Knickstape Podcast Episode 9 - The boys are back in town! Jimmy to NY? Knicks bright future

Listen to "Knickstape Episode 9 - We're Back! Knicks future; Jimmy Butler to NY?; NFL Picks" on Spreaker.

The summers over, Knicks training camp is upon us, the NBA is officially back and so is the Knickstape Podcast! Mike and Luke talk Jimmy Butler rumors, the Knicks promising future, the over / under for the 2018-2019 season, give their NFL picks and of course, we end with the Knicks Shitty Player of the Week.

Knickstape Podcast Episode 6 - Another Terrible Lost Knicks Season, Live reactions to a Mets collapse (lots of screaming and cursing)

Listen to "Knickstape Podcast Episode 6 - Knicks Season in Mourning, Live Reaction to Mets Collapse" on Spreaker.

Mike & Luke are back with another edition of the Knickstape Podcast. We mourn the end to another terrible Knicks season, preview the NBA Playoffs, James Harden doesn't like eating in front of people...and he goes on blind dates. We also talk some baseball and Luke reacts live to a terrible Mets loss to the Nationals

Knickstape Podcast Episode 5 - Back from Hiatus Catching Up on Life

Listen to "Knickstape Podcast Episode 5 - Back from Hiatus" on Spreaker. Back from a slight hiatus Mike & Luke talk: - Knicks tank fail - Steph Curry's 30th Birthday / Steve Kerr breaking it down with a broken back - Shaq's big, gross, painted foot - Shaq vs. Yao, who's bigger? - Best Knicks Play in History (voted by you) - Knicks Shitty Throwback Player of the Week

Tale of the Tape: Zen Master's Next Disciple

It’s that time of the year again in the NBA. The Finals are under way and the 28 other franchises are plotting to be on ABC come this time next year. With no playoff appearance, no draft pick and a marquee free agent to resign, the Knicks have a lot of work ahead of them. While James Dolan is enjoying rare success with MSG’s other tenant (the New York Rangers playing in the Stanley Cup) his Knicks staff has been mostly quiet. Since watching Steve Kerr pick the California sun over the bright lights of New York City, Phil Jackson and company have been mum.

Houston is plotting to make a run at the Knicks top gun Carmelo Anthony, looking to clear cap space to sign him to a max deal. Jackson has said he wants Anthony back and feels that he can help recruit talent to New York. In order for Anthony to sign, Jackson has to get a head coach sooner rather than later. Let’s break down the top five candidates for the first head coach in the Knicks’ Zen Era. The tale of the tape:

The Contenders

Derek Fisher: From all media reports and NBA fines, Fisher is Jackson’s number one contender. Fisher and Jackson reportedly had a brief chat this week and Jackson was recently fined $25,000 for mentioning Fisher as a candidate while still playing in the Western Conference Finals for OKC.  He coached Fisher in Los Angeles, winning 5 championships in their time together. Fisher like Kerr share a similar philosophy to Jackson and extremely familiar with the triangle offense. Jackson has said that he prefers a coach familiar with this system since it is the system he plans to implement no matter the coach. After seeing the success the Nets eventually had with Jason Kidd as their head coach the idea of Fisher going from player right to coach is not as farfetched as it would have sounded a year ago. All signs point to this job being Fisher’s to turn down.

Mark Jackson: The Knicks have yet to contact the former Golden State Warrior head coach, but expect that to change if Fisher gets cold feet. Although Jackson recently signed a five-year broadcasting deal with ESPN his contract does not forbid him from taking a head coaching job. There are few people that understand the wacky environment that is MSG and very few that understand the people of New York. Jackson is a native, a former Knicks and a damn good coach. Oh and Anthony has said he would embrace playing for Jackson on a couple occasions. In his time at Golden State Jackson was revered by his players something former Knick coach Mike Woodson never experienced. Expect the silence between Jackson and his former team to end in the near future.

 Kurt Rambis: Rambis was included in Jackson’s initial list and a deserving candidate. Rambis is a former third round pick by the Knicks and can bring a wealth of experience to the team. As a player he won four championships with the Showtime Lakers and was on Jackson’s bench for the Kobe-Shaq three-peat. He is another candidate that fulfills the triangle offense requirement and someone Jackson would feel comfortable giving the reins to.

