I'm an Optimum subscriber so I still get free Newsday access. Here's the log of the chat. Hahn's words are in bold.

10:21 Moderator: Good morning Knicks fans. The live chat begins at 11.

10:59 [Comment From BlackJackBlackJack: ] Have you ever heard Walsh or D'Antoni speak on the prospect of acquiring Iverson or has it just been a brilliant Idea on your part? It seems like it could only work in the Knicks favor for multiple reasons: contract expires at the end of the season and
10:59 [Comment From BlackJackBlackJack: ] What is the issue the Knicks have with Iverson. He is the one available veteran that could get the most out of Hughes and make Harrington fall back and play his role. Also with guys like Duhon, Gallo and Wilson constantly looking to defer to other players I think Iverson would be more than happy to turn those passes into assists. I apologize for all the A.I. questions!!

11:02 I'll take "brilliant" idea with full disclosure that I was entirely against it as an option over the summer, so I'm the sell-out here. From what I understand, the Knicks could have been involved in Iverson last season when Denver was shopping him and passed and then had zero interest in him as a free agent. So toss it into the bird cage.
I think the overall feeling, not just from the Knicks but around the league, is that Iverson just doesn't have that kind of game anymore and physically won't be able to do it. Plus, he's such a pain to deal with. More headache than it's worth, i guess.

11:02 [Comment From Dan LDan L: ] Brilliant move by D'Antoni taking out Gallinari with the Knicks a three pointer away from taking the lead in the fourth. Jeffries had a great defensive game but bobbled an easy layup out of bounds with a few minutes. Harrington is living in brick city. If Jeffries HAS to come in, why not take out Al?

11:02 I make those exact points in my blog today, Dan.

11:02 [Comment From Brian GBrian G: ] Hi Al, I think that dantoni is far to easy on his players. They never seem to get angry over the poor play. Sometimes I see them laughing and goofing around. I think the team does not care and well they are never punished so why should they? What say you?

11:05 Look, everyone knows Mike is a "players coach", the kind you have with a veteran team that has self-starters and locker room accountability. He's not a drill sargeant that will squeeze every ounce out of the least talented player. That's just not who he is and everyone knew that going into this. The roster he has been given is clearly not fit for the way he wants to play and the way he coaches. You can't ask Mike to be what he's not. So while we can criticize his substitutions and decisions, I don't think it's fair to demand he be Bob Knight when he's not that kind of coach.

11:05 [Comment From AnthonyAnthony: ] When will the Knicks replace Chris Duhon? For a guy who has called his team out, he certainly hasn't been putting in the effort himself.

11:06 His game is really disappointing this season. He's really not pushing the ball but no one is getting out on the wings that much, either. This is the worst-case scenario for the Knicks because this system desperately needs an effective point guard.

11:06 [Comment From Regillo MillernariRegillo Millernari: ] Will the pressure of being truly awful force Walsh to make some mid season moves?
11:06 [Comment From masemase: ] this season seem to be a 'walsh' no pun intended.what do u think?

11:07 I asked him exactly that last night and wrote a story for today's paper with his reply, which was yes, he would. But Walsh won't do anything that impacts the 2010 plan, so unless its for a Chris Paul-type, don't expect to see the Knicks take on a long-term contract (read: Stephen Jackson). I'm now looking at Tracy McGrady and wondering if that might work. All depends on how he looks when he gets back and if the Rockets want to move him.

11:08 [Comment From djdj: ] Had D'Antoni lost some guys on this team already?

11:08 "Lost"? I think if you are an expiring contract and you "lose" the coach, who isn't on an expiring deal, then you're the one who is lost. Seriously doubt coaching is the issue here. Chemistry (on the court) and bad fits in the system is the problem.

