Just How Bad did White Look Last Night? A guided tour as told through YouTube.

Posted on February 17, 2013 by richbertin

Keep your head up White

Like many hoop junkies, All-Star Saturday Night has always been a staple of the NBA season for me. As a kid there is nothing more exciting to watch than your heroes take part in over-hyped battles to determine just who the best three-point shooter and dunker is in the league. Of course as you get older you eventually learn that there is so much more skills and attributes to the game that dwarf flashy three point shooting and dunks, but most children’s minds haven’t been spoiled by those boring facts yet. Call it misplaced nostalgia, but regardless of what it is, I still always look forward to the league festivities that take place every All-Star Game Eve and was embarrassingly excited by the Knicks being well represented this year. I shouldn’t have watched.

The Three Point Contest

The focus of this piece is obviously going to be on White, but Novak was equally disappointing. For over a year Knick fans have lobbied for Novak to take part in the Three-point Shootout to further assert his dominance in a skill that completely defines his sole purpose on the Knick roster. We were mystified by his absence in last year’s contest and were thrilled to see him selected this year, perhaps as confirmation that the Knicks have finally arrived. Well let’s see how it went:

He got off to a hot start but the instant Kenny Smith says “Novak is the best spot shooter in the NBA” the Novakain abruptly wears off and fails to even get pass the first round by finishing with 17 points. Steve hasn’t exactly been Novakian this season so his pedestrian performance can only remind Knick fans of just how underwhelmed they are with his shooting. His days as the leading three point shooter in the league seemed have already passed as his .447% sits at third in the league and his actual 3PM is a trivial 96, which is 25^thin league and surpassed by his own teammates with Carmelo’s 118. No big deal though because if you love basketball, you love Kyrie Irving and take a real delight to seeing a Cavalier continue his wild coming out party by winning the Rookie game MVP and now clinching the 3 Point trophy. Besides, we still have James “Flight” White on deck, so let’s move on.

The Dunk Contest

Okay, not bad…I guess. I mean it looked a little flashier than Brent Barry in ’96 since it was a two hander, but he didn’t quite lift off from the free throw line like Serge Ibaka did in ’11 and it definitely wasn’t better than his own work from overseas:

It’s pretty much agreed that the skits and props from previous years have degraded the contest a bit so White’s inclusion of PanAm era Flight Attendants was kind of lame, especially for someone that has been grounded on the bench for most of the season (Chuck was spot on by saying that fans should be viewing stars and not journeymen). We already know from an earlier report that he didn’t practice beforehand but then again for someone that’s 30 years old, who can blame him?

In Round Two the wheels come completely off. (Don’t watch this if you have a soft heart because this is embarrassing)

Ouch. As Shaq said to the 30 year old, “Good Try Young Fella.” I never witnessed the shot clock expiring on a dunk contest participant since the league put in a Birdman rule. Even more painful than watching the horn sound after the clock hit zero was the trouble he had just brining the ball up the court. Shaq and Charles joked at how winded he looked but to have trouble with the ball is something that really is awkward to see during “All Star Weekend”. Given the buzz around White representing the Knicks this year, this really was a disappointing performance. And watching White escape into the bench and dodge the camera? Brutal. All he needed was the “Good Job! Good Effort!” kid there to make things even more uncomfortable. You can’t tell me you wouldn’t have rather watched LeBron tomahawk a few monstrous dunks than seeing a Knick unravel on a national stage. Actually I think after last night, more players will probably want to pass on entering the dunk contest though both JR Smith and Iman Shumpert vouched on twitter to be part of next year’s contest:

#WeOn! RT @i_am_iman: “@therealjrsmith: Man for all this I shoulda did the #Dunkcontest” next year…what’s poppin???

— JR Smith (@TheRealJRSmith) February 17, 2013

A Historical Perspective

Casual Knick fans might point to Nate Robinson’s dunk contest heroics as a reference point to compare White to. His dunk titles from 2006, 2009, and 2010 pretty much solidify him as the best Knick contestant to ever be in the contest, but older fans will remember some past Knicks that have also graced the stage. Where they better than James White? Let’s review:

James White vs. Doug Christie in 1996

If you can remember Doug Christie being a Knick, pat yourself on the back because most people probably have no memory of this happening. Seeing Christie in a Knick uniform looks like something from another universe but it did happen, at least for a few weeks in 1996. Eventually he was traded to Toronto and then went on to make a name for himself as King before being known only for the poor sap that gets bullied by his wife. Christie’s performance here isn’t that bad. Just like his Knick career it’s nothing memorable but the behind the back kick was pretty fun to watch though poorly executed.

Winner: Doug Christie

James White vs. Allan Houston in 1994 (00:35-1:00)

Yes he’s not officially a Knick in this contest, but does anyone actually think of Allan as a member of any team but the Knicks? No. Plus the novelty of seeing one of the game’s purest shooters partake in a dunk contest is really weird. The behind the back off the backboard alley was ahead of its time for 1994 but the hilarious bounce off the head-catch and dunk routine definitely goes down as a candidate for worst dunk contest. If you remember 1994, you were probably too blown away by Isaiah Rider’s through the leg dunk to even remember Houston.

Winner: Allan Houston

James White vs. John Starks in 1992 (Opening sequence and from 9:25 mark on)

First of all, wasn’t the 90’s great? The names in this contest (Cedric Ceballos, Nick Anderson, Larry Johnson, Stacey Augman, and of course Starks) really remind you of just how amazing it must have been to be a kid during the 90s. Starks was a surprisingly good dunker in his early years, and his most famous of all of course was “The Dunk” over Mike, so his participation in this dunk contest wasn’t that surprising back then even though it seems bizarre when looking back today. If you go on to watch clip 2 and clip 3 you’ll see a very Nate-like performance from the smallest and most ferocious guy on the floor. Ceballos and future Knick Larry Johnson stole the show but Starks actually had an impressive run at the trophy.

Winner: John Starks

James White vs. Kenny ‘Sky” Walker in 1989

Walker’s dunks from 1989 still hold up today. Many people forgot about how prolific a dunker Walker was and thanks to YouTube, it’s worth digging into during a lunch break.

Winner: Kenny “Sky” Walker and it’s not even close.

So there you have it. That gives some perspective onto how bad White was last evening. Chuck and Kenny did say that it was obvious the dunkers in last night’s contest were nervous. Who wouldn’t be? For many of these players, the dunk contest is their only opportunity to get national exposure to such a wide and casual audience. It’s not easy to participate in a contest that will be wildly dissecting on social media and annoying blogs such as this one, so it makes me think that more credit should be given to any player even thinking of participating. If LeBron can’t bear to be part of the contest, perhaps out of fear he doesn’t blow fans away, than it makes it even more impressive to partake in it. The fact that the Knicks even have a roster that is displayed in both the All-Star Game and in the skills competitions the night before is enough for Knick fans to be happy about. Think about how much of a far cry this is from when the Knicks didn’t even have a single representative on the All-Star team back when the game was held back in MSG 1999. Regardless of what White and Novak did, or didn’t do last nigh, it’s still an relief to even have the Knicks well represented during the All-Star break, especially given the fact that just a few seasons ago the Knicks were so bad that they were banned from national television. So exhale, and enjoy the game.

Get Well Soon, Sheed. Signed, Knick fans

Posted on February 14, 2013 by richbertin

via Philly.com

The Knicks currently sit happily as the second seed in the Eastern Conference and are perched comfortably atop the Atlantic division with an impressive 32-18 record. A few years ago just the thought of the Knicks being over .500 was something I didn’t dare ever expect to see while I was in my twenties, so yes the Knicks have obviously made some huge strides this season. However, call me jaded, but a part of me never really was sold on the Knicks being out of the woods.