The Dark Horses

 Mike D’Antoni: Just kidding. He may be a solid option for the New York Liberty down the road.

Jeff Van Gundy: Van Gundy is the last coach to have legitimate success at MSG. Since      fleeing for Houston in 2003 the Knicks have had little to zero success at the head coaching position. Van Gundy, like his broadcasting partner Mark Jackson, does not fit the triangle offense requirement, but does fit the James Dolan management requirement. No other coach has handled Dolan better and can help mediate the Jackson-Dolan dynamic which has shown quiet friction. It is unlikely that Van Gundy gives up his cushy ESPN job for the foxhole at MSG, but a dark horse nonetheless.

 Patrick Ewing: One of the greatest players to ever don a Knick uniform and definitely one of the most underappreciated Knicks, Ewing has recently voiced his desire to be considered for the job. Ewing has put in the work, working as an assistant coach for 12 years. Both Jeff and Stan Van Gundy have said on multiple occasions that Ewing is deserving of head coach job. Ewing served on Jeff’s staff in Houston and on Stan’s staff in Orlando, including the year they went to the finals.  It remains to be seen if the Knicks will reach out to one of their greats, but it would not come as a shock if Ewing is at least brought in for a sit down. 

The Zen Era

If you told me in January that Phil Jackson would be the Knicks' President of Basketball Operations I would ask "what was in that beer". If you told me James Dolan vowed to cede power to Jackson I would tell you to check into Alcoholics Anonymous. Yet here we are in the middle of March with one of the best basketball minds in the world calling Madison Square Garden his new home. 

Everyone knows Jackson’s credentials by now (if you don’t leave ESPN on for five or ten minutes), Jackson is getting paid a king’s ransom of $60 million to leave the beautiful Cali weather and his fiancée Jeanie Buss behind. What we don’t know is how quickly Jackson can undo almost two decade’s worth of mistakes by a meddling owner who said at Jackson’s press conference “I am by no means an expert in basketball.”

We know Dolan, believe me we know. However, to Dolan’s credit, he took a huge step in the right direction yesterday. He listened to his loyal fan base and confidants and made a move that has franchise altering potential. Was this his way of stopping the embarrassment of the fan protest outside of the Garden Wednesday night? Maybe. Was this a way to say sorry for the Andrea Bargnani deal? I hope so. Is there anyone better to turn around this organization? Maybe, but they’re already employed by other teams.

Jackson brings a firm identity with him, something the Knicks have been looking for since Jeff Van Gundy fled to Houston, an identity not just for the basketball team, but for the whole organization. If this man got Kobe Bryant to share the basketball imagine what he can do to not only the neighborhood ball hogs that fill out the Knicks’ roster, but the power hungry hogs that fill out the Garden executive board.

He brings the basketball expertise that the Knicks lost when Donnie Walsh was sent packing. Naysayers say that Jackson is an exceptional coach, but unproven as a front office executive. That is why they are called naysayers. The hiring of Jackson is already the best move the team has made since they were eliminated by the Indiana Pacers last April.

But what does this really mean? Who’s in and who’s out? Time will answer those questions. Jackson told the media yesterday that he plans on talking to the team before their big game against that Pacer team Wednesday. It will be interesting to see how the team comes out after a pep talk from one the best coaches ever.

Looking forward Jackson says he supports Mike Woodson, but it would be an all-time shocker if Woodson is on the bench for the Knicks come next season. Insiders have said that Jackson’s disciples, guys that know his triangle system will be the logical choices. TNT Analyst Steve Kerr who won three championships with Jackson in Chicago has been rumored to be the front-runner. Marc Stein of ESPN went as far as to say it is Kerr’s job to turn down. Other candidates include Brian Shaw who was supposed to succeed Jackson in LA. Shaw is already under contract as Denver head coach, but that won’t stop the Knicks from inquiring (see Thibodeau, Tom).

The long shot candidates are Jeff Van Gundy, someone that knows how to handle Dolan if Jackson ends up having less power than he thought and a cult hero in New York. Find a Knick fan who doesn't love JVG and I show you a Nets fan. The other is Woodson being retained. This is not completely out of the question. If the Knicks get into the playoffs and somehow win in the first round then the team would have to bring him back. It’s a long shot, but still a shot.

