Marbury Writes for NY Post

Breaking News! Marbury does it again. No new Starbury (yet). Thankfully, no new body ink, but Stephon Marbury has pulled another stunt. In the closing hours of 2008, NY Post reporter, Marc Berman, published a post authored by the banished Knicks point guard on Post Knicks Blog. Who cares?

On a serious, I'm not too interested in his new aerobics video. I don't care what his blog says and will ever say. Just like I don't want to listen to Dennis Miller talk about football on Monday nights. I'd rather just watch Steph play basketball if that's cool.

In a really cheesy way, I hope Steph makes a turnaround this new year - even in the next couple of months. If he still loves the game, it will show if he does get back on the court this year. If he still loves to play, he'll still be worth watching.

Photo Opp

Danilo Gallinari poses for photo with Italian soccer player Stefano Mauri before game against the Denver Nuggets on December 28, 2008. About the most action he'll see for the rest of the season by the looks of things.

Knicks Cap

This Knicks cap, though not my own, was one of my favorite that I peeped this year. First saw this in the spring, Mishka and Cap City are responsible for this “New York” Team Series of custom New Era lids.

Knicks Kicks

Saw these on someone's feet recently. These Nike Flight Dunk Hoop joints are supposedly Knick-inspired. They were pretty popular kicks on the streetball scene this summer and this photo comes from a post from August'08.

Regies Philbin Reps the Knicks

Curry Coming Back?

In an MSG interview during the 1st QT of the Knicks-Nuggets game, Eddy Curry said he'll be back in about two weeks. He wanted to play and according to Kelly Tripucka, an odd choice for a commentator in my book, he's needed on the team. At this point, with no end to the Marbury fiasco in sight, Walsh is during a lot of money just to make a point.

Curry may be injured, but how he'll fit in on this Knicks team remains to be seen. He hasn't had much chance to play or even actively practice with the club. He's missed a lot of games and his conditioning will have no choice but to be exposed when he does return. Ultimately, Curry needs to make the decision to play that Starbury didn't. Curry has a great opportunity to step in and help put the Knicks back on track - if that is even possible.

"I talked to [Coach Mike D'Antoni] a couple of times," Curry told the Post before Chrsitmas. "He really assured me he wants me to be part of what's going on and for me not to lose my concentration and stay in it mentally and keep trying to work hard so when I come back I'm not too far behind. I'm glad he's anticipating my return."

It seems like both player and coach realize that they need each other. There is no getting around size in the NBA and Curry possesses a ton of size. The issue with him has always been the way he uses his span and strength. While Curry will have to get creative if he's really going to adapt to Coach D's style, Coach D'Antoni will have to be willing to coach Curry like he never has before. Bluntly, Curry must be willing to be coached and D'Antoni must be willing to coach him. You can have it any other way if there is an chance of the Knicks making the playoff.

According to the Post and ESPN.COM, Curry completed a three-week rehab that included a weekly shot in his knee. He might be able to rejoin the team in full practices in a week. Curry could make his season debut in two weeks. Even so, in what condition and of what kind of use to the Knicks?

"I'm excited, I'm ready to get back," Curry told the Post. "I'm definitely excited."

Curry averaged 13.2 points and 4.7 rebounds per game under Zeke Thomas last season. During this year's exhibition season, Curry averaged 4.3 points and 2.5 boards in just 14 minutes. After the trade of Zach Randolph, the Knicks need Curry's 7-footers services. His return will be key to any potential playoff surge the Knicks made.

The sudden change of heart seems a little desperate. The entire Knicks situation is getting foggy again. It's as if, they playoffs will never be a priority as long is there is an excuse why we don't need to be in them. Mike Breen of MSG said before halftime D'Antoni was quoted as saying, "Let's stop talking about the playoffs and get back to what we do best."

Did he mean loose?