We’ve all heard the predictions about the Knicks slumping once the threes would stop falling, but it seems that ever since Rasheed Wallace’s injury things really seemed to have snapped back into focus. Before Sheed went down against the Lakers on December 13, the Knicks were 17-5 and widely lauded as being one the most dangerous teams in the league. Granted, Sheed was just one part of a roster full of functional players that all seemed to fit in perfectly, but ever since his injury the Knicks are only 15-12 and looking painfully pedestrian at the half way mark of the season.

Before Sheed went down I always figured his minutes would dissipate once Amare came back regardless of how cumbersome Amare looked coming off of the bench. Obviously Amare has exceeded expectations and played…well as STAT loves to say: “phenomenal” So why exactly have the Knicks looked so bad with Amare essentially replacing and surpassing Sheed’s old minutes? It’s baffling to me but not too many beat writers and fans are probably going to use Sheed’s absence as an excuse for the Knicks poor play as of late. And let’s be honest, many of these past few wins have come against some pretty lowly teams. Aside from Melo’s statement game against Boston, the Knicks haven’t really done much to solidify themselves as a playoff ready team. And speaking of Boston, on Bill Simmon’s latest podcast with Marc Stein and Ric Bucher when speaking about the serious teams in the East, the Knicks were merely an afterthought to that esteemed panel of NBA junkies. That’s perfectly okay with me though because there is always a benefit to being under the radar, or I dare say being a dark horse.

Perhaps the Knicks really did play extraordinarily over their heads the first quarter of the season. It was nice to have the Knicks finally garner some respect after a decade of being the joke of the league and even banished from the national television schedule at one point. The good news is that there is an entire second half of basketball on the way and all signs point to Sheed returning after the break. Once he is back, it will be very interesting to see if it breaks the correlation between the Knicks recent slump and his presence.

That time Dolan spied on Melo during a game…

Posted on January 14, 2013 by richbertin

Did you hear about the time Dolan had two employees spy on Melo during a game? It sounds like the opening line to a bad joke but as with most bizarre Dolan anecdotes, this is true. At least according to a report from the Star Ledger:

Two audio technicians were stationed at two corners of the court – one a few feet just behind the Knicks bench, the other diagonally opposite – and they were holding those umbrella-shaped contraptions known as parabola microphones, which fed the audio into a DAT recorder on the truck on the loading dock.

These guys had one directive from Dolan: Record every syllable Carmelo Anthony utters and absorbs while he’s on the court and on the bench, the Madison Square Garden CEO ordered them, and send the tape directly to me.

As you can imagine, Knick forums had a field day with this one. Why would Dolan do such a thing? Well first of all why ever embark on another ill-fated endeavor to search for logic in one of Dolan’s eccentric decisions. I’m sure the Knicks and the Stasi their media team will dodge any questions on this matter but one could think that Dolan is doing this to have proof of the “verbal abuse” Melo has received from other players. Whether or not Melo even is aware of being recorded hasn’t been reported but I’m sure a grown man can’t be happy about the team continuing to take an issue he said was “settled” into laughable extremes.

Dolan has and always will be a punching bag for Knick fans. Stories like this continuingly show that regardless of what the Knicks record is, they will always have to deal with nonsense like this. I really don’t care to defend Dolan on this one. Regardless of whether or not this is his team, nothing positive can come from this. It’s even more embarrassing for Carmelo who now looks like that kid in class with the over protective parents. Hopefully this was a one time incident because knowing that Dolan is two late night drinks away from having a Predator Drone follow Melo around the garden can serve as an unnecessary distraction at the worst possible time. In case you haven’t noticed the Knicks have really come back to earth as of late and all these vets are showing their age. If reports are true about some off the court matters that Melo is dealing with in terms of his family, the last thing he needs to think about is having the boss hover his shoulder.

File this embarrassing episode in the Dolan cabinet and lets forget this ever happened.

Really Stat?

Posted on January 3, 2013 by richbertin

via lohud.com

Did anyone catch Mitch Lawrence’s piece in the Daily News about Amare revealing he’s never been taught defense?

“I’ve never been taught defense in my whole career. So to now have a coach who actually teaches defense and teaches strategies and knows positioning and posture and how to guard different plays, it’s going to be helpful,” said Amare in a comment that has been more construed as taking a shot at Mike D’Antoni than about leaping praise onto Coach Woodson.

This isn’t the first time he has actually said something like this. He told Frank Isola the same thing back in November of 2010 also and it didn’t really faze me that much. That was then though and now I’ve taken some umbrage in Amare deflecting his liabilities onto someone else. Everyone in the world knows that D’Antoni is pretty horrible when it comes to emphasizing defense. For someone that his made a career out of the Seven Second or Less offense, you can’t really be surprised by this. Still, hasn’t Amare been in this league since 2002? Didn’t Amare train with Hakeem during the summer, a former two time Defensive Player of the Year and five time All NBA Defensive Team selection? Doesn’t Amare have the benefit of playing alongside the NBA’s current Defensive Player of the year in Tyson Chandler and another former one in Marcus Camby?

I still have no idea what Herb Williams does for a living so I won’t blame Amare for not learning anything from the NBA’s current crop of assistant coaches but Mike Woodson himself has always known as a Defensive intensive coach so I find it hard to believe that he doesn’t have resources available to him. For a $100mil player, this is not acceptable. Many players treat their game as a craft and work on it obsessively throughout the year. In fact just a few months ago while Woodson, Chandler, Melo, and Lin were out for dinner during a random summer night to speak on strategy the only reports heard about Stat were about him being at fashion shows during that time. I’m not expecting Amare to turn into Chandler, but I do think that he needs to take the responsibility to get better at defense on his own. He’s obviously not going to be a major offensive contributor to the Knicks this year, especially given how rusty he has looked as of late, so for Amare to continue to ignore defense and rest on his impressive offensive laurels is something that will only expedite his decline as an impact player. Part of being a bench player is filling into different roles and defensive is going to be a major part of that this season

Don’t blame Mike D’Antoni anymore Amare. Blame yourself for not realizing that offense alone was going to carry you through out your entire career. This just doesn’t happen for players with his height and athleticism. It’s difficult enough to realize the Knicks have a bench player that costs over $100 million, but to hear that same 10 year vet say that they weren’t taught defense is just simple nauseating.

Knick New Year’s Resolutions

Posted on December 30, 2012 by richbertin

It’s that annoying time of year again for comfortably idle underachievers. Yes, I’m talking about New Years. Never mind the hassle of New Year’s Eve, which by the way is an entire separate post, and just focus on the difficult part of every new year where we each reflect on how far we whiffed it on last year’s goals. Yes the maddening cycle of talking ourselves into doing something that statistics show we are going to screw up in four weeks is a healthy process, but still a dismal one. Lucky for me I could deflect my 2013 resolutions and pass that buck onto the current Knicks roster because why the heck not? I bet a lot of players have their own unique resolutions but either way I deemed it perfectly rational to make up my own for them.

Tyson Chandler

Resolution: Make the All-Star Team

via Knicks.com

Jamal Magloire, Theo Ratliff, Chris Gatling, Dale Davis, Tyrone Hill and Antonio Davis. What do these frontcourt names have in common other than being famous albatross contracts that got shuffled around the league like hot potatoes? Believe it or not they were all NBA All Stars at one point. Even crazier? Tyson Chandler never was. While it’s true that the today’s All-Star game is recognized more for being an orgy of corporate infused marketing and an annual popularity referendum, it still means something to this Knick fan. It’s been a long time since the Knicks had more than one representative in the game (Houston and Spreewell back in 2001) and it still irks me to no end that no Knick was present in NYC’s last All-Star game. It isn’t just my misplaced fandom that wants Tyson to make this year’s team, but also the fact that he deserves to be at that game. There is a reason he was a lock for the Olympic team and that’s because he is one of those rare players that doesn’t need the ball to impact the game. I’m not just talking about defensively either. Tyson may have traded many of last year’s blocks for tip-outs, but what hasn’t changed is his ability to make guys around him play harder and constantly motivated. It’s a reason I think Melo has had such a magnificent season. Not every player is an alpha. In fact some players need an alpha to let them loose, and I think we are seeing in Melo what we saw in Dirk the last time Tyson played on a contender. The Knicks are also going to great lengths to get him in as seen via social media campaigns and an affable appearance on the Jimmy Fallon show recently. The time is now for Tyson to finally become an All-Star.

