will shut Wade down entirely, but making him work harder, at his age, and with his minutes logged, can only help matters. If only New York had someone capable of shutting down Lebron James.


• ‘BOUNDING & RESOUNDING! For the third straight game, the Knicks out-rebounded their opponent. Even more surprising, however, was that the oft-maligned Stoudemire grabbed eight (count ‘em 8!) offensive rebounds. I didn’t think that Amar’e reads this blog, but his collection of 12 rebounds in three of the last four games can’t be a coincidence, can it?

WHAT WENT WRONG:

• Sooner or later, someone is going to have to tell D’Antoni that his team is in the midst of a lockout-shortened season. ‘Melo, STAT and Chandler each played 39 minutes last night, and anyone watching the game could see that both Anthony and Stoudemire are already feeling the effects of so many games in so few days. It’s not an easy predicament for MDA. The embattled-coach works in the fiery cauldron called Gotham, and the team’s tepid start hasn’t exactly created a cushion for resting the Knicks’ stars. That is what is so unfortunate about New York’s failure to capitalize on their relatively soft schedule thus far; when they need their stars against the upper-echelon teams, like the aforementioned Heat, those minutes may not be so readily-available. That, and the likelihood that either Anthony or Stoudemire sustain a significant injury should be enough motivation for the coach to rely on players like Steve Novak and/or Renaldo Balkman, even if just for brief interludes. With four games in six nights, starting tomorrow against the Sixers, I’d be very surprised if MDA doesn’t go with a deeper rotation.


• The Knicks received absolutely nothing from their shallow bench last night, as the Mike Bibby-revival was put on hold, for one game, anyway. The bench contributed just one Toney Douglas field goal and a free throw from Josh Harrellson, but to make matters worse, Douglas appeared to re-aggravate his surgically-repaired right shoulder in the game. New York cannot afford to lose Douglas for any significant stretch of time, especially with a Baron Davis-return still weeks away, and Shumpert’s offense now part of the starting unit’s attack.


• Sure, Knick fans love watching Carmelo Anthony take games over in the fourth quarter, but unfortunately his teammates also seem to love watching him, too. A repeatedly-confounding Knick-propensity, D’Antoni must figure out a way – whether via set plays, effective timeout-usage or even electroshock-therapy – to recognize and correct his team’s systemic and recurring offensive-stagnation. The Knicks can execute their offense with selflessness, ball movement and smart shot-selection – we know this because they do this for the majority of the game – but the question is will they? I’d like to believe that things will get better as the season progresses, but ‘Melo’s historical ball-stopping tendancies cannot be completely ignored.

KNICK KNACKS:

• Boris Diaw (19 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists) just missed his sixth career triple-double, and it was his third near-miss on the season already.


• Former Knick Derrick Brown, he of the out-of-this-world atheltic ability, got just 19 minutes of burn last night, but managed to grab 8 rebounds. Some fans were disappointed that New York did not re-sign Brown, but I’ve seen nothing from his game to suggest that he’s ready to be a viable option at the NBA-level yet.


• Jared Jefferies remains about a week away from returning. Unfortunatelty, the Knicks could really use his versatility and minutes now, especially with the grueling schedule on-tap.


• Next up for the ‘Bockers: v. PHL Wednesday, 7:30 EST.

***

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Photo by Dan Lippitt/NBAE via Getty Images

To everyone’s great dismay, I won’t always be covering weekend road games, but in my stead, I bring you these fantastic other options for your Knicks news:

1. KNICKS VISION. Dan and his team do a great job on all things Knicks.

If a basketball team scored 38 points a quarter for an entire game, they would score something like 152 points.  That’s a lot.  And that’s the pace the Knicks set when they went off in the second quarter of tonight’s game.  How?  Why?  I don’t know why, only how: Mike Bibby.  Bibby went wild in the second quarter, going 4/4 from three for fourteen points and leading the Knicks out of what looked like it could be a close one and into blowout land.  To the people of Detroit: I am truly sorry for the awful sports night you had tonight.  Seriously.

2. POSTING & TOASTING. Seth and his team are the cleanup hitters of the Knick-blogger community.

Oh man, we all needed that. The Knicks played a bad Pistons team missing several rotation players and did exactly what they should do against a bad Pistons team missing several rotation players. They shared the ball and the shot attempts, fought for rebounds, and defended aggressively as a unit. And sure enough, the balanced two-way effort earned them a blowout win against the meek competition. Funny how that happens, isn’t it?

***

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Photo by Dan Lippitt/NBAE via Getty Images

At this point in the Knicks’ sluggish start to the season, a win is a win is a win.

At least, that’s what the box score says. In truth, New York (3-4) was extremely fortunate last night to have escaped the nation’s capital without an “L,” as the now 0-7 Wizards came within a play or two of sending Gothamites into a full-blown “D’Antoni Watch.”

Carmelo Anthony scored 37 points, highlighted by a game-winning 3-pointer with 15.9 seconds to play, Amar’e Stoudmire added 23 points and 12 rebounds to continue his emergence from an early-season offensive-funk, and rookie-phenom Iman Shumpert restated his case for insertion into the starting lineup.

As has been their 2011-2012 modus operandi thus far, the Knicks once again fell behind early in the contest, trailing Washington by as many as 16 points. This despite numerous Knick player-acknowledgements after the loss to Charlotte on Wednesday that the team’s sluggish starts must be corrected. Considering that New York has not yet been tested by the condensed schedule, their inability to play with a high energy level early in games is an ominous sign.

Oh, and after the conclusion of tonight’s back-to-back in Detroit, the Knicks just so happen to play four games in six days, starting with Monday’s rematch at home against the Bobcats.