Vintage Knicks Stickers

I found these stickers a while back at Royal Collectibles on Metropolitan Avenue in Queens. I'm not sure where the came from, other than the Fleer company, but they seemed like a pretty good find. I guess, I gottalota Knicks sh*t.

photo: Maggie Coughlan

Nate Robinson Crossover

Robinson Returns to Dunk Contest

Dwight Howard will defend his Slam Dunk title during NBA All-Star Weekend in Phoenix in February. He'll battle Memphis’ Rudy Gay and past winner Nate Robinson of the Knicks.

Robinson won in 2006 by dunking over retired pro, Spud Webb, a undersized NBA star and Dunk Champ himself. He competed in 2007, but couldn't get past a tough Gerald Green, then of the Celtics. Green, now with the Timberwolves, lost last year's contest to "Superman" Dwight Howard in 2008.

A fan vote will pick the fourth competitor for this year's dunk contest, but as it stands, the three said players are in.

I (Lebron) NY

Die hard Knick fan, Ivan Cash, once arrested for selling Hate the Coach shirts last January, has designed a new Lebron to NYK shirt that plays off of the famous New York tourism logo.

SLAM ONLINE: Patrick Ewing Jr. Q & A

Patrick Ewing Jr. has a few people hoping that he dopes get called up to the Knicks and play in the gym that his father once ruled. I spoke with him moments after he played in his first game for the Reno Big Horns in the NBA D-League.

Check out our chat on SLAM ONLINE.

Cuttino Mobley Reaches The End

Cuttino Mobley has officially retired. After 10-years of playing through a heart condition, Mobley came to the Knicks in the trade that sent Zach Randolph to the Clippers. He ended his NBA career before ever playing in a game for the Knicks after the trade.

I can remember him having a 12 point 1st QT when he was on the Rockets. He had his moments in the NBA and theres nothing that can be taken away from him.

Big Night, Big City

David Lee and Chris Duhon had a huge might last night and proved their value to the Knicks. Last night's 138-125 win over the Warriors was highlighted by a freakish effort on the part of Lee (37 points, 21 rebounds) and Duhon

USA Today reported that Lee's outing was the first 30-20 game in regulation since Patrick Ewing had 36 points and 21 boards against the Sixers on Jan. 23, 1994.

Nice game, let's just hope it can fuel a string of wins before the Knicks fall further into doom.

SLAM ONLINE: John Starks Q & A

John Starks left everything out on the court. He was cock and arrogant - and way off from the field - at times, but what came across was the passion and effort most of the time. His ability to change the game and make plays on desire alone was impressive.

We had a pretty long chat about the finer points of his career. Check out the transcript on SLAM ONLINE.

Jamal Crawford to the Warriors

I'm a little heartbroken that the Knicks sent Jamal Crawford to the Warriors in exchange for Al Harrington. With all their struggles, the Knicks could have used a classy cat like Crawford, I'm no Lebron-is-actually-coming-convert, so I would have rather seen a return to the playoffs as opposed to a clearing of cap space.

As far as Crawford is concerned, my feelings for him and his efforts here will never vary. He was a true player who played to win in the worst situations. He may have never ever been to the playoffs, but he was aware of of it and working hard to improve on it - which is a lot more than yo can say about some of his teammates in New York. I'm ranting, but Crawford will be missed more than fans know.

Harrington has a big upside. He's considered by experts as a "better player." He's from Jersey and a good dose of local talent might be what the Knicks need to rebuild a little esteem around. Let's see how it goes, the bottom line is the Knicks just lost and gained a really good guy. So, we're about even.

Zach Randolph Gets Clipped

In their second move of the day, the Knicks sent the Clippers forward Zach Randolph and guard Mardy Collins today in exchange for forward Tim Thomas and guard Cuttino Mobley. The move should serve well for the Clippers by making them more competitive and filling a hole in the paint left vacant by the departure of Elton Brand from LA. How it will serve the Knicks will remain to be seen.

Tim Thomas, another local guy who will start his second stint with the Knicks, should provide quality minutes. Though he was included in the deal, it's still unclear if Cuttino Mobley will be healthy enough to pass a physical.

