There will be nights like last night, when things seem out of sync and the shots bounce off the rim. The good news is that we can grind out wins with superior depth and by protecting the ball (only 9 turnovers) We are just breaking the seal on a season unlike any other. This is not about the past. This is about a present that is so bright we need to wear shades.

JR Smith (scoring, rebounds, assists) is embracing his elite skill set like never before. Rookie Pablo Prigioni is learning to adjust his game on the fly and take a shot. Steve Novak has been our undercover brother. Think of it this way, once Marcus Camby and Rasheed Wallace get acquainted in game conditions, there will be no leftover rebounds. And that's our second shift.

Finish Strong

Know this, there will be a few magical nights when the planets align and everything leans our way. Woodson will always demand defensive focus. So long as the players do not feel that they can turn on the intensity anytime they want, things are good. There WILL be nights when the ball is moving and the shots are falling. It will be a beautiful thing.

No NBA team has scored 40 points against us in the second half.

Ain't that sumpthing?

Not having any insight to the psyche of any pro basketball players, I have to just wonder if they're

a) chomping at the bit to get in on the fun cause they know they got the goods
b) worried they might step in and be seen as the reason the fun ended
c) are fuhuckin happy, cool and still rich, just working to get healthy
d) are busy making their own, much scarier version of Uncle Drew movies
e) all of the above

jrodmc wrote:How long does the -0 continue until Stat and Shump start worrying if this train has left without them?

Not having any insight to the psyche of any pro basketball players, I have to just wonder if they're

a) chomping at the bit to get in on the fun cause they know they got the goods
b) worried they might step in and be seen as the reason the fun ended
c) are fuhuckin happy, cool and still rich, just working to get healthy
d) are busy making their own, much scarier version of Uncle Drew movies
e) all of the above

Tough questions for sure, I'm glad we have Woodson to sort it out. It all starts with defense first. You don't defend, you sit.

IrishKnickFan wrote:

jrodmc wrote:How long does the -0 continue until Stat and Shump start worrying if this train has left without them?

Not having any insight to the psyche of any pro basketball players, I have to just wonder if they're

a) chomping at the bit to get in on the fun cause they know they got the goods
b) worried they might step in and be seen as the reason the fun ended
c) are fuhuckin happy, cool and still rich, just working to get healthy
d) are busy making their own, much scarier version of Uncle Drew movies
e) all of the above

shump is not the problem because we could use his perimeter defense. The biggest question is how to use Amare. I still believe Amare coming off the bench would benefit everyone because Amare can be featured much more in the second unit

I agree. Shump has a place here, but Stat should be worried. The Knicks will trade him if they can find a sucker.

(bootleg alert)

So Amare will be back in about a month and Shumpert about 2 months? Why are we already reading articles about what will happen when they come back, and how many more of these articles can we expect to read before that time? ISOLA... too much good going on with the Knicks right now? Gotta try to create that negative controversy that you lazy writers love so much? IF YOU MEDIA CLOWNS RUIN THIS TEAM BY CREATING CONTROVERSY, I HOPE YOU ALL LOSE YOUR JOBS AND NEVER WORK AGAIN AS "JOURNALISTS". - NY Newsday blogger

Q. jrodmc - How long does the -0 continue until Stat and Shump start worrying if this train has left without them?

A. The Love Train rolls so long as we play defense and keep our turnovers under 10 a game

Q. jrodmc - (are Amare and Shump) chomping at the bit to get in on the fun cause they know they got the goods?

A. Shump is eager but not rushing anything because he went through a full rookie season of being less than 100 per cent. His feets failed him in 2011-12. 2013 wants to be different)

Q. jrodmc - (are Amare and Shump) worried they might step in and be seen as the reason the fun ended?

A. Stoudemire is uncharacteristicaly quiet for a reason. He understands that playing defense on bad wheels is no fun.

Q. jrodmc - (Amare and Shump) are fuhuckin happy, cool and still rich, or just working to get healthy?

A. Happy is relative, cool is only cool when you are able to do what you do best, money is temporary, health is priceless.

Q. jrodmc - (Amare and Shump) are busy making their own, much scarier version of Uncle Drew movies.

A. Shump as Uncle Clarence - with a grey high top fade - would be outrageous

ChuckBuck wrote:You don't defend, you sit.

misterearl wrote:Switch

holfresh - you really want Amare defending Kevin Garnett, Blake Griffin, Pau Gasol, Dirk and Zach Randolph?

Amare's days of banging against players 6'9+ may be over. Hakeem Camp was a novel idea since Stoudemire cannot outleap taller players anymore.

He can only hope to head fake them.

I wouldn't completely discount the affect Amar'e can have on this team because of a fast start without him. I think we have plenty of room for him if he can hit the J consistently and show some quickness. I do agree that crunch time in close games we may have to sit him for defense if he can't get with the program.

If this 5-0 Knicks team is an accurate representation of who they are the most important thing for Amar'e is to be able to hit the J so he can be another option for Melo to pass out of the double team to. After that, just don't be a complete liability on defense.

holfresh - if Melo is comfortable at the four on offense, who guards the other teams big guys at the same position, Melo or Stoudemire?

Would the unpredictable wear and tear on either Melo or Stat, going against elite power forwards, be worth it?

Are the audition minutes for Rasheed Wallace a test to see if he can handle more than 15 minutes?

NYKBocker wrote:

jrodmc wrote:How long does the -0 continue until Stat and Shump start worrying if this train has left without them?

Not having any insight to the psyche of any pro basketball players, I have to just wonder if they're

a) chomping at the bit to get in on the fun cause they know they got the goods
b) worried they might step in and be seen as the reason the fun ended
c) are fuhuckin happy, cool and still rich, just working to get healthy
d) are busy making their own, much scarier version of Uncle Drew movies
e) all of the above

Looks like the 3 headed monster is delivering. My analysis that the Knicks will reach the ECF if they produce might actually come true. With that said, the Knicks are an old team. This would be a make-or-break year. Before the trading deadline, the Knicks will know if they need to tweak the roster or not. Since Shump is our only asset, I see him being trade bait to get the right part into winning it all this year. Knicks are still a SG shooter away from the NBA Finals.

I was thinking about this. Would the Knicks actually trade Shump for a SG? Who would they target?

I personally would not trade Shump. He's too valuable and his shot was coming along last year. I think with a healthy Shump and a relatively healthy STAT completes this roster. Health is the key.