When Things Fall Apart: The NY Knicks

“I couldn't see nothing at that time. Blood was coming out of my eye, so I couldn't really see. I don't even know what was going on.”

-Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony on his collission with Rajon Rondo late in the loss to the Celtics.

Doh.

The NY Knicks' team and season continue to come apart at the seams.  Since Brooklyn native, Carmelo Anthony joined the Knicks, they are an umimpressive 7-9. A run that includes two three-game losing streaks, one three-game winning streak, losses to the Milwaukee Bucks, Detroit Pistons, and the lowly Cleveland Cavaliers (twice!!), and slipping to the 7th playoff seed.

NBA journalists are sounding off everywhere.  Here's what's being said:

PRESS PLAY: STEPHEN A. SMITH


PRESS PLAY: NBA TONIGHT

• NY Daily News:  Knicks star Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire see in Celtics sacrifice they must make to win

• NY Daily News:  Melo already part of Knicks history...bad history

• NY Daily News:  New York Knicks president Donnie Walsh reiterates Carmelo Anthony Deal was his decision, not Dolan's

• NY Post:  Melo bloodies, psyche bruised as Knicks slump reaches 6 out of 7

• NY Post:  Walsh:  I'll take blame for Knicks soon

• NY Post:  Doc's Rx:  A little bit of time

• Yahoo! Sports:  Melo wilting under burden to lift Knicks

• ESPN New York:  New York Knicks need much more from Melo

• ESPN New York:  Knicks Need to be Stoudemire's Team

• ESPN New York:  Knicks must find consistency at center

• Slam:  Carmelo: Knicks May Not Jell Until Next Year

• ESPN:  Knicks' Loss Stings Like Decade of Misery

• NBC:  Celtics Teach Knicks A Few Lessons

• FoxSports:  Melo:  Knicks Might Not Improve Soon

Photo Credit: Sipkin/News

New York Knicks Season-Ticket Prices on the Rise!

Today the New York Post reported that the New York Knicks plan to significantly raise season ticket prices for the first time in six seasons.  While the Knicks ranked among the league's worst teams the past few seasons, their prices would suggest otherwise.  They currently charge the second highest price for season tickets at $88 per ticket.  The NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers hold the number one spot at $113 per ticket.

According to the New York Post,

The combination of the Knicks being on the verge of qualifying for the playoffs for the first time since 2003-04, the ongoing $700 million to $1 billion transformation of the Garden and the latest blockbuster addition of superstar Carmelo Anthony to play alongside Amar'e Stoudemire has prompted owner James Dolan to raise the roof on ticket prices.

Since the Anthony trade, according to SeatGeek.com, the prices for some Garden games on the secondary market rose as much as 113 percent from the season average. SeatGeek.com is a ticket search engine that allows fans to search the top secondary markets for the best prices.

Before the season, the Knicks sold out of season tickets and created a wait list for the first time since 2001-02. More than 4,000 new season tickets were purchased for the season.

Honestly, this is expected.  In fact, I'm surprised Dolan didn't raise prices when Amar'e Stoudemire agreed to sign with the Knicks.  But since the Knicks also acquired Carmelo Anthony, the question was not a matter of when tickets would increase, but how much.  I guess we'll find out in the coming weeks.  MSG sports president Scott O'Neil will meet with current season ticket-holders today to present new benefits associated with the higher prices.

The timing of O'Neil's presentation is less than ideal as the Knicks are coming off an abysmal 109-127 performance against the Dallas Mavericks.  The Knicks, who are in the playoff hunt for the first time in six years, are without a doubt a better team; but immediately increasing the prices for loyal season ticket-holders isn't the best way to show appreciation to fans that have supported the organization throughout the good and the bad.

While the NY Post didn't mention a price increase for individual tickets, I'm sure it's coming as Knicks' tickets are incredibly hard to come by these days.  I know because I've been trying to find two reasonably priced tickets all season, but every game's been sold out.  I finally caved and bought tickets to Knicks at Nets in New Jersey.  The Prudential Center is certainly no MSG, but it's better than nothing, right?
  
Read more on this at: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/knicks/dolan_set_to_raise_prices_on_knicks_aDDpSpzewd8S87P4Jh17BL#ixzz1GIokAE7W
 

In other ticket news, New York Yankees single-tickets go on sale today.  You can purchase tickets on yankees.com.  The home opener is March 31 against the Detroit Tigers.

Mets fans, you can get in on the action starting Monday.  Tickets will be available on nymets.com.  Their home opener is April 8 against the Washington Nationals.