What Knicks fans care about most are what this means for Carmelo Anthony and his impending free agency. Will Anthony exercise his one-year option a la Dwight Howard to see what Jackson does with actual cap space flexibility and a first-round draft pick? Will he re-sign for a max contract and put his trust in Jackson to lure that second star in 2015? Anthony has given mixed signals first saying that Jackson’s arrival will have no effect on his free agency decision, but called the move a “power move” by the Knicks. Jackson is known as a culture changing connoisseur and he sure has his work cut out for him. If history serves as any measurement, the Zen Era will be a fruitful one for the Knicks.

Knicks Head to D-Town to Try and Derail Early Slide

via NY Post

Tonight the Knicks head to the Motor City hoping to snap out of their early season doldrums.  Their opponent is a Pistons team that is also struggling to meet expectations after a busy offseason that included the acquisitions of Brandon Jennings, Josh Smith and the return of former Piston great Chauncey Billups. With both teams sitting at 3-6, and in need of a win, expect this game to be intense and scrappy.

The Knicks are going up against the gigantic frontcourt of Greg Monroe, Andre Drummond and Josh Smith, meaning rebounds will be at a premium. It will be interesting to see if Coach Woodson starts Kenyon Martin alongside Andrea Bargnani and Carmelo Anthony to add some much needed toughness. With Metta World Peace already ruled out Amar’e Stoudemire will have to bring his best game and make an impact in his limited minutes. Adding Martin to the starting lineup allows Melo to match up with Josh Smith who is no easy cover by any means but it saves Anthony the punishment of banging with seven footers Monroe or Drummond all game.

n the backcourt the matchup to watch out for is Brandon Jennings versus Raymond Felton (if he plays). Felton hasn't looked good to start this season and has had trouble guarding elusive point guards. Woodson may throw Shumpert, Prigioni or newfound rival J.R. Smith at Jennings. 

The Smith-Jennings feud is easily the best storyline heading into this game after the two traded shots on Twitter. Jennings has always played good against the team that passed on him in the ’09 Draft, but this feud might fuel J.R. to break out of his early season rust and light up the building. J.R. always has the potential to shoot the lights out of the gym just as much as he can shoot his team out of the game. If he regains that balance of driving to the basket and launching from downtown expect a huge game from the reigning Sixth Man of the Year.

This game will be a grind no doubt and the frontcourt has to come with its A++ game against that huge Detroit presence. If Bargnani can replicate what he did on Thursday against Houston and Martin’s energy and toughness frees up Melo to not worry about banging down low the Knicks are in good shape. 

Knicks look for Bargnani to Step Up Big to Stop the Slide

via Fansided.com

The Knicks wrap up their home and home series with the Charlotte Bobcats Friday looking to snap a three game losing streak. The first half of the series took place on Tuesday, a game most Knicks fans hope to quickly forget. For the second straight game the team came out lethargic and let their opponent score at ease. Even more disastrous was the news that came out Wednesday, defensive anchor Tyson Chandler will be out at least a month with what the team is calling a fractured right fibula. Chandler is the Knicks best defender and only real defensive presence down low. Going into Charlotte it will be interesting to see who is going to fill that void at center for Coach Mike Woodson. Jeremy Tyler is reportedly close to joining the team, but has yet to begin rehab. Amar’e Stoudemire had a rough game Tuesday, but what a time it would be for STAT to shut up naysayers and come up big. Kenyon Martin played decent on Tuesday, but with a minutes limit on both him and Stoudemire it’s hard for either to get in rhythm. Seven-Footer Cole Aldrich would make the most sense to at least get a couple minutes at center as Aldrich has yet to take off his warm-ups.

For the Knicks to snap this losing streak the perimeter defense has to be exceptional so expect a lot of Pablo Prigioni and Iman Shumpert on Kemba Walker and Gerald Henderson respectively. Woodson has opted to go with Andrea Bargnani at the five (UHH OH), so Carmelo Anthony will have to be a monster on the boards which he has shown he can do. On the offensive end the Knicks are still a work in progress and waiting for J.R. Smith to return from suspension. For Friday expect Tim Hardaway Jr. to get a lot more minutes as he has proven that he can score when given the opportunity. Raymond Felton will have to get the offense moving early in the game and keep the pace high so they cannot get exposed in the half court with no real center. Bobcats marquee free agent signing and low post monster Al Jefferson didn’t play Tuesday and didn’t play on Wednesday against the Raptors. If he ends up sitting out again it gives the Knicks the upper hand. In the end the key for the Knicks will be effort. If they come out firing they will be in good shape, but if they come out dragging their feet and letting people in the paint like EZ-Pass it’s going to be a long night.

