New York Knicks News

Knicks go quietly in loss to Celtics
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March 18
New York Post
 
"If Wilson Chandler has played his last game this season, did he do enough to convince free agents they should want to team up with him on the Knicks next season? Probably not. Chandler has shut it down to rest his lingering strained groin, but will try to return before the season's over. The Knicks were uncompetitive last night without Chandler, getting routed by the Celtics, falling behind by 27 points in the third quarter before losing 109-97 at the new Boston Garden. The Knicks (24-44) finished their five-game trip at 2-3. Chandler, averaging 15.3 points and 5.4 rebounds, will see team doctors today to decide on a timetable. He rarely has been 100 percent healthy and that's a shame. ..."
D'Antoni says up-tempo play style can work for New York Knicks like it did for Phoenix Suns
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March 18
New York Daily News
 
"Mike D'Antoni remains adamant, almost defiant, that his up-tempo style will win big in the Eastern Conference. But only on one condition. It helps to have someone like Steve Nash or a certain MVP small forward and future free agent running the offense. "You need playmakers," D'Antoni said before last night's game against Boston. "You need guys that can shoot the ball and score. You can do it from the point guard, but you can do it from other than that. I played in Europe. We had other guys do it." When asked if LeBron James could be that playmaker, the Knicks coach smiled. D'Antoni averaged 58 wins over four full seasons in Phoenix with Nash as his point guard. D'Antoni estimates that Nash ..."
Celtics Put Brakes on the Knicks' Modest Momentum
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March 18
New York Times
 
"After identity shifts and concerns about compatibility and complacency, the prospects of a Knicks revival this season have long been scuttled. But with little rhyme or reason, the Knicks - or the collection of expiring contracts wearing the organization's uniforms - recently looked road ready. With a surprising 34-point victory at Dallas and an encore win at Philadelphia, the Knicks could have notched three straight road victories for the first time this season on Wednesday. Or not. The Knicks reverted back to form against the Boston Celtics, receiving a 109-97 pasting at TD Garden."
Danilo Gallinari gets back on track
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March 17
Bergen Record
 
"The Mike D'Antoni-ordained "best shooter I've ever seen" hasn't shot well at times this season, nor shot often - particularly after Tracy McGrady arrived. Lately, that's changed. Danilo Gallinari, the player the Knicks (who play in Boston tonight) call "Gallo," believes he's finally found a comfort level in an offense retooled not only by McGrady's arrival, but three other new teammates since the trade deadline, while playing with a revolving door of point guards. "The offense didn't change," he said. "But when you change a lot of guys like that, you have a couple of adjustments to [make] to try to get everybody on the same page, the same chemistry." "[He's] just mixing up a little bit, ..."
Knicks: no plans to honor Nate
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March 17
New York Post
 
"Nate Robinson already has faced the Knicks at the new Boston Garden, just five days after his trade to Beantown, so tonight's game is nothing new. What Robinson has circled on his calendar is his first visit to Madison Square Garden in Celtics green on April 6. Unlike the wonderful montage video tribute afforded Eddie House on his return to Boston on Feb. 23, the Knicks have no plans to honor Robinson's nearly five-season stint in any tribute, according to a team source. The 5-foot-7 ½ athletic freak warred with coach Mike D'Antoni but arguably was their most popular player for the past two seasons. Fans still populate the Garden stands wearing his old "4" jersey. The free-agent-to-be was ..."
Nate Robinson trade pays off for New York Knicks, gives rookie Toney Douglas more playing time
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March 17
New York Daily News
 
"Nate Robinson is without question the big financial winner in last month's trade to the Celtics. He will pocket a $1 million bonus for making the playoffs for the first time in his career. The Knicks also believe that the trade was a win-win for their club and not just because the locker room is no longer as loud as it once was. The trade of Robinson and Marcus Landry to Boston gave the coaching staff and front office two months to evaluate the talent level of the three players the Knicks acquired, particularly Bill Walker and J.R. Giddens. The other, free agent-to-be Eddie House, is a veteran who once played for Mike D'Antoni in Phoenix. Walker has proven to be a live body with decent ..."
Here's the point: Why not Douglas?
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March 16
New York Post
 columnist Jay Greenberg
"There are millions of point guards in The Naked City, and yet since Walt Frazier, the Knicks have worn The Emperor's Clothes. Micheal Ray Richardson put his promise up his nose. Mark Jackson, Rookie of the Year as a Knick, spent his best seasons in Indiana. A history even more painful than Rod Stickland's knees has continued this season with Toney Douglas now following Sergio Rodriguez following Tracy McGrady, Nate Robinson and Chris Duhon. Hate to bring it up, but Erick Strickland, Rick Brunson, Charlie Ward, Lavor Postell, Frank Williams, Howard Eisley, Moochie Norris, Jalen Rose, Steve Francis, Mardy Collins, Jackson and, of course, Stephon Marbury all have brought it up for the Knicks ..."
Douglas, Knicks win 2nd straight
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March 16
New York Post
 