Carmelo Anthony

Resolution: NBA Finals or Bust

via ESPN

Melo’s already thrown himself into early MVP conversations, and that’s great, but what is more benefiting to the Knicks is a deep playoff run. I’ve written how important this is time and time again and I’ll use this space to reiterate it: THE KNICKS MUST GET PAST THE FIRST ROUND OF THE PLAYOFFS! Melo has adjusted well to his “big boy” pants, as Kobe famously put it, and a part of having the keys to the franchise is putting the team on his shoulders. Melo is a different kind of player this year. His determination to win and win big is palpable every game. We’ve heard all the knocks against him. “Ball Stopper,” “Playoff loser,” and “Coach Killer” but thankfully those cries have been muted for now. However, I think we all know that the minute things get ugly his critics will gleefully go back to callously dismissing him as another gun for hire. Melo knows this better than anyone and it probably explains why he is as focused as ever on winning.

Iman Shumpert

Resolution: Evading the Sophomore Slump

via Knicksnow.com

Shump has seemed awfully present for someone that hasn’t been on the court all season. Thanks to being ubiquitous on social media, his ultra fan friendly demeanor, and his wild flat top, he’s pretty hard to forget about. For Knick fans though none of this frivolity matters. What Knick fans remember is one of the best rookies seen since, well, maybe Mark Jackson to be quite honest. (That speaks more to the Knicks embarrassing draft history though) Shump’s energy is only rivaled by his explosive defensive intensity, which is something that New Yorkers will always love. Any sports fan will be weary over a great rookie campaign thanks in part to the dreaded “Sophomore Slump.” The regression many rookies experience after the game tape catches up to them has stopped many athletes dead in their tracks. Remember Marko Jaric? Things will already be difficult for Shump considering the severity of his injury and the development he’s missed by not being on the court with future Hall of Famers like Kidd and Wallace (possibly?) When Shump is back on the court the room for error will not be as wide as it was last season since the Knicks are leading their division and pushing hard through the Eastern Conference. Hopefully he can pick up right were he left off because if he does, even Coach Woody will have to give him his minutes over some of his beloved veterans.

Raymond Felton

Resolution: Stop trying to prove you’re better than Lin

Raymond is going to be out awhile so maybe his resolution should just be to get healthy but I can’t ignore the fact that his shot selection has been insanely frustrating. Frustrating in the sense that he takes too many shots, and the ones he hits are the same ones Knick fans shriek in rage at shortly before sinking them. Perhaps this time away from the court will force Knick fans to appreciate his 15.8 points and 6.3 assists each game. Felton hasn’t done a good job keeping in his grudge against Jeremy Lin- especially in each game against the Rockets this season where he has gotten outplayed each time. It seems to me that Felton has always been a bit embarrassed by the fallout the Knicks received when they replaced Lin with an “out of shape” “over the hill” bench player from the Blazers. So far he’s played well but what he does need to do is to shoot less. He’s not a typical second or even third scoring option, and he’s the only one in the league that hasn’t gotten that memo yet. The minute Felton learns to shoot less, improve his shot selection, and continue mastering the pick and roll, he’ll be much more valuable to the team.

James White

Resolution: Don’t get cut

This one is fairly simple. Wouldn’t you say?

Pablo Prigioni

Resolution: More control over the ball

During the preseason Pablo looked like a Godsend for the Knicks. While being the NBA’s oldest rookie was a bit of a joke considering how savvy he looked on the court, lately he’s actually looked quite natural as a rookie. His turnovers are way too high for someone that is playing 10-12 minutes on the court and it’s probably a big reason why his minutes have took a hit over the last month. Maybe it’s Jason Kidd that is making him look so bad, but his lack of control over the ball is something the Knicks didn’t expect from him. The reason the Knicks took a gamble on him was to be a calming presence off the bench. These past few weeks have been everything other than that. This doesn’t take away from the other things he does well, namely his hustle, but he does have to play like a 35 year old and not like a rookie if he is to have a positive impact on the game. At times it looks Pablo is over thinking things on the court and deferring too much those around him. Woodson has already been vocal about wanting to see Pablo shoot more. I think all Knick fans would be more comfortable with Pablo trading up a few of those errant passes for shots, even if he doesn’t hit them.

Marcus Camby

Resolution: Keep running from father time

via ESPNY

After a disappointing start to the season in which Camby rarely appeared on the floor, he has finally gotten some decent minutes against the Lakers & Suns. He’s grabbed 15 rebounds and blocked 6 shots in 30 minutes of play in the absence of Rasheed and looked as if he can still be serviceable. In retrospect a 3 year contract for Camby is still looking like a bit of a mistake but it isn’t because of bad play. His lumbering up and down the court even makes me start to ache. If you think about it, looking as stiff as the tin man should be expected by a 7 foot 38 year old, but for someone that needs to log in 5-12 minutes a night, maybe he could stretch his career into his 40s ala Cliff Robinson. Camby’s natural gifts, his long swapping arms and nimble rebounding, will always be there for him so it really is just a matter of adjusting to his age. Remarkably, Camby has never averaged less than 23 minutes a game in his 16 year career so perhaps he is still having trouble finding a way to have an impact on the game in a fraction of the time he has been accustomed to playing. Of course Camby can’t be fully blamed for the lack of playing time since Coach Woodson is the arbiter of that. If Camby does play as he has these past few games, then all should be well for someone who has always been one of New York’s fan favorites. If Camby can keep hiding from his age, he will be fine. Still, I don’t even want to imagine how he will look three years from now.

Rasheed Wallace

Resolution: Force your way into Coaching

Maybe I got ahead of myself earlier when I mentioned Rasheed Wallace as a possible Hall of Fame candidate. I second guessed this after reviewing his career numbers and thinking about how polarizing he is to those in the media that have a vote on this kind of thing. What can’t be disputed is how great of a teammate Sheed has always been. Even in a full two year absence from the league he managed to pick up right where he left off in his last year in Detroit (just ignore that Boston season). Forget about the Hall and think about the bench. Could Sheed as an NBA coach be possible? According to sources coaching is something that is an aspiration of his. Just think back to earlier in the season when Rasheed spent much of practice running drills and hounding some of the Knicks younger players (yes, there actually are some). Think about how much respect he has from other NBA Players and his unrelenting heart. There would be great irony in one the NBA’s “bad boys” and perennial leader in technical fouls being on the sidelines. I actually used to look forward to NBA greats becoming commentators but after seeing how poorly Shaq fits into TNT’s Inside the NBA I think that Sheed being relegated to media side kick would not only be a disservice to him, but also all of the teams that could use him on the sidelines. As proven by his popularity all over arenas, fans clearly are still in love with Sheed and want him a part of the game. I just hope that he doesn’t get insulted by being pegged as a television character instead of being looked at as a viable coaching talent.

Jason Kidd

Resolution: NBA Finals

I don’t know what to really say about Kidd to be honest. He’s got it together so perfectly in his advanced age that I really can’t ask for anything more from him. When he’s on the court he’s controlling the game in so many ways even without the ball that it seems like an unfair advantage at times. When he’s off the court the Knicks have looked in disarray. I can only think of one real resolution for Kidd and that’s the NBA Finals. I think part of the reason Kidd chose the Knicks over a comfortable role with the rebuilding Dallas Mavericks is a fire in him that calls on him to be challenged considerably and further cementing his case as on the NBA’s all-time greats. A Knicks playoff run that reaches the Finals will undoubtedly prove that the decision to bring in Kidd was the best offseason move the Knicks made not only for this season, but for the next few as well since it will finally give the Knicks and fans the playoff campaign they have been craving for all decade. Let’s be real though. A Finals run isn’t totally dependent on Kidd, it’s a team effort that each Knick has to contribute to. Kidd does play a major role in the success the Knicks have had thus far though so with Felton out for awhile, Kidd will have even more of a chance to prove that he is still one of the most effective guards in the league.

