Same Old Knicks?

What is going on with the Knicks? Somebody remind Carmelo he's supposed to be our Messiah. Since acquiring Anthony, the Knicks are a dreadful 7-12. On the other hand, the Nuggets are a surprising 11-4 since the trade. New York has lost six in a row and nine of their last ten. As of now, their record stands at 35-38. They would be out of the playoff picture if it wasn't for the deplorable bottom half of the Eastern Conference. Somehow, that record would be good enough for a seven seed and a playoff ticket if the season were to end today.

It seems like George Karl, the coach of the Nuggets, has his own ideas concerning the Knicks' struggles and the Nuggets' successes. After the trade, Karl told TNT: "Defense is commitment. I've got young guys and if they don't give me the commitment, I've got other guys who will give me the commitment. The system sometimes ties you up from getting the commitment. You have to handle what Melo gives you. I'm not knocking Melo, he is a great offensive player. Melo is the best offensive player I've ever coached, but his defensive focus, his demand of himself is what frustrated us more than anything."

Anthony is not the most well-rounded player to ever grace the basketball hardwood. As Karl said, he is a phenomenal offensive talent who can seemingly score at will. But he lacks in the defensive department. Chauncey Billups, who the Knicks also acquired from the Nuggets, has won a championship in the NBA and is well-known for his leadership, poise, and clutch shot-making. His nickname around the league is "Mr. Big Shot." Despite all of this, Billups has glaring defensive weaknesses as well. 

Before the trade, New York was already one of the worst defensive teams in the league. The Knicks gained a lot by acquiring Melo and Billups, but they are no better defensively with those two. If anything, they are worse. On top of that, they have struggled offensively the last few weeks. When you combine these two factors, it makes sense why the Knicks have lost six in a row and nine of their last ten.

Understandably, New Yorkers are beginning to panic and second-guess. All this losing is certainly cause for concern but there is no reason to overreact. Yes, the Knicks are playing atrociously. But nobody in their right mind thought they would win a championship this year anyway. They are a lock to make the playoffs for the first time since 2004. This will be a great experience for the team and long-suffering fans.

The Knicks are struggling chemistry-wise. This should come as no surprise since the recent trade dramatically shook up their roster. The team concept is more prevalent in basketball than any other sport. Anthony and Billups are playing in D'Antoni's offensive-minded system for the first time in their careers. It will take some time for them to adjust to the new style and build a rapport with their new coaches and teammates. Eventually, everything will begin to click. At least offensively. As long as D'Antoni is running the show, defense will never be given the attention it deserves. 

Dumb and Dumber

Second baseman Luis Castillo was released by the Mets this past Friday. Three days later, pitcher Oliver Perez was released. The Mets will eat the 6 million dollars remaining on Castillo's contract and the 12 million dollars remaining on Oliver's. The Mets obviously think highly of these two. They'd rather pay the 18 million dollar total without having either player step on the field.

Castillo and Perez were injury-plagued and painfully inconsistent in Met uniforms. They are a better team without this dangerously fickle and erratic pair. Most importantly, fans are happier. The overriding fan opinion has been to dump these overpaid bums. The Mets desperately need the fans on their side this season because it may be a rough year attendance-wise. This was a good start.

It is rare that a team's best moves before a season entails releasing players rather than adding them. Only the Mets.

Big East Coming Up Small

An NCAA record 11 Big East teams qualified for the tournament this year. Throughout the regular season, most pundits considered the Big East to be the baddest league in college basketball. March Madness has told a different story.

With the Sweet Sixteen set, Connecticut and Marquette are the only two Big East squads left standing. Here is a list of those that have fallen thus far:
1 seed Pittsburgh
2 seed Notre Dame
3 seed Syracuse
4 seed Lousiville
5 seed West Virginia
6 seed Georgetown
6 seed St. John's
6 seed Cincinnati
9 seed Villanova

Here is a link to the current bracket.

Pittsburgh and Notre Dame were victimized by two of the most stunning upsets so far in the tournament. Top seeded Pitt was a heavy favorite to make at least the Final Four but they fell to 8 seed Butler by one point in the round of 32 after a heartbreaking and controversial finish. Offensive powerhouse Notre Dame was stifled by 10 seed Florida St., the best defensive team in the country. Notre Dame trailed by double digits for most of the game and ended up losing 71-57.

It is important to note that on two occasions one Big East team knocked out a fellow Big East team. Marquette downed heavily favored Syracuse and a surging Connecticut squad defeated Cincinnati with the help of another brilliant performance from godlike phenom Kemba Walker.

Despite some of the league-on-league violence, losing 9 of 11 teams in just the first two rounds is a head-scratcher. They're dropping like flies. The Big East's overall showing has been highly disappointing but all hope has not been lost. We'll see if Connecticut and Marquette can continue their runs. The pressure is on because the pride of their conference is at stake.

Cliff Who?

Last October, the Yankees were thoroughly outplayed by the underdog Texas Rangers. Despite the disappointing season, Yankee fans had plenty to rely on in order to ease the pain. Free agency was just around the corner and that's a game the Yankees never lose. No World Series? No problem. Cliff Lee is on his way. How can he turn down the Yankees? Maybe the Steinbrenners will add Carl Crawford too for the hell of it.