"It's a good thing LeBron James has applied to the NBA to change his jersey number from 23 to 6. Because right now the Knicks new rookie starting point guard, Toney Douglas, is wearing "23" quite handsomely. If the final weeks of this losing season mean nothing else, watching a young point guard grow up might be good enough. Douglas did good again as he guided the Knicks with poise down the stretch. He made a series of big plays and led them to their second straight victory, 94-84, over the Sixers at Wachovia Center. The Knicks (24-43) moved to 2-2 on the five-game road trip that concludes tomorrow in Boston."
Knicks win second straight on road, beat Philadelphia 76ers, 94-84
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March 16
New York Daily News
 
"Elton Brand is the poster child for what not do when you have salary cap space. The 76ers' power forward isn't a difference maker as much as he is an albatross. Brand's contribution in the Sixers' 94-84 loss to the Knicks last night was seven points and three rebounds. This can't be what Philadelphia expected when it signed Brand to a five-year, $82 million contract prior to this season. It is a lesson Knicks president Donnie Walsh will take with him this summer when he enters the free agent market with the financial flexibility to sign two maximum-salary free agents. LeBron James or busts is a very real possibility. The free agent(s) who take the Knicks money in July will be joining a ..."
For Eddy Curry, another day, another DNP with New York Knicks
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March 16
New York Daily News
 
"LeBron James will probably play for the Knicks before Eddy Curry ever does. Curry did not play in the Knicks' 94-84 victory Monday night over the 76ers and now Mike D'Antoni is targeting tomorrow's game in Boston as a possible return. But don't hold your breath. There is a sense that Curry, who hasn't played since Dec. 17, is not rushing back because he's still upset that D'Antoni didn't give him consistent minutes when he was healthy. Curry insists that he is experiencing considerable pain in his right calf. However, Curry also knows it is in the Knicks' best interest to play him and hope he performs well. Assuming Curry is exercising the player option in his contract, he will become a ..."
Knick rookie Toney Douglas makes noise at the point
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March 15
Bergen Record
 
"Among the many characteristics to be found on the job description for an NBA starting point guard, Knicks rookie Toney Douglas owns at least one. Chutzpah. Consider what he said about outplaying future Hall of Famer Jason Kidd in Saturday's alternate-universe 128-94 thrashing of the Mavericks in his first start since Nov. 18 and third overall: "I'm a competitor. I put on my pants the same way he [does]. So I feel like I'm going to compete and just like he's a Hall of Famer and he's going to come out and compete, I feel like I can do the same thing." Imagine, then, how he'll approach playing fellow rookie point guard Jrue Holiday, picked 12 spots ahead of Douglas (the 29th overall pick) in ..."
Rookie Douglas starts making his point for Knicks
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March 15
New York Post
 
"The do-you-believe-miracles win in Dallas Saturday night begs the next question: Do you believe in rookie Toney Douglas as the Knicks' point guard of the future? Coach Mike D'Antoni did not believe as recently as nine days ago, but now the rookie out of Florida State is the new flavor of the month as the Knicks point-guard carousel goes 'round and 'round. Douglas, whom the Knicks selected 29th in the draft after buying the pick from the Lakers for a whopping $3 million, has gone from out of the rotation to possibly the starting point guard for the remaining 16 games to cap a rookie season full of stops, starts and unfulfilled promises from the coach. So what took so long, Mike? "He was ..."
Knicks rookie Toney Douglas making a quick impression
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March 15
New York Daily News
 