Steve Novak

Resolution: Lead every 3 Point category you can think of (except misses)

Full disclosure, Novak is probably my favorite Knick. As a doofy looking white guy who loves to shoot corner 3’s, I can’t help but have a little bit of an investment in Novak’s success. Steve doesn’t do much well but shoot masterfully from behind the arc. It’s like watching some kind of basketball maestro out there at times. Those wild 3’s you can only hit in NBA 2K13 (and feel guilty each time for some reason), that’s what defines his game. If he can lead the league in 3 point percentage, 3’s made, and Hell, let’s throw in the 3 Point Contest while we are at it, Steve will pave the way for legions of out of shape after-work pickup basketball players all over the country. He has brought the role of specialist, something common in baseball, and turned it into an actual job vacancy every team in the league has suddenly sought to fill. Maybe Coach D’Antoni has a bit to do with the league’s current love affair with three point shooting, but either way Steve is unquestionably the best at it and there is no reason to have other names like Matt Bonner and Metta World Peace ahead of him. Right now there’s even a few Knicks ahead of Novak (Copeland’s .452% and Melo’s 62 3’s made) so he’s got some work to do before rightfully being crowned as the league’s undisputed three point king.

Kurt Thomas

Resolution: Don’t break

I’m not sure if anyone has written more than a few lines on Kurt all season other than my riff on being disappointed by his output a month ago, and I’m not going to do it again here. Just don’t break Kurt. At times he looks like he was unboxed from out of one of Wile E. Coyote’s Acme care packages and just a tinker away from breaking. Stay oiled up Kurt.

Chris Copeland

Resolution: Earn a contract

Ever since his breakout game (29 points, 5 boards, 1 block and 2 steals) against the Rockets, Copeland has been a different player. No longer relegated for garbage minutes, he’s found his way into the offense right on time. It’s also just his luck that at this moment Amare is scheduled to appear back on the court and cut into those minutes he just earned. With injuries to Sheed and some eventual ones for Camby and Thomas probably on the horizon, he’ll still find a way on the floor. I actually am rooting for Copeland. As a well traveled player who has had to work his ass off trying to make it the NBA, I have to cheer him on. I’m a sucker for underdogs and I love athletes that have to work extra hard to keep their jobs. I want Copeland to succeed and I would love for another NBA castaway find themselves as productive players through the Knicks. The Knicks did it last year with Lin and they can do it again this year with Cope. It’s a good reputation for teams to have and stories like Cope’s will always resonate with New York fans. He’s played great lately, but he is still not a lock to earn a contract though Woodson has been summoned him ff the bench much quicker these days. I’m hoping it happens for him this year.

JR Smith

Resolution: 6^th Man of the Year

I think JR has finally figured it out. I’ve wrote about it before so I won’t rehash on what I already mentioned. He still is both one of the most frustrating and exciting players to watch, which reminds me of a more talented version of this guy. When he’s scoring at the ease at which he displays and winning games on circus-like shots, it’s not easy to continue to classify him as a bench player. Woodson has got it right by using him as a super 6^th man. In this role he’s been one of the best in the league and a devastating weapon off the bench. The Knicks don’t need him taking shots away from Melo though since Felton already has made that his specialty. The Knicks need JR to insert energy and scoring during those lulls in the game where quarters laboriously crawl to an end and teams look lost on offense. What better way for JR to fully embrace this role than by winning this year’s 6^th Man of the Year Award? It’s actually one of the ultimate team first awards and it’s something he could easily win if he keeps his pace through the second half of the season. Take that George Karl.

Amare Stoudemire

Resolution: Adjust to new role

With Amare expected back any week now, it’s become a foregone conclusion that his eleventh season in the NBA will probably be from the bench. It’s always a difficult and poignant moment when All-Stars come to terms with reduced roles for the first time. It’s rarely embraced and always thought of as a very public demotion. To be clear, Amare is way too talented to be thought as just a bench guy but the current construction of the starting lineup leaves little room for him to be a part of that group. Amare is better maximized when working off the bench much like how JR Smith has owned it this season. The Knicks have meshed too well to tinker around with an offense that clearly is working. Yes you can say that the minute the threes begin to rim out is the same moment the offense gets dumped, but we’ve heard this from the first game of the season. As I written before, Amare could excel in a lineup free of Melo and Tyson. Those 17 points a game he averaged last season and largely viewed as a dramatic drop in production would quickly turn into a hell of an offensive feature off the bench. I do like Amare and want him to succeed. While he wasn’t first on our original free agent wish list, he does deserve credit for being the first All-Star willing to embrace the burden of carrying the Knicks back to respectability- which he did a remarkable job at in his first MVP-like year. The thing is that the Knicks now have a Superstar, and one that is rightfully the nucleus of the team. This isn’t Amare’s role anymore but what the Knicks do need from him is production and ostensibly it seems as if the most production from him will have to come from the bench. His sacrifice will not be overlooked by fans or the rest of the league who might have been too quick to pass on the opportunity to land him.

Ronnie Brewer

Resolution: Work on your shot…a lot.

Remember this post? Yea, let’s get back to this. With every brick he’s threw up the more silly I feel for comparing his shot efficiency to Novak. The good thing about Brew is that his defense is his meal ticket and his decrepit shooting hasn’t altered that. His minutes have dropped considerably though and is looking in danger of being cut. There’s only one way he can save his job and that probably is not going to come from defense alone.

A Knick Fan’s Christmas Wish List

Posted on December 24, 2012 by richbertin

Dear-Santa

Dear Santa,

I guess I’m a bit too old for toys & games but I was hoping you could use some of your North Pole magic to help grant me and my Knicks’ a joyful Christmas. Yes, I know that some of us didn’t make the “Good List” this year, but JR Smith has already promised to be a little less naughty net year; at least on Twitter. After the past decade of heartbreak, embarrassment and despair, I speak for all Knick fans in believing we have done enough penance for driving Ewing out of NY decade ago; so we are hoping our Christmas wishes have finally hit your desk. (By the way, we found your lost elf this earlier week. He’s been seen parading on the bench in Chicago.)

Lower Ticket Prices

Good luck getting seats

Santa, you have to help us out here. True Knick fans have put up with a lot these past few years and weren’t dissuaded from showing up to support our guys. I even remember paying a premium price for tickets back when Wilson Chandler and Nate Robinson we’re being advertised on billboards as the Garden “draw” for God’s sake. Now that we actually have players worth spending a part of our paychecks on, some of us have to debate whether it’s worth missing a mortgage payment to attend a game at the “World’s Most Famous Arena.” Don’t believe me? Go to Stub hub right now and look at the lowest ticket prices for last year’s two NBA Finals teams. Affordable prices fluctuate between $16 (Heat vs. Hawks) $18 (Thunder vs. Kings) and $20 (Heat vs Bulls). Now go browse what the most affordable tickets are for the Knicks. Not even you would spend $175 (3 hours before game time) to watch the T-Wolves, or over $60 to watch the pitiful Bobcats. We all know that the most rabid of fans aren’t the corporate lackeys and celebrities seen on the sidelines but to price middle class families out of the 200 row of MSG is just wrong. Let’s not forget that these ticket prices doesn’t include parking, food, and merchandise so in actuality a hard working father taking his kid to a game is something that will costs much more than it did in years past.

