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Mike Breen said it best. The Garden was filled with fans, as it’s been all season, who urged the team to victory. They, in Breen’s words, were “unbelievable.”

In the 20 or so games I attended (should have been more but that pesky job(s) thing gets in the way) the Garden rocked. The games that stood out? The Nuggets, the Celtics, the Thunder and every home game in December. I wasn’t at the game tonight, but this one was special too.

In a season that saw so few wins.

I read all the time, and hear the reasons why a star won’t come. The team is bad, the lack of defense, blah, blah. What people don’t realize is that the roster means nothing right now. Zero. Zilch. I would think that a star would recognize that the team can be elite next year should the situation present itself.

As far as tonight goes, the story was David Lee to start, and the Wizards’ dominating the boards. But a 20-2 run, mostly with Lee on the bench, lit the Garden on fire. And the Wizards couldn’t do anything in the 4th quarter.

As I tweeted earlier, stand up and applaud yourselves fans, you deserve a star player to make the place shake again in the spring and summer. It’s like no other place in the world. If a star passes on the opportunity, they will regret it in my opinion.

By the way, big shout out to Gym Rat @DaBigTyme, who’s been shouting about Shaun Livingston, who’s finished the season strong. Alan Hahn informs us:

“…I’m told the Knicks are very intrigued by Shaun Livingston. His strong finish to the season will earn him a call this summer…”

One more game and then the summer awaits…

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Let me first say this, I really like Earl Barron. The question becomes, as it often has over Mike D’Antoni’s shortish rotation, where does Barron fit on this team moving forward. As a scout or an executive, you have to respect a player who’s playing for his NBA life, but how does that guarantee you he’ll do it next season. How do you know that the guy may not get a contract, then expect minutes and not prepare the same way?

Again, we talk about stars and leadership and players who WANT to wear the jersey. Who wants to restore the pride and respectability?

Barron looks an awful lot like Nazr Mohammed minus the shot blocking, to me. They are virtually the same build and possess the same gate. Earl shoots it better mid range. Naz had a better back-to-the-basket game. But it’s the lack of flex in their game that makes them so similar.

These are decisions an executive must think about. I like the guy, but he’s low on the priority list. The Knicks need second shots and rebounding throughout the course of the game, and if Barron can deliver 20 active minutes, he’s a keeper. He may just be a keeper either way from a depth perspective. I wonder why no Miami fans are screaming at Pat Riley for letting him go.

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Anything else to say other than Danny Granger?…

Via NBA.com
By BRIAN MAHONEY

NEW YORK(AP) Danilo Gallinari scored a career-high 31 points, including the go-ahead basket with 36 seconds left, Earl Barron had 17 points and a career-best 18 rebounds, and the New York Knicks beat the Boston Celtics 104-101 on Tuesday night.

David Lee had the clinching basket and added 13 points and 11 boards for the Knicks, who won their second straight and temporarily avoided a third consecutive 50-loss season.

Ray Allen scored 17 points for the Celtics, who blew a chance to tie Atlanta for third place in the Eastern Conference. Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins each added 14 for Boston, which botched its final possession and couldn’t get a tying 3-point attempt off in the final seconds.

The Celtics followed their victory over Cleveland on Sunday by losing for the fourth time in five games after leading early in the fourth quarter behind a spark from former Knicks guard Nate Robinson.

Gallinari scored 19 points in the third quarter to give the Knicks an 86-78 lead, but Robinson hit a 3-pointer and assisted on Glen Davis‘ jumper in the Celtics’ 10-0 run to start the fourth that gave them an 88-86 advantage on Michael Finley’s 3-pointer.

Robinson hit another jumper for a one-point lead midway through the period, and it stayed tight from there. Gallinari banked in a long jumper – originally called a 3-pointer but overturned after replay – for a 102-101 lead with 36 seconds left.

Chris Duhon came up with a steal and set up David Lee’s basket that made it 104-101 with 7.3 seconds to play. The Celtics called time but took way too long to swing the ball to the opposite side of the court, where Rasheed Wallace caught it too late to get off a shot.

With Tracy McGrady (sore left knee) and Al Harrington (sore left ankle) joining Wilson Chandler (sore left groin) on the injured list, the Knicks had to look deep down the bench for scoring. They found it in Barron, a 7-foot center who signed last week from the NBA Development League and was playing his second game with New York. He hadn’t started in the NBA since making 15 starts for the Miami Heat in 2007-08, but shot 8 of 13 and spent all night chasing down missed shots against Boston’s frustrated front line…more.“

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The Knicks finally won out west snapping a four-game skid. The Knicks got plenty of good minutes from Earl Barron, who allowed David Lee to shift over to the 4 spot, and got 10 assists from Sergio Rodriguez. Al Harrington proved clutch down the stretch, shaking off memories of his last visit to LA verses the Clip Show.

