Author Archive
Carmelo Anthony Doesn’t Deserve Another Round of Phil Jackson’s Mind Games
January 17th, 2017
NEW YORK — The funny part about all of this: Charley Rosen is right.
Trading Carmelo Anthony would be the savvy thing to do. The New York Knicks, as constituted, are stuck in the mud.
Following their 108-107 home loss Monday to the Atlanta Hawks, the Knicks are 18-24. The only thing ...
Surreal Derrick Rose Saga Still Has More Questions Than Answers
January 10th, 2017
GREENBURGH, N.Y. — On Tuesday, Derrick Rose stood before reporters at the New York Knicks' training facility and attempted to explain why he had mysteriously disappeared from the team the night before by skipping out on a home game against the New Orleans Pelicans.
"It was a family issue. It had ...
What We Know About Derrick Rose’s Mysterious Absence
January 9th, 2017
NEW YORK — The first indication that something wasn't right came just about two hours before tipoff Monday night.
It was then that New York Knicks assistant coach Joshua Longstaff could be seen scanning the Madison Square Garden court. Longstaff had just wrapped up a session with point guard Ron Baker ...
Years of Polishing Have Made Rudy Gobert an Elite NBA Center
January 5th, 2017
NEW YORK — Rudy Gobert will tell you he's the NBA's best center right now. His coach won't disagree.
But before he became an All-Star hopeful and the literal center of one of the league's sneaky contenders, Gobert was just a 21-year-old French kid trying to learn the NBA. He played in 45 ...
Who, When, Why? The Unwritten Rules of Butt-Slaps in the NBA
December 28th, 2016
NEW YORK — Few players can electrify onlookers as prolifically as Brandon Jennings. His wicked crossover routinely leaves opponents falling back on their heels. He relishes the spotlight too and has no qualms turning down the mundane to seek it out.
Jennings is someone who can bring both the crowd and teammates ...
It’s Time to Stop Stalling and Move Kristaps Porzingis to Center
December 25th, 2016
NEW YORK — For all the promise the New York Knicks have shown this season—a 16-13 record, one of the top marks in the Eastern Conference—they're still a team littered with flaws.
Their defense—which has allowed 107.5 points surrendered per 100 possessions, the NBA's sixth-worst mark—has been atrocious. Their mediocre offense ...
NY Knicks’ Offense Is Improved, Yet Still Looks Doomed to Mediocrity
December 16th, 2016
NEW YORK — It’s been a strange season so far for the Knicks.
They’re 14-12 and owners of the fourth-best record in the Eastern Conference, yet they’ve also been outscored by 3.4 points per 100 possessions. They join the Oklahoma City Thunder as the only two teams with winning records and ...
New York Knicks Finding a Use for the Triangle After All
December 7th, 2016
NEW YORK — The triangle lives. Well, sort of.
You're no doubt familiar with New York Knicks team president Phil Jackson's beloved offense and all of the drama that comes along with it. Jackson adores his triangle. The players, not so much.
Head coach Jeff Hornacek, the middleman in all this, has pledged public ...
How Cody Zeller Mastered the NBA’s Most Popular Play
December 5th, 2016
NEW YORK — The pick-and-roll has morphed into the NBA's most popular play during recent years.
Offensive attacks, such as the one belonging to the Charlotte Hornets—who run pick-and-rolls more frequently than 25 of the league's 30 teams—are built around it. Defensive schemes are predicated on being able to stop it. The play ...
Derrick Rose Creates Looming Decision for New York Knicks at Point Guard
November 30th, 2016
NEW YORK — Every now and then, he flashes a glimpse of the player he once was.
Sometimes, it will come in a quick crossover followed by an acrobatic finish at the hoop. Other times, he’ll leap off the floor on one side of the rim—only to emerge on the other ...