Harvard Alum Jeremy Lin is now a member of the Knicks.  How do you like them apples?

by Michael Naclerio

Amidst the whirlwind that is the Knicks front office right now, the CBA negotiation and an offseason that requires a number of holes to be filled we contemplate the upcoming draft. Although Donnie Walsh will not be signing back on as Knicks President of Basketball Operations, he will remain with the team as a consultant through the next season and will still contribute to selecting the Knicks upcoming 17th pick in the NBA draft this Thursday. Although Donnie’s involvement may slightly ease the minds of the Knicks fans (as long as the player the Knicks choose does not rhyme with Hordan Jill), many are still hungover about why Donnie was let go in the first place. (more…)

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEY11wI-o94

With Madison Square Garden renovations fully underway, lucky fans will have a chance to own a piece of MSG.  The NY Post reports that seats, lockers and pieces of the floor will be available for purchase.  Here at KnicksTweets, we could not think of a better Father’s Day present.

One of the things that makes sports so interesting is that there is always something to debate.  Sports fans (and analysts) can debate anything.

We can debate big picture issues.  What is wrong with the BCS?  Should there be a salary cap in Major League Baseball?  Should the NFL get rid of instant replay?

We can debate strategy issues.  Should they go for it on 4th and 1?  Should they leave the starter in for another inning or go to the bullpen?  Should this guy or that guy take the final shot?

We can debate umpire/referee calls.  Ball or strike?  Was the running back’s knee down before the ball crossed the goal line?  Did Lebron take 5 steps before dunking the ball or did he only take 4?

Knicks fans are no different.  So after a crushing game 1 loss, Knicks fans are debating who to blame.

Glass is half empty fan

The glass is half empty Knick fan is blaming the Knicks themselves.  He is blaming Melo for not being able to hit a shot down the stretch.  He is blaming the lackluster defense for allowing Kevin Garnett to get an easy dunk with 37 seconds left to go.  He is blaming coach Mike D’Antoni for the utter confusion that was the Knicks in the last 10 seconds of the game with the Knicks down by only 2 with no time outs.

The glass is half full fan

The glass is half full Knick fan is blaming fate.  He is saying that the Knicks played well down the stretch but lost due to the heroics of a great shooter in Ray Allen.  He is saying that had it not been for the injury to Chauncey Billups, the Knicks would have pulled out the victory.  He is saying that the Knicks proved they could battle the defending Eastern Conference champions, and do it on their home floor.

The under-analytical fan

The under-analytical Knick fan is blaming nobody but the referees.  He is saying that Chauncey Billups was fouled going to the basket on the play during which he was injured.  He is saying that the offensive foul called on Carmelo Anthony in the final minute of the game was simply Melo’s attempt to get free from the grasp of Paul Pierce, who had his left arm wrapped around Melo.  He is saying the refs looked the other way when the moving screen of Kevin Garnett tripped Toney Douglas to the ground, allowing Ray Allen to get a clean look at a 3 with 10 seconds to go.

The overly-analytical fan

The overly-analytical Knick fan is looking beyond the game itself.  He is saying that the Knicks would have won this game if they had not traded for Melo.  He is saying the Knicks would have won the game had they brought in a defensive coach to replace D’Antoni.  He is saying that they would have won the game had if the Celtics did not have the mental edge from having won all 4 matchups during the regular season.

Bottom Line

The fact is, all of these Knick fans are right.  And they are also all wrong.  There is plenty of blame to go around.  And perhaps if just one of these things happened differently, the Knicks would have won.  But as it is, these things did happen.  And while we can try to speculate that in game 2, Melo will play better, and that even great players like Allen and Pierce will eventually miss the game winning shot, and that the Knicks will get more calls on their home court, and so the luck of the Irish will run out sooner rather than later, there are a host of unforeseen events that can and will happen before this series is over.  And the Knicks will have to find a way to battle through those events to come out on top in this series.  Otherwise, the blame game will be played by Knicks fans throughout the offseason.

Via Howard Beck:

Gm1 – Sun 7p (on TNT)

Gm2 – Tue 7p

Gm 3 – 4/22 7p

Gm4 – 4/24 3:30p

Gm 5 – 4/26

Gm 6 – 4/29

Gm 7 – 5/1

Turn the volume all the way on your computer for sound.

Via NBA.com: