The Knicks and Allen Iverson…will it happen?

I’m sure you’ve been inundated with everyone’s two cents these past few days on whether AI is a good fit at MSG, but who cares what blogger nerds like me think (and Bobby, who weighs in one post below).

We caught up with a couple of Knicks tonight and got THEIR opinion – the only ones that matter, really – on whether or not they think Allen Iverson is a good fit with the Knicks.

Check out the video below for interviews with David Lee, Jared Jeffries and Chris Duhon (who will lose significant playing time if Iverson becomes a Knick – you can feel the tension!!).

So the Knicks are considering bringing in Allen Iverson. I have mixed feelings on this, as should most Knicks fans, Apparently the Knick brass has misgivings about A.I. too.

We are just one month away from the start of the NBA season. The Knicks are hoping to field a competitive team while waiting to see if they can get their hands on LeBron James or any of the other attractive players who will be free agents in the summer of 2010. We spoke to the players today at their annual media day.

Ok, that title is a little misleading. Here’s what REALLY happened.

So I was at the US Open Friday afternoon, and in my scramble to catch a shuttle to the LIRR station, I leapt on a bus about to leave the course and grabbed the last remaining open seat.

Desperately trying to catch my breath, as I am hopelessly out of shape, I didn’t immediately realize the 6’10” individual sitting in the seat directly to my right. We’re talking like three inches apart, shoulder to shoulder.

Anyway, as the guy in the seat on the OTHER side of me was offering to buy the unopened Gatorade popping out of my bag, other riders in our immediate vicinity correctly identified the enormous guy as….Knicks Assistant Coach Herb Williams!

(By the way, I gave away that Gatorade for free. I took it from the media lunch room just before leaving...I can’t resist free stuff).

It was a nice night at the Garden... Well not the actual game.. The Knicks blew a 10 point 4th quarter lead and lost to the Orlando Magic 106-102... but at halftime, the Knicks honored 7 of the greats to wear the orange and blue... Carl Braun, Richie Guerin, Willis Reed, Walt Frazier, Bernard King, Patrick Ewing and Dick McGuire... So whatever era you're from as a Knicks fan, "your guy" was honored.

Eddy Curry's Knick career certainly hasn't been much to write home about. He was a talented question mark to begin with. The Chicago Bulls, Curry's hometown team, were so concerned about his cardiac problems they had no trouble letting the Knicks pick up the 6'11" big man a four years ago. Questions about his heart (literally and figuratively), his knees, plus off the court disasters have haunted him. Even coach Mike D'Antoni was surprised to see Curry at practice today.

It's not Paul and Heather, Madonna and Guy or Brad and Jennifer, but Stephon Marbury has his freedom tonight-and so do the Knicks. The buyout from hell is complete. No matter who is at fault: Jim Dolan for letting Steph hang around after showing Isiah Thomas the door; coach Mike D'Antoni and GM Donnie Walsh for not being upfront with Starbury, or Marvury himself for not seeing the writing on the wall and getting out when he had the chance. WHATEVER. The deal is done. Marbury loses over 2 million of the 21 he's earning this season. The Knicks get some cap space and (to them) one damn big distraction. The team? After all the necessary questions before tomorrow's game, Marbury will be long forgotten.

He was possibly the most talented guy Thomas brought in here, but playing in his hometown, Marbury never quite fit in-WHERE have we heard that before? Within a few days, Marbury will probably be a Celtic. Let's see if he tries to fit in a little better with K-G then when the two were in Minnesota. There is a distinct possibility that Marbury could possess in about 4 months what he never came close to in 5 years at MSG:a championship ring.

Dear Larry –

We’ve nearly got this team the way we like it, with character guys taking the floor each night. We’re well aware of your reputation – six teams in 11 seasons – so get your act together by the time you step in that locker room!

The past couple years here have been brutal at times. Just look at some of the rotten apples that have infiltrated the Garden: Steve Francis, Isiah Thomas, Stephon Marbury, Zach Randolph, etc.

It was impossible to root for that ghastly bunch, and we feared the harm they’d caused to this franchise’s reputation would follow us for years.

A group of local sports stars came out to Harlem Thursday afternoon to cut the celebratory ribbon at the unveiling of the refurbished Harlem Dowling Center for Children and Family Services.

Knicks players Al Harrington and Wilson Chandler, Rangers Aaron Voros and Brandon Dubinsky, the Liberty's Tiffany Jackson and MSG legends John Starks and Adam Graves were all on hand to commemorate the event.

