BOX SCORE

Well, that just about does it.

The Knicks came out with good energy, on the heels of last night’s “effort” in Washington. But they couldn’t sustain it throughout the course of the game, and the Wolves flat wanted it more.

Kevin Love, who was invisible in the team’s matchup at the Garden, lit the Knicks up for 25 and Ryan Hollins added 16 to go along with Al Jefferson’s 22 as the Wolves outscored the Knicks 63-45 in the second half.

Give Ramon Sessions full marks as well, 9 assists and 1 turnover is acceptable under any circumstances.

For the Knicks, Wilson Chandler led the team with 27 points.

As if we don’t already know it, it’s time to hit the phones to see what’s out there.

Knicks-Timberwolves Preview
By MATT BECKER

Following a humiliating loss last weekend, the New York Knicks responded by thoroughly dominating the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Knicks again try to take out their frustrations on the hapless Timberwolves on Sunday night at the Target Center.

After a 106-104 loss to Toronto on Thursday, New York (18-28) was hoping to bounce back Saturday at Southeast Division-worst Washington. Instead, the Knicks were outplayed, falling behind by as many as 18 points en route to a 106-96 defeat.

The loss was tough to swallow, but wasn’t New York’s most embarrassing defeat of the week.

Last Sunday, the Knicks suffered the most lopsided home loss in franchise history, falling 128-78 to Dallas. They didn’t stay down for long, bouncing back Tuesday with a convincing 132-105 win over the Timberwolves (10-38) at Madison Square Garden.

New York, which led by as many as 36, matched a season high in points and made a season-best 17 3-pointers. David Lee led the way by shooting 12 of 17 and finishing with 28 points and 10 rebounds, while Al Harrington added 26 points and 10 boards.

Lee, who found out this week he didn’t make the All-Star team, had 24 points Saturday against the Wizards, but fell one rebound shy of recording his eighth straight double-double.

Harrington, New York’s second-leading scorer with an average of 17.9 points, sat out Saturday with a sore right knee and is also expected to miss this game.

We’ve talked plenty about the team’s inability to bounce back after tough losses. But at the end of the day, they better reach deep down inside and figure something out in the Twin Cities.

Via NY Post

“…Amityville’s point guard Mike James told The Post he is hoping the Wizards can find a new home for him at Feb. 18′s trading deadline and he is the expiring contract the Knicks would be willing to take on as they look for backcourt help.

The sharpshooter has played just three games this season and was showcased in a game last week. But he was back in a suit during the Wizards’ 106-96 victory over the Knicks last night, even with guards Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton suspended for the season.

“This isn’t how I envisioned it,” James said. “I want to get out of here. The coach [Flip Sanders] never had me in his plans. I could see [sitting me] if we’re winning, but you can’t tell me I can’t help now…”

James doesn’t solve all the Knicks problem, but if the Knicks can get the Wizards to take back Jeffries, it just seems to make too much sense. But again, James is expiring and all they have to do is let him expire. They don’t have to take back Jared, but based on his existing relationship with the organization, it remains a possibility.

BOX SCORE

This just in, Mike Miller is still open.

What the Knicks have shown most recently, is the inability to bring enough energy to a game after a hard loss. Reason number #101 why superstars are so essential in this league.

Stars just don’t allow teams to lose games they could and should win, but judging from the play of Antawn Jamison, Miller and Randy Foye, the Knicks weren’t even close to the better team tonight, 14-22 from the line or not.

Miller, by himself, made more threes than the Knicks team, which is laughable. Chris Duhon continues to baffle me by constantly hesitating from the three point line. Obviously, he doesn’t think he can make the shot, but after thinking better of it, he decides to shoot anyway.

I thought Jordan Hill did some nice things tonight, despite shooting a poor percentage, (2-9, 7 pts 6 rebounds) he was much more aggressive on both ends.

Unfortunately, Danilo Gallinari struggled with shot selection all night, and had an ineffective offensive night.

But as we’ve said, this stretch is critical and any way you slice it, this is a bad loss. At this point it is clear, that the team has probably dug itself too big a hole to get out of in the quest for the playoffs.

