Toney Douglas has reemerged as a future contributor, This guy plays defense and Caoch D’Antoni has clearly recognized that his team has greatly lacked in that department.

Danilo Gallinari seems to have tired in this long season. His shooting has been erratic. The other nite against the Hawks he did bury five of seven from beyond the arc. New York beat Atlanta for the third time and the Hawks are a playoff team.

Billy Walker has gotten some big minutes for the Knicks. Again, this guy is athletic and plays hard. He will be given a chance to show his skills for a spot on next year’s squad

Talk about Lebron still monopolizes the NYC newspapers. They need more than him thats for sure. I personally would like to see a combo of a few guys over the next two years. How about  DwayneWade , Chris Bosh and  Chris Paul?

Their lowly neighbor the New Jersey Nets ran them off the Garden floor tonight 113-93.

The game featured ,at least as far as the Nets are concerned, a 36 point turnaround. The Knicks led by 16 in the first half and lost by 20.

You can’t make this stuff up !!

It was only the tenth time the Nets have reached 100 points in a game this season. It was only their seventh victory of the year and now their second against the Knicks.

The Knicks set an NBA record for futility shooting 0-18 from behind the three point arc.

Devin Harris had 31 for the Nets; David Lee had 23 for the Knicks.

When is the season over ? Hoepfully soon- real soon !!

The Knicks did something they usually don’t do  and that is build on a lead as they actually won the 4th quarter in this one by a count of 34-19

David Lee continues to put up astounding numbers as he scored 21 points and grabbed 18 boards while dishing out 8 assists.

Al Harrington continued his recent stellar play  tallying 26 points starting in place of Wilson Chandler excused for personal reasons. He may improving his trade bait quality.

Billy Walker continued to flash especially offensively adding 22 points.

Chris Duhon didn’t play once again as his days appear numbered in a Knicks uniform.

Tracy McGrady played well passing off for 8 assists playing the point as Sergio Rodriguez went to the bench. McGrady added 21 points as well.

The Knicks stand at a record of 20-38. They have lost six of seven since the All-Star Break and have not won back-to-back games since the first week of January when their was still  a flicker of hope for a playoff run.

As former NY  Giants legendary coach Bill Parcells once said ” You are what your record says you are”.

Coach Parcells a long time friend of  basketball coaching icon Bob Knight would agree the Knicks are not very good and it’s time to ponder the ballclub’s future.

Who’s staying ? Who’s going? and most importantly Who’s coming?  are the key questions to be discussed over the next couple of months..

Who’s Worth Keeping Around

David Lee has had an outstanding year. He has been a model of consistency both scoring and off the boards.

Wilson Chandler shows signs of offensive brilliance. He needs to get physically stronger, increase his shooting range and get to the foul line more.

Sergio Rodriguez just picked up in a trade  is a viable option at point guard. He fits D”Antoni’s style alsways looking to push the ball and being unselfish to a fault.

Danilo Gallinari is still a kid and can shoot it with the best. He needs to get stronger as well.

On The Bubble

Tracy McGrady still has serious skills but his health is a major question.

Eddie House acquired in the Nate Robinson is a streak shooter and could remain as a role player and instant offenese guy.

Toney Douglas was a first round pick this year and may get lost in the shuffle.

Billy Walker is a talented yet unproven young player.  He has played scholastically with  OJ Mayo and collegiately with Michael Beasley so he’s used to be in the background..

More on players most likely not in the Knicks’ future in my next blog…

Everything except for the current Knicks providing yet another anemic performance.

Ths night was not a total loss with as Walt “Clyde”Frazier would say a teantalizing and mesmerizing half-time show honoring the team that stole my heart as a 13 year old back in 1970.

They called  “The Captain” Willis Reed , my boyhood hero, out of the tunnel last  just like he was back in June of 1970 when the Knicks defeated the Lakers for their first NBA title.

This was an amazing team. In my estimation the team that best fits the definition of the word “team” that I have ever witnessed.

How about a team that had a player like Cazzie Russell coming off the bench?How about a team with unsung star like Dick Barnett? How about a team with a future US Senator in Bill Bradley?

All in all a team that had the chemistry that coaches are still looking for nearly a half century later.

This was due to the new faces in the Knicks rotation namely Tracy McGrady, Eddie House and Segrio Rogriguez.

McGrady came off the bench and tallied 26 points in 32 minutes of action. He scored on an assortment of drives and jumpers and flashed signs of what has made him a perennial all-star.

Eddie  House who has previously thrived under D’Antoni scored 24 points and and displayed an uncanny knack of taking and making some big shots.

Sergio Rodriguez was a factor as well dishing out six assists in less than half a game. He pushes the ball into the heart of the defense and clearly is an improvement for the Knicks in the playmaking department.

David Lee thrived  amongst his new teammates scoring 30 points and grabbing 10 boards.

Al Harrington and Chris Duhon saw their minutes reduced to 2o apiece,

Kevin Durant of the victorious Thunder is a truly special talent. He put up 36 points in the win for Oklahoma City including the game winning jumper. He now  has a streak of 27 games  scoring 25 or more points.

Just  a quick recap of  some of the highlight moves:

In with the New:

Tracy McGrady has landed in the Big Apple at least for now. Obviously a great talent but how healthy he is remains to be seen.

Eddie House ,a journey guard who can play both backcourt spots ,will help immediately and give the Knicks depth.

Brian Cardinal is a banger and an improvement inside for the Knicks bench.

Sergio Rodriguez is  a very intriguing pickup.  He was a first round pick in the 2006 Draft and is a solid playmaker when given playing time.

Out with The Old

Nate Robinson is on his way to Boston after a turbulent career in New York. He can score a lot of points in a hurry but with his lack of height can be a defensive liability.

Larry Hughes gets out of D’Antoni’s doghouse and moves on to his seventh NBA team.

Jordan Hill was a disappointment as a first round pick but to his credit is still young and inexperienced.

Jared Jeffries was one of D’Antoni’s favorites and played hard in his time at the Garden but his departure frees up needed space and money for the Knicks

Darko Milicic did not show much in limited action and will not be missed.

Grammar was not Michael Ray’s strength  but he would know today’s version of his ballclub was simply not getting it done.

The Knicks dropped their second straight match with the Chicago Bulls tonight as their record lowered to to 19-34.

Ouch !!

They are allowing too many easy baskets. The Bulls who are now at the .500 mark are not  that much more gifted of a team. The Knicks do not know who they want to take the big shots.

Lots of questions to be answered. Personnel changes lie ahead. It looks like Nate Robinson is on his way to Boston.

For now confusion reigns in the Big Apple.

Danilo Gallinari finished in the middle of the pack of the three point contest. One analyst even said he’s better in the flow of the game coming off of screens etc. rather than just a pure stand-still jump shooter

Saving the  best for last Nate Robinson  successfully defended his slam dunk title. In this years event it was decided in a fan vote abd barely eked out his victory.

Now on to the remainder of the season for the Knicks.

 Ugggh!