"Unlike Jordan Hill, Toney Douglas is a Knick rookie who makes an impact on the basketball court. Hill's only contribution came on his way out of the Garden, when he went to Houston as part of the trade that brought Tracy McGrady to the Knicks. The Rockets insisted on getting Hill in the deal, and by giving up on their No.1 pick from last June, the Knicks were able to come away with McGrady's expiring $23 million contract. If the cap space created by McGrady's money helps the Knicks get LeBron James and one other marquee free agent, then Hill will forever be remembered for helping put his first NBA team on a championship course. But for now, the Knicks can only hope that Douglas will ..."
Will T-Mac be worth Knicks' risk in 2011?
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March 14
Bergen Record
 
"Glimpses of the old Tracy McGrady that he produced at the outset of his three weeks with the Knicks have given way to reality - plus pain in the left knee on which he had microfracture surgery a year ago. The seven-time All-Star with the expiring $23 million contract admits the Knicks, who took on a Mavericks' team riding a 13-game winning streak Saturday, might not see the real him the final month of this season. Which already has prompted wonder about whether he'll ever be the old T-Mac again. He dismisses that, saying, "I'm just trying to really get to that point healthy. I don't think going into next season there will be any problems [like] I'm having right now." Easy for him to say, ..."
New York Knicks' Tracy McGrady misses his old self as he's forced to sit on sidelines late in games
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March 14
New York Daily News
 
"You don't have to be Tracy McGrady to know that his surgically-repaired left knee is hurting more than a little. Now, 22 days into his Knick career, the one-time high-flying perennial All-Star who made a name for himself by attacking the basket has been reduced to playing on the floor and rarely driving to the rim. Sometimes, he can't even operate at the lowest of altitudes, as was the case when he didn't play at all in the fourth quarter of the Knicks' loss in Memphis on Friday. But that, McGrady admits, comes with the territory. Still working his way back from microfracture surgery 13 months ago, and after playing very little in six games for Houston in the first part of the season, he ..."
For forward Jordan Hill, grass is greener at Houston Rockets than at New York Knicks
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March 14
New York Daily News
 
"Jordan Hill spent most of the first 3-1/2 months of his NBA career sitting on the Knicks' bench, including a 14-game stretch during January and early February in which he did not play at all. Admittedly, it was a "frustrating" start for the No. 8 pick in last year's draft. Yet Hill was still surprised when the Knicks shipped him to Houston as part of the three-way deal that brought Tracy McGrady to New York at the trade deadline last month. Drafted out of Arizona ahead of guards such as Brandon Jennings and Jrue Holiday, whom the Knicks had supposedly targeted, Hill figured his future was at Madison Square Garden. But he quickly learned that things don't always go as planned, especially ..."
New York Knicks snap Dallas Mavericks' 13-game win streak with 128-94 victory
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March 14
New York Daily News
 
"As the Knicks walked into their locker room Saturday night, Eddie House yelled out, "Winning streak? Forget about it!" Not only did the Knicks snap the Mavericks' 13-game winning streak with shocking ease, they avenged a 50-point loss to Dallas at the Garden on Jan 24. "I think we remembered that game," Al Harrington said after the Knicks crushed the Mavs, 128-94. "They really embarrassed us on our home floor. So we were able to get a little bit of revenge tonight. It feels good. Revenge is sweet sometimes, you know? If we had gotten up by 50, it would have been really nice." As it is, a night after they went through the motions against Memphis, the Knicks cruised all night, building a ..."
Knicks blow out Mavs in Dallas
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March 14
The Journal News
 
"The Dallas Mavericks had the most lopsided victory in franchise history when they beat the Knicks by 50 points in the teams' last meeting nearly two months ago. This time, it was the Knicks' turn for a rout. Bill Walker scored a career-high 23 points, Wilson Chandler added 22 and the Knicks snapped the Mavericks' 13-game winning streak with a 128-94 victory on Saturday night. "Revenge is sweet sometimes. That's a really good team over there but we caught them at the right time. They were ripe for the picking," said Knicks reserve Al Harrington, who had 20 points. "When you're rolling along and the Knicks are coming in, you figure you can score 150 points on 'em in your sleep. But that ..."
New York Knicks get back at Dallas Mavericks
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March 14
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"You have to give the Dallas Mavericks credit.When they finally crash and burn, they don't mess around.The 13-game winning streak bit the dust Saturday night. Took a big, ol' mouthful, actually. The New York Knicks, clearly remembering the 50-point drubbing the Mavericks laid on them in January at Madison Square Garden, unloaded some serious payback with a 128-94 pounding of the Mavericks at American Airlines Center.This is the same Knicks team that gave up 119 points Friday night in Memphis.The Mavericks could muster no more than 48 in the first half, after which they trailed by 10. And that was their good half."They remembered, for sure," Shawn Marion said. "They told me. They said they ..."
Mavericks' win streak ends with a dud, 128-94 loss to Knicks
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March 14
Dallas Morning News
 