Knicks-Wizards Preview

By KATE HEDLIN
Posted Jan 30 2010 12:47AM
After playing poorly during their homestand, the New York Knicks may be looking forward to facing two of the NBA’s worst teams on the road, beginning Saturday night against the Washington Wizards.
Those feelings are likely tempered, however, as New York waits to see if two key players will be available.
The Knicks (17-26) have dropped seven of their last 10, and went 2-3 on their recent homestand, which included a 50-point loss to Dallas on Sunday and a 106-104 defeat to Toronto on Thursday.
The Knicks took a five-point lead late, but the Raptors went on an 8-0 run to make it 105-102 with 15.9 seconds left. David Lee finished with 29 points and 18 rebounds, and Al Harrington added 20 points.
The loss ruined another big night for Lee, who shot 61.9 percent. He’s averaging 23.1 points over the last eight games, and has scored 28 or more in three of the last four contests.
Lee may need another performance like that Saturday if the Knicks are without Jared Jeffries and Harrington, who are both questionable.
Jeffries, the Knicks’ top defensive player, missed the second half Thursday because of a hyperextended right knee. An MRI exam Friday confirmed a bone bruise. Harrington, who is second on the team in scoring with 17.9 points per game, said after the game his left knee has been hurting, but further testing revealed only soreness.
Coach Mike D’Antoni was optimistic Friday about both playing.
“Jared is day-to-day and today I expect him to play,” D’Antoni told the Knicks’ official Web site. “I might be a little over optimistic, but … I think he’ll play. And Al, I think (he will play). Today was a day of rest, but I think both of them will be OK.”

Via Yahoo-

“… Joe Johnson(notes) has the Atlanta Hawks contending now in the Eastern Conference, but several league sources say they wouldn’t be surprised if the All-Star guard leaves this summer, specifically to sign with the Chicago Bulls. The Hawks’ perch near the top of the East would likely keep them from moving Johnson – or any of their other core players – before next month’s trade deadline, but rival team executives wonder if they’d be wise to field offers – even if league sources claim they see no reason to entertain offers now.

At this point in my career, not too much is going to surprise me,” Johnson said. “Who knows what’s going to happen?“I’m one of those guys that always prepares for the worst, but always hope for the best.”

As Lang mentioned in our interview yesterday, he thinks Johnson may end up staying because he’s really enjoying being mentioned with the NBA free agent elite. They are winning and he’s enjoying the attention. And after so man bad years in Atlanta, Lang says, Johnson is really enjoying himself.

I know for a fact that Mike D’Antoni still LOVES Joe Johnson, so we will have to see. Interesting what Chicago is mentioned as a possible leader.

….The Oklahoma City Thunder are drawing trade interest for their two 2010 first-round draft picks: one is theirs; the other they picked up from Phoenix in the Kurt Thomas(notes) trade in 2007. The Thunder also own Minnesota’s second-round pick this season…”

Something worth keeping an eye on.

Click on the media player to the right to check out my conversation with the great Lang Whitaker, executive editor of SLAM Magazine and slamonline.com and the man who handles “The Beat” for NBA.TV.

Lang and I chatted about the Hawks, the snubbing of David Lee in favor of Al Horford and, amongst other things, Jamal Crawford’s impact on the Hawks.

Click here to check out the video on sny.tv.

The above title suggests that this will be a compare and contrast of three of the most talented front court players in the Eastern Conference, if not the entire league.

And it will be. But before I get into it, let’s just pour the final shovel of dirt on the Lee snubbing. It was close, but in the end, I keep hearing, it came down to a team’s win/loss record. If that is the difference-making criteria, then it’s just silly.

We mentioned the fact that Danny Granger and Devin Harris both made the team just a season ago, so that would suggest that this isn’t always the case. To me, it came down Horford and Lee. I’ve said a million times that I love everything about Horford’s game, and if I were starting a team tomorrow I’d be sure to have Horford on my roster. If you’re one of those old-school 1990′s Knick fans, you’d appreciate Horford’s edge, his post and face up game, and that he dunks everything. Some games he’ll get you 5 blocks a game and dunk everything in transition. I think he’s a more offensively-skilled Antonio Davis and a Marcus Camby-type rolled in one. Camby, of course, is the better shot blocker, but remember, the Hawks lean on Josh Smith a lot on help side blocks. Make Horford a help-side defender and his blocks would go up in my opinion.

That said, Lee, offensively, is having a better season and I have no problem in saying that he should have made the team over Horford, but that’s not to take from the fact that Horford is also well deserved.

