THE KNICKS ARE STILL FIGHTING

Last year the New York Knicks(32-43) capped off a late season, five game West coast swing in Utah with their biggest win of the year.  After losing four consecutive  games, Kurt Thomas inspired the Knicks to a 90-83 victory in Salt Lake City.  The win was the first of 13 consecutive, which locked up the Atlantic Division title for the Knicks.  This year the Knicks travel to Utah in the midst of a dog-fight with the Atlanta Hawks for the final playoff position in the East.

Raymond Felton's struggles have been well publicized this season.  Felton outplayed Trey Burke tonight, scoring 12 points, on 5-8 shooting from the field. The Knicks can be a dangerous team when Carmelo Anthony has help on the offensive end.

Carmelo's jumper with 2:00 remaining took the air out of Energy Solutions Arena.  The Knicks played with the killer instinct tonight they have been lacking all season.  This was only the second win for the Knicks when trailing at the half this season.  Carmelo lead the Knicks with 36 points, eight rebounds and three steals.  His commitment to defense and rebounding has become contagious of late.

Final Four

Some things never change in the NCAA Tournament.  The four institutions that survived the Elite Eight all have one thing in common.  Kevin Ollie, Billy Donovan, Bo Ryan and John Calipari have all done great coaching jobs in route to the Final Four.

Kevin Ollie is the new kid on the block.  In only his second season at the helm, Ollie has the UConn Huskies in position to cut down the nets for the second time in the last four years.  Jim Calhoun built UConn into a national power-house.  Replacing a legend of Calhoun's magnitude is no easy task.  Ollie appears to have learned a thing or two as a former player and assistant under Calhoun.  Communication is  key for the young coach.  He and Shabazz Napier appear have a great relationship.  When your best player can be scolded in the same manner as the 12th man off the bench, comradery will never become a locker room issue.

Bo Ryan may be the most underrated coach in the country.  Ryan runs his program similar to Billy Donovan down in Florida.  When one of his players suffers an injury or graduates, the next man is always ready.  The onus is never placed on one player.  For years Madison, Wisconsin has been a place teams prefer not to play.  Most teams walk out of Wisconsin battered, bruised and with a loss as a harsh reminder.  Ryan is missing one accomplishment to solidify his legacy.

John Calipari has become the Phil Jackson of NCAA Basketball.  11 NBA Championships compared to one National Championship at Kentucky doesn't create a compelling argument.  To see the similarities with these two coaches you must look beyond the numbers.  Phil's job was to oversee immense talent during his time with the Bulls and Lakers.  Calipari has an excellent track record of sending players to the NBA.  Marcus Camby, John Wall and Dujuan Wagner to name a few.  Kentucky recruits the best talent in the nation.  However, talent means nothing without someone to push the right buttons.  During the first four rounds on the NCAA Tournament Calipari has pushed all the right buttons.  Last year Kentucky was expected to be in this position.  Nerlens Noel blew out his knee and that was all she wrote.  Calipari has this young group playing with confidence and belief.

Billy Donovan, enough said!

FOLLOW THE MAD TWEETER:@NYsteve8

Billy the Kidd

Udonis Haslem, Mike Miller and Joakim Noah have all been significant blue collar players since entering the NBA.  All three men have experienced success with limited athletic ability.  Billy Donovan cultivated the careers of these three men while playing for him at the University of Florida. 

Adam Silver may be on to something if he is seriously considering raising the age limit in the NBA to 20.  David Stern had the correct mind-set by stopping high school kids from entering the NBA Draft.  However, Stern's decision has hurt the college game.  In the golden era of one and done,  NCAA basketball has become an audition for NBA teams.  Billy Donovan is one of the few coaches in the game that is in the business of developing players.  Players leave Florida with the team aspect down pact.  The names on the back of the jerseys may change but the system and winning mentality is a constant. 

With the Elite Eight win over Dayton, Florida advanced to their fourth Final Four under Donovan.  The Gators are no longer a basketball team making waves at a football school.  Basketball being relevant in Gainesville was unheard of 30 years ago. 

I still feel Rick Pitino is the best coach in college basketball.  However, Billy Donovan is challenging that notion.

2003 Draft class

Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James were the two biggest names in the 2003 NBA Draft.  I believe it is safe to say both players have exceeded their expectations coming into the NBA.  LeBron has won the MVP award four times in the last five years.  Carmelo has a scoring title under his belt.  He is arguably the best scorer in the game today.  Due to Kevin Durant's slight frame, Carmelo maybe the toughest defensive assignment in the league.

As we all know, father time is undefeated in the world of sports.  Steve Nash and Kevin Garnett were both in their MVP prime in 2003.  Look at what father time has done to their production. 

The 2003 NBA Draft was without any doubt one of the best in league history.  LeBron, Carmelo, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh were all top five selections that year.  Darko Milicic is the only top five selection in this draft class to have never been named to an all-star team. Numerous players selected in the 2003 NBA Draft have had solid careers.  David West, Kendrick Perkins and Steve Blake to name few.

Many of Carmelo's peers have had great success in the postseason.  A championship is the one accomplishment that Carmelo is missing.  If by some miraculous stroke of luck, the Knicks sneak into the playoffs their record goes out the window.  Carmelo has to play with the mind-set that the Knicks can win it all this season.  As bogus as that may sound, once your in the tournament you have an opportunity.  In 1999 the Knicks upset both Miami and Indiana in rout to the NBA Finals.

Wither New York qualifies for the playoffs or not the fact remains Carmelo is not a young man anymore.  If he decides to sign with the Knicks the team has to assure him of immediate changes to the roster.  Turning 30 is a wake-up call to any professional athlete.  Carmelo's legacy will depend heavily on wither or not he is able to win a ring in the next few years. 

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER: @NYsteve8

Scottie Wilbekin

Senior leadership and solid guard play are important in the NCAA tournament.  Scottie Wilbekin provided both of these key components for the Florida Gators(35-2) tonight.

Wilbekin was quiet in the first half of the Gators Sweet 16 match-up with the UCLA Bruins(28-9).  Mid-way through the second half he provided the spark that proved to be the difference in the ballgame.  UCLA stayed close to Florida until the 5:00 mark in the second half.  Wilbekin connected on a contested three to start his personal run.  UCLA  increased their on ball pressure down the stretch.  Wilbekin could not be shaken.  He scored two critical baskets in the lane to cap a personal 7-2 run.