Most Yankee fans envisioned the 2011 rotation to consist of C.C. Sabathia, Cliff Lee, Andy Pettitte, Phil Hughes, and A.J. Burnett. Couple that starting five with their offense and the Yankees would have had the most balanced team in the league by a considerable margin. But things didn't go as planned.

The season was over. No more Cliff Lee curveballs, right? Wrong. Out of nowhere, he signed with the Phillies. Then Andy Pettitte retired. Their most high profile off-season signing was Rafael Soriano. When was the last time the Yankees' most high profile off-season signing was a relief pitcher? There's nothing wrong with not spending a zillion dollars each year on free agency but this off-season left the Yankees with some glaring question marks, especially in the rotation.

Spring training has provided a flicker of hope. Free agent signing Bartolo Colon has turned some heads, and not just because of his weight. The 269 pound 37 year old is out of shape and well past his prime but he has provided some glimpses of his younger and more dominant self, posting a 2.40 ERA in four starts. Ivan Nova, the young upstart prospect, has a 1.20 ERA thus far. Nova has minimal experience in the majors but he has scary raw talent and tremendous upside. Even A.J. Burnett has performed well, compiling an ERA of 2.77.

Spring training statistics are not always an accurate measurement of how a player will perform throughout an entire season. Despite this, there is still reason to be optimistic. Who needs Cliff Lee anyway? The Yanks have Bartolo Colon in their corner.

The Mets Are Back

The Mets have made their first bright decision since 1986. Oliver Perez, who was somehow in competition for a starting role, has been demoted to the bullpen. During spring training, he will compete for the lefty-specialist role.

With Perez banished from the rotation, the Mets now have a realistic shot at claiming fourth place in the NL East. The Yankees are in need of a starter or four so Brian Cashman should give the Mets a shout if that lefty-specialist gig doesn't work out for Oliver.

Crying and Laughing

Some basketball pundits expected the Miami Heat to win 70 or more regular season games this year. Last night, they lost their fifth game in a row. As of today, their record stands at 43-21. That's good for third place in the Eastern Conference. It is certainly a respectable record, but most expected much better. Evidently, so did the Heat. After losing to the Bulls this past Sunday, some of the players reportedly shed tears in the locker room.

Don't worry, guys I can relate. My Little League Baseball team once got upset in the championship game and I bawled my eyes out. I was nine.

I understand players being passionate and emotional. I don't understand crying after losing a regular season game when you're already a virtual lock to make the playoffs. This emits signs of panic and an extreme lack of composure. Are they going to sob on each other's shoulders when they lose a tight game in the playoffs? The media has had a field day with this story. It seems like everyone is laughing at the expense of the Heat. Even the Knicks.

Supposedly, Amare Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony had a good chuckle when they got wind of the news. "Wait 'til I call him, man," Anthony said, referring to Chris Bosh. "I'll be like: 'What are you doing?'" Riveting analysis by Carmelo. New York is nine games behind Miami in the standings. They are in no position to poke fun at them. So in conclusion, the Heat should stop crying and the Knicks should stop laughing at the Heat for crying.

Knicks-Heat Rivalry, Remix?

Some may be wondering why Knicks' coach Jeff Van Gundy is in the fetal position cradling another man's leg in the caption above. Well, I don't blame you. Despite the bizarreness of it, this picture impeccably captures the personality and flare of Van Gundy, his Knicks, and the Miami Heat of the late 90's.

The Knicks and Heat played four intensely competitive playoff series against one another between 1997 and 2000.  These four playoff series amounted to 24 games, with the Knicks winning 13 of them. Amazingly, each series went to the deciding game, with the Knicks coming on top in three. The rivalry was compelling and fierce. Fights were more commonplace than in the Rangers' hockey rink. There seemed to be a genuine dislike between the opposing players.

It is an undeniable fact that sports is more entertaining when rivalries are involved. A soccer elitist from Brazil would enjoy watching a Yankees-Red Sox playoff game. The 90's Knicks never won a championship. Despite this, the intense drama involved in their rival slugfests against the Bulls, Heat, and Pacers captivated New York City. A good rivalry runs deeper than just the game. The pride of an entire organization and fan-base is at stake. The story lines unfold like a soap opera. The drama and trash talk are hypnotizing and irresistibly compelling.

In the late 90's, a game between the Knicks and Heat was must-watch television. Unfortunately, these two teams have not matched up in a playoff game since 2000. This formerly epic rivalry has gradually faded out of existence. Today's Heat will be a dominate team in the East as long as LeBron, Wade, and Bosh are tag-teaming the league together. With the acquisition of Amare Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony, the Knicks are certainly headed in that direction as well. They will be a competitive squad as long as Amare and Melo are in town. This year, they are poised to make the playoffs for the first time since 2004. They have put themselves in position to be yearly contenders. So, can the rivalry be rekindled?

This past Sunday, Carmelo Anthony and the new-look Knicks defeated the Heat 91-86. The play-by-play announcers did their best to build up the matchup by reminding viewers of the history between these organizations. Truth is, Sunday's game was nothing like the old-time rivalry. But the stars are aligning. Literally. These two teams have loaded up on superstar talent in the past year. The stage is certainly set for Knicks-Heat rivalry part II. Personally, I can't wait to see Mike D'Antoni on his behind in the middle of the court frantically clinching onto Chris Bosh's leg.