Bosh is having a career year. He’s better than both of them and he is still only 25 going on 26, a year younger than Lee, with a far more decorated resume. He’s made the playoffs and won 47 games with T.J. Ford, who in fairness was healthy, Anthony Parker and Juan Dixon. Sure, they were bad last year, but it’s not like this guy has ever had all that much talent around him. (more…)

Jared Jeffries left tonight’s game injured in the first half and remained on the bench from there.

According to Adam Zagoria, Jeffries will undergo an MRI Friday morning for a hyperextended right knee.

Hard to believe I’m seriously saying this, but I hope Jeffries isn’t down too long.

We could use his defense.

BOX SCORE

To me, this came down to a tremendous and calculated play call by Toronto head coach Jay Triano. On the other end, when the team needed the tying basket, Mike D’Antoni couldn’t get the right play call right.

And give Jared Jack credit. He did a tremendous job in holding Nate Robinson on that last play, forcing Harrington to have to create a shot. The result was a forced drive and a charge as the Raptors escaped with the win after being down by 5 points in the waning minutes.

Boy, sometimes Harrington makes some plays and shows the heart and desire that really gets you to love him. But then, he follows it up with a play that drives you nuts. Actually, you can say that about a lot of these guys.

Namely Nate, who hung on the rim, a call that I hate more than any call in the NBA. But you can read more about that here.

After Harrington drilled a three pointer to give the team a 3-point lead and a great pass from Nate to Lee made it 5, Al fell for the Allan Houston rip through foul 3 feet behind the line on Hedu Turkoglu.

David Lee, who was obviously pissed tonight in playing against Chris Bosh, as the two traded jabs all game, missed a layup with the team down one with 40 seconds to play. After a Bosh layup and ensuing block on Nate, Lee was in great position for a timely put back with 9 seconds left.

Then Jack missed a critical free throw setting up the last minute play.

Bosh and Turkoglu had 27 and 26, respectively, and Lee paced the Knicks with 29 points and 18 rebounds.

And for those of you who think Jared Jeffries is getting too much attention, they missed the hell out of him tonight defensively.

FOLLOW TOMMY’s GAME TWEETS

The horrible irony behind the David Lee snub, which will officially be announced tonight at 7 on TNT, is that Allen Iverson would have been the first Knick to make the All-Star team since Allan Houston and Latrell Sprewell pretty much at the expense of Lee. Imagine that locker room?

The fact that Iverson was voted in by the fans, essentially taking a spot away from a reserve, really stinks in my opinion. But the NBA will say “then vote” which makes them more money. It’s clear they don’t mind the controversy.

And as both Myles and myself pointed out, if you want to talk about having to play on a winning team, Stephon Marbury (2001), Devin Harris and Danny Granger (2009) were selected as reserves on bad teams. All, I believe, had worse records than the current Knicks team.

Either way the decision has already been made, and the Knicks have to plain focus on a difficult Raptors team, who handled them on MLK Day.

The keys to the game? Don’t let Andrea Bargnani be a world-class player, or allow the team to shoot 54% from three point range. I’d also suggest holding Jose Calderon to less than 21 points off the bench.

The Knicks have to spread the floor, create space and make shots and yes that means you Chris Duhon.

The Daily News is reporting that David Lee has been left off the All-Star Roster.

Via Larry Coon’s Tweet:

“…East reserves: Bosh, Horford, Johnson, Pierce, Rondo, Rose, Wallace…”

Obviously, the name that jumps out is Al Horford, who I love, but is not having the same statistical year as Lee is. But it comes down to wins and the Hawks are playing well. Lee made a great case, and should be deserving. Wins are more important than efficiency ratings, clearly, to the coaches who voted.

Lee is 6th, yes, 6th in the NBA in efficiency. To me he was robbed.

Via ESPN:

“Team USA is in negotiations to hold training camp in New York City instead of Las Vegas in August, and to play at least one exhibition game at Madison Square Garden, ESPN.com learned Wednesday.

“The New York portion of training camp is tentatively scheduled for Aug. 10-16. The team is expected to attend induction ceremonies in Springfield, Mass., when the members of the original Dream Team are going into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame.”

Might be a hot ticket when the time comes around…

Listen LIVE (click the player on the right on the BTR player)

Tune in to TKB Radio tonight at 9 PM to talk Knicks with Anthony “Rice Balls” Donahue and Tommy Dee. A lot to talk about including the team’s response at home last night against the lowly Timberwolves.

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