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You can hear the confidence building in this team.  Sure Toney Douglas nearly melted down in the 4th quarter that should have never come down to a final shot.  But, when your new superstar hits a pretty game-winner you celebrate now and ask questions later.

Just wait til the other Mr. Big Shot returns to the lineup…

Here are some of the highlights of a Sport Express’ interview translated by Alexander Chernykh of Rush’n Hoops:

- What was the first thing that you thought about after speaking to Walsh?

- It was not a thing but a person. About my girlfriend, of course. It was a real shock for Alla. She became friends with a lot of girls here and already felt almost at home. And, New York is New York. Nobody would want to change such a splendid city for some Denver – like this, all of a sudden. It’s much easier for me. Basketball is my job. I’ve played and practiced with one team, now with another. It’s no problem. But I feel uneasy before Alla. (more…)

Do yourself a favor and check out this terrific interview by Vanita Salisbury of NY Mag.  Our favorite Knicks Legend addresses an array of topics in his typically colorful way.  When Salisbury asks, “What’s your favorite medication?”, Frazier’s replies “Carrot & celery juice.”  But of course…

Not to be outdone by NY Mag (but clearly outdone), the Cleveland Plain Dealer recently talked fashion with the Knicks Hall of Famer (and former Cavalier).  However, you’ll probably find the comments section more interesting than the interview itself.

Via Dime Magazine:

Dime: What has been the biggest transition for you from college to the NBA?
Andy Rautins: I think for me it is the transition to point guard. Trying to be more of a combo-guard, I’m learning everyday. I’m getting better at it, especially learning from guys like Ray [Felton] and Toney Douglas. The speed of the game takes a little adjusting to, but that comes with time.

Dime: What did you do this summer to prepare?
AR: I was training down in Dallas with a guy named Kyle Meadows. It was great. It worked for me and I hope to go back down there this summer. I just need to continue working my tail off.

If you are a Syracuse fan, be sure to check out the whole interview.

FYI Amar’e, Letterman, et al…the Jazz are in Utah because they used to be the New Orleans Jazz.

Tommy Dee is a name that any die-hard Knicks fan instantly recognizes. His Twitter account boasts 7,800 followers and his SNY-backed blog, The Knicks Blog, has become one of the most coveted amongst fanatics.

Despite his background in traditional journalism, including a master’s degree in mass communications and field experience, Dee refers to himself as a blogger. “When people think of the term blogger, credibility doesn’t necessarily come to mind and that is completely unfair,” Dee told KnicksTweets.

Unfair because Dee is considered one of the most credible writers on the Knicks beat. “I’ve been around basketball a long time and I know a lot of people associated on every level and that helps me in terms of journalistically gaining information,” he said careful not to reveal too much about his sources.

Dee is a life-long basketball fan, but he traces his Knicks fanhood back to the days of Bernard King. He had a friend who was a ball boy and the two of them would go up to Purchase, NY and watch the team practice. “We used to go up to Purchase and really live Knicks basketball,” he recalled. A few years later as a high school basketball player he felt that when his “basketball career was at its best, the Knicks were at their best too.”

As journalism is evolving with the emergence of social media, Dee has taken advantage of Twitter to ensure that he is always on top of his game. “Twitter is the future in a lot of ways, it’s such an amazing tool in that you can connect with people,” he explained, “[it] is a forum and an outlet for everyone to be able to talk.”

While traditional beat writers do not always appreciate Dee’s input on the Knicks, fans continue to respect his insight. “Sometimes, they get irritated with me if I am taking a stance on what they say. Almost like who is this guy to say? I’m just trying to say how I see it,” he said of his journalist colleagues.

Right now, Dee sees the Knicks’ young guns as the key to their success. In his opinion, if Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari, Toney Douglas and Landry Fields can develop more consistent offensive efforts and do so with efficiency, the team will be hard to beat. However, he also noted that the Knicks are still a tier below Miami, Orlando and Boston.

As far as the much touted Carmelo Anthony situation goes, Dee thinks that the superstar is trying to avoid being made out to be the “villain” that some people see LeBron James to be. Factoring that in along with the fact that the Knicks do not have much to give up, he believes that Donnie Walsh, the Knicks President of Basketball Operations, will wait until Anthony becomes a free agent this summer to sign the current Denver Nugget.

Perhaps the most transparent thing to come across when talking to Tommy Dee is the pride that he takes in his work. “There needed to be a new market and a new voice and I feel like we’ve been able to do that. I’m really proud of that,” he said with a hint of humble shyness.