As we predicted after Tuesday’s loss to the Pacers, NY Daily News’ Frank Isola is already crafting his latest novel.  This drama involves a largely unproven offensive-minded coach and a seasoned basketball manager at odds with the sycophant son of a billionaire who happens to have gifted a basketball team to his idiot offspring.

Here’s an excerpt from Isola’s latest work:

Dolan, though, went all-in three days before the trading deadline and made a deal that, according to sources, neither Walsh nor D’Antoni endorsed…

The Knicks are 6-6 since acquiring Anthony, including two losses apiece to Cleveland and Indiana. According to NBA.com’s John Schuhmann, Stoudemire and Anthony have played 335 minutes together, and during that time, the Knicks are a plus-1 in points scored.

It’s a small sample, and under normal circumstances, there would be no reason to panic. Only this is not a normal situation. Dolan put his neck out to make the Anthony trade.

Dolan has always wanted to be like his idol, Dallas owner Mark Cuban, and getting Anthony has been his signature moment. That’s a tough spot for D’Antoni, who liked the pre-Melo Knicks with Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler and Raymond Felton.

Via Denver Post:

“In the afterglow of the Nuggets’ win over Atlanta on Monday night came the sobering news that forward Danilo Gallinari will miss extended time with a toe injury…

He will miss seven to 10 days, according to the team.”

If last night’s performance in Cleveland is a sign of things to come, Knicks fans will have to wait until at least next season for their team to make some real noise.  Perhaps they were looking ahead to their prime time Sunday night showdown against Lebron James and the Miami Heat, but the Knicks turned in a lackluster performance last night against one the worst teams in the NBA.  Although he finished with 27 points, Carmelo Anthony fouled out late in the fourth quarter after missing a key free throw as the Knicks dropped what should have been a gimme to the Cleveland Cavaliers, 115-109.  It is clear that this team more time to gel. (more…)

Via Denver Post:

Via HOOPSWORLD:

Sources close to the situation say that Gallinari’s “people” would like the Nuggets to send him to the Los Angeles Clippers or, barring that, back east to the New Jersey Nets or another situation altogether….

Although sources say the Clippers’ interest is real, if the Nuggets are asking for more than multiple second-rounders or a well-protected first-round pick, LA would have serious reservations.

Via CBS Sports:

The Knicks have made what was described as their final trade proposal for Carmelo Anthony Sunday, pushing the months-long drama toward its merciful conclusion, CBSSports.com has learned.

The Knicks would send three starters — Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari, and Raymond Felton — to Denver for Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Shelden Williams and Anthony Carter, sources said Sunday. The Nuggets would get the Knicks’ first-round pick in 2014, while Minnesota would get Eddy Curry‘s expiring contract and Anthony Randolph from New York. Curry would then be waived, and the Knicks would send as much as $3 million to Minnesota to pay his freight….

A person familiar with the situation told CBSSports.com Sunday that the Nuggets were still working through specifics with the Knicks and were pushing for New York to add Mozgov to the deal. Denver also hasn’t shut the door on the Nets, with whom they have agreed to the framework of a trade, according to the source. But it appears that key figures in the organization have grown comfortable with the Knicks’ offer, which was sweetened significantly after the Nets re-emerged in the discussions during All-Star weekend in Los Angeles.

Via NY Post:

The Post has learned the Nuggets made a whopping demand one week ago that is more exorbitant than recent reports. According to a league source debriefed on Carmelo Anthony negotiations, Denver asked for Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari, Landry Fields, Raymond Felton, Timofey Mozgov and a first-round pick (obtained via Anthony Randolph) for Anthony and point guard Chauncey Billups….

The Knicks management was flabbergasted, according to the league source.

This is officially a joke.  First, we must question Marc Berman’s “league source.”  Next, we must hit the IGNORE button on all of this Melo chatter.

Okay then…

via NY Daily News:

According to a team source close to the negotiations, “there is a deal to be made”…

1961 – Richie Guerin sets the franchise record for most free throws made in a game with 22 in 23 attempts. His 40 points guide the Knicks to a 129-107 win over the Boston Celtics at the Boston Garden.

A record Danilo Gallinari should aspire to break nightly.