"You have to give the Mavericks credit. When they finally crash and burn, they don't mess around. The 13-game winning streak bit the dust Saturday night. Took a big, ol' mouthful, actually. The New York Knicks, clearly remembering the 50-point drubbing the Mavericks laid on them in January at Madison Square Garden, unloaded some serious payback with a 128-94 pounding of the Mavericks at American Airlines Center. This is the same Knicks team that gave up 119 points Friday night in Memphis. The Mavericks could muster no more than 48 in the first half, after which they trailed by 10. And that was their good half. "They remembered, for sure," said Shawn Marion. "They told me. They said they ..."
Barea has Knicks on radar
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March 14
New York Post
 
"Mavericks backup point guard J.J. Barea, who could become an unrestricted free agent this summer, told The Post he has the Knicks as his top choice if he doesn't stick with the Mavericks. The Mavericks, looking to open cap space, have a team option and the emergence of young French point guard Rodrique Beaubois could become a factor. With the Sergio Rodriguez experiment on hold, rookie Toney Douglas inherited the starting point-guard slot in last night's surprise 128-94 win over the Mavs, and Chris Duhon was installed as the backup. Though Douglas could man the position for the rest of the season, the Knicks will be desperately on the prowl for a new point guard next season and Barea will ..."
Rest of season will be McGrueling
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March 14
New York Post
 columnist Marc Berman
"Tracy McGrady has waved the red flag. He has come to the realization his left-knee pain probably won't ease this season and that fans won't get to see the old T-Mac until next season. But McGrady said he believes if he stays healthy enough to play and help the team in small ways, such as a playmaker and rebounder, then he will get a contact somewhere next season. But as far as the acrobatic artist and dominant go-to guy, forget about it. "I know I'm not healthy," McGrady said at FedEx Forum after a four-point outing vs. Memphis Friday. "I'm not healthy to go out there and be as effective as I wanted to be every night. It's not happening and I have to have patience with it. I'm not going to ..."
Knicks snap Dallas' 13-game win streak
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March 14
New York Post
 
"Do you believe in miracles? Or how about do you believe in revenge? In what likely was the most stunning night of the NBA season, the Knicks came to Big D and bombed the sizzling Mavericks by 34 points, snapping Dallas' league-best 13-game winning streak with a 128-94 romp at AmericanAirlines Center. It was the biggest upset in the NBA this year and comes exactly two months after the Mavericks obliterated the Knicks by 128-78 in the worst loss in Garden history on Jan. 24. And it was the Knicks talking trash afterward and the Dallas fans booing in the fourth quarter."
In Dallas, a Blueprint Gallinari Can Follow
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March 14
New York Times
 
"The comparison is imperfect, and the path carved by one is not necessarily navigable by the other. But there are strong similarities in height, skill and pedigree, enough that Dirk Nowitzki may provide Danilo Gallinari with a rough template for N.B.A. success. In 1999, Nowitzki was a gawky, 20-year-old rookie from Germany, trying to simultaneously acclimate to the United States and save the beleaguered Dallas Mavericks. He shot poorly, scored infrequently and played so little defense that critics mockingly called him "irk" - as in, no D. Mavericks fans booed him mercilessly. But by 2002, Nowitzki was an All-Star, and by 2007, he was the N.B.A.'s most valuable player. The Knicks have ..."
Big Victory for Knicks
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March 14
New York Times
 
