Author Archives: Ben Kopelman

Via Newsday:

The Knicks are not planning to have Baron Davis before the All-Star break.

Coach Mike D’Antoni said Davis has had “a setback” in his rehab from a herniated disc and remains out indefinitely.

There had been hope Davis could make his Knicks’ debut by the end of January. But it continues to be pushed back and now D’Antoni said he doesn’t know when to expect him.

And somehow, on 2/6/12 I am actually typing the words: all eyes will be on Jeremy Lin tonight…

I refuse — I refuse — I refuse to have a losing season. We have to do what it takes. I don’t care what it is. I really don’t. I refuse, I refuse to go through a losing season like that.

- Tyson Chandler after the team’s loss in Houston

I refuse, refuse, REFUSE to pretend like this team is a Baron Davis away from being legitimate on both ends…but it sure is nice to hear a guy speak up about how bad the play has been and do his best to motivate himself, his teammates and his fans that the bleeding will at some point soon please oh please oh please stop.

The on-the-court play must improve; the coaching must improve; the chemistry must improve.  It’s all true.  But because it’s Monday and I feel like being positive to start off our week, having Chandler and Amar’e step up and talk about losing over the last 10 games with more than the token “you know, it takes time” response is encouraging.

At the very least, it’s nice to know that they don’t like to lose.  Lord knows I’m tired of it…

Amar’e's early season struggles are hard to ignore.  While most are pointing the finger at Melo for the lack of cohesion, and others (see: me) are lamenting about how bad this team’s coach is at using his players the right way, the chart below throws Tyson Chandler into the mix as a candidate in the “Who Stole Amar’e's Swag” saga.

Via TheKnicksWall:

11 more points when the middle is open for STAT?  36% up to 52% shooting when Tyson is on the bench? Those are staggering improvements considering we all (again, see: me) thought that Chandler would help open up the middle for Amar’e this season.

Part of this may be due to the fact that STAT’s play without TC often comes against the opponent’s second unit.  He can score without the other teams starting center playing up on him.  But for anybody watching games these days, we all know it is more than that.

Obviously STAT needs to start hitting his outside jump shots.  He was pretty automoatic from 12-17 feet last year, which allowed him to use a pump fake and a strong first-step to blow by some of the less-athletic 4s and 5s that were assigned to guard him.  He seemed equally effective from both the inside and outside.

With his jumper on the kinda horrifyingly long fritz, Amar’e has lost a huge tool in his offensive arsenal.  But more importantly, it has forced him to look to come inside and score closer to the basket.  Last year, there was nobody else down low to get in STAT’s way.  This year, with Tyson down low, there is a bit of a log-jam on the interior — Chandler’s man can hedge a lot of the time and force Amar’e to alter his shot.

So, as it is playing out, rather than benefiting from Tyson’s interior presence, STAT seems to be unable to find a comfortable spot on the floor when the team’s other big man is taking up residence near the basket.

Hopefully, the team figures this out and finds a way to utilize Amar’e in a valuable way when Chandler is on the floor.  Because right now, it just isn’t working like it should.

Time for some thinking and problem-solving — you know, through things like coaching and game planning.  It would be a novel approach for a coaching staff and team in serious need of making some corrections…

At least according to Stephen A. Smith…

Also, be sure to watch your volume — SAS gets just a biiiiiiiiiit animated (see: extremely loud) about 30 seconds into this clip.

As far as the rumor he is musing about: I can’t see a mega-deal of this sort going down anytime soon, but if the report is correct, and the Magic is the team picking up the phone, it is something to monitor moving forward.

Injury fallout from the 2OT loss tonight…

Via ESPN:

The Knicks have announced that Josh Harrellson has a fractured right wrist and will be out approximately six weeks after the time of surgery, which is not determined yet.

Harrellson suffered the injury when he fell to the ground at the end of the first overtime in the Knicks’ 119-114 double-overtime loss to the Nuggets. Harrellson, who finished with only two points in 17 minutes, did not speak to reporters following the game.