11:09 [Comment From DarrenDarren: ] Alan, this decade has been one long slog for a diehard Knicks fan, but right now, I feel as if I am being played for a fool. There isn't a single player on this Knicks team that would start for a playoff team. Losing has been the norm, which could not have been more clear than when David Lee uttered those fateful words last season, "That was the best 0-3 week I've ever had." I'm envisioning replays of the summers when Kobe and Chris Webber and others flirted with the Knicks to gain bargaining leverage, and sign elsewhere. When its all said and done, we'll probably sign what I consider "awful superstars," flawed talents like Amare, McGrady, Iverson, et al. Thanks for letting me vent. By the way, keep up the great writing. You are tops among the beat writers.

11:11 Thanks Darren, and I hear what you're saying. It's going to be very hard to wipe away this mentality in this organization. That's one thing you really feel when the going gets tough: here we go again.
It's going to take a very, very strong personality to finally resurrect this franchise. Think Mark Messier and the Rangers.

11:11 [Comment From seansean: ] Hey Alan,why do you think darko or hill didnt get any min?(and can someone plz tell coach D that Dlee cant be playing center and why play JJ over hill or darko)

11:12 Utah's bigs - Okur, for one - play mostly perimeter and Sloan went small. Milicic hasn't been very effective at all and Mike clearly wanted to keep the rotation tight.

11:12 [Comment From Rich VRich V: ] Hey Alan.. I have alot on my mind about the direction the knicks are heading. First, why are we not playing an inside outside game that we had with Zach and Crawford at the start of last season? I think hughes and Gallo can play that way with Al or Lee and even Curry when he comes back.. This way when the Three point shot is up someone is underneath for the offensive rebound.. Im tired of the 1 and done..

11:16 There was no inside-outside game last season with Zach and Jamal. Zach did a ton of scoring on the perimeter and loved the pick-and-pop. He really thrived in it. Jamal spent a lot of time getting lost on the perimeter but when he did play aggressive it was off catch-and-shoots and drives of screens. There weren't many plays where the ball went into the post and then was kicked out once the double came down. That's not how D'Antoni plays.
What you're seeing right now really isn't how MDA's system is supposed to look, either. Sure, ball movement gets you open shots on the perimeter. But if you watched the Suns last night in Philly, you saw how it is REALLY supposed to look. Mainly, up-tempo, up the floor and also quick-decision ball movement. The Knicks do way too much catch-look-think instead of making quick decisions and quick cuts. There is so much indecision. And I agree, bigs like Al should not be shooting threes when it leaves one guy (Lee) versus three to get the board. The Knicks do not concentrate at all on crashing the boards on a shot.

11:16 [Comment From tommy ecologytommy ecology: ] Is this Knicks team the same team we will see at the ASB? Don't lie. :)

11:16 I think so, with the addition of Eddy Curry.

11:16 [Comment From JonJon: ] 12/11/01 - the last time the Knicks were good. I never want to hear that NY fans are impatient again.

11:16 [Comment From Dan LDan L: ] lol...i saw your blog and i agree with it wholeheartedly

11:17 [Comment From DanJDanJ: ] Hey Alan, Whay do you think about the end of the game last night? I mean, is letting Dougles, who granted played great, go iso against Deron Williams the best play he could have drawn up?? It reminded me of the terrible play calling at the end of games when Isiah woulod just call an iso play for Crawford or Steph that they just run the clock down and go for it alone. I think D'antoni needs to draw up a better play there

11:20 @Jon - but since 2001, when has there been an actual plan in place? Throwing money at marginal players is not a plan. Poor drafting is not a plan. Giving away TWO unprotected draft picks is not a plan. Going through a carousel of coaches is not a plan.
Getting under the salary cap to make a run in free agency for the first time in 14 years? THAT'S a plan. So it'll take one more season, grasshopper. Patience, Danielsan.
@DAnJ - I think the plan was for TD to get a screen from Hughes and then hit Hughes as an option. I think I would have liked to see Gallinari involved in some way, even as a decoy. The defense has to stay with him. But it was a lot to ask the rookie. The play didn't work designed.

11:20 [Comment From Rich VRich V: ] I think we should play Jordan Hill more. If were looking to trade Jeffries and Curry. wouldnt it make more sence to get Hill ready to take there place knowing we wont get much them in return?