Raise #3 into the Rafters

(Famous Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/ NBAE/ Getty Images)

Okay, I’m a bit biased on this. (Just look at the title of this blog) Look I know history hasn’t been kind to John Starks. It’s become impossible to divorce him from his disastrous performance in game 7 back in the 1994 Finals. It was a bad game, but people forget about game 6 when he nearly single handedly won that game by himself. There wasn’t a Knick fan alive that didn’t think that corner 3 was going to hit anything but the bottom of the net if Hakeem’s arms weren’t so freakishly long enough to alter the shot. There is also no question that the Knicks wouldn’t have even been in the Finals if it weren’t for his All-Star season. John Starks is the epitome of what a Knick is supposed to represent. A hard worker, full of heart, a misfit on other teams but a natural fit at MSG, imperfect but perfectly fine with us fans, and someone who had to work his ass off to keep his job. John Starks wasn’t the most talented player to put on a Knick uniform. In terms of talent, he doesn’t even crack the top 10. Starks wasn’t about talent though. To fans, he was a manifestation of always trying your best and not being discouraged by failure to keep focused on the job at hand. It’s this kind of grittiness New Yorkers indentified with in the post Mayor Dinkins New York City. And while he wasn’t the most talented, I challenge you to find many Knick players who were more beloved than him. He will always be our loyal soldier and for that he deserves to be honored. He should be a symbol of what it means to be a New York Knick and the only way to cement that is by raising his number up to the rafters to serve as a message to every other player that has the honor of putting on a Knick jersey.

Bring Back Ewing

via WordPress

Much like John Starks, I think there is another error in history the Knicks can easily repair. Every year we read about Patrick Ewing’s never ending job search and every year we have to deal with the uncomfortable realization that he probably isn’t the man for the job. Coach Woodson’s “temporary” aura as coach has all but faded, and in no way am I advocating Ewing being thrown into head coach talks. I believe Woodson has the matter settled but I still do not see why the Knicks have not entertained the thought of bringing him on as an Assistant Coach. For some reason Herb Williams has been so sacred to the Knicks and I’m still unsure of a single contribution he has made to any of our big men in the years he has been on the sidelines. Eddy Curry, Jerome James, Michael Sweatney, Jackie Butler and many other failures certainly suggest that Williams hasn’t had any magic touch so why can’t a NBA Hall of Famer and New York Knick icon get a chance to work with our bigs? Part of being a respectable franchise is finding ways to honor and celebrate alumni. For the Knicks to continuously ignore Patrick Ewing is nothing short of a black eye for MSG. Santa, please replace Herb Williams with Pat. At the very least, he could probably stand around and hold the clipboard just as well as Herb has.

A Healthy Amare

I don’t know what to expect from Amare and I’m worried about him. Of course with Rasheed and Camby both out it seems as if the road has been paved for him to fit nicely into a off the bench role. Still, if it doesn’t work out the Knicks are going to be in serious salary cap trouble by being stuck with what has been cited as one the most immovable contracts in the league. Much has been made of Stoudemire’s role within the current roster and there is still much uncertainty over whether or not he will be able to embrace coming off the bench. His contract isn’t typical of a bench player and his numbers will probably not get much better than what they were last season but if he fits well enough to fill the void left by injuries to Wallace and Camby, then maybe it’s a moot point. A second unit anchored by Amare and surrounded by a cast of match up nightmares that consists of Novak, Smith, Kidd, and Copeland (or Camby) could make the Knicks even more legitimate title contenders. The Knicks don’t necessarily need the MVP version Amare of 2010-11 that was the central focus of offense (25.3 Pts, 8.2 Rbs, 1.9 Bks) but they could make use of an energetic bench guy that could easily put up 17pts 7 boards and 1 block each game. It would be new role for him and one that the Knicks could salvage from the fools errand of trying to trade him away “for free” as the New York Times recently revealed. As long as Amare is healthy he is sure to help the Knicks and that is the only thing Knick fans could ask for. Even Amare knows that this is Melo’s team at this point and since the burden of carrying this franchise has been removed from his shoulders, he should have enough room to thrive in his new role as the captain of the second unit. Let’s also be real about this. If the Knicks have to end up moving him, the chances of a team making a play for him will only increase once he shows he could be productive on the floor.

Deep Playoff Run

Santa I know that asking for the Larry O’Brien trophy might be a stretch even for the elves in your workshop, so I have another wish. How about a deep playoff run? The last time the Knicks even made it to the second round of the playoffs: the Twin Towers still stood, Y2K was an actual concern, the PS2 just hit the shelves, and Apple computers seemed like a gimmick. Last year the Knicks got their first playoff victory in a decade but still were disposed of in embarrassing fashion. This year I want to not only get through the first round but to actually make a run in April. There is a reason the NBA playoffs is called the “second season” and it’s well overdue for the Knicks to finally be a part of that. From what I remember about our beloved 90s Knick teams, the playoffs in New York is something that this writer can’t put into words. I was in high school at the time and still get goose bumps when thinking about how pumped up I was each day in class awaiting games 5-6-7 of epic hardwood battles between the Knicks and teams like the Heat and Pacers. Things seem like they have finally turned for the Knicks as of late, but don’t be mistaken, this is just the regular season. Until the Knicks can show they are prominently featured in the playoffs, these early games will all be forgotten pretty instantly.

Better Officiating

Ball don’t lie, but whistles be blowin
via ESPNY

Consider this one a stocking stuffer. I’m not going to suggest some kind of conspiracy against the Knicks but I do find it interesting to know that out of the top 20 leaders in technical fouls, there are three Knicks on the list (8 for Melo, and 4 a piece for both Smith and Wallace). I’m not a fan of arguing calls, especially when someone jogs up the court and completely forgetting about their man, but I do believe in holding your ground. It’s a skillful art that only a few have mastered. Tyson Chandler for instance rarely lets a call go by that he doesn’t counter but amazingly he’s only got 2 technical fouls. This comes with experience and a respect that officials lavish on only a select crop of players. Either way the ease of blowing the whistle that refs have displayed against the Knicks is something that needs to be addressed.

“The Odyssey of Season 67”

Posted on December 14, 2012 by richbertin

lost60

After watching the Knicks completely incinerate the Lakers I found myself channeling Co-Pilot John Craig and uttering an iconic line from a very famous Twilight Zone episode: “What in the name of everything holy is going on?”

For the non sci-fy weirdos out there who aren’t familiar with this infamous episode, bare with me as I desperately scramble for an excuse to link one of my favorite television series of all time to our beloved Knicks team. I hate to waste words breaking down that episode but something tells me that a lot of you probably have no idea what I’m talking about.

In the original episode, “The Odyssey of Flight 33” a passenger jet on a routine flight from London to New York suddenly breaks the sound barrier and is transported into a series of different time warps. Before you call it cheesy, you’ll have to remember that the Twilight Zone was written in a time where the mysteries of space exploration were in hyper-drive and the constant threat of nuclear extermination had many people question the point of existence, so give the writing a break. As the passengers on the flight looked out their windows and saw Dinosaurs and then a Depression-Era New York City, they experienced a range of emotions that went from fear, hysteria, bewilderment, and ultimately back to uncertainty. It’s a favorite episode of mine and one I found myself identifying with this week for some reason.

Originally aired in 1961 in season 2 of the Twilight Zone.

While watching the Knicks this season I can’t help but feel like the passengers of flight 33. Going into this season I didn’t expect much of anything other than to be disappointed again. Just standard operating procedure for Knicks fans actually. In fact, part of the reason I started this blog was to keep an archive of my rage, hence the name “Starks Raving Mad.” I even created a “Rants” sub-section which has been pretty barren compared to many other of my daily complaints about life in New York City. A part of me does feel like I was misguided in my plans to blog, but lets be honest, the Knicks are winning and that is all that matters.

It turns out that there would be nothing routine about this season. I did think the Knicks would be okay, but I don’t think there is anyone out there who thought the Knicks we be this good. Not only are the Knicks beating rival teams like the Heat and Nets, not only are they beating up crappy teams that always gave Knicks trouble, but its even gotten to the point where I am expecting convincing Knick victories in just about every game played. This is a far cry from how the season opened up for me. In the beginning of the season my only real feelings were that of fear. A fear of the Knicks being karmically punished for ending Linsanity and choosing to use the Isaiah-like game plan of signing over the hill big names from a past NBA lifetime.

