The Knickstape Podcast Episode 1 is here!

Listen to "Knickstape Podcast Episode 1 - How'd we get here?" on Spreaker. Meet Mike & Luke your hosts of the Knickstape Podcast. In this first episode we talk the Knicks trade situations (prior to the deadline), if they have a shot at the playoffs, best Knicks moments (from the few to choose from), Super Bowl LII reactions and we wrap with the Knicks Shitty Player of the week!

KNICKS RANT VIDEO: So absurd, yet so on-point.

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Via Deadspin. There's not many good things about a Knicks losing streak, however the passion that us Knicks fans display is great and hilarious. This guy makes some great points and how can you blame him after the way we've been playing. 
Some great quotes: 

"I'm naming veterans. I'm not naming garbage. We lost by 31 f**king points." - So true. Where's the leadership from these guys those.
"Patrick Ewing. They go ahead and offer you a job, pull your dick out and piss on em'" - no words, just truth. HAHAHAHA. 

"I just skip motherf***king church. I just skipped church to come home on Sunday and watch these raggedy bastards play." - Even god can't save this team.

"I'ma put the Wire as my [screensaver]" - Great choice of a new screensaver, best show on TV.

You know it was bad when he buries about $170 worth of Knicks apparel, including those ill ass orange & blue kicks in the snow and puts on some Lebron slippers. Can you blame him though?? He's fed up. He deserves a free Knickstape tee though.  

The quote to sum up the season:
"Melo on down, no heart! 'Why Melo?' Bitch, you the leader? Blame starts with your ass. Make somebody else better with your sorry ass." - Can't put all the blame on Melo, but he's totally right. You're the leader of this team. Get in on everyone and make sure your teammates are playing their asses off. 

Kyrie-Bynum Offer Tough Task for Confused Knicks

via the Daily News

Just when you thought they turned the corner, following back-to-back wins, the Knicks got blown out of their building by their bitter foes the Boston Celtics. So much for them being an easy win this year. Maybe the Knicks can’t perform in those hideous orange alternates. Maybe the Knicks just haven’t figured it out. Maybe Boston is not as bad as we thought. Whatever the reason was for that disgrace of a performance doesn’t matter. Let’s move forward.

The Knicks try to add one to the win column tonight against an equally disappointing Cleveland team. The Cavs are coming off an impressive home victory against the Clippers. Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson both had bounce back games after scoring a combined 9 points in a blowout loss to Atlanta. Andrew Bynum has been quietly playing well for Cleveland this year and has scored 20 points in back-to-back games.

The Knicks are coming off yet another dud of a performance. Boston shellacked the Knicks 34-11 in the first period and never looked back. Raymond Felton has lost a step. J.R. and Iman are too streaky and Mike Woodson seems hell-bent on not giving Toure Murry a legitimate shot.  The lone bright spot was Amar’e Stoudemire’s 17 points on 7-10 shooting. Against Cleveland the Knicks need to come out and punch the Cavs in the face like what they did to the Nets on Thursday. This game won’t be won in the first period, but it sure as hell can be lost.

For the Knicks to win the backcourt has to play great defense and knock down some shots. Last game the backcourt combined for 5-25 (20%). Coach Woodson really needs to find out if Felton is slumping or has he regressed back to his old Rip City self. You know the overweight and overmatched point guard who Portland fans hated in his one year there? I’ve been saying this for weeks, but with Kyrie Irving on the other side Coach Woodson has to look at another option. If he doesn’t want to put Toure' Murry in for whatever reason at least shift Shumpert to the point and platoon Smith and Hardaway Jr. at the two.

Up front Melo and Bargnani should be able to hold their own as long as they’re physical. We know Bynum can quit when the going gets tough and Thompson cannot carry the frontcourt load especially while defending Melo or Bargnani. This is an extremely winnable game if the Knicks show up. Everyone needs to show up, from Coach Woodson all the way down to Cole Aldrich. If they do that the Knicks will get a much needed win and if they don’t? May Jim Dolan have mercy on their souls.

Tale of the Tape: Moving Forward

via The Guardian

If you’re still fuming over the no call on Carmelo Anthony’s final shot or the ticky-tack foul called on Iman Shumpert (who Melo doesn't want to see trade which is good news for us) just remember one thing; it can’t get any worse. The Knicks will close November with a whopping zero home wins. While this is disheartening and frustrating last night’s game gave me hope. Let’s look at some of the takeaways from last night’s heart-breaker.