Wilbekin has made some hurtful decisions during his career at Florida.  Billy Donovan stuck with Wilbekin through some troublesome times.  That decision has proved to be a good one for Wilbekin as well as the University of Florida.

Florida knocked off UCLA 79-68.  The Gators outscored UCLA from three-point range 24-9.  With the win Florida moves one step closer to their third NCAA Championship in the last nine years.

Scott Wilbekin tournament MVP?

J.R Smith The good the bad the ugly

J.R Smith added another chapter to his tumultuous season last night in Sacramento.  The troubled guard scored 29 points in the Knicks(30-42) 107-99 victory over the Kings(25-46).  Smith had the hot hand early.  He connected on all four of his three point attempts in the first quarter.

Smith shot 9-12 from three point range for the night.  He tied John Starks and Latrell Sprewell's team record of nine three point baskets in one game.  Smith is now tied with Kobe Bryant for the most games in NBA history with at least nine three point field goals.  As a prep star at St Benedict's,  Smith would put 1,000 shots as his daily regimen.  When he's on he is as deadly a shooter as there is in the NBA.  When Smith is struggling relegating him to the D-league for life doesn't seem like a bad proposition.  A bad shot for him is usually uglier than what your used to seeing.  Shot selection has never been one of Smith's respectable characteristics.

As usual the Knicks let Sacramento back into the game.  Smith stayed hot for the entire night.  Every time the Kings got to within striking distance J.R was there to counter with a three.  At one point the Kings trimmed the Knicks 24 point third quarter lead to 96-94.  Smith extended the lead to 99-94 by connecting on his third three pointer of the fourth quarter.

This is what J.R Smith can accomplish when he's not busy getting high or pulling at shoe laces.  The Knicks are going to need Smith to play at a high level during the next ten games.  Atlanta has hit a dry spell, losing four consecutive games.  New York is on the outside looking in but are still alive in the playoff picture.

Follow me on twitter: @nysteve8

INDIANA 500

If tonight's game was an indication of what the Eastern Conference Finals will look like this spring NBA fans are in for a treat.

LeBron James put on a show in the first half.  King James reached the 20 point plateau before intermission for the fifth time this season.  The physical tone of this game was present from the start.  Miami held a slight one point edge at the half.

The intensity kicked up a notch in the second half.  With 6:30 remaining in the third period Lance Stevenson and Mario Chalmers got into a chest bumping match.  Dwayne Wade came over to defend Chalmers.  The scrum resulted in Wade and Stevenson both receiving technical fouls.  Stevenson played with a chip on his shoulder tonight.  Miami ended the third quarter on a furious 15-4 run to take a five point lead into the fourth period. 

LeBron is still recovering from the broken nose he suffered earlier this season.  For much of the game the Pacers played LeBron the way the Detroit Pistons defended Michael Jordan.  LeBron's elbow to Roy Hibberts's jaw may have been a retaliation to Indiana's physical approach.

Stevenson managed to get himself ejected in the fourth quarter.  After a marvelous drive to the basket,  Stevenson taunted Wade and received his second technical.  Evan Turners presence was felt for the first time in a playoff atmosphere.  Turners driving lay-up gave the Pacers a one point lead late in the fourth.

The Pacers and Heat will meet one more time this season.  Indiana has more work to do this year.  This win places them in firm control of their own destiny with 10 games remaining this season.


FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER:@NYSTEVE8

Phil who?

The timing could not have been better for the Knicks to kick off a five game west coach trip in Los Angeles.  Anyone alive and breathing in New York or Los Angeles should be well aware the Knicks (29-42) recently hired Phil Jackson to a high ranking position in their front office. 

Laker nation is not too excited about their franchise letting Phil walk away.  The former coaches ties to Lakers (24-46) ownership is well publicized.  Jim Buss could have re-hired Phil after letting go of Mike Brown early last season.  He opted instead to hire former Knick coach Mike D'Antoni, as puzzling a decision the Lakers have ever made.

A strained relationship with Jim Buss may be the sole reason the Zen Master isn't working at some level of the Lakers organization.  Magic Johnson amongst others has rallied for the Lakers to re-hire Phil.  What seemed like a perfect relationship stalled and the Knicks got their man.

The Lakers took out the frustration of their fan base on the Knicks, pummeling them into submission 127-96 at Staples.  Los Angeles scored 51 points in the third quarter. 

The manner in which the Knicks lost this game suggests major changes are to come in the near future.

Showdown in the East

The Indiana Pacers (51-20) have been preparing themselves for this moment since conceding to the Miami Heat (48-21) last year in the Eastern Conference Finals.  Despite their recent struggles,  the team is still in position to capture the number one seed in the east.  This evenings match-up between the Heat and Pacers will have heavy implications on playoff standings.  Miami is only one game back of Indiana in the loss column.  Come playoff time the Heat will feel comfortable playing on the road.  Home-court-advantage increases their chances of making the finals but is not a necessity. 

Neither team has had much success of late.  Both have gone 7-7 in their last 14 games.  A win tonight will put either team in the right direction.

Indiana threw the chips down to begin the season.  Capturing the number one seed was the goal of the season.  Now is the time for the Pacers to finish what they started.

Miami usually downplays their rivalry with the Pacers.  The days of denying Indiana as credible contenders are over.  LeBron James and company are well aware of what the Pacers are capable of.  Indiana is unquestionably an improved ball club.  The same cannot be said of the Heat at this point.

If the Pacers expect to regain their dominance heading into the playoffs it has to start with their leader.  Paul George has to regain his focus.  The Pacers will go as far as he can take them.  George has to learn how to deal with this much pressure.

Indiana is a young team.  The talented bunch gelled so fast people tend to forget just how youthful they are.  A loss tonight could send Indiana in a tailspin.  Frank Vogel has his work cut out.

Mark Sanchez to the Eagles?

Mark Sanchez signing with the Philadelphia Eagles in a nut shell is a disaster waiting to happen.  Philadelphia has the most malicious fan base in the country.  These are the same fans that cheered when Michael Irvin suffered a broken neck before their eyes.  Or how about that famous Christmas when Eagles fans serenaded Santa Claus with a flurry of snowballs.  When it comes to being impatient, New York fans certainly get the nod.  Even Carmelo Anthony will hear some spattered boo's every now and again.  However, once the fans in the city of brotherly love turn on you things can get ugly in no time.