The saddest part of this move was that Randolph was rarely part of the problem during his days with the Knicks. He tried hard and his numbers reflected his effort. Sooner or later they are going to have to abandon the blind hope that Lebron "The Next Michael Jordan" James will pick New York in the 2010.

SLAM ONLINE: Charles Smith Q & A

Needless to say that, as a Knick fan, I jumped at the chance to speak with Charles Smith. His now infamous series of missed put-backs and lay-ups maybe have cursed the Knicks for a while, but they don't appear to have affected much by We touched on a number of subjects during our brief chat at an even sponsored by KIA Motors in Union Square.

Check out the interview on SLAM ONLINE.

SLAM ONLINE: Kenny Walker Q & A

Kenny Walker was one of the fresher cats in Knicks history. His hops and hustle were almost as ill as his haircuts. I spoke to the former Dunk Contest champ in Union Square where he signed autographs during a Knicks fan event.

Check out the interview from SLAM ONLINE.

SLAM ONLINE: Walt Frazier Q & A

Caught up with Walt Frazier at a Knicks NBA Tip-Off event to chop it up about his life, career, clothing and charisma. Check out what he had to say.

SLAM ONLINE: ISIAH THOMAS DIS!

Last season, a couple of guys from my neighborhood took the Isiah Thomas situation into their own hands. Check out the quick interview I did with them a while back. They got a lot of pub off this thing.

They're still in the game and working towards releasing their album This Aint Friends...It's Family.

Text Messgae from Wilson Chandler

Got a quick text from Wilson Chandler yesterday. I asked him how the last day of camp was. He said "everything is cool."

With the chatter about roster rearrangement, Chandler's name hasn't been mentioned with the starters as much as they had before camp. However, he has improved and is likely to earn more playing time as the season goes on. With Jeffries, Curry and Gallonari hurt, Wils will have to end up in any short rotation D'Antoni might be running.
PHOTO: AUSTIN MOORE

NY POST: Lee and Curry Go At It!

Marc Berman of the New York Post is reporting that David Lee is out grinding Eddy Curry for the starting center spot early. You'd be hard pressed to prove Curry is ready to run in D'Antoni's offense based on his hustle stats. He's not quite the rebounder and athlete Lee is.

After wandering in and out of Zeke Thomas' rotation, Lee is scrappy enough to make hustle stats happen in a fast line-up. However, camp is still pretty young and we're still a week away from the start of preseason.

Odds are Lee will start. However, a visit from a certain Uncle of Curry's to the Knicks upstate camp location may be the push the big fella needed to crack the starting five slot.

NY POST: Jeffries Down

NY Post Knicks ace Marc Berman reports that Jared Jeffries is out again. He fractured his fibula and will mis 6-8 weeks of ball. This means Ewing Jr. should hang on a bit longer than expected and Wilson Chandler may get more minutes off the bench.

Jeffries, who missed 23 games his first season with the Knicks (06-07) with a wrist injury, is a loss of a big body. I wonder if this means the Knicks are going to try and talk Jerome James OUT of retirement now?

ESPN: John Hollinger's Knicks Forecast

John Hollinger of ESPN.COM is saying what everyone else is saying about the Knicks. Check out his "Team Forecast" posted Monday on ESPN.COM.

CANADIAN PRESS: Allan Houston Watch

The Canadian Press, who somehow got invited to cover the Knicks Training Camp in Saratoga, have been keeping a tight eye on Allan Houston. So tight in fact, they made me eat my words from jump. Doesn't seem like Big Al has got much left, if he does, he didn't bring it to camp this year.

SLAM ONLINE: The Frederic Weis Story

I got to hang out with Patrick Ewing Jr. a couple of weeks back for a minute. My pal Benji and I tagged along with Wilson Chandler and Anthony Robeson to a late season Liberty game. Patrick Ewing's son seemed like a nice kid who is excited about the chance to play for the team his pops played for.

Young Ewing played high school ball in the city for a little minute and was comfortable around the fans. He seemed excited to be in New York. The crowd roared a bit when he was announced next to his prospective teammates. While he might not be ready for the league just yet, I don't think anyone was mad at what they had to give up to bring him in.