"The Knicks banished logic long ago, along with their playoff hopes and their pride, so there was no rational way to explain their sudden passion or the seemingly inverted numbers on the scoreboard Saturday night. The final score said Knicks 128, Dallas Mavericks 94. Coach Mike D'Antoni would like to say he saw this coming, but modesty prevented it. "Yeah, right," he said with a chuckle. "I can see a train coming sometimes, but you can't predict this." The Mavericks (45-22) were the N.B.A.'s hottest team, riding a 13-game winning streak on the heels of a blockbuster trade. The Knicks (23-43) had lost 14 of their last 17 games, including several lopsided affairs that suggested they might ..."
This Reggie Miller Is the Straw That Stirred the Garden
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March 14
New York Times
 columnist Richard Sandomie
"Is the ESPN documentary "Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs. the New York Knicks" a hoax? Did the playoff series that it depicts between the Knicks and the Indiana Pacers actually occur or are its claims of a snarling, slicker-heartland rivalry as dubious as U.F.O.'s in Area 51? Is it accurate that Miller once scored 25 points in the fourth quarter of a game and that the Knicks once had a center before Eddy Curry named Patrick Ewing? This exhilarating period piece (which will have its premiere Sunday at 9 p.m. Eastern) is ostensibly culled from footage shot during the mid-1990s. If the story of great basketball is factual, what has been going on at Madison Square Garden in most of the years ..."
Mavericks' 13 game win streak ends with a dud loss to Knicks
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March 14
Dallas Morning News
 
"You have to give the Mavericks credit. When they finally crash and burn, they don't mess around. The 13-game winning streak bit the dust Saturday night. Took a big, ol' mouthful, actually. The New York Knicks, clearly remembering the 50-point drubbing the Mavericks laid on them in January at Madison Square Garden, unloaded some serious payback with a 128-94 pounding of the Mavericks at American Airlines Center. This is the same Knicks team that gave up 119 points Friday night in Memphis. The Mavericks could muster no more than 48 in the first half, after which they trailed by 10. And that was their good half. "They remembered, for sure," said Shawn Marion. "They told me. They said they ..."
Knicks rally, but fall to Grizzlies
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March 13
The Journal News
 
"Zach Randolph had 24 points and 11 rebounds, and the Memphis Grizzlies held on for a 119-112 victory over the visiting Knicks on Friday night. The Knicks trailed by as many as 29 in the third quarter, but pulled within 115-110 in the final minute before losing for the fourth time in five games. Bill Walker had 21 points, including 12 during the Knicks' fourth-quarter rally. Toney Douglas added 19, while David Lee had 17 points and 14 rebounds. Cavaliers 100, Sixers 95: At Philadelphia, LeBron James had 23 points, 10 assists and six rebounds in his return from a two-game absence, and Cleveland won for the 14th time in its last 19 road games. James was in the starting lineup after missing ..."
Memphis' Rudy Gay could be a Knick free agent target
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March 13
Bergen Record
 
"Rudy Gay probably won't find being a restricted free agent as "restricted" as David Lee did last summer. That's because of all the money teams, including the Knicks, have to spend this summer. And because his current team, the Grizzlies, might not be inclined to match an offer Gay gets elsewhere. From the sound of it - before he scored 20 in a closer-than-it-should've-been 119-112 victory over the Knicks on Friday - the Connecticut product and Baltimore native seemed as if he's at least thought about leaving Memphis, perhaps for New York. "I wouldn't mind staying here if they make a commitment to me," he said. "But it's a business. … It really doesn't matter to me which way it goes." Yet, ..."
Memphis Grizzlies build huge lead, hold off New York Knicks, 119-112
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March 13
Memphis Commercial Appeal
 
"The New York Knicks brought their helter-skelter, seemingly undisciplined brand of basketball to town, and proved they are never out of a game. It's also a style that made the Grizzlies look like the Harlem Globetrotters long enough to build a 29-point lead. At times, though, the Griz might as well have been the Washington Generals. PollDo you think the Memphis Grizzlies will make the playoffs?Yes No See the results » View previous polls » Grizzlies vs. Knicks - March 12, 2010 See all 18 photos at full sizeThat would basically sum up the fourth quarter. Before finally securing a 119-112 victory Friday, the Grizzlies needed to make clutch free throws in the final two minutes to fend ..."
New York Knicks at Dallas Mavericks preview
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March 13
Dallas Morning News
 
"Scouting the Knicks They were on a terrible 3-13 streak heading into Friday night's game at Memphis. ... Tracy McGrady has averaged 11.8 points and 4.7 assists in 27 minutes per game with the Knicks. ... David Lee and PG Chris Duhon love to run the pick and roll. Lee baskets have accounted for 42 percent (139) of Duhon's 332 assists this season. ... Danilo Gallinari has averaged 17.4 points and shot 52.5 percent over the last five games entering Friday's. ... The Mavs hammered the Knicks by 50 in January. Scouting the Mavericks Remember all those problems at home? Now, they've won eight in a row at home and a victory tonight would tie for the ninth-longest home streak in franchise ..."
Grizzlies' Gay sees future with Knicks
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March 13
New York Post
 