Sanchez has been poorly managed his entire career.  As a rookie starting Quarterback he threw for 12 touchdowns and 20 interceptions.  Throwing more picks than touchdown passes is a red flag no matter what stage of your career you're in.  That first year Sanchez benefited tremendously from his defense as well as a solid running game. The Jets snuck in the playoffs at 9-7 and made a miraculous run to the AFC Championship game.  People seem to have forgotten just how much Sanchez struggled his rookie season.

While at USC Sanchez only started under center for one year.  Pete Carroll advised Sanchez to return for his senior year.  He declined and was selected by the Jets with the fifth overall selection in the 2009 NFL Draft.

In high school and while playing at USC Sanchez has been able to get away with just being athletic.  During his short NFL career he has had different highs and lows.  Sanchez can certainly resurrect his career.  At times he has shown flashes of greatness.  Philadelphia just may not be the place for Sanchez to do so.

Joakim Noah ballin out insane.

With last night's dominant performance against the Indiana Pacers (51-20), Joakim Noah has pushed his way into league MVP consideration.  The Bulls (40-31), knocked off Indiana 89-77 in a dominant defensive performance last night at the United Center. 

Noah put on a performance last night indicative of what the Chicago Bulls are all about.  With Derek Rose suffering yet another year ending knee injury, Noah has stepped up to fill in the void.  The blue collar big man stuffed the stat sheet with 10 points, eight rebounds, four steals, eight assist and three blocks.  In 35 minutes of action Noah shot 50% from the field.  Joakim Noah is one of the few players in the NBA that can affect every aspect of a basketball game.

Kevin Durant in all likelihood will win his first MVP award this spring.  With Russell Westbrook's reoccurring knee injuries, Durant has been forced to burden the scoring load all season.  Noah is light-years behind Durant in terms of production.  But it doesn't hurt to see a garbage man at heart get some consideration for the leagues most prestigious regular season award.

Sweet 16

Jabari Parker and Andrew Wiggins college careers are both likely over after upset losses during opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament.  Duke and North Carolina are both headed home before the sweet 16 for the first time since 1985.  Tobacco Road will be unusually quiet for this time of year.

In state rivals Louisville and Kentucky will be a fun match-up in the round of 16.  Louisville is looking to avenge their loss to Kentucky earlier this season.  These two teams have captured the last two NCAA championships.  This is a Final Four caliber game.  This year the strength of the tournament was in the Midwest region.

Virginia is surprisingly the only ACC team remaining after the first two rounds.  The Cavaliers may be the next number one seed to be bounced from the tournament.  They're set to take on number four seed Michigan State in the east region.  This is Tom Izzo's time of year. Michigan State is always well prepared around tournament time.  Arizona and San Diego State are familiar with each other.  This could be another upset special in the west region.  I have a strong feeling the winner of this game will knock off Baylor or Wisconsin in the Elite Eight.

Connecticut has looked good through two games.  I wouldn't be surprised if the Huskies were to bounce Iowa State and get back to the Elite Eight for the first time since Jim Calhoun's retirement.

So far Florida has looked every bit the number one overall seed.  The Gators smothered Pittsburgh in the round of 32, holding the ACC school to only 45 points.  If Florida is scoring in transition the Gators are tough to beat.

Syracuse losing to Dayton was a bracket buster.  With the upset win the 11th seeded Flyers have a golden opportunity to sneak into the Elite Eight.  Dayton is set to take on 10th seeded Stanford in the round of 16.

cAn't gEt EnOUgH Of tHe Maaadness !

Not every division one basketball school having a good year can qualify for the NCAA Tournament.  Due to the fact that every conference tournament winner receives an automatic bid to the field of 64, every year there are well deserving school's that miss out on the big dance.

If great talent and crisp basketball is what your looking for than I suggest sticking with watching the big dance.  You'll save yourself a great deal of anguish.  If passion, hard work and devotion gets your juices flowing, than you may want to catch an NIT match-up.

The Illinois Fighting Illini and the Clemson Tigers played a highly contested game Sunday morning.  These two schools both have a rich and deep basketball tradition.  Clemson went 10-8 in the ACC this season.  The Tigers have a legitimate gripe at being left out of the NCAA Tournament.

In case you haven't noticed, Clemson has one of the best home-court advantages in all of college basketball.  The Tigers held a comfortable lead at intermission 28-19.  As expected, things would tighten up coming down the stretch.  Illinois forward Jon Ekey knocked down two late three's that helped put the Fighting Illini in position for the road victory.

Illinois held a one point lead on the games final possession.  Clemson's Rod Hall, crossed over from left to right and attacked the basket.  Hall avoided two defenders while laying the ball in to give Clemson the 50-49 victory.  Prior to that play Hall was only 1-7 from the field with seven turnovers.  Hall went from goat to hero in a matter of seconds.

Many coaches around the country would have passed on an NIT Invitation.  I definitely understand and respect the logic in that decision.  Every teams goal entering the season is to have a shot at the NCAA Tournament.  What schools like Indiana have to remember is that the fans and the kids who give blood, sweat and tears deserve to play.  These opportunities only come along once in life.  Instead of being a sour puss, coaches should suck it up and have fun.

The MADNESS continues!

Sanchez out Mike Vick in

Rex Ryan finally has himself a signature name under center with the signing of Mike Vick.  The Jets signed the 33 year old veteran to a one year, $ 5 million dollar deal to compete for the starting Quarterback position.

This deal is significant due to the fact that under Rex Ryan the Jets have never started a play-maker at Quarterback.  Rex is undoubtedly one of the unique defensive coaches in the NFL.  Since taking over the Jets head coaching position in 2009, Rex has for the most part neglected his offense.  Over time not placing any emphasis on improving the offense has hurt the Jets.  The Jets can't expect to win every game 10-7.  Mike Vick has taken a beaten in Philadelphia the past three years.  If he wins the starting position the Jets shouldn't expect to get the Mike Vick that finished second in the MVP race in 2010.  However, Vick should still have enough left in the tank to keep defenses on their heels. 

Gino Smith was placed in a tough position last year.  The rookie Quarterback struggled mightily at times.  Smith also showed flashes of a solid NFL starter at times.  The addition of Vick could prove costly for the Jets in the long run.  Vick is 33 years old, with the equivalency of 150,000 city miles on those legs.  Smith is supposed to be the future of the New York Jets franchise. 