Exit Melodrama! Enter Melomania!

Exit Melodrama. Enter Melomania!

Honestly, I had no idea how I'd feel after hearing that Carmelo Anthony to the NY Knicks was finally approved.  The nonstop drama certainly tainted my judgment a bit.  I spoke with my Dad about the tentative deal early Monday afternoon, and he was convinced that it was only a matter of time.  Although I followed all of the back and forth, I detached myself a bit.  I refused to involve my heart in the Melodrama because as a Knicks fan, I know far too well what it feels like to be letdown.  I refused to set myself up for the fall...again. 

Fast forward a few hours.  I received a two-word text from my Dad saying, "It's done!"  I stood emotionless.  The trade was officially official and not in a "sources say the deal is 90% done we just need Carmelo to approve it kind of way."  I called my Dad so he could fill me in.  Although I was hesitant to celebrate, he didn't allow me to rain on his parade.  He was pumped.  So pumped that I convinced him to guest blog his reaction later this week.  Stay tuned for that!  But I digress.

Sensing my lack of enthusiasm, my Dad suggested I go home and listen to WFAN.  He convinced me that the energy from the fans calling into the station would be so infectious that I'd have no other choice but to get hype.  My funk would immediately wash away. After listening for a while and reading twitter, I was still unmoved.

But! A short while later, it hit me!! I finally started to get hype.  It didn't have anything to do with the callers on the radio, or tweets on my timeline, or ESPN commentary.  Instead, it had everything to do with me having flashbacks to Melo's Syracuse days in 2002-2003 and the previous success he'd had in New York.  My mind suddenly started racing with memories of how he used to light up MSG as a college freshman!!!  The last time New York had a reason to celebrate anything basketball related, was all due to Carmelo carrying Syracuse to an NCAA Championship.  I recalled watching Melo in the Big Dance and thinking he was virtually unstoppable.  I remembered how he went to work in the Final Four against Texas.  I remembered being pissed that Lebron James was the star of the 2003 NBA Draft based on a high school highlight reel.  At the time, I thought C. Melo should've been #1, no question. And I can't help but think that Melo's pairing with Amar'e Stoudemire presents one more hurdle for the Miami Heat to overcome if they want that rock. 

And not to overlook Melo's NBA career, but taking it way back to the days when I first admired his game is what has me most amp'd to see Melo in a Knicks uni.  He knows what it means to win in New York and this is more than I can say for anyone else within the Knicks organization, aside from Walt Clyde Frazier.  OK, maybe I'm reaching a bit with that statement, but let me get that.  No one is messing with my high right now.  Not even the fact that Mike D'antoni is still the coach or the rumors that Isiah Thomas' grubby little hands were all over this trade will prevent me from counting down the hours until Amar'e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony team up and light up MSG on Wednesday.  Well done, Knicks.  Well done.

NY Knicks: A Brand New Day?

If you haven't heard, the New York Knicks are on a roll!  And although New York City isn't roaring like it was in the 90s, there is a slight buzz that's beginning to penetrate the city.  Well, at least temporarily.  As true skeptics acknowledge, the Knicks have benefited from an easy schedule.  And although that's stating the obvious, we should still give credit where credit is due.  The Knicks of the past decade would have lost to the teams that are easily beatable.  And not only would they have lost, but they would've been BLOWN out.  The Knicks team we've seen over the past 11 games is definitely playing on a different level than teams in recent years. 

This Knicks resurgence is in large part due to the leadership and dominant play of Amar'e Stoudemire, the first real franchise player since the Patrick Ewing Era.  As Stoudemire goes, the Knicks go.  On Wednesday night, Stoudemire logged 30+ points for the sixth game in a row, helping the Knicks extend their winning streak to six; while also winning 10 of their last 11. 

After publicly questioning his teammates winning spirit, Stoudemire is leading by example and averaging 25.7 ppg and 9.2 rpg.  This season's two-time Eastern Player of the Week has undeniably proven that his addition to the Knicks' lineup is most certainly an upgrade over fan favorite David Lee.  And not only that, but his ability to step it up in the 4th quarter and takeover games have resulted in early MVP buzz for the All-Star.  And, with the solid play of Raymond Felton, Stoudemire has also shown that he is equally, if not more, effective after being separated from two-time MVP Steve Nash.   

Although it took a little time for Stoudemire and Felton to find their rhythm, they're arguably becoming the best one-two punch in the league.  The pick n' roll is just as good to them as it was to the Phoenix Suns.  Kudos to GM Donnie Walsh for finally giving the Knicks what they lacked for a long time, a true point guard.  I guarantee if Chris Duhon was still running point, the Knicks would not be the second hottest team in the league, behind the Dallas Mavericks.