11:21 I understand your point, but the idea is to get Curry reps so scouts can see he is fit and ready to do (allow me to leap the river of faith here). Most teams know what Jeffries can do - and can't do - at this point. There are no secrets.

11:21 [Comment From s0li (knicks twixer)s0li (knicks twixer): ] hey alan... my prediction of 38 wins is looking alittle shaky... but im keeping the faith... that said... watching every game, its blatantly obvious that when we drive to the basket we have been productive in the offense... when we dont... well we know how that works out... Why does it seem there is no emphasis on driving to the basket?... thats the only way were going to win games...

11:24 A little? :)
Well, you can't always drive, especially when teams pack it in like the Pacers did. You have to hit perimeter shots to open up the middle. It's amazing that a team that plays a system specifically designed to get open perimeter shots can be so bad at shooting from the perimeter. We're talking about open looks. Amazing.

11:24 [Comment From chrischris: ] The team clearly needs short term help. If you were Walsh, who would you target? I am referring to veterans with short term contracts, free agents (Wally World), etc? Also, I think this is the year Jamal Crawford finally gets to the playoffs.

11:25 As I said above, I'm keeping an eye on the Tracy McGrady situation in Houston. He has an expiring contract and if he's healthy, could be a good short-term boost. He would essentially be the PG here and I think, if healthy, he could thrive. Does Houston want to move him? That's the question.
I agree with JC...maybe he's finally found a home as a sixth man.

11:25 [Comment From bockersORbriefsbockersORbriefs: ] people keep saying gallo s/b in most of the time & guys don't always look for him .. but I see lots of times when he gets the ball & passes it immediately to someone else. I really think he dosen't get shots sometimes because he can't create on a good defender and is still not ready to handle lots of contact because of the back ... your take?

11:28 It's not the back. Gallo is by nature a team-concept player. Meaning, he's not a guy who gets the ball and immediately looks at the rim. He's thinking about ball movement and finding an open player. When he is open, he shoots it. If it's late in the clock, he'll put it up. But he doesn't have a go-to mentality otherwise. He needs to develop that a little more, but they also need to get him moving more and get him the ball in situations where it is obvious he should score. I think he's not fluid enough in his movement and he needs to get more athletic. Now that the back is healthy, the next phase this offseason should be to get him more explosive and athletic.

11:28 [Comment From djdj: ] Obviously not ready to call Hill a bust like somebody, considering that he hasn't gotten any burn and we are less than 10 games into his rookie year....BUT, do you have any sense whether the dude is really itching to get out there? He should be the hardest worker on this team right now..do you see that in practice or get a sense of that at all?

11:31 I agree with you 100 percent dj. He should be embarrassed to be a top 10 pick and sitting on the bench. It should eat at him to sit and have to watch someone play ahead of him who can't catch the ball on a cut or finish a layup in traffic. Players have pride and some burn a little hotter than others. Jordan is a little like Renaldo Balkman, a cool cat. But there is a high demand on him to put in work and he has been working before and after practice and before games. I don't know if I get the sense that he's dying to play or his ego believes he should be out there. Jordan, like Gallo, needs some physical work to make them more effective at this level. Explosion is so vital. I'm not ready to say "bust" for Hill, either. But he's not ready to be a regular, that's for sure.

11:31 [Comment From JonJon: ] Thinking positive - they didn't quit last night.

11:31 [Comment From DarrenDarren: ] What's been your impression of the crowds both at MSG and on the road? Watching on TV, it looks like there are tons of great seats sitting empty at the Garden and the road crowds have been atrocious. The announced crowd at the Bobcats-Nets game was less than 10,000. Have you heard anything about teams moving or better yet, contraction?

11:35 @Jon - In the midst of catastrophe, progress is measured in the collection of small accomplishments. I just made that up.
@Darren - You're so right. Even the opener in Miami seemed loaded with empty seats. It is a late-arriving crowd, but the lower bowl wasn't full even by halftime. Charlotte is notoriously bad and so is Milwaukee. I think the Garden had to deal with the World Series for a few games, but Friday against the Cavs was a hell of a crowd and the Monday game against New Orleans was pretty good, too.
As for contraction...that's a dirty word for any league executive. They just don't want to talk about it because they feel it admits failure. Moving? Well, we already know the Nets want to move out of the Meadowastelands. Memphis is a failure. But OK City has been amazing.