Desean Jackson and the Philadelphia Eagles appear to be ready to part ways.  Jackson and Vick were good friends during their five seasons together in Philadelphia.  If Vick can some how persuade Jackson to travel up the New Jersey Turnpike the Jets would be adding one of the most dangerous big play threats in the NFL.

Madness is in the air

Opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament kicked off in dramatic fashion Thursday.  Louisville's fourth place seeding was the talk of the week heading into the tournament.  The Manhattan Jaspers were the last team Rick Pitino and company wanted to see in the opening round.  Manhattan head coach Steve Masiello, spent six years on Pitino's coaching staff.  These two teams have a familiarity with one another rarely seen in a first round NCAA Tournament match-up.

From the on-set it was apparent Louisville had their hands full.  Manhattan took Louisville's best shot in the first half, trailing by a slim 35-29 margin during intermission.  The second half exemplifies what March Madness is all about. The two teams traded blows for the first 10 minutes of the second half. Louisville failed to put a strangle hold on the Jaspers.  Manhattan scratched and clawed their way to a five point lead late in the second half.  That's when Louisville's championship swagger came into play.  Queens native Russ Smith, connected on a three to tie the game at 58.  Luke Hancock, connected on two three's that stretched Louisville's lead to 68-62, a margin the Jaspers would not overcome. 

This was a particularly tough game for both coaches to partake in.  Not only was Masiello one of Pitino's assistants, he was also a ball-boy for the championship coach during his tenure with the New York Knicks.  Their relationship is similar to a father and son.

A game like this can prove to be Louisville's spring board towards another NCAA Championship.  It can also be the blue print to defeat Louisville this year.
Louisville and Manhattan gave NCAA fans a first round match-up for the ages.
By the way I have Louisville advancing to the Final Four.  Russ Smith has a great shot winning at tournament MVP.

Knicks pacers garden tonight

The Knicks six game winning streak will be on the line later on when Indiana steps foot in Madison Square Garden.  The Pacers would like nothing better than to end New York's latest push towards a playoff position.  These two teams flat out do not like each other.    

The Knicks have dominated front page news in recent days with the hiring of Phil Jackson as president of basketball operations.  The time has come for New York to regain its focus and take care of business where in counts most.   New York, and more importantly Carmelo Anthony should be well rested having not played since Saturdays resounding win at home over Milwaukee.

The Pacers have won four straight since stumbling a bit after all star weekend.  They enter the game 50 -17, three games ahead of Miami for the number one slot in the eastern conference.  Home court advantage could be the Pacers meal ticket to the finals this year.  Around this time a year ago the Heat were in the process of pulling off a historic 27 game win streak.  This year the team is not hitting on all cylinders in the same manner.  Indiana has the perfect opportunity to walk towards the NBA Finals.  Now is the time for the Pacers to turn in up to another level. 

Hedo Turkoglu contract the worst ever ?

Bad contracts are inevitable in professional sports.  Paying a player for what he or she has accomplished, while simultaneously negotiating based upon what a player is expected to do in the future can be a daunting task.

At times it seems as if organizations enter negotiations blind folded, hell bent on triggering their own demise.  Take Hedo Turkoglu for example.  Turkoglu was a good NBA player during the peak of his career at best.  During the Orlando Magic's 2008-09 NBA Finals run Turkoglu was phenomenal.  His performance down the stretch definitely boosted his stock headed into free agency.  Like many athletes Turkoglu chose finances over a chance at winning a title.  Orlando would not receive a home town discount.

The Toronto Raptors swooped in and signed Turkoglu to a 5 year, $ 53 million dollar contract.
Turkoglu, who was 30 at the time could never live up to this type of money almost ten years into his career.  Hedo Turkoglu is not to blame here.  The Raptors put the money on the table and he took it.  It's his business wither or not winning is a priority.

Turkoglu averaged 11.3ppg his first season in Toronto.  Mid-way through his second year in Toronto the Raptors decided it was time to bail on Turkoglu.  Since signing this deal Turkoglu has been a shell of his former self.  He reminds me of Vlade Divac in a sense that he always appears to be out of shape. 

This is not an indictment against Turkoglu but the proof is in the pudding.

It's impossible to predict a players production years down the line.  It just seems to me like  teams are asking for it with some of these outrageous deals.

Welcome home Phil !

Phil Jackson has experienced the sweet taste of champagne in June more than anyone could ask for in one lifetime.  He has coached the Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls to a combined 11 championships during his illustrious career.  Tack on the two rings he won as a player and you have one heck of a career. 

Phil seems to always be in the right place at the right time.  When he landed the Bulls job in 1989, Horace Grant and Scottie Pippen were both coming into their own.  Michael Jordan had experienced the pain of losing in the playoffs for five years.  The Bulls would go on to win a franchise record 55 games in Phil's first season at the helm.  After only four years in Chicago Phil had 3 rings on his mantle.

After the 1998 season the Chicago Bulls dynasty was no more.  If Michael and Scottie to returned for one more go round I'm  pretty sure Phil would have stuck around.  Instead Michael retired, Scottie resumed his career in Houston and Phil took a year off only to resurface in Los Angeles a year later.

As head coach of the Lakers the stars aligned once again for Phil.  The Lakers most threatening issue was keeping Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant from strangling one another.  If dealing with Kobe was Phil's most difficult task as coach of the Lakers, he certainly gets an A in my book.

Even as a player Phil Jackson was somewhat of a blessed child.  He fit in perfect with the brand of basketball the Knicks embodied during that era. Phil relished his role coming off the bench for the 1969-70 and 1972-73 NBA Champions.  He learned as much as he could from legendary coach Red Holzman.  Playing on those teams molded Phil's coaching style.

Overseeing basketball operations of the New York Knicks is the most difficult basketball challenge of Phil Jackson's professional career.  Sprinkling magic dust and watching the team come together is not going to cut it.

At 68 years old,  Phil appears to be well rested.  He has never given the indication that he is a basketball lifer.  The only accomplishment Phil Jackson is void of is building a team from the ground up.  This is a dicey move by the Knicks that could prove costly in the long haul. 

The New York Knicks have not won an NBA championship in 41 years.  If rolling the dice is what it takes, than so be it.