"Former UConn star and free-agent-to-be Rudy Gay can see himself playing the Garden next season. The Knicks can, too, if things break a certain way this summer. "It's the most famous arena in the world," Gay said yesterday before scoring 20 points in the Grizzlies' 119-112 victory over the Knicks at FedEx Forum. "It's great to play there. Every time I play there, I get chills. To play in that arena would be nice, but FedEx Forum has been home to me." If LeBron James is Plan A, Joe Johnson is Plan B, Gay is Plan C-plus. According to a source, the Knicks, who fell to 22-43 last night, have solid interest in Gay, but consider him a second-tier free agent. But if they can land Johnson and Gay ..."
T-Mac laggin' in loss
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March 13
New York Post
 
"It's becoming increasingly clear: The Knicks are better without Tracy McGrady, whose breaking down by the game. With McGrady out and Bill Walker in, the Knicks staged a spirited fourth-quarter rally slicing a 23-point deficit to five points in the final minute before falling 119-112 to the Grizzlies at FedEx Forum. In falling to 3-9 since the Feb. 18 trades, McGrady showed alarmingly no life again last night, scoring four points on 1 of 5 shooting with three turnovers before sitting the fourth quarter. "I just don't think he has his legs right now," coach Mike D'Antoni said. Walker scored 12 of his 21 points in the fourth to lead the surge. The Grizzlies led by 29 in the third quarter. ..."
Grizzlies' Gay could leave for New York
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March 13
New York Post
 
"Former UConn star Rudy Gay seemed lukewarm on remaining in the obscurity of Memphis when he becomes a restricted free agent in July when the Knicks and Nets become two of his options. "I wouldn't mind staying here, if I feel they were going to make a commitment to me,'' Gay said at the morning shootaround at FEDEX Forum. "It's a business. I'm only the one here from my first year so I know the business more than anyone on this team. It really doesn't matter which way it goes.'' Not exactly a ringing endorsement for wanting to remain on Beale Street, playing in the league's smallest market and playing before the second-worst attendance (averaging 13,000 despite a winning record). But it is ..."
Rudy Gay eyes Knicks as New York falls to Memphis Grizzlies, 119-112
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March 13
New York Daily News
 
"As bad as the Knicks are these days, they're still an attractive destination to Memphis' Rudy Gay. "That's an appealing style they play," Gay, the former UConn star, said before his Grizzlies took on the Knicks Friday night. "Every kid grows up playing like that and enjoys it. What I like about (Mike) D'Antoni's system is that everybody is effective in it. At any time, anybody can score. So it's something I'd look at this summer." A restricted free agent in July, Gay is considered to be a secondary option for the Knicks, who are expected to initially target LeBron James and Chris Bosh when free agency opens. If the Knicks have to settle for Plan B, it would be viewed as something of a ..."
Knicks' Toney Douglas plays way off the bench
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March 12
Bergen Record
 
"Once upon a time, long, long ago this season, Toney Douglas shot and defended his way into a regular spot in Mike D'Antoni's rotation. He scored 21 points off the bench Nov. 9 against Utah (missing a last-second shot for a tie), then scored 23 two days later against the Hawks in his first NBA start. Then he all but disappeared for almost four months. But with the Knicks (who continue their five-game trip tonight against the Grizzlies) now trying to learn who and what they might have for next season, D'Antoni has begun giving the rookie point guard regular minutes behind restored starter Sergio Rodriguez. "He plays intense," said the Knicks' coach, still uncertain whether Eddy Curry will ..."
Despite New York Knicks' ninth consecutive losing season, Mike D'Antoni sees turning point ahead
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March 12
New York Daily News
 
"To paraphrase Pat Riley, there is winning, and then there is the Knicks of the last nine years. Misery doesn't even begin to describe it. Wednesday's loss to the Spurs in San Antonio was a seminal moment for the one of the NBA's charter franchises. The Knicks clinched a club-record ninth straight losing season and now this historic run of futility, on and off the court, can officially be known as "The Lost Decade." Whether it is, as some have labeled it, the Patrick Ewing curse or the curse of Jeff Van Gundy, the Knicks are the league's biggest losers dating back to the 2001-02 season when Don Chaney replaced Van Gundy, who resigned following a 10-9 start. (Nowadays, that record would ..."
Knicks set franchise mark for futility
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March 11
New York Post
 