Speaking of the Clippers, why they brought in Baron Davis, I still have no idea. The guy is hampering Eric Gordon who was far too passive last night. I like Gordon, but it’s clear it’s Baron’s team.

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Lee’s triple double was the first 30-20-10 since Kareen Abdul-Jabbar some 35 years ago…

Interesting take from Amar’e Stoudemire on Tracy McGrady.

Via Daily News

“…And as far as McGrady is concerned, Stoudemire was asked whether his lack of appreciation for the seven-time All-Star was as a person or as a player.

“Both.”

According to Stoudemire, his beef with McGrady dates back to the fall of 2001, when Stoudemire was a high school All-America in Florida and McGrady was entering his fifth NBA season. At the time, McGrady was attending his brother’s football game when Stoudemire approached and asked for advice about making the jump from high school to the pros.

“He pretty much didn’t say anything,” Stoudemire remembered. “So I look at myself as being successful in the NBA and if a kid from my hometown came up to me and said, ‘Amar’e, I’m thinking about going to (the NBA),’ I would say, ‘It’s a tough process, college is very important. Education is very important,’ so forth and so on. But I didn’t get any of that…”

To me Danilo Gallinari has benefited from Toney Douglas and his energy. He also may have benefited from Wilson Chandler being out of action.

Or, Gallinari came to understand that he needed to stop deferring to the veterans. Any way you slice it, he’s playing much better, and all things considered his recent improvement is a combination of all three.

But what the Knicks failed to do today is close the door and allowed Aaron Brooks to take over late to take a victory away.

Douglas, who was spectacular all game, played like a rookie at the end of the game with three straight turnovers including a tip and two charges taken by Jared Jeffries who along with Brooks shut the Knicks down without even scoring a point. Help defense leading to stops is as important as the ball even going in the basket.

What I liked was TD’s aggressiveness, what I liked more was him going directly to assistant coach Kenny Atkinson immediately after the game and talking. You can imagine it was based on the fact that he wants to learn. Guys like Jeffries aren’t often found in the league. Which is to say that most big men can’t read and time a guard driving to the hoop so they can be there to take the charge. Jeffries waits for the guard to commit and steps in.

The Knicks welcomed David Lee back to the lineup and he was awesome, posting 27 points 20 rebounds and 6 assists.

But in the end, the Knicks don’t have a player who can close games at this point, and today it really hurt them.

Often times the 4th quarter separates good play from wins.

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From jump the Knicks were out worked, out hustled and outclassed.

Everyone.

This reached extreme garbage time in the third quarter.

The thing that doomed the Knicks from the opening tap was the lack of ball movement and obvious lack of defense. Too much standing around and negative attacking the basket. Too many second shots. No effort.

Defensively, they had no answers up front for Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins, who had their way all night.

Conversely, the Celtics moved the ball all night led by Rajon Rondo‘s 1X assists.

How easy was it for Paul Pierce? 29 points in 24 minutes.

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Toney Douglas continued his great play, scoring 18 second half points in leading the Knicks to back to back road wins. Douglas also dished out 7 assists and added 3 steals.

Danilo Gallinari added 21 helping the Knicks outscore the Sixers 50-29 in the second half.

Despite giving up a ridiculous 21 offensive rebounds including 9 to Sam Dalembert, the Knicks were able to take over in the second half behind their rookie PG.

It was a great matchup as Jrue Holiday paced the Sixers with 18 points and 6 assists.

But the night belonged to Douglas, who showed his ability to orchestrate and pester the Sixers on the defensive end. He was simply everywhere.

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First of all, Kelly Tripucka does a tremendous job. He’s really very good and honest about the Knicks. Good for MSG for keeping him aboard.

Secondly, Toney Douglas, who I mentioned in a prior post, has definitely earned a spot moving forward. Again, the options and ultimate moves will happen. I just speculate based on info. I’ve been a huge Douglas fan since jump based on his ability to get into the passing lane, push the tempo and knock down open shots. He was awesome tonight.

To me, I just don’t get Gallo and Chandler on the floor together. If you’re Donnie Walsh and you’re evaluating, I think they just struggle on the court together for whatever reason. There’s no flow there and it’s been that way for a while. T-Mac? Well, I’m not going to say his career is over, but he’s got a long way to go. Some nights he’s been great, and that’s a fact, but other nights he has no energy.

And talking about evaluating, Rudy Gay was just ridiculously efficient. He won’t be in Memphis next year, and he’s not a max player. When we talk about options, he has to be considered.

Tripuka said this and we’ve said this a million times. Blame the coach all you want, and this has been talked about, but if you’re playing for your NBA life and you can’t find the energy to compete, then it’s on you. No one else.

Period.