It says a lot about where this team is right now that this is not only noteworthy, but actually kind of a big deal.

Hope the kid gets healthy and returns to play sooner rather than later.

Also (reeealllly) hope that 6 weeks from now we aren’t saying: “Yea, but with Harrellson coming back, we might be able to turn this thing around.”

I look forward to going to London, look forward to representing Team USA for the third time. Hopefully, we’ll have another chance to go get that gold medal….I talked to [USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo], he told me he would love for me to be part of that team again. So it’s a blessing to get that phone call again, knowing the part I played in ’08. Hopefully I can get that chance to play that same part this year.

– Melo on being named to the Olympic roster for a third time

It’s basically my fault out there. I’m taking all the blame for tonight’s loss. I got into foul trouble. I didn’t play many minutes in the first half. It definitely won’t happen again….I was ready to rock. In the fourth quarter, I was telling myself, ‘They can’t keep a good man down.’ So I was ready. I was amped up and ready to go in the fourth quarter. I figured in the fourth quarter it was time for me to really dominate, and that’s what I started to do. But, again, it’s my fault tonight. We lost the game because I got into foul trouble and it won’t happen again.

– STAT on the team’s loss against the Magic

He hasn’t looked good the last few games, and his inability to knock down the mid-range jumper is clearly holding him back from getting into any real offensive rhythm.  Today’s fouls — one of which was lazy and flat out dumb — were just another manifestation of his lack of flow.

That said, you really can’t keep a good man down for too long and this stretch will be behind him soon enough.  Regardless of how bad of a job D’Antoni is doing with this team’s offense right now — and do not mince my words, he’s doing an absolutely horrid job — STAT is a beast, and will bounce back from this uninspiring three-game stretch.

Here’s to hoping STAT breaks out of this funk sooner rather than later. Could really use a  big game from the guy…

Once I get that approval, I’ll be ready to go. I need to get the OK from the trainers. The approval will come when it’s the right time. I don’t want to be too optimistic. I want to take it day to day. But I can honestly say I’m making new strides and improvement. I want to focus in on that and that’s all I can control.

- BDavis on his rehab and timetable

At the time he was signed, I admit I scoffed a bit at the thought of Davis being a need for the Knicks.  He was old, injured and just not that good.

Obviously, with Toney Douglas’ current play being so flat out awful, old, injured and not that good doesn’t sound so bad anymore.

We’ll be sure to keep an eye and an ear out on BD and his progress.

Thanks to the always artistic theknickswall.com for the first of many original iPhone and desktop backgrounds this season…

 

Via ESPN:

Williams’ agent Happy Walters told ESPNNewYork.com by phone Monday that he expects Williams to commit to a team by Wednesday. The free-agent forward had a breakout season in New York last year.

Walters has been in contact with the Knicks in recent days.

I think we all want to see Shawne back in uniform this year.  As fun as it is bringing in new talent (see: Mr. 7” 1′), there is something to be said for some consistency with a roster.  Amar’e, Landry, TD – they’ve all played a full season with the guy and he seemed to a positive-minded, hard-working teammate so I’d be surprised if they didn’t want him back.  Not to mention he became a crowd favorite toward the middle of last season, so I’d say most fans are pulling for him to stay local as well.

According to the report, the Knicks — who are currently over the salary cap — are limited to offering free agents the “$2.5 million ‘room’ exception which can used for a maximum of two years.”  Is that enough to keep him around?

That said, assuming the team is willing to spend the “extra” money (the veteran’s minimum comes in at $1.4 million right now), I’d be surprised if the sides don’t come to an agreement.  Especially considering Williams’ stated desire to stay in New York this year:

I’m not going to lie, [New York's] where I want to be….we’ve got great fans, so that’s a place I want to play.  I’m not going to say I’m one of the Paul Pierces or the Chris Pauls of the league and I can pick where I want to go. As a free agent, I’m going to entertain whoever offers. But hopefully I’ll be with the Knicks.

Soooooo, what’s the problem? Sign the dotted line and put the suitcases back in the closet, friend….

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