• Effort: So the Knicks do have heart....at least for one night that is. Coach Woodson’s defense was the best it has looked all year. Players were fighting on the boards, jumping on loose balls for four quarters. Excluding the last couple possessions where J.R. Smith left Pacer’s one-trick pony George Hill open to do the one thing he’s good at (launch 3’s) the defense and overall effort was great and something they can build off of.
• Support Group:  Last night we saw Melo get some much needed help when he needed it most. Beno Udrih had his best game as aKnick putting up 19 points, taking some of the scoring load off Bargnani who had an off night and Shumpert who was using all his energy to hold Paul Geroge in check. Kenyon Martin and Metta World Peace’s intensity really helped the others get going on both ends.
• Return of J.R: It finally looks like Smith has found his rhythm as he had a season-high 21 points on 8-19 shooting. While he did miss a wide open three late in the game that he shouldn’t have ever shot it looks like Smith is closer to returning to form.
• Monster Melo: Last night Melo proved he is worth the big bucks. He led the team in scoring putting up 30 points and was an absolute animal on the boards grabbing 18 rebounds.  Melo was pedal to the metal for all 42 minutes he was on the floor. By the last two minutes he looked so exhausted it was amazing to see him still score. If the Knicks can just get Melo that sidekick that Amar’e never became the Knicks can challenge anyone in the East.

Moving forward the Knicks head to Washington where they will have their hands full with the great young backcourt of John Wall and Bradley Beal. If Felton is no-go expect Udrih to get his third straight start. The fact that Coach Mike Woodson refuses to give rookie Toure’ Murray some minutes is head scratching to say the least. Maybe Woodson gives the long limbed guard some time against a big and speedy point guard like Wall, as he will be a lot for Udrih and Prigioni to handle.  If the Knicks do bring that same intensity to the Nation’s capital I expect a long awaited victory. The only direction for the Knicks NEED to go right now is up. 

Time for a change. Woodson out? Calipari in?

via Fansided.com

The Knicks are in the throws of 4 game losing streak. They will end November without a win at home, and are at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. This is a lot to swallow for a team that ended last year as the Atlantic Division Champions with 50 plus wins. If you ask any avid Knicks fan, things need to change.

Trade rumors are swirling through NYC and the blogesphere like a F-5 tornado. New trades involving every player, other than Carmelo Anthony, seem to crop up daily. Us die-hard Knick fans need to see a turnaround and we need to see it fast.

Yesterday’s battle with the Eastern Conference leading Pacers could have been a win that began to right-the-ship. The Knicks were finally playing with some intensity. Beno Udrih, who was starting at point the for an injured Raymond Felton, was able to move the ball and even made a couple circus shot himself. Melo was on his grind; finding his stroke and pulling down a game high 18 rebounds. But it all came crashing down in the final seconds of the fourth quarter when Shump committed a questionable foul on Paul George. The three foul shots allowed the Pacers to bring the game to overtime, where George willed his team to a comeback win.

Many fingers can be pointed at the beginning of this young season, but it all falls down on the coach. Woodson is obviously on the hot seat. Some of his coaching decisions are making all us scratch our heads. On the offensive side of the ball there is no continuity and the lack of ball movement is cringe worthy. I often wonder if Woodson is even calling plays. Much of the time it looks like this team is running a schoolyard pick-up game, rather than an NBA offense. Per ESPN, we are ranked 25^th in points per game and 26^th in assists, a HUGE drop from last years high fly, three-ballin' offense.

Defense, where Woodson used to hang his hat, is severely lacking. We have given up big lead after big lead. Without Tyson Chandler, out for at least 3 more weeks with a leg injury, there is no defensive floor general. No post threat to contend the layup. Players are standing around missing assignment. It’s confusion all around, and Woodson shouldn’t be allowing it.

If the losing streak continues into Washington on Saturday night, Woodson’s time as Knicks head coach will most likely be cut short. I’ve heard a lot of rumbling, first through SI’s Chris Mannix on the Artie Lange Show, and today through CBSSports, that University of Kentucky head coach, John Calipari, is interested in coming back to the NBA and the Knicks may be at the top of his calling card. I don't think this will be a good move for the Knicks. He failed in the NBA before and he will probably fail again. Mike Woodson’s time may be up, but I’d rather have Phil Jackson patrolling our sidelines than a failed Nets coach turned recruiting scammer.