I wrote this post about the career of Frederic Weis at the time of the trade that imported Ewing Jr. from Houston.

Donnie Walsh/Paul Bearer

Not sure where this originated, but it's priceless. Hopefully Walsh can bring the Knicks back from the dead and challenge the likes of Hulk Hogan for the world championship.

YAHOO!: Woj on The Marbury Situation

Adrian Wojnarowski, a dear friend, just posted this column on Yahoo!

Front Page

It's no secret that SportingNews puts out the best NBA annuals. Lindy's and Athlon Sports do their thing too, but SportingNews is no joke. They break down all the teams and dish some solid scouting.

This year's issue has been a good read during the work commute and other weekly subway travel I've done in the last week. The New York region cover featured David Lee. Too bad they don't come out with an all-basketball mag ever week. Any magazine that puts D.Lee on the cover is worth the subscription price. - CAPUTO

Jamal Crawford to PHX?

It's about time for Jamal Crawford to go get his. After 8 years in the NBA, Crawford has never played in a single playoff game, but has shown signs of absolute brilliance in light of the Knicks struggles. With Steph in Outer Space, Crawford put the team on his back and played the type of tough, competitive basketball New York City can appreciate. He'll need to quickly adapt to Mike D'Antoni's style in order to get a head start on the popularity race that will end at the All-Star Game in Phoenix.

The bright side is, Crawford can shoot and run. He'll be able to blend right into what his new coach is trying to do. Time will tell if he'll be able to thrive in this new setting. He's also the kind of citizen that will get to the All Star Game if he deserves to be there.

While it's way too early to count Crawford in for the All-Star Game or the Knicks for the playoffs, it's certain that Crawford will be in position for a career-defining season. - CAPUTO

SLAM NEWSLETTER: Marbury Doesn't Fit!

SLAM NEWSLETTER

Friday, September 26, 2008

It’s hard to say if the Stephon Marbury saga could get more disappointing, aside from the skull tattoo. When it comes down to it, the only point guards in the NBA right now with more career assists than Marbury are Jason Kidd and Steve Nash. And now, after twelve years and two All-Star appearances, he’s persona non grada among his teammates and probably the rest of the league, too. His raw skills and natural ability have kept him in the NBA through some fairly sticky situations, but does he have enough left to contribute to the good teams he says he can?

In an interview with NBC-New York sports anchor, Bruce Beck, Marbury mentioned that both the Celtics and the Heat could use a point guard. While what Steph says might be true, there is good reason why neither team will pick him.

The Celtics won the NBA Championship with a young Rajon Rondo, who never walked away from a tough task the entire year. Rondo’s scoring and assist numbers both jumped considerably from his rookie season in about the same number of games. He showed himself to be a great glue-guy on a team of seasoned vets. While the Celts will probably still enlist an experienced point to play behind Rondo, it’s hard to see where Marbury’s ego would fit into Boston ’s nucleus.

Even in Miami, where they are pretty desperate for a point guard, Marbury seems pretty unwelcome. When SLAM caught up with Dwyane Wade at the NBA Store last week, he didn’t seem to be interested in adding the Coney Island kid to his team. While he didn’t dismiss the idea, he certainly didn’t pull out his sidekick and invite Marbury to South Beach for the weekend. With Mario Chalmers, Chris Quinn, Marcus Banks and Wade himself all capable of running the point, they Heat should be straight.

While Marbury’s talent has hardly even been in question, it’s not really logical for anyone to add Marbury unless they get him at a Starbury price. - MATT CAPUTO

SLAM ONLINE: KNICKS SEASON PREVIEW

SLAM ONLINE
NEW YORK KNICKS SEASON PREVIEW
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED 9/17/08

When assignments went out for this year's SLAM Online season previews, I got lucky and wrote about the Knicks..

Another Deep Conversation

Stephon Marbury and Bruce Beck are tight. Beck is the guy who conducted the infamous rant in where Steph talked about...well... he talked a lot. That was about the only thing that was apparent.

