As the Miami Heat continue to lose games, drop in the standings, show their frustration, and even cry about their failures, the New York Knicks are on the upswing.  The Knicks are starting to look like a very dangerous team, as Carmelo Anthony is hitting game winning shots while Lebron James keeps choking in crunch time.

The Knicks are playing so well that lately, that some analysts have suggested the Knicks would have a puncher’s chance to beat the Heat in a 7 game series.  Some though, have seen the potential of this Knicks team, and have gone so far as to suggest that the Knicks are in fact closer to a title than Lebron James and the Miami Heat.

At the beginning of the season, countless NBA fans turned against Lebron James and the Miami Heat (guilt by association) after his “decision” antics this summer.  Before the season began, most fans in New York, not to mention those in Cleveland, would have found nothing (outside of an NBA Championship) more amusing or satisfying than the players on the new NBA superpower Miami Heat in tears over a loss at some point in the season.  Little did we know, however, that tears in Miami would be just as amusing to Knicks’ stars Amar’e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony.

It was one week ago today.  The Knicks were still on cloud nine after acquiring Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups, and winning their first game with the two of them on the Garden floor against the Bucks.  The Knicks had a few big games coming up, against Lebron and the Heat, and Dwight Howard and the Magic.  But first, they had a quick stop in Cleveland, which despite the fact that the team needed more time to gel, should have been an easy victory.  Instead, the Knicks got caught looking ahead and dropped last Friday night’s game to the lowly Cavs. (more…)

Dan L  over at Knicks FanBlog offers today’s must read article, which we excerpt below:

“In 2008 when Donnie Walsh took over the Knicks his plan was transparent: Do what he could to clear cap space to make a run at the free agent class of 2010 which included LeBron James, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade. As Walsh jettisoned one bad contract after another and even parted with some young assets and a draft pick to put his plan in motion, there was ample opportunity to second guess the grizzled executive…

Read the whole article here

Via SB Nation:

“Carmelo Anthony scored 29 points, Amare Stoudemire added 16 and 10 rebounds, Spike Lee was waving his arms all night long from his courtside seat, and the New York Knicks beat LeBron James and the Miami Heat Sunday night. And the hype hits overdrive… NOW…

With Carmelo on board and Amare hitting the boards, the Knicks are one of the NBA’s best teams…

Get on board while you can, though, because the bandwagon’s filling up fast, and if this keeps up, the “fun” Knicks are going to be scary as hell come playoff time.”

A sign of things to come!!!

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 ESPN:

“I think it is great for the NBA, the Knicks are back,” James said of the trade.

“The other teams are trying to compete [with the Heat] and I think that is great.”

The rivalry is back.  Beat The Heat!

Via ESPN NY:

Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra added a fascinating wrinkle to Thursday night’s matchup when he announced that James may spend time guarding Knicks center Amare Stoudemire.

With Chris Bosh sidelined with a high ankle sprain, James will be the Heat’s third option to guard Stoudemire, behind centers Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Joel Anthony….

“If Joel gets in foul trouble and if ‘Z’ is in foul trouble if it’s a tough matchup, [James] is our next-best matchup,” said Spoelstra, who added that Juwan Howard may guard Stoudemire. “We’ll try to protect all of our guys as much as possible. It’s not easy with their spacing and [Stoudemire's] aggressiveness makes it hard too.”