Of course this fear has all but evaporated thanks in part to the miraculous effect Jason Kidd, Wallace, and Felton have had on the team. It took a few weeks to buy into the vets, but they all have been a huge reason why the Knicks are playing smarter and winning games that used to slip away during fourth quarters. What came next was hysteria. A hysteria that reminded me of what it felt like to skim through the sports section of the NY Post as a kid and see the Knicks in first place- something that meant everything to me at the time. I feel this now knowing how much it matters to be the division leader and having every other team aspire to be where the Knicks are. During these past two games however, much like those airline passengers I spoke of earlier, I found myself experiencing a new emotion: bewilderment. It’s almost disorientating to watch Carmelo Anthony take over a game with such ease & grace compared to how difficult it has always been for the Knicks to put balls through the hoop this past decade. I’m bewildered by how talented he is and so is every other coach in the league at this point. He’s a clear leader for MVP and with the Knicks continuing to be one the best teams in the league his case will continue to gain steam. It’s great to be in first place and notch Wins, but I’m too amazed by his play on the floor to fully soak in the gravity of each victory. Right now that “We got a W!” feeling is second to “How did he just make that play?”

For the passengers on flight 33, I wish I could tell you it ends well for them. One of the great mysteries of the Twilight Zone is how this episodes ends. In the episode we never find out what happens to flight 33. Instead the plane begins to run short on fuel and the Captain makes an calm announcement about trying to come up with another route to take after an already failed plot to bring the passengers to safety. As the camera pans through the cabin to uncertain looks among passengers there’s a hint of impending doom but of course nothing is certain. At the time of this writing Melo took a hard tumble and left the game for good without much word on his status leaving me feeling uncertain about how long the Knicks can keep playing at this pace. There should be no reason to worry, but I’m conditioned to expect the worst to always happen. This is the Kicks we are talking about after all. Either way, I’ll gladly take my seat as a spectator and be at the mercy of wherever this odyssey of a season takes us. There’s no question that the Knicks weren’t supposed to be where they are at this point but who cares? Let’s just buckle in and enjoy this odyssey together.

10 Years of Knicksonline.com

Posted on December 11, 2012 by richbertin

As Knicksoline.com celebrates a decade of service to Knick fans around the globe, I thought it was important to give recognition to the one responsible for our beloved forum: Radu Rosca, otherwise known simply as Rady.

For those aren’t familiar with Rady, he is the founder and overall visionary behind Knicksonline (KO). In what started as a small project, because of Rady’s hardwork & dedication, KO is easily one of the most recognized Knick forums on the web. The members of the site come from just about every country imaginable and the obsession of each one of us is almost overwhelming to contain. The board on KO may not be one the largest, but in terms of passion it is second to none. This is why it is said that KO is home to only the most serious of Knick fans. Thread by thread and post by post, the observations and analysis of all things Knicks brought out by KO members is something that outmatches what the “experts” get paid to write about and a source for any die-hard Knick fan to get lost in- usually during working hours at office cubicles all over the world.

Full disclosure, I wasn’t one of the members that have been here from day one. I joined in 2005, and like many Knick fans at the time, I found KO after searching for a home to vent my frustrations with Isaiah Thomas. Finally I found a soundboard to air my long list of grievances. Back then many of the members were divided over the direction of the team. I remember the wars over Marbury and quickly became obsessed with sparring with Stephon fans. As bad as the battles got, most members all respected each other and though I don’t think anyone ever admitted it, we knew we were all bonded by our pride in wanting the best for the Knicks, and that’s what got us to keep coming back. It’s not easy being a Knick fan and for many of us, the forms have always served as a sort of support group during the most darkest of times in Knick fandom. In many ways that’s what KO is: a quasi-fraternity of upper echelon Knick intelligentsia. Sort of like a gathering place for the wise elders of the village to convene. Actually now that I think of it, a great metaphor for KO is one of those Shaolin Monasteries built on the barren mountaintops. Members make the journey from all over the world seeking acceptance into the tribe. We rarely venture out from our confines and stay clear of starting trouble with outsiders. We spend hours upon hours sparring with each other, perfecting our knowledge base. And through it all we do it under the watchful guidance of the abbot: Rady

Of course there are other boards on the web but at KO the knowledge & fandom of its members is on an entirely different level than others. Its members are what keep me coming back and I actually enjoy the fact that so many of them come from different nations and locales. It’s a constant reminder of how expansive Knick pride is. In the meantime it’s important to recognize the man who has been the guiding light of KO all these years. Rady took some time out to answer some questions about himself and reflect on 10 years of the site:

Rady is the Founder, Abbot, and Visionary behind Knicksonline.com

Tell us about where you are from in Romania?

I was born and raised in a small town in the middle of Transylvania called Tîrgu Mureș (population ~ 130.000)
How did you become a fan of the Knicks so far away from NYC?

Back in the mid 90s, everyone here was a Bulls or a Lakers fan. While I never liked the Bulls and the whole Jordan madness, I discovered a team that had the best colors in the world so on my next allowance I got myself the only Knicks cap available and started representing the New York Knicks. We had an NBA game every Friday night on TV and my favorite moments were when we got to watch the Knicks. New York also had some of the greatest players of the 90’s on their roster (Starks, Mase, Oak) back then. Not to mention that when they made the Space Jam movie, I felt for the aliens because they got Ewing’s talent, lol.
What do you professionally outside of managing Knicksonline?

I did different things but my last official job was for a medical software company on support. I quit four years later when I realized I’m growing too much gray hair and decided to take a shot at freelance photography. It all started as a hobby back in 2007 but in time I developed a huge passion for shooting sports – basketball being my favorite venue. I got involved with our local first league basketball team and closely followed the work of the great NBA shooters such as Nat Butler or George Kalinsky (who’s book on the 50^th anniversary of the NY Knicks I recommend to anyone). I’m also a proud member of the greatest sports photography community in the world – www.sportsshooter.com/radurosca

What made you decide to start Knicksonline?

When I went to college I spent a lot of time discovering and learning the internet. I was also looking for any Knicks news that I could find and when I stumbled upon a free webhosting service I decided to get my own little place online. Still, the only thing I could relate it to, was the New York Knicks. That’s how it all started; as a personal website for me to learn HTML and also stay in touch with my favorite franchise.

How did you get the site to grow and how much time did it take for it to Knicksonline to become a premiere destination for Knick fans?

It’s hard to estimate. Like I said before, when I first started this I wasn’t really thinking it would turn into something bigger and most certainly wasn’t dreaming about getting such notoriety 10 years later. My primary focus was to learn about the Knicks and learn about making a website. My real motivation got to me when I realized people (other than myself) are actually visiting the website. This was almost two years later.

How much of an investment of time/money did this take?

The time invested into Knicksonline can’t really be measured. We’re talking here about several years of learning HTML,CSS and Photoshop all by myself. It would had taken less time had I had someone to guide me but I kinda enjoyed teaching myself all this new stuff. It was quite fun! As for the money part, there are certain bills that need to be taken care of yearly (domain name & hosting) or every once in a while (forum licence, website rebranding) but it’s so little compared to the satisfaction I have running the community.

When did sponsors and advertisers begin to catch on?

Back in 2004 I ran two campaigns for some companies and in return I got the best things a fan could get. A PS2 Knicks controller pad (that I still have it unboxed) and a Stephon Marbury away replica jersey.

Favorite Forum memories/threads?

Basically any thread that gets posts from KS3 becomes an instant favorite!

How do you feel about the state of the site today?

Ewww. Content speaking, the website is trash. Most of the sections are out of date or redundant. And I take full responsibility for that. I had something in mind a few years ago when I was given the opportunity to rebrand it but I blew it. I thought too big when I shouldn’t have. I do however like the theme

Any plans or hope for the future of Knicksonline?