Struggling Knicks Welcome Pacers to the Garden...Uh Oh

via NY Daily News

As the world continues to collapse around them, the Knicks try and right the ship yet again tonight at MSG against the class of the Eastern Conference, the Indiana Pacers. Coming off an embarrassing loss last night in Detroit where Rodney Stuckey looked like the second coming of Isiah Thomas, Coach Mike Woodson is starting to look like he has no answer for this Knicks team. Effort has been at a premium with the team showing signs of life only in spurts. Enough is enough. With a restless owner, fed up fan base and a head coach fighting for his job, tonight is a must win for Knicks

The Pacers are coming into the Garden with the NBA’s best record (tied with San Antonio) at 9-1 and with tons of confidence. It was only a couple of months ago these Pacers cancelled the Knicks’ date with Miami in the Eastern Conference Semis. Tonight the Knicks will face a Pacer team that is bringing back all the starters from that team and with a reloaded bench of Luis Scola. C.J. Watson, and former Knick Chris Copeland.

Andrea Bargnani and Kenyon Martin have a long night ahead them as Roy Hibbert has finally takenthe leap and become one of the top centers in the league and resident tough guy David West who is no walk in the park. It is unknown if Amar’e Stoudemire is set to play, but if he gets minutes let us pray that he at least looks at the person he is defending. Paul George and Lance Stephenson have also made huge leaps and are not the same players the Knicks saw in May...they are both vastly improved.

Carmelo Anthony will have to put on a similar show he did against Houston when he was an absolute monster putting up 45 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists. Outside of Anthony, and recently Bargnani, no Knick has consistently put the ball in the hoop. With Raymond Felton out it will be interesting to see the ball movement or lack there of on offense. Woodson’s offense has been unwatchable at times with one player dribbling and the other four just watching. This would be a great time for the Knicks to give rookie Toure’ Murry some burn at the point. Murry was impressive in the preseason and might give the Knicks the spark they need to get going. Another player in need of a spark is J.R. He continues to struggle from the field, which leaves Anthony to carry the load by himself. If Smith can get going and Shumpert can shake off the trade rumors and get back to his usual form the Knicks can definitely get an edge on Indy. 

If Bargnani continues to score and lure Hibbert out of the paint to make room for Anthony and company and Martin can out-tough West that leaves Anthony vs. George and Smith vs. Stephenson two matchups I have faith in the Knicks winning. If Murry and or Shumpert hold George Hill from launching 3’s the Knicks are in business. Unfortunately all of this means nothing without effort; hopefully the Garden is jumping and infuses much needed energy. Let’s see what type of team comes out tonight.

Knicks get Maliced at the Palace

The Knicks commemorated the 9th anniversary of the Malice at the Palace by putting on their own embarrassing show. Luckily no fans were physically hurt, only heart broken. The frustrations continued in Detroit as the Knicks fell to a shaky Piston squad, 92-86, dropping their season record to 3-7.

Following the themes of this year so far, the Knicks offense was stagnant as their point guard play remains suspect to the 10th degree. Beno Udrih, who started in place of the injured Raymond Felton, scored 0 points and was having  hard time getting everyone involved. Andrea Bargnani, one of the Knicks most consistent scorers, took only 2 shots in the entire second half, ending the game with 12. Melo scored 25 points but his struggles from the field continued shooting only 8-20. 

Amare, at times actually looked like his old self on offense. Powering through for several big dunks. But his defense, much like the whole team's, was an absolute different story. Look at this picture, it sums up the Knicks night pretty well:

via @NBASportsLegion

STAT really earning the "Standing" part of his nickname. Literally in the middle of the floor starring up at the stands like he got hypnotized by the empty Palace . Just straight confused. 

The play of the Knicks tonight will definitely heat up the trade rumors to an even higher level. A capable point guard who can be trusted with controlling the floor is desperately needed. As well as another big man who can pull down rebounds and become a presence in the paint. It would not surprise me if Dolan urges GM Steve Mills to pull the trigger as soon as possible. But in Dolan-esque fashion it will most likely be a trade for a shooting-guard, because, ya know, we don't have enough of those. 