11:35 [Comment From GMANGMAN: ] I believe D'Antoni cost the Knicks two games this year with his substitutions..Last night and the double OT vs Bobcats..How you take Gallo out when your offense needs points makes no sense..Why doesnt he atleast make offensive Defenisve subs if hes worried about Defense.?

11:37 Not to defend him, because I was critical of his decision to pull Gallo late in the Charlotte game (they could have won it in regulation) and also last night, but D'Antoni is clearly still flipping through his player cards trying to find the right combination that works. Most coaches know who their main 8-9 guys are going to be and I swear Mike has no idea who he really believes he can go with and trust every night. This is the result of a season in which you have players who are holding spaces and don't really fit with what you're trying to do.

11:37 [Comment From rjrj: ] Why wont the knicks at least go after Allen Iverson , to at least give New york fan something or someone to watch

11:38 Baggage, baby. To paraphrase Jack Nicholson: Sell crazy someplace else. We're all stocked up here.

11:38 [Comment From selwynselwyn: ] hey Alan i have a comment about Dantoni's offense...i think the offense is struggling mainly because of the point guard play...wen dantoni was in pheonix he didnt have to worry about the point guard because he had Nash...Nash set everybody up and was fantastic. Dantoni has duhon here and given Duhon's recent play he has been HORRIBLE. The system is heavily relied on point guard play in my opinion nd only works right if u have the right point guard. The only game the knicks won was when duhon had a good game against the hornets. What do you think about this assessment Alan??

11:39 I think you nailed it.

11:39 [Comment From FelaFela: ] hey alan you are the knicks oracle IMHO. so 1-6, no 1st rd draft picks, nate cant be traded without his approval, and toney douglas is in the process of rendering nate obsolete. my question considering just those issues, what are we gonna do? trades? signings? is eddy curry the answer?

11:42 Oracle? Nah. I think I'm more like Morpheus, waiting on The One like everyone else. But thanks. I think they just try to right the ship as best as possible and go forward with the belief that no team can possible go an entire season shooting 30 percent from the field.

11:42 [Comment From DanJDanJ: ] It seems that Wilson Chandler's whole approach has changed dramatically. He rarely drives and when he is involved he often becomes a black hole (similar to Z-BO). I see him regularly settling for deep jump shots while he is being covered and the offense is stagnant as it is. Btw, if Kirilenko just stood at the 3 point line holding the ball, would someone eventually cover him? How many times can one player get WIDE (read: no defender within 10 feet!) open before a player decides that he won't allow that to happen again?

11:45 Good assessment of Wilson. I continue to point to the fact that this offseason he didn't play much ball because of the bone spur surgery. And as a result of being laid up, his athleticism just isn't what it used to be. What you're seeing is that Wilson is a very ordinary player when you take away his mojo (explosive athleticism). Can he get it back this season?
AK47 had it gunning last night as a zone-buster, but that's not the scouting report on him. The Knicks were basically learning the 2-3 zone as they were playing it. You could see it improved as the game went on. I actually think it might be something they do more often.

11:45 [Comment From JonJon: ] Tough chat for D'antoni. NBA basetball is a game of mismatches and exploiting those mismatches. These Knicks have no mismatches at any position against any team. How can you possible win?

11:46 Especially when you don't have a dominant/confident point guard. It all starts there.

11:46 [Comment From seansean: ] Do you think D'Antoni is going to play darko/curry aganst most big post play teams?

11:46 [Comment From seansean: ] what do you think the best starting line up?

11:47 I think that makes sense, yes.
With everyone healthy I would go this route right now: Douglas-Gallinari-Chandler-Lee-Curry.