This year, as the team headed into training camp, Steph and Beck spoke at Marbury's home in Purchase.

Training Camper

There is something obviously odd about this photo. To think that Allan Houston is a part of Knicks rebuilding process is kind of crazy considering that he hasn't played in the league in three years. That's about four coaches ago.

It was in Houston's last season with the Knicks that Jamal Crawford played his first. Now they're on the same team again.

Houston, the team's 4th all-time leading scorer, was a shell of his former self in the 20 games he did play in 04-05. It's hard to see why the Knicks brought him in now - other than to make him work for the money he's earning to not play.

However, there are a few good reasons why bringing him into camp he doesn't hurt.

-He's one of the few people who remembers what it's like to win in New York. Even if just for a few weeks, Houston's attitude and experience should be of value to the Knicks' young team. Houston might will hopefully instill some wisdom into Crawford who needs to play consistently well for the Knicks to make any noise.

-Houston plays a lot of basketball and is not in the type of situations where he's trying out for the team and seeing if he can compete again. He hit a few NYC PRO-AM spots this summer and is obviously comfortable pushing himself a little bit. Therefore, he shouldn't be dragging ass.

-The Knicks were 21st in the league in team shooting last season. Q.Rich and Crawford should be more comfortable this season, Q having totaled his most regular season threes under D'Antoni with the Suns, but the bottom line is they need to shoot better. Houston is a great shooter and the son of a coach.

-Say all he can do is shoot. No full-court breath or getting to the basket. Just nail every jumper. If he really can't make the final roster spot with what he has left in the tank, he'll certainly make it clear the Knicks need another shooter during camp when there is still time to correct it.

-Like Ewing Jr. and Dan Grunfeld, Houston is another good story. Unlike point guards, the Knicks are never short on those.

-Houston and Marbury are close. They are both Born Again Chrsitians and if anybody can work well with Steph it will be Houston. - CAPUTO

Crawford Mentioned Me On Newsday.com

Even Jamal Crawford is after my job.

Nate The Great!

Imagine what he does in practice or just fucking around?

PONY BOY

PONY invited me and my friend Benji down to the Lower East Side where their spokesman Wilson Chandler was getting his picture taken in his signature shoes. PONY has refreshed their City Wings hightops for Chandlers rocking and should be ready to wear for 2008-2009. - MATT CAPUTO

PHOTOS: BEN TIFA

SLAM: Jamal Crawford's House

SLAM ONLINE
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED 8/25/08

On a work-related trip out to Seattle this summer, I ran into Jamal Crawford. One thing lead to another and I ended up back at his place. No homo!

Matt Sheridan, SLAM's Video Chief, and I were collecting footage on Seattle's hoop scene. By chance, a kid at the Seattle Rotary Boys and Girls Club mentioned that Crawford was home and happened to be playing ball himself at his old high school.

Neither Sheridan or myself had ever been to Seattle, so, the driving was pretty crazy. We ultimately made it to Crawford's house in time to watch the US taking the Gold Medal in hoops.

I wrote about the visit to Crawford's crib, as well as other Seattle basketball notes, for my blog on SLAMonline.com....

THROWBACK : Bernard King

Bernard King was nasty. MSG Network in New York has been running this "Vault" series, where they go through old tapes that have been long forgotten, and today, they broke down some old Bernard King tapes. I remembered he'd come back from a terrible injury, but not that he went on to become and All-Star with the Bullets.

It's guys like Bernard King that make it hard to think that athletes aren't role models. Someone like King is a reminder that obstacles are made to be gotten through or around. I hope the kid from the Clippers, Shaun Livingston, can benefit from Bernard King's courage.

I really shouldn't talk about baseball on a basketball blog, so I won't. I also do not want to, in any way, make it seem like I have some dark info on B.K.'s past. But I will say, wouldn't you rather hear Bernard King took steroids to return to an All-Star career or that he used steroids to become an All-Star?