5 Knickstape Questions going into the season - Part 1

Training camp has begun and everyone in New York City can feel the NBA in the air as the 2013-2014 season quickly approaches. This year is definitely shaping up to be a great one for both the Knicks, and I hate to admit it but the Nets as well, as both squads will benefit from each other’s revamped rosters. Finally, a city that was deprived of good basketball for most of the millennium, will see what is shaping up to be one of the most heated cross-town rivalries Gotham has ever been apart of.

With that, today begins a new blogging year for Knickstape and it’s going to be a good one. Over the next couple of weeks as we approach the home opener vs. the Bucks we’ll try to answer the burning questions that are most likely on all of our Knick fan minds. Let’s get to the first one…it’s quiet smokey.

JR’s 3-year deal. A guaranteed mess? 
Time will tell, but so far the 3-year $17.95 million extension the 27-year old signed over the summer isn’t looking so sweet. Swish has already endured off-season knee surgery and Stern threw 5 game suspension at him for violating the league’s substance abuse policy after a third positive drug test…Do you think he at least tried the medical marijuana defense?? Maybe it was helping his knee heal quicker?? Anyway, they say there is no hope in dope, which was a sentiment that Coach Woody Johnson reiterated to JR early this week when he told the 6th man of the year “to grow up”. Fortunately, Woody has his ear and according to Ian Begley of ESPN New York, Swish apologized to all of his teammates, coaches and even Dolan – Dolan, that CRAZY Dolan – and promised to shape up.

I think, and hope for the sake of all of us, that JR realizes the positive impact he can have on this team and has learned from his past mistakes. When he’s on, he is on and could be the X factor that brings us back to the Eastern Conference Finals and maybe even further. I’m envisioning a lot of #JRING occuring this year….

Knicks 2013-2014 Schedule Released

Official NBA regular season schedules were released last night, and the excitement is already building around the Knicks who lead the NBA with 25 nationally televised games (ESPN/ABC/TNT)!

Unlike last year where all Knick-Nets games were finished in the first half of the season, these fierce rivals will battle it out twice in the first half and twice in April, which are shaping up to be some very pivotal affairs.

Other key games to look out for are our four matchups with the Heat and our January and March faceoffs with the Pacers. All are sure to be must wins. As basketball fans we all have to be excited to see our team face the new look Rockets in November and January, as well as the Thunder on Christmas Day and our four games against Derrick Rose's Bulls. Can't wait for the season to start, its only 83 days away - that's less than three months! Let's go #KNICKSTAPE!!!!

2013-14 New York Knicks Regular Season Schedule
Nationally televised games are noted in BOLD.

October

Wednesday 30.. vs. Milwaukee....... 7:30 p.m.
Thursday 31.. at Chicago............. 8:00 p.m.

November

Sunday 3.. vs. Minnesota....... 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday 5.. vs. Charlotte......... 7:30 p.m.
Friday 8.. at Charlotte........... 7:00 p.m.
Sunday 10.. vs. San Antonio............ noon
Wednesday 13.. at Atlanta............... 8:00 p.m. 
Thursday 14.. vs. Houston........... 8:00 p.m.
Saturday 16.. vs. Atlanta............ 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday 19.. at Detroit............... 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday 20.. vs. Indiana............ 7:00 p.m.
Saturday 23.. at Washington....... 7:00 p.m.
Monday 25.. at Portland........... 10:00 p.m.
Wednesday 27.. at L.A. Clippers.... 10:30 p.m.
Friday 29.. at Denver.............. 9:00 p.m.

December

Sunday 1.. vs. New Orleans... 7:30 p.m.
Thursday 5.. at Brooklyn............ 7:00 p.m.
Friday 6.. vs. Orlando............ 7:30 p.m.
Sunday 8.. vs. Boston..................... noon
Tuesday 10.. at Cleveland........... 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday 11.. vs. Chicago............ 8:00 p.m.
Friday 13.. at Boston............... 7:30 p.m.
Saturday 14.. vs. Atlanta............ 7:30 p.m.
Monday 16.. vs. Washington.... 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday 18.. at Milwaukee.......... 8:00 p.m.
Saturday 21 vs. Memphis.................. noon
Monday 23 at Orlando.............. 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday 25.. vs. Oklahoma City 2:30 p.m.
Friday 27.. vs. Toronto............ 7:30 p.m.
Saturday 28.. at Toronto............. 7:00 p.m.