I’ve been working with a small crew to revamp everything here. My cousin is a first class top notch web-designer who’s put some great effort into the new forum theme (which will be live later this month) and in the website redesign. It’s gorgeous and when the implementation will be ready (January or February?) it will knock everyone’s socks off! We’re throwing away all the unnecessary sections and keep only the basic stuff.

Favorite Knick of all time?

I can’t name a single guy, normally I would say it’s Ewing but when I think of all the other great players that wore the arched NEW YORK in orange on their chest I find myself in a loop that I can’t escape from. It’s something special that each individual had weather it’s Clyde, Willis, Earl, Bernard, Pat, John, Mase, Oakley, Larry, Allan, Spree or Marcus. Great personalities and terrific dedication on the court, I could pick any of these as my all time favorite!
Favorite Knick team?

Even though I wasn’t into the NBA until a couple of years later, that 1992/93 team was awesome! I also enjoyed the underdog ride we had in 99.

What do you think of the direction the team is going on this year?

I love it. I like most of the things that happened in the last 3 years but this time the Knicks have really outdone themselves. I was upset when Donnie Walsh resigned, and I never thought things could be taken at such a higher level so fast. For the first time in many years, I actually think of the Knicks as legit contenders!

Pure ecstasy

Favorite Knick moment?

Miami, game 5. (not last year)

Least Favorite Knick?

There were a lot of guys that I couldn’t understand on the Knicks roster during the last decade but I can’t say I really hated anyone. Still, if I have to call names I’d say Shandon Anderson and Howard Eisley were among my least favorites.

Is there one player in the league you always wanted to see on the Knicks?

I was pretty disappointed when we didn’t get Artest before he became a Laker.

When are winning a chip?

2013 sounds like a good year for winning!

Crazy8′s Gametape: Props to Ronnie Brewer

Posted on December 9, 2012 by richbertin

Crazy8

For those that haven’t heard of Crazy8, Knicksonline.com’s video genius, allow me to introduce you to one of the best Knick video producers on the web. His youtube channel has quickly become the nerve center of all online Knick video analysis and his popularity on message boards is one of the most rabid. I’m thrilled to have worked with Crazy8 on putting together this video post on Ronnie Brewer- someone who Crazy8 realized wasn’t getting enough credit for the role he has played on the Knicks this season. Enjoy. -Rich B

Be sure to check out Crazy8′s youtube channel and visit Knicksonline.com to stay up to date with what’s on the minds of die-hard Knick fans from all across the globe.

Video Transcript:

This has undeniably been one of the best starts to a Knick season that we have seen in years and much of it is to due to, as Amare would say, phenomenal effect that NBA vets have had on the team. Previously a bit of a meme, the “Ancient Knicks” isn’t so funny anymore. When thinking about the superb play of vets, names like Kidd, Wallace, and even Prigioni- who still counts despite being the oldest rookie in the league, roll off the tongue. There is one vet whose effect on the team has arguably been one of the most significant and hasn’t really gotten much recognition. With that said, let’s correct this and heap some praise on Ronnie Brewer.

Brewer has always been known for two things: Defense and his ugly ass shot. It’s no surprise that his defense has been consistently stifling for opposing players, but if its one thing that has been a shocking is his much improved offensive output. Yes, it is an ugly shot form but say what you want about it because he’s been burning nets around the league. Don’t be fooled by the 6.8ppg he is averaging as a starter, pay closer attention to his three point shooting which is a career high of .405%. It’s been well documented how deadly the Knicks can be from behind the arc with most thinking of Novak, but Brewer has improved tremendously in this area. For a career .241% three point shooter to balloon up to .405% is pretty dramatic. This isn’t just an added bonus for a defensive minded Knick team, its delightfully game changing.

With as dominant as Melo has been, the fact that at almost any given moment the other marksman on the floor are just one Melo double-team away from hitting an open shot with surgeon-like precision is something that has been giving opposing coaches migraines all year long. And now, the impossible has happened: the one guy coaches didn’t have to even think about on defense is just a week or so away from hitting the most three pointers he has ever had in a full season. The other thing about Brewer is that the value he has brought to the team has far outweighed the cost of his vet-minimum contract. When compared to Novak who is just starting to get around to becoming “Novakaine” again it could be argued that Brewer is the one that should be rewarded more when offseason contract talks start to begin. Of course this is said out of a very small sample size so lets see if this trend continues for the rest of the year and revisit which player is more expandable then. Either way with Shumpert a few weeks away from returning, Coach Woodson is going to have to figure out which players will have their minutes cut. If he elects to go with defense over perimeter offense, then Brewer is his man. If he elects to go with perimeter offense over defense, is Brewer statistically still his man? Probably not; but this is for Woody to figure out.

Lets not get caught up in three point shooting though. Brewer has also shot very well from the rest of the floor and has shown that he can even find other ways to score without hitting open jumpers. And of course what is most important about Brewer is the same thing that has always been his bread and butter: his defense. A lot of players can make baskets but very few can stop others from doing so, and that’s precisely what Brewer has always been famous for. Ronnie, if you are reading this, please know how appreciated you are by Knick fans because you are a big part of the reason why the Knicks have become fun to watch again. And if you don’t believe me, lets hear what someone else who knows Ronnie better than we do think about him:

“Ronnie’s just a great team player, that’s who he is. He plays to win, plays for the team, hard-playing, does a little bit of everything. (He) can score, pass, play-make, play great defense and he’s a great teammate, very coachable. He did a great job for us when he was here and he’s doing a great job for the Knicks” –former coach Tom Thibodeau.

Video Production by: Crazy8

Written by: Richard Bertin

The Just Desserts -or- “I Really Owe the 2012-2013 Knicks An Apology”

Posted on December 8, 2012 by richbertin

knicks-melo-kidd-felton

Bobby is one the biggest Knick fans I ever met. He is also one of the most jaded so when he didn’t share the same excitement I had when the season began, I wasn’t surprised. Even throughout the month of November Bobby kept his guard up fully expecting the typical Knick collapse. However after what is now being dubbed as the “Miami Massacre” Bobby has turned into a believer. He’s even penned a comprehensive apology. Yes, this is major news and I’m thrilled to share it on the site. -Rich B

“We lose tonight. No Melo, plus plenty of bad JR.”

That was the text message I got from my brother last night before the second Knicks-Heat game of this season. The words glowed as steady, mocking me. Mocking my loss for words. My indecisiveness. My hopelessness. My reluctant agreement.

I decided it was best to ignore the message. I couldn’t take a crying session. After all, this game could be the beginning of the end for our serendipitous start to the season. Before I get to my reaction to whatever the hell happened, let’s rewind a few months to this past summer.

In a crucial off-season after a painful lockout shortened year that saw yet another heartless Knicks playoff exit, the front office made a seriously bold decision: This team wasn’t good enough. Let’s have that sink in for a second.

After suffering a decade of Washington Generals style basketball, Knicks fans were content with two consecutive 7-seed playoff showings- both ending in 5 games or less. Many of us were thrilled with the prospect of getting a healthy Jeremy Lin back on the court to dish endless dimes and ally-oops to the three-headed beast of Melo, Amar’e and Chandler. Of course, Amar’e would come back with a healthy fear of fire extinguishers but we had a rookie on the rise in Iman Shumpert. We had a coaching vacancy that was already marked as “RESERVED” for a Mr. Jackson, party of 1.

With the exception of possibly losing JR Smith (“No big loss. He runs hot and cold, anyway… and mostly cold for that matter.”) and Steve Novak (“There are tons of spot-up shooters in this league! We’ll be fine!”), Knicks fans had a lot to look forward to this year.

Then the front office got to work. They dealt Jeremy Lin to Houston, deciding that his offer sheet was too tough a pill to swallow. They brought back Raymond Felton, fresh off of a Pillsbury style season in Portland that he freely admitted to. They went out and acquired Kurt Thomas and Marcus Camby in addition to stealing Jason Kidd out from under the Dallas Mavericks in a bid to create the 2004 Eastern All-Star team. They coaxed Rasheed Wallace out of retirement. They signed something called a Pablo Prigioni from Argentina. I wasn’t’ sure what it was, but it sounded like some new brand of pepperoni that I’d have to look for it in the supermarket.