FROM SPORTS ILLUSTRATED:

Bernard King: He averaged 22.5 points over 16 seasons, but the explosive scorer was at the peak of his powers (32.9 ppg in 1984-85) when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in March 1985. That cost King a whole season and much of his explosiveness, but he adjusted and made a successful comeback with Washington, earning a final All-Star slot in 1991 at age 34. King sat out the 1991-92 season with more knee problems, then played just 20 games for New Jersey the following year. Great career, all things considered? Until King makes it into the Naismith Hall of Fame, it counts among the curtailed.

SLAM ONLINE: The Knicks Have No Idea Where They're Going and Neither Do I!

This post on SLAM Online lead me to want to have one place for all of my thoughts on the Knicks. So, it's fitting that this piece opens KnicksArchive.com. - CAPUTO

SLAM ONLINE
Originally Published 4/1/08

Last week, late in the fourth quarter, as the Knicks faced an infinite deficit against the play-off chasing New Jersey Nets, Jamal Crawford went to the foul line. From the tiny JVC I watched the game on, the Garden crowd seemed as quiet and docile as usual. I can only imagine how pathetic the Knicks look in high-def. With or without top-of-the-line reception, when the MSG Network’s cameras close in on Crawford from the sternum up, it’s hard not to notice the unusual bandage he has worn on his left shoulder since January. I have no clue why he wears it, or why I watch Knicks games when it’s clearly not “the thing to do.”

“I wonder why he wears that thing on his shoulder,” says Maggie Coughlan, a Nyack native and lifelong Knicks fan, sitting on the couch next to me watching the Knicks leading scorer take aim for the basket. “I wonder if it’s to keep his shooting arm warm.”

As Crawford raised his narrow arms for his first free throw, the Knicks were locked into their seventh consecutive losing season. And this season is by far the most disheartening and counterproductive, probably of all time. And tonight, the only nearly serendipitous happening at the Garden came right after Maggie’s sentence ended, from a guy who hasn’t played for the Knicks since 1977.....

Kicked

Good for the hood. Bad for the ankles.

Knicks Knuckle-Up!

It's a wonder it didn't happen earlier in the season. The overtime antics of Nate Robinson and Zach Randolph is the current example of the team "looking bad." The N-Y-K circus doesn't appear to be coming to an end either, the Knicks have been silent during trade season and have really been forgotten about, or put out of mind, since the NY Giants scored their Superbowl success.
Hard to imagine things getting any worse for the Knicks. They are the forgotten franchise in basketball's greatest city. No one knows when they play, rushes home to catch their tip-offs or spends a penny on their memorabilia. It's really no wonder that the NBA has been trying to move the Nets to Brooklyn. It is so obviously the only way New York could have a winning basketball team.

Somewhere down the line, I hope to pen a SLAMONLINE column entitled "Where are all the NY Basketball Fans"-or something. I am fascinated by how few people really care about the Knicks. It is a pain to believe, or even try to swallow, the fact that more men in New York City were hanging on the edge of their lazyboys watching American Idol than the Knick game.

Somewhere in overtime Nate Robinson and Zach Randolph got into it. It seemed like they were talking shit back and fourth, but then Randolph stepped over the line and gave Nate a cool-down via a cup of water, backwash and all I'm sure. Nate sent a towel flying back at Randolph, which caught Z-BO right in the side of the face.

However silly the two Knicks looked, they managed to spare the few fans paying attention their usual piss-poor effort and ended up actually coming away with a victory, for only the 16th time this year.

SLAM ONLINE: Wilson Chandler Video

SLAM TV:
Who is Wilson Chandler?

At my day-job with SLAM, I've been working on building video content for our website with our in-house director, Matt Sheridan. I've been trying to produce videos that may be a little off-beat and/or helpful to players. For our first video, we kept it simple and drove up to Westchester to hang with Knicks rookie Wilson Chandler for the day. Chandler was real cool about kicking it with us, we passed by the courts of my old college and went with him to get his dome clipped. Hopefully, he'll make it off the bench a little more in the second half of the season.

As a Knick fan and producer of the video, I know who Chandler (left) is from seeing him play in the seven games he has appeared in. However, The identity of the other guy in the photo above remains a mystery.