Felton's impressive season with career high averages of 18.6 ppg and 8.6 apg proves that he's become more comfortable in his role.  This is also evident by the extra bounce that's found its way into his game and has spread to the rest of the team; further igniting the offense allowing Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month Landry Fields, Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallinari to make strong contributions each game.

However, it's not all good.  Although the Knicks are much improved, there are still two major flaws in their game: turnovers and defense.  The Knicks currently average over 15 turnovers per game, ranking among the top 10 in the league.  And although Stoudemire and Felton have been carrying the team, they rank sixth on the turnover list and are both responsible for 83 TOs going into tonight's game.  If the Knicks gain better control of the ball and limit their stumbling and bumbling (via Walt Frazier), which is doable, the Knicks could really be on to something!

The Knicks also continue to lack defense, which is no surprise for a D'Antoni team.  While the Knicks are grabbing more rebounds, averaging more steals and blocks, they're still allowing opponents to score too many points against them.  And for whatever reason, the Knicks enjoy letting players have career highs against them i.e. Blake Griffin, Kevin Love, and Andrea Bargnani.  But, thankfully,  the Knicks have been outscoring their opponents and shooting well enough from the field and three point line to make up for lack of defense.  However, when you live by the three, you die by the three.  Ask John Starks.  That's a dangerous game to play.  The Knicks need to learn to tighten it up defensively in order to be a true contender. 

And although I still question whether D'Antoni is the right man for the job, I do agree that Eddy Curry should continue to accrue DNPs next to his name.  D'Antoni feels that giving Curry some minutes may be detrimental to the team and cause them to regress.  No one wants that.  And quite frankly, Curry isn't fit enough to handle the fast paced nature of the Knicks offense.  But, if Curry has to earn some minutes in order to improve his value so he's trade worthy, then D'Antoni must find a way to work him into the game without completely ruining team chemistry.

I don't mean to get ahead of myself by looking past any of the Knicks' upcoming games, but it looks like this year's Christmas matchup may actually be worth watching.  The Knicks kickoff a marathon day of NBA games with a matinee matchup against the Bulls.  However, the true test begins after tonight's game @ Washington when the Knicks square off against the Nuggets, Celtics, Heat, Oklahoma City, and the Magic; all teams above .500.  Will the "New Look" Knicks continue to shock us, or will they resort to their old ways and fall apart causing fans to jump ship?  We shall see.  Although I could be setting myself up for disappointment by drinking the kool-aid, one thing is for sure, it feels good to care again!!

Here's what the rest of their 2010 schedule looks like. 

1. Tonight 12/10 @ Washington
2. Sunday 12/12 vs Denver
3. Wednesday 12/15 vs Boston, ESPN
   
4. Friday 12/17 vs Miami, ESPN
   
5. Saturday 12/18 @ Cleveland
6. Wednesday 12/22 vs Oklahoma City
7. Saturday 12/25 vs Chicago, ESPN
   
8. Tuesday 12/28 @ Miami
9. Thursday 12/30 @ Orlando, TNT

The Talk of the Town: NY Knicks, NY Yankees, NY Jets, NY Mets

No matter the season, NYC sports always manages to dominate sports talk.  This morning I woke up, turned to NY1, like I do every morning, and realized that we (NYC sport teams) were pretty busy yesterday. In case you missed it, here's a quick recap!

NY KNICKS
The Good!  Yesterday afternoon, the Knicks announced that Isiah Thomas would not be consulting for the organization, after all.  According to certain NBA bylaws, an NBA exec can't have any contact with NCAA athletes.  Since Zeke is the head basketball coach for Florida International University (which went 7-25 last season, fyi), Isiah would've been in direct violation of that bylaw.  When I read this, I released a huge sigh of relief.  Phew!

The Bad!  The fact that Isiah Thomas was offered a job with the Knicks, after EVERYTHING we've been through with him, proves that leadership (Jim Dolan) is still delusional and ill equipped to run this team.  At one point in Isiah's career, he was praised for being able to scout talent.  I was one of those people doing the praising. But, those days are long gone.  In my opinion, Isiah has indisputably proven that he's all about self and lacks any type of dignity or pride.  How could Isiah, a Hall of Fame player, return to the scene of the crime, while Knicks fans are still licking our wounds? Contrary to what Isiah and Dolan may think, it's still too soon.  Until the Knicks have a respectable season, we will not forgive OR forget Isiah for leaving us in ruins.