My head was spinning. This season was going to be a disaster. We were going to be too slow, too injury prone… too old. What the hell was going on in those sacred halls in Madison Square Garden?

Now let’s fast forward back to Thursday evening.

Just before halftime, the Knicks (playing without Melo, STAT or Shumpert) have made a gutsy game of it. They actually fought their way to a pretty impressive tie with only 0.6 seconds left on the clock. I considered shutting it off to finish watching in bed, but then I thought “What the hell? I should just see what happens. After all, LeBron James is on the court.”

0.6 seconds and one made turnaround jumper later, I’m stunned and stuck to my couch. Same old Knicks. This is misery. How are we supposed to compete with something like- Oh wait. Look at that replay! He didn’t get it off in time! Tie game!

That was the moment I should have responded to my brother. But no. I couldn’t jinx it. Not yet. Not until after the Knicks came out firing in the second half. Shots were falling. The defense was swarming. We took the lead and it ballooned to double digits with an offensive barrage courtesy of Felton, Novak and JR Smith. It was some of the most beautiful basketball I’d seen out of this team ever.

That’s when I got up the gumption to finally send the message. It was short, sweet, and probably something I should have done myself before pouring Haterade all over every off-season move.

“You shut your mouth.”

This season has been coming together like something of a fairy tale for myself and, I imagine, many other Knicks fans. When was the last time we played a competitive, meaningful game? When was the last time we even won one? How long has it been since we laid claim to first place in the Eastern Conference well after the Thanksgiving leftovers have been eaten or discarded? Hell, it’s been awhile. That’s all that matters.

After swallowing season after bitter season, we finally have a team who is making us proud. Not just content. But truly proud of what they’re accomplishing on the court. We finally, once again, have a team that’s committed to delivering just desserts to Knicks fans and the city of New York.

In honor of this team and its surpassing even the most optimistic expectations before the season, I’d like to hand out several apologies in the form of the “2012-2013 Just Desserts Awards.” So, without further ado…

The Cherry-On-Top Award (for being better than the team needed you to be): JR Smith

After a poor showing in Game 5 of the first round last year, JR was the recipient of a lot of Knicks fans rage. He shot 3-for-15 and made tons of poor decisions with the ball. The backlash on twitter alone almost ran him out of town.

I wasn’t exactly happy with it, but I thought JR was the victim of being asked to do too much. With Lin out due to injury and the combination of Mike Bibby’s corpse and Toney Douglas doing absolutely nothing to ease the loss, Coach Woodson turned to good old chuck-em-up JR for ball handling duties. This decision, however desperately made, turned out to be a mistake.

I came to the conclusion that I could forgive these issues if JR came back and was willing to accept a 6^th man role behind a more complete starting guard.Well, I’m happy to say that JR has answered the call. Not only that, but he seems to be cleaning up his act both on the court and off of it. JR has cut back on his night life, made better decisions with the basketball and decided to finally give a crap on defense.

via facebook.com/knicklyn

I’m simultaneously stunned and delighted. The passion that he’s brought to the game this year has been something that’s been missing from this team for damn near 20-years. It’s even been cause for some Knicks fans to start calling him “JR Starks.” For the record, I wholly endorse this new moniker. The guy has earned it thus far.

The Vanilla Cake Award (for being ole reliable instead of just plain old): Jason Kidd

When reports surfaced of the Knicks renewing their pursuit of Jason Kidd I was furious. He was old, slow, off the mark and asking for too much money and too many years. He represented exactly the kind of big-name mistake the Knicks made time and time again in the bad old days. This was my opinion, and I was sticking to it… 2 years ago.

This time around was infinitely worse. The man was approaching 40 and we were offering him a multi year deal? Are you nuts? Apparently not.

Kidd has emerged as a steady, reliable and calming force on this roster. There have been plenty of times that this roster could have let games slip away. But Kidd just wouldn’t let it happen. He has quickly identified the problems and saw to it that his teammates corrected themselves. Often in time to save the game. He’s been the very definition of a playing-coach, acting as a bridge between Woodson and his players rather than an extension of the coaching staff.

The Instant Brownie Mix Award (for doing exactly what you said you would): Raymond Felton

Perhaps this one should be sugar free…

Raymond Felton was out of shape last year. You knew it. I knew it. Every Cheesecake Factory in the Portland area knew it.

Most of all, Raymond Felton knew it. He admitted it during a courtside interview at a summer league game. But during that same summer, he admitted to having a chip on his shoulder and promised to deliver a season to New York that would be much better than the aberration that was his lockout-shortened season in Portland.

He came back to New York saying all the right things… and I rolled my eyes. I refused to admit that he was ready to shoulder starting point guard responsibilities again. And there was no way he was going to be able to sufficiently replace breakout star Jeremy Lin. A real pro never would have let himself get out of shape in the first place!

Well… um… I guess I can shut the hell up.

Starting next to Kidd, Felton has flourished. He has been making noticeably better decisions with the ball and taken advantage of all the open looks the offense has created for him behind the arc.

Just as importantly, Felton stepped up last night in that game against the Heat. With Melo out and the team on the second half of a back to back that included an unnecessarily tough game against the Bobcats, the little bulldog put the team on his back and carried them into that second half before everyone else got in tune and made it a blowout.

I expect more of this from him and doubt I will be disappointed.

The Fruit Platter Award (for being there for everyone when no one notices): Ronnie Brewer

Okay, full disclosure? I don’t have much to apologize for here. Ronnie Brewer was the one acquisition this summer that didn’t have me feeling like I’d just been beaten and mugged.

via Knickswall.com

But the reality is that with Shumpert out trying to rehab his torn ACL, Brewer has stepped up admirably. His defense has been something to truly behold. I don’t think you’ll find someone who appreciates this more than Tyson Chandler. With someone helping to keep prodding guards in check, Chandler has been capable of patrolling the paint in ways he couldn’t dream of last year during a season that saw him win Defensive Player of the Year (PS – expect him to earn that trophy again this summer after repeating his performance as the Knicks personal guard dog).

In addition, Brewer has continued to put up offense numbers well above what was advertised on his resume. I can’t say enough about the good he has done. He’s taken Landry Fields role of glue-guy and successfully revamped it for this “Melo-centric” roster.

The Cordial Award (for getting the job done like a boss): Mike Woodson

Mr. Woodson. I saved you for last. I really don’t know what to say.

IT’S ALIVE! Iso-Joe Lives

I railed against your unimaginative offenses of the past. I lamented your Frankenstein monster known as Iso-Joe. I glanced longingly at other names. Particularly that of the man known as The Zen Master.

It wasn’t meant to be.

When news broke of your extension and the dropping of your interim title, I was furious. Inconsolable. Irrational. But you didn’t care. You came into this season with your impeccable goatee and you made… no. You crafted… no. You forged a team. Not just any team. You took a rag tag group of veterans, a group that so many from the outside were quick to make the butt of many cruel jokes about obesity and senior citizenship, and you shaped them into something that the city of New York and every long suffering Knick fan craved.

It was the team that we needed, even if we didn’t know it. A team that would restore meaning to the term “Knicks basketball.” A team that has, thus far, reminded us why we are all Knicks fans.

You’ve displayed such deft command of this roster that I have zero concerns with regards to the impending returns of Amar’e Stoudemire or Iman Shumpert and how they will affect the team. I have no doubt that if they are any kind of hindrance, you will show zero regard for their ego or feelings. I am also certain that you will take their exciting talents and use them to find a way to make this first place team even better. I have complete confidence in you to run this finely tuned machine and keep it humming.

I apologize for ever doubting you, sir. Because you have delivered unto us a team that is just so damn sweet to watch.

By: Bobby Carlisto

Starks Raving Mad

a blog for long-time suffering Knick fans