Time To Freak Out: Knicks Weekly Panic Meter

via NBC Sports

At 3-6 and sitting at 12^th place in the Eastern Conference and third place in the Atlantic Division the Knicks are experiencing serious early season struggles. This can be attributed to the loss of their defensive anchor Tyson Chandler or the minutes limit on both Amar’e Stoudemire and Kenyon Martin. On Sunday the Knicks were thrashed by 20 by the same Atlanta Hawks team they beat a couple nights ago. Tempers are starting to run high. Fans are starting to panic. Let’s break it down.

Orange Is the New Black

For the fourth time this season the Knicks sported their orange alternate jerseys and for the fourth time they lost. The Knicks are 0-4 wearing their alternates and have been competitive in only one of those four (at Chicago). It may be time to hang the orange unis up and go back to the traditional home whites and road blues. Unfortunately that is some wishful thinking as they plan to wear the alternates at least 6 more times this season. Honestly they should be winning no matter what jerseys they wear, even if it's those ugly Christmas pajamas. 

Woodson’s Hot Seat

The fire under Coach Woodson’s behind might be bigger than MSG at this point. The team has looked like they don't care at times. Opposing teams have been getting to the basket like they have E-ZPass. While it is far from Woodson’s fault that his team has given as much effort as Andrew Bynum did in Philadelphia someone has to answer. With no viable back-up for Chandler signed in the offseason Woodson has been left to scramble for anybody willing to defend the basket. Andrea Bargnani has surprised a lot of people this past week as he finally seems to be fitting in on offense and turned in a superb effort against Dwight Howard on Thursday. As great as Bargs has been playing the Knicks need a legitimate center that can guard the post and grab rebounds. Frank Isola reported earlier today that Woodson is thinking about inserting Kenyon Martin into the starting lineup to help fill this void.

So Long Shump?

Iman Shumpert for whatever reason seems to be the Fall Guy of the Knicks early season struggles. The team tried to deal Shumpert away to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for high-energy guy Kenneth Faried but was denied. ESPN New York’s Ian Begley reported that the Knicks have now reached out to the Boston Celtics in hopes of forming a deal centered around Shumpert and Rajon Rondo. While this is the only deal that makes sense short and long term for the team the thought of the rivals doing business is hard to imagine. Hell if the Nets could heist the Celtics why not the Knicks? Anything outside of a Rondo deal, or for a big that can provide some size and rebounding in Chandler's absence, would not be a wise move by GM Steve Mills.

Courting Melo

Melo is not a happy camper. He was quoted by Marc Berman of the New York Daily Post saying “We got to play harder. We're not playing worth a [expletive] right now.” The team’s effort or lack of is starting to irritate Anthony as he continues to be a one man show on offense and watching opponents come into his house and wipe the floor with his team. Raymond Felton has been getting shredded by any point guard with a good first step, J.R. is regressing to the old J.R. and Tyson Chandler is out for at least five more weeks. The front office isn’t doing much better shopping Shumpert who Anthony thinks can be a great player in a couple years. If Shumpert is dealt for anyone not named Rajon Rondo or Gasol be afraid Knicks fans, be very afraid.

Panic Meter: 6

The lack of effort is getting to the point where you wonder if the team actually cares anymore. They have not defended their home court at all starting 1-5 at The Garden this year. They lost 10 games at The Garden all year last year. The Knicks have a difficult upcoming week with matchups against a big Detroit team, the Indiana Pacers, the best team in the conference not named Miami, and Washington on Saturday. This stretch will put the team’s heart to the test and by Saturday night we will see how much pride this unit has.

PETITION TO SAVE SHUMP

https://www.change.org/petitions/mr-dolan-do-not-trade-guard-iman-shumpert

Since the Knicks were eliminated by the Pacers in the second round of last year’s playoffs the team has been looking to make moves to please soon to be free agent Carmelo Anthony. Every move the Knicks have made or plan to make in the near future revolves around re-signing their franchise player. Trading the Knicks only real asset and player that Melo thinks highly of is not the smartest move. It is also unwise to trade away your only line of defense when James Harden, Kobe, Westbrook and Rose come to town.

Iman Shumpert has fallen out of favor with both Owner James Dolan and Head Coach Mike Woodson making him most likely to leave. The team already tried to get Kenneth Faried in exchange for Shump and it is reported more teams have inquired about the talented shooting guard. Trading Shumpert would be a panic move that the Knicks will regret just as much and maybe even more than not matching Jeremy Lin’s offer sheet. 