I say all of this despite having been a Zeke fan forever.  In fact, when I tried out for the basketball team in 7th grade, my Dad hyped me up by saying that Isiah Thomas is small, but also the best at his position.  Nuff said.  I got this.  Lacking talent, I quickly realized that the only thing Zeke and I had in common was our size deficiency, but I digress...

Thank goodness the NBA stepped in to put Knicks fans out of our misery, for now.  Despite making some solid (not great!) off season moves, hiring Isiah Thomas would've ruined our season before it even started.


NY YANKEES
The Good:  Last night, the Yankees had an incredible comeback against the Texas Rangers. After a loss to the Red Sox and a blown save by Mariano Rivera, the Yankees' bats suddenly woke up toward the end of last night's game.  Sadly, I fell asleep and missed the exciting comeback, but it was nice to wake up, wipe the cold out of my eyes, put my glasses on and see that we got the W!

The Bad:  Watching the Yankees struggle against Cliff Lee had me fuming. I keep shaking my head at the thought that the Yankees didn't get Cliff Lee when all reports pretty much confirmed that he was a Yankee. Cliff Lee should be in pinstripes, not serving up 11 strikeouts against us.  And then to make matters worse, I had to witness another piss poor Lance Berkman performance at first base.  I keep asking myself, why did we acquire him at the trade deadline?  Why?????  Congrats to Mark Teixeira and his wife for welcoming a son into the world, but I'm thankful he'll be with the team for tonight's game against the Kansas City Royals.

As of now, there's a good chance that we could face the Rangers in the playoffs.  Thankfully their relief pitching is a little suspect.  Despite the Rangers having Cliff Lee, I like our chances.

NY JETS
The Good!  Last night was the highly anticipated debut of HBO's hit series, Hard Knocks starring the NY Jets!!  Since I'm such a huge Jets fan, I've been waiting for this show to debut since HBO announced that Gang Green was their chosen team.  I know I've said this before, and I'm saying it again, I absolutely love that the Jets have completely erased the NY Giants from the back pages of the New York dailies.  They're everywhere!  We have a coach that talks nuff smack, as I'm sure you saw on last night's show, and a team that can back it up! The Giants/Jets preseason game on Monday can't come soon enough!  J-E-T-S!  JETS! JETS! JETS!

The Bad! I was asleep before the show even started.  Extremely pathetic.  I know.  I remember looking at the clock at 8something thinking that I had another two hours to go.  I tried to fight it but lost that battle.  Although I haven't watched the show, I heard that the Darrelle Revis contract situation had a starring role.  I hate this.  I really do.  Up until this point, what made the Jets such a good story to follow is that there was nothing negative to report.  Now all of a sudden they're engaged in this extremely public contract dispute with Darrelle Revis and his agent.  And, our GM Mike Tennenbaum is admitting defeat on camera.  Really?  Really?

I've tried to speak about this topic without getting fired up, but I can't.  However, I will say this.  I understand where both parties are coming from.  I'd be a horribly judge.  Also, I didn't expect Revis to hold out this long.  I wasn't all that concerned during OTA's but now that we're heading into our first preseason game on Monday, I'm super concerned.  And, having the team owner, Woody Johnson, publicly say that he doesn't think Revis will play this season does not put me at ease, posturing or not.  Oh how I wish this was just scripted reality to create more buzz around Hard Knocks, but I know that it's not.  All I can say is, Damn you Al Davis for overpaying Nnamdi Asomugha!!! 
 

NY METS

Unlike all of the other teams I've covered, the Mets don't have anything "good" to touch upon.  With them, it's just all "bad". They can't catch a break.  I don't follow them a whole lot, but I do know that they're on a sinking ship.

Last night, Francisco Rodriguez verbally assaulted reporters with countless F-bombs during the post game interview following their 6-2 loss to the Colorado Rockies. As if that wasn't enough, he then went on to physically assault his father-in-law. Whoa!  Who does that?  K-Rod certainly isn't a saint, and has a history of losing his temper, but going off on your father-in-law is next level!  As a result, K-Rod was arrested, charged with third- degree assault, and suspended 2 games.

More importantly, this altercation gave everyone an insiders look at how dysfunctional the Mets clubhouse really is.  If Mets fans were hoping for some type of miraculous comeback, they should face reality and shift their focus to football.  It's not happening.  The only hope they can cling to is team owner, Fred Wilpon, finally manning up and getting the courage to send Jerry Manuel packing.

It ain't easy being a New York sports fan!