Louisville a four seed ?

I'm in dire need of an explanation as to how Louisville received a number four seed in the NCAA Tournament!

I thought Rick Pitino lobbying for a number one seed after capturing the inaugural American Athletic Conference Tournament was hilarious.  Apparently the selection committee didn't feel the same.

Louisville ended the weekend with a 29-5 record .  The American Conference is obviously minuscule in comparison to the old Big East Conference.  The Committee treated Louisville as if they played in the Mountain West this year. 

Rick Pitino remains one of the best college coaches in the land.  NCAA Basketball is better because of Rick Pitino.  Coach Pitino is a threat to cut down the nets regardless of where Louisville is seeded.  The beef may prove to be irrelevant but Louisville has a legitimate gripe as to where they've been positioned in the field of 64.

Strength of schedule certainly played a role in this decision.  A four seed is not the worst thing in the world.  Being seeded number one does not guarantee anything.  The day will come when a number one see loses its opening round game.  Either way Louisville seems poised towards another national championship run.

The time is now for CP3 to win

Chris Paul is still a relatively young basketball player.  Since entering the NBA in 2005, Chris has been one of the best point guards in the league.  In only his third season in the league the feisty play maker led the New Orleans Hornets to a franchise record 56 wins. 

Chris is a unique athlete in today's day and age.  There's no spot on the court that Chris can't maneuver his way to to.  If scoring were his sole purpose, Chris would certainly be amongst the league leaders in the category.  Chris Paul's true gift is making his teammates around him better.  Blake Griffin is on his way to a hall of fame career.  DeAndre Jordan has shown drastic improvement this season.  The accelerated improvement of these two highflyers can be attributed to them playing along side Paul.  Tyson Chandler is most affective on offense rolling to the basket for the lob.  Prior to playing with Paul in New Orleans, Chandler was a confused individual on offense.

During his nine year career Chris Paul has never played a full 82 game season.  He's missed at least ten games in five of his nine seasons, including a stint on the injured list this season.  I'm not trying to write an early obituary here.  Chris is the best point guard in a league swarmed with players ready to dethrone the him.  Yet, the fact remains Chris is a small guy in a big mans game.  It's difficult enough maintaining health in this league much less trying to do so bouncing off men like a ping pong on a nightly basis. 

The time is now for Chris Paul to lead the Clippers to an NBA Championship.  As difficult as it may be to admit, the Los Angeles Clipper big men may have grown up before our eyes.  Spanking the Lakers by 50 has become rhetorical.  At the age of 28 Chris has a chance to retire one of the best point guard's in NBA history.  A ring is all that's missing from his list of achievements.  The West is going to be exciting this year.

Tiny Morton

If the reports are true about Dwayne Morton leaving Brooklyn's Abraham Lincoln High School for higher pastures the PSAL will be losing one of its best head coaches.  Morton has coached some of the best players in PSAL history.  Lance Stephenson, Stephon Marbury and younger cousin Sebastian Telfair all captured city championships under Morton while playing at Lincoln.

Since the turn of the century Lincoln has had a lock on the PSAL title.  Morton coached Stevenson to four consecutive city crowns during his time at the Brooklyn school.  Stevenson and crew surpassed Sebastian Telfair's bunch who won the PSAL Championship three consecutive years between 2002-04.  If Morton leaves Lincoln there are a number of schools ready to replace Lincoln as the signature school in the PSAL.

Another Laker Spanking

Boy oh boy how things can change fast in the NBA.  Just three years ago the Los Angeles Lakers were the defending NBA champions.  The OKC Thunder were still the new kids on the block.  Tonight that seems like ages ago.  With 9:30 remaining in the fourth quarter OKC leads the Lakers 109-86.  At this point there's no point to continue watching this one.  Stick a fork in the Lakers they're done.

Jodie Meeks is someone to keep your eye on this off season.  The 26 year old off guard has averaged a career best 15.3ppg in 59 games this season.  The Lakers only have three players signed past this season.  Jodie Meeks as well as the rest of the current Laker squad will spend the remainder of the season auditioning for NBA and European scouts. 

Meeks has the potential to score in bunches.  He scored 42 points against OKC a few days ago.  Basketball junkies can recall Meeks 54 point performance while at Kentucky.  The guy can flat out score and would be a nice addition to a number of teams around the league.  Just some food for thought.

The addition of Caron Butler is yet another intelligent decision by the Thunder front office.  Butler along with Jeremy Lamb provide the Thunder with an extra scoring punch.  Every time Butler shot the ball tonight he looked a Little more comfortable.

At this rate the Lakers don't look like they'll be able to compete with OKC in the near future.  The last thing Kobe Bryant plans on doing is retire a loser.

NFL Free Agency

NEW YORK STUFF

Today is a sad day for big blue nation.  Earlier this afternoon Justin Tuck inked a two year $ 11 million dollar deal with the Oakland Raiders.  Tuck, who was drafted by the Giants in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft, has spent all nine years of his career in New York.  He has been the heart and soul of the Giants defense since Michael Strahan retired.  Replacing a player like Justin Tuck is impossible.  His locker room presence along with his championship swagger make him second to none.  Justin Tuck's pre game speech before Super Bowl 46 was the stuff legends are made of.  I apologize if I sound like a corn ball.

The New York Jets have signed Eric Decker to a five year deal.  Decker is coming off an incredible 2013 season.  He caught 87 balls, for 1,288 yards and 11 touchdowns.  This is a solid addition for the Jets.  At this point in his career Decker is an upgrade to Santonio Holmes.  Jets fans don't expect Decker to duplicate the solid production you've seen in Denver.  Playing with Peyton Manning when things are clicking can inflate an entire offenses statistics. At least a dozen guys owe their biggest pay day to Peyton Manning.  The Jets offense can use any help it can get.  The team has been missing competitive talent at the skill positions over the past two seasons.

NFL STUFF

The New Orleans Saints traded Darren Sproles to the Philadelphia Eagles.  Sproles is a scary addition to Chip Kelly's offense. The 5'6 running back has been one of the most dangerous dual threats on offense in the NFL for years.  Sproles will be a difference maker in the NFC East.  Next year the division will be up for grabs once again.