"Knicks team president Donnie Walsh flew all the way to San Antonio to watch Eddy Curry's return last night. And all Walsh saw was Curry's return to the pregame layup line. Curry's ballyhooed comeback from left knee surgery in January was absurdly scrapped when he developed a tight right calf -- the same calf that put him out all training camp after a blood-draining procedure. Curry sat on the bench in uniform but did not play in last night's 97-87 loss to the Spurs at AT&T Center. Fitting. It was another night filled with setbacks as the Knicks fell apart late and fell to 22-42, officially securing their franchise-record ninth straight losing season. Now Walsh is a full-fledged part of the ..."
Mike D'Antoni backs New York Knicks coaching staff amid Donnie Walsh's concern over team's struggles
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March 11
New York Daily News
 
"A defiant Mike D'Antoni vowed Wednesday that he won't make changes to his Knicks coaching staff. "We're not throwing anybody under the bus," D'Antoni said. "That's not going to happen." The question about making changes on the bench was posed to D'Antoni by a reporter and not by Donnie Walsh. The Knicks president has given no indication that he wants to revamp D'Antoni's staff. However, sources close to the Knicks president say that Walsh is concerned about the team's defensive woes. The best way to solve the problem is to acquire defensive-minded players. But the culture also needs to change, and yesterday D'Antoni, who has a reputation for being rigid, made it clear that his system ..."
Knicks clinch franchise-record ninth straight losing season as Eddu Curry still on bench
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March 11
New York Daily News
 
"Eddy Curry looked to be rusty, unsure of his footing and generally lacking confidence in his overall game. And that was just in the layup line. As for the actual game, well, let's just say Curry didn't have trouble finding his comfort zone. The Knick center's latest comeback has been postponed until tomorrow in Memphis at the earliest. Yes, even Curry's comebacks have comebacks. A right sore calf, the same injury that ended Curry's preseason before it ever started, prevented him from playing in Wednesday night's 97-87 loss to the Spurs. The only encouraging development in the Curry saga is that he participated in pregame warmups and watched the game from the bench. "I've just been ..."
The Waiting Game Continues for Curry
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March 11
New York Times
 
"Eddy Curry planned to resume his Knicks career Wednesday, with earnest hopes that this comeback would be different from the one he began last November, or last summer, or last March, or in January 2009, or in the fall of 2008. Instead, the night became a microcosm of his Knicks career: anticipation without payoff. Curry had tightness in his right calf, forcing him to scuttle his planned comeback against the San Antonio Spurs. He has not played since Dec. 17. It was a torn muscle in Curry's right calf that caused him to miss most of training camp, derailing his season."
Curry expects to play tonight as Knicks battle Spurs
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March 10
New York Post
 
"Tonight, Eddy Curry will be feeling some butterflies. Because it's been a while since he even has been active for a game, let alone played in one. With 19 games to go, the Knicks' perpetually injured big man is set to return to action in San Antonio tonight. Curry hasn't played since Dec. 17, missing 38 straight games, thanks in part to coach Mike D'Antoni's decision not to play him but mainly to the left knee surgery Curry underwent in January. "Feeling pretty good. Just go out there [tonight] and see what I can do," Curry said after practice yesterday. "[I'm] a little bit nervous. I haven't played in so long. But I'm looking forward to the opportunity." Curry is averaging just 3.7 points ..."
President Donnie Walsh to travel with his struggling New York Knicks
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March 10
New York Daily News
 
"Donnie Walsh is skipping the Big East Tournament to keep a trained eye on the Big Wreck that is his basketball team. The Knicks' president was expected to accompany the club on its five-game trip with the growing sense within the organization that the entire basketball staff is on high alert. The Knicks (22-41) enter Wednesday's game against the Spurs on pace to lose 50 games for the second straight season. The roster will be overhauled, especially with Walsh having enough salary-cap space to sign two "max" free agents. Walsh is still deliberating which Knicks to re-sign, including David Lee, and he may also be contemplating changes to the support staff, particularly since the team has ..."
Can't blame Knicks' Lee for wandering eye
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March 9
New York Post
 columnist George Willis
"Maybe he was just saying the politically correct thing, which is what David Lee normally has done during his four years with the Knicks. Despite playing on a series of underachieving teams, he never complained about the coaching, never ridiculed teammates who seemed less committed than he; never questioned trades that destroyed any chance for the Knicks to be competitive. Instead of voicing frustration, Lee has tried to stay positive and do his job, even if it meant playing center when he should be playing power forward. "I'm in the position I'm in right now, so I'll do my best at it," he said last night after totaling 19 points and 13 rebounds in the Knicks' 99-98 win over the Hawks at ..."
Knicks earn victory as Hawks' 'winner' is too late
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March 9
New York Post
 
