While it is hard not to dwell on what could have been, what should have been, or what was, Tuesday night brings a new game and a clean slate.  KnicksTweets’ super-intern Netta, breaks down the seemingly new matchup that will take place at TD Garden in game 2 of 7.

What Worked:

Big Baby Davis is Just That

After making a comment prior to Game 1 that STAT was easy to guard, Amar’e obliterated Davis and his team. Amar’e under the basket was perhaps the biggest reason that the Knicks were able to establish a lead and stay in the game. Davis is slow. In reality he is just a more finely tuned version of Eddy Curry: A big body with soft hands. Essentially Big Baby deserves his nickname, he is just that a big ol’ cry baby.  Amar’e needs to keep proving Davis wrong.

Rookie On Ray

Landry Fields did a lot of things wrong in Sunday’s loss, but the one thing he did really well (in the 19 minutes and 2 seconds he was on the floor) was turn Ray Allen into a non-factor. Ray was quiet for most of the game (with the exception, of course, of his dagger from three that ended the game) and this was in large part due to the aggressive defense that Landry (or as I like to call him, Lance – watch Friday Night Lights for that reference) played against the veteran all-star. So next time you doubt D’Antoni’s choice to play the rookie, remember that he can prevent Déjà Vu.

What Needs to Change:

Energy and Attitude

The Knicks, and most importantly ‘Melo, need to realize that this is it. This city has been waiting for the post-season for seven long years and expects nothing less than wins. So in the spirit of Charlie Sheen, they need to start thinking they are WINNING. While ‘Melo obviously needs to crackdown on this and Amar’e clearly had this mindset in Game 1, it was apparent in the bench as well.  While Ronny Turiaf, who started, played the game like it was his last, Landry Fields continued to get lost and forgot how to play scrappy. It was his ability to put his heart on the floor and do the intangibles that got him playing time and notice this season, if he can do it in the post-season too the sky is the limit. Toney Douglas looked like the class clown in Game 1. He did not appear to be taking the game seriously. He looked more like a fool getting schooled on the blacktop than an NBA guard in the post-season.

Pace and Momentum

Since the big Carmelo blockbuster trade, the Knicks have seemingly strayed from Mike D’Antoni’s “7 Seconds or Less” philosophy. This in part has to do with Chanuncy Billups command of the offensive flow without a need to push the ball up the court. But with Billups likely sidelined for at least Game 2, the Knicks need to return to their fast paced roots and make the Celtics play their type of ball game.

via NY Daily News:

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

A front office executive who was still wet behind the ears (Isiah Thomas, anyone?) would have jumped at the opportunity to acquire a star such as Carmelo Anthony, no matter what the cost.  The inexperienced exec would be so overwhelmed with the thought of making a move to bring another superstar to their team that they would do whatever was necessary, including trading away good young talent and mortgaging the team’s future by trading draft picks without protecting them (Eddy Curry, anyone?).  The team trading the superstar would say “jump” and the clueless exec would ask “How high?”  (more…)

Via CBS Sports:

While the Nuggets realize they will have to seriously engage the Knicks in trade talks for Anthony before the Feb. 24 deadline, a third team already has stepped into the on-deck circle as a potential facilitator if talks between Denver and New York ever gain traction. That team, sources say, is the Timberwolves, who are willing to absorb Eddy Curry‘s $11.3 million expiring contract in a three-team scenario that would send Anthony Randolph to Minnesota and Anthony to New York.  In this scenario, which one executive involved deemed “unlikely,” the Wolves would simply waive Curry after the trade. Depending on the timing, Curry would likely have only five paychecks remaining for a total of $4.7 million. So taking on Curry would involve little or no cost to Minnesota; if the Wolves could negotiate a $3 million buyout covering the remainder of Curry’s salary, that tab would be fully picked up by the Knicks, who could send as much as $3 million cash to Minnesota in the trade. But Curry’s $11.3 million cap number would help make the complicated trade math work in a three-team deal. The Nuggets aren’t interested in Curry’s expiring contract, sources say, and the only other team with enough cap space to take it on without sending back equal salary is Sacramento — which has yet to be invited into any Knicks-Nuggets discussions. If the Knicks and Nuggets aren’t going to do business before the deadline, perhaps leaving Anthony in free-agent limbo heading into a new collective bargaining agreement, then Minnesota would still be interested in Randolph — and would be willing to give up a low first-round pick and absorb Roger Mason ($1.4 million) into their cap space in a one-on-one deal.

Via Newsday:

A report on ESPN Radio that said the Nuggets rejected an offer from the Knicks that included Wilson Chandler, Landry Fields, Eddy Curry and a first round pick for Carmelo Anthony might have some dust on it. That was a scenario discussed in preliminary conversations in the fall, a person with knowledge of the talks told Newsday. The Knicks consider that a starting point now, with Carmelo making it clear his choice destination — and possibly the only team he’d agree to sign an extension with — is the Knicks….

Via ESPN New York:

Knicks president Donnie Walsh remains confident he can obtain a No. 1 draft pick in a trade, and maybe even a second one.

“I could probably get more than one, but I’m not going to say how many,” Walsh said Monday morning prior to the Knicks’ game against Phoenix. “But I’m confident I can get a first-round pick.”… (more…)

A very fat Eddy Curry “practicing” in jean shorts.

Jean shorts!!!

Via Chicago Breaking Sports:

Via NY Post:

Via Daily News:

According to a team source, Isiah Thomas has assured Garden chairman James Dolan that Anthony told him he intends to sign with the Knicks.

However, Knicks president Donnie Walsh could make a deal for Anthony between now and the February trading deadline if the Nuggets are worried about losing the former Syracuse star without compensation.

There are reports that the Knicks are offering a package featuring Danilo Gallinari, Eddy Curry and his expiring contract plus a future first-round pick. Walsh said Tuesday night that those reports are “just rumors” and would not comment further on any talks between the Knicks and Denver.

Isiah toying with Dolan, being toyed with or something else?  This part of the story is simply bizarre, and coming from Frank Isola, potentially fiction.