The Dallas Cowboys released DeMarcus Ware earlier this week.  Ware didn't take long to sign a three year $ 30 million dollar contract with the Denver Broncos.  Ware has as impressive a resume you will find in free agency.  He is two or three solid seasons away from hall of fame consideration.  Ware has racked up 117 sacks and 445 tackles during his nine year career in Dallas.  If Ware can stay healthy he and Von Miller will form one of the elite defensive line tandems in the NFL.  The defending AFC Champions have improved their defense in dramatic fashion.

Knicks recap

Tonight the New York Knicks continued to take advantage of an extremely soft spot in their season.  With tonight's win the Knicks extend their winning streak to five games, the longest of the season thus far.

Cole Aldrich stepped up in emphatic fashion tonight.  With Amar'e Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler both out for the Knicks,  Aldrich stepped up to fill in the void posting an impressive stat line of 12 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks.

Carmelo Anthony continued his superb season with yet another dominant performance.  Carmelo scored 34 points and grabbed nine rebounds in 39 minutes of action.  Carmelo is often criticized for not helping his teammates around him get easier shots. On The First play of the fourth quarter Carmelo drove the baseline drawing two defenders at the basket.  He proceeded to double pump and find Pablo Prigioni open for a three.  New York needs Anthony to continue to make unselfish plays down the stretch as teams will continue to send the double.

The Knicks Achilles heel this season has been finishing off games.  Tonight New York outscored Boston 31-17 in the final period.  At one point the Celtics cut the lead to nine.

Every time Tim Hardaway Jr. has a good game the future looks brighter for the Knicks.  I can not say enough about this rookie.  Coming into this season little was expected of Hardaway Jr.  Tonight the rookie scored 22 points, added three rebounds and a steal.

Jeff Green was great tonight for Boston.  Green scored 27 points in a losing effort.  Green usually has big games against the Knicks dating back to last years playoff series.

As of right now the Knicks are 3.0 games behind Atlanta for the final playoff spot in the east. 

Knicks tape!

Pacers add another BIG

Andrew Bynum scored eight points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the Indiana Pacers victory over the Boston Celtics tonight.  The fact that Bynum contributed is a surprise in itself.  His career has been in limbo since leaving the Lakers.  Once one of the best centers in the NBA, Bynum is as mysterious a character you will find in the NBA.

Although Andrew Bynum may seem like a lost cause at times, the fact remains he is seven feet tall.  The Miami Heat considered signing Bynum but ultimately opted not to sign the troubled big man.  The Pacers now have two big bodies they can throw at the Heat if necessary.  Miami may have made a mistake by passing on Bynum.  If nothing else they would have at least denied the Pacers the opportunity to sign Bynum.  If Andrew Bynum can stay healthy he will be a factor in the playoffs.

The Pacers were a very good basketball team last year.  This season they've made the transition from good to elite.  With this latest addition Indiana has to feel like this their year.

Knicks win 4 straight!

Apparently the Knicks aren't finished toying with the city of New York's emotions just yet.  After looking dead in the water since the all-star break the Knicks have run off four consecutive victories. 

Tonight the Knicks didn't let the game slip away in the third or fourth quarter.  Fourteen times this season they have had the lead in the fourth quarter and failed to close the game out.  Leading by only six heading into the fourth quarter, New York turned up another notch scoring 32 points in the final period.

Amar'e Stoudemire shot 9-10 from the field and grabbed 6 rebounds in 29 minutes of action.  He's continued to show signs of improvement this season.  Stat is playing his best basketball in three years.  Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 28 points, going 5-7 from three point range.  The rookie has arguably been the Knicks best spot up shooter this season.  Tyson Chandler missed tonight's game for personal reasons.  The team didn't miss a beat with Amar'e Stoudemire filling in the starting line up.

Mike Carter Williams put on his own show on Broadway.  The stand our rookie scored 23 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and hauled in 10 assist.  Carter Williams has taken after some of the NBA's best posting an impressive stat line at Madison Square Garden during his rookie season.

The Knicks next game will be in Boston Wednesday night.  The quest for the eight seed continues then.

Fantasy basketball playoffs approach.

For those of you who indulge yourselves in the world of fantasy basketball the playoffs finally have arrived.  After weeks of trading, free agent additions, lucrative smack talk and watching the waiver wire fantasy owners from coast to coast are now set to clash with the best of their leagues.

Points, assists, steals and any other statistic relevant in your particular league is all some fans pay attention to.  The truth is not everyone is interested in LeBron James having his own spot on Mount Rushmore.  Some fans would be hard pressed to tell you the expected starting five for their home town team.  That same individual could likely name every player starting for them in their fantasy league.

Fantasy basketball exposes elements of a players game that may be overlooked.  Josh Smith,  who is considered by many an underachieving power forward has much more value in a fantasy league compared to his NBA value.  He brings blocks, steals and scoring to the table.  Sprinkle in a three every now and then and you have yourself one of the best power forwards you can find. 

Fantasy basketball is exactly what its name describes.  Some feel it takes away from the integrity of the game.  Those who feel that way have a valid point.  Despite how some may feel this time of year in the NBA is a tad bit more exciting thanks to fantasy basketball.

Knicks still alive

The Knicks are down but they're certainly not out.  With Saturdays win over the struggling Philadelphia 76ers the Knicks are still alive in the playoff race.  The fact that the Knicks are even mentioned amongst teams that have a shot at the playoffs is a miracle in itself.  At 24-40, the Knicks are 3.5 games back of Atlanta for the final playoff spot in the eastern conference.  Whoever ends up with the final playoff spot in the east will have a tough time competing in the first round.

The next three games for New York are all winnable.  At this point their is no room for error if the Knicks expect to make the playoffs.  To make the playoffs the Knicks will probably need at least 38 wins.  That means they would have to go 14-4 the rest of the way.  If New York can get the job done over these next three ball games this season may still be salvageable.

Whichever teams wind up with the top picks in this years draft will improve.  Missing out on the playoffs doesn't really seem like a bad idea for those teams right on the cusp of making the playoffs.  In other words the Knicks will not benefit from tanking the remainder of the season.

Pacers Slumping

The Indiana Pacers have owned the best record in the eastern conference for the majority of the season thus far.  The Pacers and the Miami Heat appear to be on a collision course to meet in the eastern conference finals once again. 

Home-court advantage has been heavily stressed within the Pacers franchise this season.  With this latest three game losing streak the Pacers are now tied with Miami in the loss column.  The Pacers haven't been doing themselves any favors by repeatedly stating their desire to capture the number one seed in the east.  By doing so the bar has now been set extremely high. 