"Last night was the Knicks' most frantic ending of the season. First, with the Knicks clinging to a one-point lead over the Hawks in the final seconds, Wilson Chandler blocked Josh Smith's final-second dunk attempt. Then Al Horford's game-winning putback, which initially was ruled to be good, was overruled by replay, turning out to be just after the buzzer and resulting in a crazy 99-98 Knick win. The Knicks owned an 11-point lead with 7:45 to go and were ahead by 10 with just 5:27 left. But Atlanta whittled it to one with 27.5 seconds left, and Toney Douglas was then stripped with 7.9 to go."
Former Knick Crawford feels pain of fans
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March 9
New York Post
 
"As sixth man for the playoff-bound Hawks, Jamal Crawford will soon lose the not-so-coveted title of being the active NBA leader in career games without a playoff appearance. But Crawford still feels for the fans he left behind in New York after being dealt to Golden State 11 games into last season."
Douglas adds spark off Knicks' bench
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March 9
New York Post
 
"With Tracy McGrady missing last night's game against the Hawks, minutes were available for someone on the Knicks' bench to take advantage of. Coach Mike D'Antoni gave Toney Douglas a chance, and Douglas didn't disappoint. After he didn't get off the bench in either of the Knicks' last two games, the rookie guard finished with 11 points and three assists in 23:34 as the Knicks beat the Hawks, 99-98, at the Garden. "I just made sure I made an impact any kind of way, offense or defense," he said. "I hadn't played in a couple games, so I had to get my wind back, but I'll be fine." Douglas' play made an impression on D'Antoni, who left him in to run the team through the last few minutes of the ..."
Knicks' strategy is worth it
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March 9
Bergen Record
 columnist Steve Adamek
"When squawk radio wasn't breaking down every permutation of the Yankees' 2010 batting order the past week or so (which you can't get enough of in early March) it actually discovered that the Knicks have been playing for more than four months. And not well, some realized. Some folks even concluded that the plan of the last two seasons should be trashed like the health-care bill for … something akin to what failed the seven straight seasons before. People, people, people. Here's the first, second and beyond thing you should realize about what Donnie Walsh and Mike D'Antoni have wrought the past two seasons. This roster was not built to win, no matter how much they pipe-dreamed it could, but ..."
Joe Johnson loves Mike D'Antoni, but Knicks may be hard sell
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March 9
Bergen Record
 
"Joe Johnson loves Mike D'Antoni. But he also hates the idea of leaving a winning situation for a losing, rebuilding one, as he once did coming to Atlanta from Phoenix. So, ask him about his pending free agency this summer and the Hawks' All-Star swingman (who scored 22 Monday in Atlanta's 99-98 loss to the Knicks) sits on the fence. "We've got great history together," he said of his relationship with D'Antoni, for whom he played three seasons in Phoenix, averaging 16.7 and 17.1 points the last two. "My career really took off with D'Antoni. He pretty much let me free-wheel out there on the court. He's a great guy and I try to keep in contact with him and his coaching staff." But in leaving ..."
Joe Johnson may be best shot for New York Knicks
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March 9
New York Daily News
 
"Joe Johnson is not on LeBron James' talent level, nor does he have the same global appeal. But Johnson stands alone in the 2010 free-agent class in that the All-Star shooting guard may be the most realistic option for the talent-starved Knicks. Johnson already has rejected a "max" deal with the Atlanta Hawks and has a good history with Mike D'Antoni. Plus Johnson's agent, Arn Tellem, is responsible for orchestrating the trading deadline deal for Tracy McGrady that freed up additional salary-cap space for the Knicks. Team president Donnie Walsh traded two first-round picks to Houston to finalize the deal and the feeling around the NBA is that Walsh never would have given up so many assets ..."