January

Thursday 2.. at San Antonio....... 8:30 p.m.
Friday 3.. at Houston............ 8:00 p.m.
Sunday 5.. at Dallas................. 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday 7.. vs. Detroit............. 7:30 p.m.
Thursday 9.. vs. Miami............... 8:00 p.m.
Saturday 11.. at Philadelphia....... 7:30 p.m.
Monday 13.. vs. Phoenix........... 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday 14.. at Charlotte........... 7:00 p.m.
Thursday 16.. at Indiana.............. 7:00 p.m. 
Friday 17.. vs. L.A. Clippers.... 7:00 p.m. 
Monday 20.. vs. Brooklyn.......... 2:30 p.m.
Wednesday 22.. vs. Philadelphia.... 7:30 p.m.
Friday. 24.. vs. Charlotte......... 7:30 p.m.
Sunday 26.. vs. L.A. Lakers...... 3:30 p.m.
Tuesday 28.. vs. Boston............. 7:30 p.m.
Thursday 30.. vs. Cleveland........ 8:00 p.m.

February

Saturday 1.. vs. Miami............... 8:30 p.m.
Monday 3.. at Milwaukee.......... 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday 5.. vs. Portland.......... 7:30 p.m.
Friday 7.. vs. Denver............. 7:30 p.m.
Sunday 9.. at Oklahoma City... 1:00 p.m.
Wednesday 12.. vs. Sacramento.... 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday 18.. at Memphis........... 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday 19.. at New Orleans...... 8:00 p.m.
Friday 21.. at Orlando.............. 7:00 p.m.
Saturday 22.. at Atlanta............... 7:30 p.m.
Monday 24.. vs. Dallas............... 7:30 p.m.
Thursday 27.. at Miami................. 8:00 p.m. 
Friday 28.. vs. Golden State... 8:00 p.m.

March

Sunday 2.. at Chicago............. 1:00 p.m.
Monday 3.. at Detroit............... 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday 5.. at Minnesota.......... 8:00 p.m.
Friday 7.. vs. Utah................. 7:30 p.m.
Saturday 8.. at Cleveland........... 7:30 p.m.
Monday 10.. vs. Philadelphia.... 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday 12.. at Boston............... 7:30 p.m.
Saturday 15.. vs. Milwaukee............... noon
Wednesday 19.. vs. Indiana............ 8:00 p.m.
Friday 21.. at Philadelphia....... 7:00 p.m.
Sunday 23.. vs. Cleveland........ 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday 25.. at L.A. Lakers....... 10:30 p.m.
Wednesday 26.. at Sacramento..... 10:00 p.m.
Friday 28.. at Phoenix........... 10:00 p.m.
Sunday 30.. at Golden State..... 9:00 p.m.
Monday 31.. at Utah.................. 9:00 p.m.

April

Wednesday 2.. vs. Brooklyn.......... 7:00 p.m.
Friday 4.. vs. Washington.... 7:30 p.m.
Sunday 6.. at Miami................. 1:00 p.m.
Friday 11.. at Toronto............. 7:00 p.m.
Sunday 13.. vs. Chicago............ 1:00 p.m. 
Tuesday 15.. at Brooklyn............ 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday 16.. vs. Toronto............ 8:00 p.m.

First Knickstape Poll Ever, Take Part

What are you thinking??

Who's Been the Knicks Playoff MVP Thus Far:?

• Melo #Tape7
• Shump #Tape21
• Felton #Tape2
• Prigioni #Tape9
• The Whole #Knickstape

Acepoll

More polls: Free polls

Decisions, Decisions...

KnicksTapeTees Still On-Sale!!

Our inventory is running low right now but that doesn't mean you can't purchase an Original Knickstape t-shirt - it just proves how popular they are! Shirts are still on sale and will be throughout the playoffs. Just click the "buy now" button on the right hand side of the screen and follow the prompts. Thanks to all the KNICKSTAPE fans out there for your continued support. Now let's beat Boston and get one step closer to the ship!!!