The Miami Heat usually take their game to another level this time of year.  If Indiana continues to slump they can kiss home-court advantage goodbye.  Miami is a confident group of players.  The Heat feel they can go into any teams building and win if necessary.  The Heat also feel like no team can come into their building and win a game seven.  The million dollar question is will losing the number one seen destroy Indiana's psyche.

Paul George couldn't have chose a worse time to enter a slump.  Over his last three ball games he's averaged 13.7ppg while shooting only 29.5% from the field.  Keep in mind, Paul George at one point this season was beginning to garner MVP consideration.  Such conversations have recently been quieted by the excellent play of LeBron James and Kevin Durant.

LeBron is in an excellent position to win his third NBA championship.  Now is the time for the Pacers to right the ship.  If Indiana misses out on the number one seed you can all but pencil in the Miami Heat in the NBA finals.

NBA/ABA History

Kevin Durant is one of the most unique athletes in sports today.  His slender but wiry strong, 6"10 frame makes his jump shot nearly impossible to defend.  He is often compared to George Gervin.  I've always been well aware of Gervin's  scoring prowess.  To my generation Gervin is often referred to as the player most like Michael Jordan to have never won an NBA championship.  One of the players that helped build the false idea that a scoring champion couldn't win a title. 

Between 1977-78 and 1983-84 George Gervin never averaged less than 25.9ppg in a season.  Seven consecutive seasons as one of the top scorers in the NBA.  During the 1979-80 season he averaged 33.1ppg.  In 1977-78 Gervin averaged 27.2ppg without a three point line.  The Ice man didn't need a three point line to light you up.  He finished his career with a 25.1ppg average going back to his ABA days.  His patented finger roll was a beautiful sight to see and equally as difficult to counter.

Missing out on winning a championship in the NBA can damage a players legacy tremendously.  If Gervin had managed to capture a ring during his dominant playing days he would likely be more celebrated.  The San Antonio Spurs do a great job of recognizing his accomplishments as a trailblazer in their organization.  George Gervin set the standard of excellence that Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and David Robinson have transcended into championship basketball.  Today the Spurs are one of the most consistent franchises in professional sports.

If you consider yourself a true basketball fan from my generation it would be wise to take a moment and look up George Gervin's statistics.  They're nothing short of extraordinary. 

PHIL JACKSON TO THE BIG APPLE?

The New York Knicks have once again reached out to Phil Jackson, expressing the desire for him to become the teams next head coach.  Since coach Jackson left the Bulls after his sixth and final championship in Chicago his name has repeatedly come up as a possible candidate to coach the Knicks.

New York will always be Phil's home.  He played 11 of his 13 NBA seasons with the Knicks, capturing two world championships along the way.  The 1969-70 Knicks are known to be one of the most unselfish teams in NBA history.  Phil embraced his role as the ultimate team player.  As a player he always gave maximum effort and was respected by his teammates.  His time in New York is what has molded him into a great coach.  One last coaching stop where he began his career would bring Phil's life full circle. 

Most NBA fans are well aware of Phil's accomplishments as a head coach.  11 NBA championships, four time all-star head coach, 1996 NBA coach of the year and the highest winning percentage of any NBA coach to name a few.  Phil's greatness is not determined by numbers.  Without great players he most likely wouldn't have 11 rings.  Without Phil Jackson, Michael Jordan probably wouldn't have six championships.  Michael alienated his teammates.  If Brad Sellers or Horace Grant were stinking up the joint in practice Michael would make the situation worse.  He would ride you if you let him.  Michael didn't embrace Scottie until midway through their first championship season. Phil changed the nature of the team.  He transformed Chicago from a one man highlight reel into a team.

Phil Jackson's tactics got the most out of the Bulls during the 90's.  Horace Grant was drafted by Chicago in 1987.  Grant was a project coming out of Clemson.  With hard work the Bulls believed Grant could be one of the best Power Forwards in the NBA four or five years down the road.  He was a quiet, reserved guy who was well liked amongst his teammates.  Phil always seemed to bark at Horace for one reason or the other.  This was apart of the coaches genius.  Phil knew Horace was strong minded and could take the punishment.  His teammates would rally around him, creating more of a brotherly bond.  After a while Phil's ploy became apparent and the ripping of Grant consequently ceased.  Horace would become the Bulls most important front-court player during their first three-peat.  His defensive intensity allowed Michael and Scottie to play the passing lanes and kick the Bulls transition game into jump start.

The Knicks roster is certainly a step below contention.  For Phil to even consider the Knicks he would probably want control of the entire operation.  Every time the Knicks attempted to woo Phil Jackson to New York they failed.  This time could be different due to one player.  The Knicks have a legitimate superstar in his prime.  Boston turned the ship around in 2008, going from worst to first in only one season.  Theirs no reason why the Knicks cant accomplish the same feat.

In reality Phil Jackson to the Knicks is a long shot.  If he does decide to return to the sideline that changes everything in New York.  Carmelo Anthony's pending free agency becomes  a maligned issue.

ROCKETS SET TO TAKE OFF

In case you haven't noticed,  the Houston Rockets have quietly gelled into a solid basketball team.  Under Kevin McHale's guidance the Rockets have played excellent basketball since the turn of the calendar year.  Houston is 20-6 since January, the best record in the NBA.

Houston has gotten to this position by feasting on eastern conference teams.  This season they are 18-3 against the eastern conference, the best of any western conference team.  No team in the east has won on the Rockets home-court thus far this season.

If history is a sign of what's to come, the Rockets are currently in a good position.  Over the past 33 years the NBA championship has been dispersed amongst nine franchises.  Houston won back to back titles during the 90's.  The front office has displayed the capability to maintain a level of consistency around the NBA.  For some strange reason the Larry O'Brien trophy seems to rotate cities.

James Harden and Dwight Howard have the potential to be the best guard, center combination in the NBA. When looking at the history of the NBA I notice a particular trend.  The leagues most successful teams almost always have two stars.  Tony Parker and Tim Duncan, Michael and Scottie, Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant to name a few.

If Dwight Howard can manage to score on the block with consistency in the postseason,  Houston has a great shot at winning the west.  Like him or not Howard is the most dominant center in the NBA.

