Knicks Beat Warriors

Knicks 8 - 8 (5 -3 @MSG). Lee has monster game. Harrington gets comfortable. Duhon a fine effort.

New York Athletes Can't Get No Respect

John Ryan of the Mercury News reports Reebok rewards Nike Marathon winner:

Marketing can be a nasty business. That's when we love it the most.

Last month in San Francisco an elementary-school teacher named Arien O'Connell ran the fast time at the Nike Women's Marathon. But because she didn't run in the elite group, she wasn't recognized as the winner. After a few days of embarrassment, Nike retreated and called O'Connell "a winner," but the damage was done.

Most of it, anyway. Thursday afternoon, representatives of Reebok visited the Children Charter School in Brooklyn. They gave O'Connell free shoes every month for a year, T-shirts for her class and $2,500 to the school. They also gave her a trophy — the F.U.N. Award — recognizing her as the "winner and heroine of non-elite runners everywhere."

F.U.N. Are we correct about what that stands for, with the N being "Nike"?

Call Me a Contrarian

A lot of noise is being made in New York about the Knicks becoming a lousy basketball team because they are attempting to clear cap space in two years. As I've said before, I think the Knicks are improving the quality of the team while they are right-sizing the budget.

Yes, we are taking a few punishing loses thanks to injuries and the eternal soap-opera called Marbury.

I think once the health of the team is whole, these Knicks will surprise a lot of pundits who are already on the same campaign to tar and feather Walsh and D'Antoni as they had with Isiah and Brown.

I am not someone who believes that LeBron James is coming to NY as a free but I do think that if Walsh can acquire some talent worth passing in a sign and trade with a team whose superstar is ready to depart, the Knicks will have a chance of acquiring a true superstar talent soon.

As for Marbury, I think his behavior has become so outrageous that nobody will ever take a chance on him again at any price.

Pistons Beat Knicks

Knicks 7 - 8. Nothing to say. Ugly game, bad loss.

Cavs Beat Knicks

Knicks 7 - 7 (4 - 3 @MSG).

New Knicks getting their bearings if not a win.

Knicks Fan Doing Backflips Over Recent Trades

Are Knicks in the Running for Rip?

The trade of Billups has been a disaster for Detroit.

Rip hamilton's contract is daunting for most teams. Is a Curry for Hamilton swap a palatable one for Detroit? Curry brings size and a more inexpensive, shorter contract. My guess is Rip is moving over the winter.

For the Knicks, he would be a perfect addition.

Walsh and D'Antoni Pulling a Fast One

Walsh and D'Antoni are playing down the recent trades of Randolph, Crawford, and Collins as preparation for the summer of 2010 but that's not the whole truth.

Donnie for all his understated humility knows damned well that Harrington, Mobley, and Thomas represent a wholesale upgrade to the Knicks. Most obviously, Thomas brings far more to the table than Collins was expected to this year. ad to the fact that Thomas knows and thrives in D'Antoni's system and this is a major upgrade of the bench.

Also, refreshingly, Harrington wants to be here to win NOW. And Mobley isn't shy about seconding that motion. Harrington will fit much better than Zach and Mobley is an upgrade to Crawford who I couldn't wait to see gone.

The real question is just how far Walsh can harden this roster this year with the same subtle moves.

make no mistake, by the time LBJ is available the Knicks will be winners. Expect the Knicks to knock the Cavs out of the playoffs this year should the matchup materialize.

Quietly, we're seeing a contender form.

I'm adjusting my win expectation to 40 games.

Knicks Beat Wizards @MSG

Knicks 7 - 6 (4 - 2 @msg).

Q has a game.

Bucks Beat Knicks

The Knicks 6 - 6.

Jamal Crawford, Zach Randolph, and Mardy Collins all traded today. Thus a short-handed Knicks team loses to Milwaukee.

Al Harrington, Cuttino Mobley, and the return of Tim Thomas, and maybe a future 2nd-round pick all coming New York's way.

Boston Handed Home Court Advantage Win

The refs handed the Knicks this loss in a winnable game. We'll be back.

The Knicks 6 - 5.

Thug Ugly in Boston

At the half, Knicks down by 9 in a rough and tumble game. Rivers playing a thuggish second unit against the Knicks. The refs have their heads up their ass when it comes to the rough play of the Celtics scrubs.

Nothing dropped for the Knicks in the second quarter - lots of shots rimming out. Chandler with a strong half.

Refs Beat Knicks

The Mavs, apparent beneficiaries of the Cuban chronic whine about officials, were handed a win against the Knicks at MSG.

Crawford played dismally. Q had a strong, strong game.

Knicks (6 - 4, 3 - 2 @home).

The Warm-Up Dance

Knicks Maul Grizzlies

Knicks 5 - 3.

Knicks Beat Okla. 6 - 3.

Spurs Beat Knicks

Knicks 4 - 3 (3 - 1 @home)

Knicks Beat Jazz

Knicks 4 -2 (3-1 @home).

After an ugly first half, Knicks re-discover defense and close out the Jazz.

David Lee's slump ends in the first half. Duhon looking more like the second coming of Chollie Ward. Zach Randolph and N8 playing like All-Stars. Chandler continuing to deliver.

Crawford coming up big but continues to make head-scratchingly bad decisions along the way.

Knicks Beat Wizards

Knicks 3 - 2. Two wins in a row.

Another ugly game. But Duhon, Chandler, and Nate did some nice things. Crawford still needs to work on shot selection. Lee in a funk

Knicks Beat Bobcats

Knicks 2 - 2. Knicks win at home (2 -1 @ MSG). Zach Randolph, N8, and Chandler shine.

Duhon is becoming more and more comfortable in NY.

Nice to see Larry Brown again in NY. He had many interesting things to say about the Knicks, Dolan, and Walsh. All good. His experience here remains as one of the tragedies of NBA basketball history.

Knicks Lose to Bucks

Knicks 1 - 2.

The Knicks should never lose at home. But from all indications an ugly game.

Crawford once again worthless.

God I am sick of rooting for a losing team.

Why a Kidd for Marbury Swap?

Here's why.

Dallas has to win this year or they are done for a long, long time.

If it wasn't obvious from last year's meltdown that Kidd wasn't the answer then when will it dawn on Cuban that Kidd is not the answer.

So why a trade? Well, if Cuban waits too long there will be zero takers for Kidd's contract. By trading for Marbury who is on a mission to show the league that they're all wrong, Cuban might catch lightning in a bottle. And that's exactly what Dallas needs is a wake-up call and a man possessed.

Kidd isn't cutting it in Dallas. Add to the deal a Dampier for Curry swap and Cuban eliminates the other disappointing player from previous campaigns. Curry's output is no worse than Dampier and both have worn out their welcomes in their existing situations.

Now this will cost the Knicks money but Kidd, in a limited role in NY, might extend his career and teach or young guards a few tricks. No, he won't be winning a ring here but NY is not Dallas either.

The Knicks could go so far as throw in Mardy Collins giving Dallas a future PG for the rights to a Euro contracted player that opens a spot up for Ewing on the Knicks.

Such a deal is counter-intuitive but fascinating given the dynamics of everyone's needs.

Just Another Day on the Campaign Trail w/Sarah Palin