We caught up with many of the stars and some of the staff to get their take on the new-look facility.

David Lee was NOT among the seven reserves named to the Eastern Conference All Star team Thursday night. Lee’s omission means the Knicks will be without an all-star representative for the 8th straight year. Yikes!

Here are the East reserves:
Devin Harris – NJ
Paul Pierce – BOS
Chris Bosh – TOR
Joe Johnson – ATL
Danny Granger – IND
Rashard Lewis – ORL
Jameer Nelson – ORL

So was Lee snubbed? To be honest, I really don’t know. There are several arguments FOR and AGAINST Lee’s making the team. After breaking them down, I’m still not sure. Let’s take a look.

So there I was last Sunday night after watching the Eagles beat the Vikings in the NFC Wild Card playoffs. I turn on MSG to learn that the Knicks had beaten the champion Celtics! First thought: The Celts' Big 3 of Garnett, Pierce and Allen missed the flight to New York City OR they had all eaten at a restaurant threatened with closure by the NYC Health Department. But no, the Knicks REALLY did win. Coach Mike D'Antoni hoped the win was something to build on. Sadly, the foundation held for less than 48 hours.

No, that's not a misprint. The Knicks beat the Celtics by 12 at the Garden Sunday night.

Wilson Chandler scored a career-high 31 points and Al Harrington chipped in 30 to help the Knicks snap an 8-game losing streak against the defending champs.

Wasn't it just a year ago when the Celts beat the Knicks by about 60??

Anyway, if you're still having a tough time believing that the Knicks ACTUALLY routed the champs, we have the postgame reaction to prove it. Take a listen to Harrington, D-Lee and Chris Duhon.

PHOTOS: Knicks Upset Celtics, 100-88

We went to the Garden before the Knicks game with the Pacers to get some players’ thoughts on the Stephon Marbury-to-Boston rumors (check out our blog post below for more).

While most of the players were tight-lipped, as I’m sure you can imagine, Q-Richardson and Tim Thomas offered some insights.

Believe it or not, every player we talked to told us the story was NEWS TO THEM!! Apparently there’s no internet access in the MSG locker rooms.

Here’s what the guys had to say.

Remember when Stephon Marbury went to the Knicks/Lakers game last month in LA and watched the game from the stands?

That night he told reporters his days with the Knicks were numbered and “the team I’m going to go to, a lot of people will be SHOCKED.”

You weren’t alone if you thought that was just Steph being Steph…CRAZY, that is. But apparently, Starbury wasn’t kiddin’.

Reports are out today that the Celtics – THAT’S RIGHT – the Celtics…defending champs….the definition of team chemistry….want Marbury to help bolster a depleted bench (OHHHHHHHHHHH Baby...imagine if they get the deal done by Sunday. Celtics vs. Knicks at MSG).

Where to begin??

Last night, LeBron James and the Cavaliers came to town. During a 119-101 blowout that wasn't even that close, Knicks fans treated the NBA's Chosen One as if he were already wearing #23. If Quentin Richardson is still with the team in 2010, would King James have to buy the uniform number? Once again, the Knicks are teasing their fans. They're probably thinking, "You've waited 35 years for an NBA Title, what's a few more years?"

It's Official: The Knicks have acquired Elizabeth, New Jersey native Al Harrington from the Golden State Warriors Leading scorer Jamal Crawford heads to the West Coast. Shortly afterwards, the club traded Zach Randolph and Mardy Collins to the Clippers for Cuttino Mobley and Tim Thomas.

While it's true that Donnie Walsh drafted Harrington in 1998 and loves his rebounding and versatility, these deals are all about the future-one that may not include ANY of the players the Knicks acquired today.

Knicks guard Jamal Crawford prepares to make a pass under defensive pressure from Jazz center Mehmet Okur in the fourth quarter. (Newsday / J. Conrad Williams Jr. / November 9, 2008)

The New York Knicks haven't celebrated a winning season since 2001, and I can't imagine that this dismal streak will end any time soon. Despite starting the season at 5-3, the Knicks don't yet look like a team ready to make a playoff run. Their lack of talent, leadership, and depth will keep Mike DiAntoni from creating the type of fast-paced offense that produced his success in Phoenix. The Knicks don't have a consistent 20-point scorer, and they aren't likely to turn things around with Chris Duhon setting the pace at point guard. And the defensive unit has allowed more than 105 points per game. Don't expect DiAntoni's coaching style to allow any improvement in that department.