The Rockets are one of the top ten teams in the NBA in defensive efficiency as well as offensive efficiency.  Patrick Beverley is an excellent defensive point guard.  Chandler Parsons has developed into on of the better small forwards around the NBA.  The Rockets have viable options aside from Harden and Howard.

Houston's lack of a true ball distributor could prove costly come playoff time.  They're a young, confident, and jubilant bunch that doesn't seem to fear anyone around the NBA.

Knicks Front office

The New York Knicks ended the 1994-95 season in heart breaking fashion.  The Knicks came into that season with high expectations as defending eastern conference champions.  After a slow start New York finished the season 55-27, their fourth consecutive 50 win season under Pat Riley.  After trailing the Indiana Pacers 3-1 in their eastern conference second round series the Knicks rallied to force a game seven.  The Knicks trailed 97-95 on their final possession.  Patrick Ewing drove the lane and missed a finger roll off the back iron from point blank range.  NBC cameras trailed a dejected Pat Riley as he returned to the locker room wearing a look of disgust.

This would prove to be Pat Riley's last season with the Knicks.  The organization failed to meet Riley's expectations financially nor did the two sides agree on the championship coaches desire to attain more control in the front office. 

Micky Arison purchased the Miami Heat franchise in 1995.  Arison, who was never interested in being a hands on owner hired a basketball guy to make basketball decisions.  Riley jumped ship to Miami beginning in the 1995-96 season.  Within one year the Heat would set a then franchise record 61 wins.  The Knicks have never won more than 60 games in a season.  Under Pat Riley the Miami Heat have won three NBA championships.  The Knicks have won two NBA championships since the leagues inception in 1946.

Isiah Thomas was arguably the most destructive general manager in Knick history.  Yet Thomas still serves as a special consultant to James Dolan.  Donnie Walsh developed the players New York used to acquire Carmelo Anthony.  The Knicks failed to resign Walsh after his contract expired.

The New York Knicks troubles are a direct result of poor management.

Knicks ???

If any team around the NBA is looking to end a losing streak just look forward to the next time you play the Knicks.  Better yet, if any NBA franchise desperately needs a road win just look forward to traveling to MSG.  Carmelo Anthony is arguably the most dominant scorer in the NBA today.  For the Knicks to manage to score only 85 points against a struggling Detroit Piston ball club is inexcusable. 

Tyson Chandler missed multiple shots around the basket, some of which were uncontested.  J.R Smith didn't make a basket until the fourth quarter.  Tim Hardaway Jr. looked like a rookie tonight.  Carmelo Anthony was sensational once again but the Knicks imploded down the stretch.

Raymond Felton is struggling to the point where Mike Woodson may have to consider benching him.  His poor play has hurt the team all season.  At this rate it doesn't seem like Raymond Felton will contribute anything for the remainder of the season.  I certainly hope I am wrong about that.

Nets poised for playoffs.

Since purchasing the Brooklyn Nets Mikhail Prokhorov hasn't been shy about his expectations for his basketball team.  Prokhorov doesn't intent on playing second fiddle to the New York Knicks in the largest basketball city in the country.  He and James Dolan have taken slight shots at one another in the media. 

At this point the Nets are far from a championship contender.  Miami and Indiana are the only teams in the eastern conference that have earned the right to be considered serious contenders.  Brooklyn has been up and down all season.  In the last few weeks the microscope has been off the Nets.  Right now the Nets are only three games back of Toronto in the loss column in the Atlantic Division.  If they can manage to reach 46 wins that should be enough to capture the division. 

The Nets are actually one of the deeper teams in the NBA.  Their veteran roster could pose match-up issues for teams in the eastern conference come playoff time.  Joe Johnson, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce are no strangers to post season basketball.  Having Jason Kidd on the sideline adds almost 20 years of playoff experience as a player.

If the playoffs began today Brooklyn would open up in Toronto.  The Nets have the ability to knock off any team in the east outside of Miami and Indiana.  A second round series with Brooklyn and either the Pacers or Heat could be a possibility this spring.  The Nets would be huge underdogs. 

I'm certain Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett are salivating over one more opportunity to knock LeBron James off his pedestal.

Salute to Iverson

Last night Allen Iverson became the sixth player in Philadelphia 76ers franchise history to have his jersey retired.  Iverson was one of the most controversial athletes in NBA history.  He also ranks amongst the best scorers in NBA history. 

Iverson was selected #1 overall in the 1996 NBA draft.  At that moment the NBA would undergo a wave of change.  Iverson ushered in the hip hop era.  He grew an afro, acquired numerous tattoos, froze Michael Jordan in his shoes and played with a reckless abandonment rarely seen in an NBA player.

You can describe Allen Iverson as a player in many ways.  He was an uncanny scorer and phenomenal athlete during his youthful days.  He was also stubborn and at times a head coaches nightmare.  One thing you never doubted about Iverson was his effort.  He came to play night in and night out.  26.7ppg for his career speaks itself.

Iverson is likely a first ballot hall of famer.  The day he enters the hall of fame will certainly be unique as Allen has never been shy about expressing his emotions.  Allen Iverson may be retired but his contributions to the NBA are evident.  Brandon Jennings, Isaiah Thomas and Chris Paul all have elements of Iverson's style in their game.

Knick Misery

This will certainly be one of the bleakest post I have written thus far this year. 

The Knicks are 21-38, they're currently in 11th position in the east,  they've lost five consecutive games and are in grave danger of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2010.  New York has no first round draft pick this summer,  Carmelo Anthony can opt to leave the Knicks this summer,  Mike Woodson is on the hot seat and the team lacks any legit trading pieces.  The Knicks are currently a disaster.

Mike Woodson is a blue collar coach.  That's what makes him special around the NBA.  He demands maximum effort from his players.  At this point is seems as if the Knicks just aren't responding.  Mike Woodson deserves to stay on as Knicks head coach.  James Dolan and the roster the Knicks assembled failed this season, not Mike Woodson.  If the Knicks decide to make a coaching change I'd suggest they hire someone whose name rings bells.  If not keeping Woodson is a no brainer.

Carmelo Anthony had a dejected look on his face as his coaches and teammates embraced him while exiting the game last night against Golden state.  Carmelo is a warrior and will give his all until the last second has elapsed.  This latest losing streak may have heavy implications on Carmelo's decision to return to the Knicks.