11:47 [Comment From DNelsonDNelson: ] Alan, why on earth do we feel like wilson chandler is part of the future here. He cant dribble, he is a bad shooter and he doesnt seem to have the head to stay in the game for 48 minutes. He is freakishly athletic and can guard almost anyone on the court, but he wont be the 3 of the future because of gallo (and hopefully lebron) and he isnt a 4. Why didnt the knicks trade him and get the value we should have during hte draft and get the point guard that this team really needs?

11:47 Shhhhhh!

11:48 If he's not part of the future, then he needs to remain a good asset.

11:48 [Comment From BlackJackBlackJack: ] Do you ever feel that D'Antoni is putting too much on Gallo's plate and that it may eventually have a negative impact on his development?

11:50 I don't think he's putting enough on his plate. He needs to run the floor harder, which might take time to get conditioned to do. He needs to run to a spot, wait for it and launch. Then as defenses run at him, he pump fakes and drives to draw fouls. I don't think Gallinari is giving as much as he can give right now, to be honest. But he may be hitting a little bit of a wall conditioning-wise, which is expected.

11:50 [Comment From DarrenDarren: ] Alan, in your heart of hearts, have you seen a player who is more emotionally fragile than Al Harrington? How many times do we need to see him beat his chest and get the crowd whupped up when we cut an 11 point lead to 9? The rest of the league must be having quite a chuckle at our expense. Crawford was a gunner too, but he handled himself like a professional out there. Al Harrington's act is really getting tired.

11:51 Al definitely needs emotion in his game. Along press row last night one of the guys noted how Al missed a three and turned to the crowd shaking his head. "He plays like people come here to see HIM play," the guy said. It's a pretty good analysis. You appreciate Al's enthusiasm and love for the game. But you wonder if he really knows who he is as an NBA player.

11:52 [Comment From seansean: ] Do you think darko is out of the rotation already?

11:52 Not sure. But when Eddy is back and ready to play, it'll be interesting to see who gets cut out of the picture. Darko hasn't done enough to command PT.

11:52 [Comment From Rich VRich V: ] Why is D'Antoni going more with a zone defense then man to man? I just see to many open shots with the zone..

11:52 Because the Knicks can't keep anyone in front of them.

11:53 [Comment From s0li (knicks twixer)s0li (knicks twixer): ] jordan hill has potential... and shows some promise when given the chance... that being said... do you see his minutes expanding in the rotation... or once Eddy comes back Jordan will be reduced to the pine for the season?

11:55 I think Jordan will play if he starts to show more in practice. D'Antoni is all about confidence. If he believes in you, he will play you. He believes in Jared and will continue to play him despite his offensive issues. Jared does a lot of little things that coaches appreciate (deflections, outlets) and until Hill shows some things in practice that put him clearly ahead of Jared or Darko or whomever, he will remain buried under the vets. But Hill has to play and develop so I don't think he'll be entirely ignored.

11:55 [Comment From GMANGMAN: ] Can Gallo find a better way to keep his back warm then laying on the floor..Its really a bad look..And makes him seem very uninterested..Whats up with that?

11:56 Who cares what he looks like on the bench? Nash lays on the floor all the time and looks like a ball boy when he's doing it.

11:56 [Comment From johnjohn: ] if the knicks had steve nash on the team do u think they will be a playoff team??

11:56 Hell yes.

11:56 [Comment From JonJon: ] Could have LeMarcus, Noah, Gordon and Jennings - a team primed and ready to receive LBJ. Frustrating.

11:58 Or could have let Patrick Ewing's contract melt off the cap and done better things years before all of the above.

11:58 [Comment From DanJDanJ: ] I know everyone is excited about the Eddy Curry return, but how exactly is a hulking, unathletic center who is pushing 300 lbs going to fit into a run and gun style offense?

11:59 [Comment From seansean: ] Do you think curry will be better then everyone thinks(is there a chance they may not trade him?)

12:00 Well, Dan, that's why they play the games. *sigh*
As for the maybe of Curry being too good to trade? Um, no. If someone wants him for an expiring...I truly believe the Knicks do it. Why? Because it would guarantee them TWO max deals to offer this summer.

12:00 Moderator: Thanks all. We appreciate you joining us today.

12:00 Thanks Fixers!

Thanks for the post