WHAT WENT RIGHT:

• The phrase “I do this” may be heading for a permanent slot in this section of the blog. ‘Melo was once again unstoppable, going 16-for-33 from the floor, and scoring 10 straight points to close out the game – capped-off by the long-range game-winner. The only negative surrounding Anthony was the post-game revelation that he had tweaked his right hip – and was in considerable pain – during the fourth quarter. He vows to play tonight. I had initially tweeted that ‘Melo’s decision to fire up that 3PA was a bad decision (with a good result), but the fact that he was injured helps explains things. “I was hurt. I was just praying it went in. I wasn’t going to try to drive at all. I knew I didn’t have any push off on my right leg,”­ said Anthony.
  


• Tyson Chandler (12 points, 15 rebounds) is going to be a double-double machine during his tenure in New York, assuming he stays healthy. Critics of the Knick-acquisition have pointed to the center’s less-than-overwhelming career averages, but once the team develops chemistry on both ends of the floor, Chandler will assuredly reap the statistical rewards.


• It appears that the rumors of Mike Bibby’s death were unfounded. Drinking from the fountain of…middle age, Bibby (11 points) turned back the clock – for one night, anyway – and drained three second-half 3-pointers. It cannot be overstated how huge those shots were for the Knicks, and if Mike D’Antoni can figure out a way to get Bibby open looks, he certainly still has the ability knock ‘em down. The downside is that the PG cannot cover anyone on defense, so his deployment needs to be managed strategically.


• “SHUMPALUMP!” It’s getting ridiculous already – and by ridiculous, I mean well-deserved – but the hype surrounding Iman Shumpert (10 points, 7 assists, 5 steals) is reaching a fever pitch. D’Antoni replaced a floundering Toney Douglas with Shumpert to start the second half for the Knicks, and the move paid immediate dividends. Iman was +20 against the Wizards, and even those seated in the nosebleeds saw what a profound effect his presence on the court has on the team. I’d be extremely surprised if Shumpert does not start tonight in Detroit.


• The Knicks out-rebounded the Wizards 49-44, the second-straight game in which their output has exceed that of their opponents. I remain shocked and awed.

WHAT WENT WRONG:

• Toney Douglas is perilously close to becoming Knicks’ fans Enemy Number One. Mercifully yanked off the floor last night after a woeful 0-for-5 with three turnovers in just 11 minutes of play, Douglas may have lost his starting spot for good. Ultimately, coming off the bench is the right role for him – certainly when Baron Davis returns – but shattering his confidence is of significant concern. New York needs TD’s scoring and defense for the long haul, so D’Antoni must carefully navigate what is surely the first time in the second-year player’s life that he has had to deal with on-court adversity.


• If Douglas is to be the Garden-faithful’s wrath-designee this season, Landry Fields is making his case to be Toney’s understudy. Fields was once again dreadful, contributing just 2 points on 1-for-2 shooting with a rebound and an assist. Yuck. Maybe he misses his bestie, Andy Rautins, or maybe he’s spending too much time at the barber shop getting that tapered-fade just right, but something has to give. The Knicks cannot continue to absorb zero production from their starting SG.


• “D-FENCE!” The Knicks allowed John Wall and Nick Young to collectively shoot 10-for-14 in the first quarter, and the Wizards led 32-18 early. “It caught us by surprise — how fast they were playing early in the game,” ‘Melo later said, but in fairness to the Knicks, Wall is impossible to guard in transition. At this stage of his career, though, Wall is more of a novelty-act, failing to get teammates involved, and not understanding when to take his foot off the gas. Make no mistake, he possesses unworldly talent, but playing for a losing franchise with marginal talent around him will surely impede his progress.

KNICK KNACKS:

• Remember when everyone was up in arms that the Knicks selected Shumpert over Washington F Chris Singleton in the NBA draft? Yeah, so… about that.


• Washington rookie F Jan Vesely (sore right hip) was active for the first time this season but he did not play. Also, he has a girlfriend, and they like to smooch.


• JaVale McGee (13 points on 6-of-9 shooting, 10 rebounds and 4 blocks) was really impressive last night. If he can ever learn to shoot free throws, and develop consistency with his baby-hook, he’s going to be a force to be reckoned with in the NBA for a long time.


• Wizards coach Flip Saunders has a terrible hairdo. I didn’t realize there was such a thing as the feathered-mullet, but I was ill-informed, apparently.


• Toney Douglas will be at Met Life Stadium tomorrow, rooting on his brother, Harry, a wide receiver for the Atlanta Falcons, as they battle the Giants in the first round of the NFL Playoffs. Just another reason for New Yorkers to hate Douglas, it seems.


• Next up for the ‘Bockers: @ DET tonight, 7:30 EST.

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Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images

Per Ian Begley of ESPN, Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni is giving serious consideration to inserting rookie-sensation Iman Shumpert into the starting lineup, perhaps as soon as this Friday when the team travels to Washington to face the 0-6 Wizards.

“I think you do consider it,’’ D’Antoni said of starting Shumpert. “We’ll see if we do it or not. He’ll obviously play a big part one way or another. We’re trying to find out what’s best for him. Especially when you’re 2-4, you consider a lot of things. We’ll consider it and talk about it.’’

This has certainly been discussed ad nauseum, as early as this morning in this blog, but I have to believe that Landry Fields is more likely to head to the bench than Toney Douglas. Not only is Fields struggling to guard quicker SGs, but having Shumpert on the floor would presumably mitigate some of the poor-facilitation decisions we’ve seen from Douglas during the Knicks’ poor start to the season.

Shumpert can also get to the rim whenever he wants, and that would likely keep Douglas on the perimeter for wide-open long-range looks on kick-outs. Here’s hoping D’Antoni feels the same, at least until Baron Davis eventually suits up.

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Photo: Corey Sipkin/New York Daily News