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.

I remember first hearing about Twitter when Senators were caught using it during congressional sessions. Despite initial doubts, Twitter has since taken off with the NBA at its forefront. NBA players, teams, and fans alike anxiously use the social media outlet to connect, but recently the #Knicks fan base has witnessed the true power of Twitter.

Gianna and Allan Houston - March 2010

11-year-old Gianna Gergoire was diagnosed with brain cancer last July.  Her brother, The Knicks Blog Radio host Anthony Donahue, turned to what he knew, Knicks fans. “It started in July, when the fans of my show rallied around my sister and everything,” said Donahue in a phone interview. (more…)

Via New York Magazine:

“The last time the New York Knicks participated in a postseason basketball game was April 25, 2004…

The Knicks’ coach was Lenny Wilkens. Their starting shooting guard was Anfernee Hardway. Their backup point guard was Frank Wililams. Their second leading rebounder was Vin Baker. Landry Fields was 15 years old. It was a long time ago…

And yes, after last night, the drought is over. The Washington Wizards helpfully dispatched the Charlotte Bobcats, and the Knicks finally took care of those pesky Cleveland Cavaliers, 123–106 to clinch the Knicks’ first playoff berth in seven years…

There will be at least two playoff games at Madison Square Garden this month. It is about time. Get excited.”

Part 1

Part 2

Nobody has ever accused a Mike D’Antoni team of being inept on the offensive end of the floor.  His teams can flat out score.  That was true of the Knicks before Melo arrived, and it still holds true now that he is here.  Stat and Melo are two of the top scorers in the NBA.  However, might their games be too one-dimensional?  When pairing two superstars together, might it work better to have a guard and a big man like Kobe/Shaq, or Magic/Kareem? (more…)

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.

For the month of February, the Knicks are not showing any signs of securing the 6th spot in the NBA playoffs.  Over the course of the last two weeks, we’ve seen them go 2 – 6, with losses that only occurred because of lackadaisical play by all.

It’s great to be vocal via the media, but there is far too much PR hype in play and not enough quality play on the court.  At 27-26, the Knicks now are faced with the daunting task of trying to win at least 40 -43 games to solidify a playoff berth.  If not for the fact that two potential playoff teams will have sub-500 records, the Knicks are not showing anyone that they are for real. (more…)

Via NY Mag:

Just as a refresher, here’s a quick rundown of the cast of characters: Landry Fields is the New York second-round pick that has taken the NBA (and the Internet) by storm in his rookie season. Andy Rautins is another Knick rookie, a Syracuse product, and a proud Canadian. Sandwiched between the two is Keenan Cahill, the pint-size performer whose lip-syncing prowess has made him something of an Internet celebrity. In the background, you’ll see the Knicks City Dancers, who are, of course, a team of talented dancing ladies who hail from the city of Knicks, New York.