Please help talk some sense into James Dolan and sign our below petition to keep Iman Shumpert in the Orange and Blue!! 

PETITION: MR. DOLAN DO NOT TRADE SHUMP

Shump Trade Rumors: Denver, Pacers in the Mix

via Getty Images

It seems like déjà vu all over again. Another Knick might be heading to Denver. Or will it be Indy? News broke yesterday that the Knicks are in trade talks with Denver to acquire Kenneth ‘The Manimal’ Faried in exchange for Iman Shumpert. There have also been several other reports that numerous teams have inquired about Shump. One source points to the Pacers as a landing spot for the energetic guard, which for many would be heart breaking. Indy without Shump looks dangerous, but with him they could be the league's elite. 

However, the move that seems most likely and is being talked about around the blogesphere is the swap with the Nuggets. Frank Isola of the Daily News reported that Shumpert who was taken ahead of Faried in the 2011 Draft has fallen out of favor with both Coach Mike Woodson and owner James Dolan. If indeed this trade happens, is this a good move for the Knicks?

Case for Faried

The team gets a much needed front court presence that’s good for 10 rebounds a night and someone who goes 100 miles per hour every minute he’s in the game. With Tyson Chandler out he immediately becomes Knicks best rebounder and fills that huge void as defensive interim captain. When Chandler returns he and Faried have the potential to be one of the top frontcourts in the league. Most importantly it saves Melo from the punishment of having to fight with the likes of Z-Bo and Kevin Love night in and night out. Financially the Knicks get a cheaper contract in Faried helping lower that salary cap for room to re-sign Melo and clear more room for Jim Dolan’s grand spending spree in 2015.

Case for Shumpert

Shumpert is more than just a starting shooting guard for the Knicks. He is one of the leaders on this team. He is a huge fan favorite as one of the founder of the #Knickstape moniker to being out in the community. On the court Shumpert is no doubt the best perimeter defender on the team. He is virtually the only line of defense when players like Derrick Rose, James Harden and Kobe come to town. He has shown improvement on offense, developing a three-point and mid-range shot. If it is true that Shump has fallen out of favor with James Dolan and Coach Woodson it will be interesting to see how Melo takes this. When rumors swirled about Shumpert being traded to the Suns Melo was not happy. The Knicks have to keep in mind they have to please Anthony with his impending free agency and dealing a player he is high on is not the best way to woo someone.

There is no doubt that someone like Faried is needed right now; but what about a year from now? Or two years? The Knicks supposed grand plan is to go after Kevin Love in 2015 so where would Faried go? Why not wait out Tyson’s injury and sign a cheap free agent?  These are interesting questions that General Manager Steve Mills has to answer before he makes his first big move since taking over for Glen Grunwald. 

JR to start as Knicks look to bounce back from embarrassment

via SportingNews.com

On Wednesday the Knicks head to A-Town to fulfill their owner’s guarantee and get a much needed win. We all know what happened on Sunday (we’ll forget it happened). We all know James Dolan is very upset. We know Mike Woodson is on a scalding hot seat. Word leaked out Tuesday that the Knicks we also be without Amar’e Stoudemire per Ian Begley of ESPN New York. 

The Hawks are coming off an impressive win against Charlotte in which they had 26 assists as a team and scored 100 points for the seventh straight game to start the season. This is not the type of team you want to face when you’re as thin up front as the Knicks. Andrea Bargnani, Kenyon Martin and Carmelo Anthony are definitely going to have their hands full keeping Al Horford, Paul Millsap and Elton Brand off the glass. Look for a lot of Metta World Peace in this tonight as he was one of the few Knicks that showed up to play against the Spurs on Sunday and his energy will be relied on. It’s going to be a very long game if Bargnani puts on an encore performance on how to get put on waivers. Against the Spurs he had one more rebound than Spike Lee and looked like a man with no country on the defensive end. Both Al Horford and Paul Millsap are all-star level forwards and have the ability to grab 20+ rebounds if Bargnani and company don’t show up again.

In what seems to be the theme of Carmelo Anthony’s career the main storyline on offense is who is going to help Anthony score.  J.R. Smith will make his first start of the year tonight, coming in at SG to replace Prigioni. The move may surprise some, as the starting line-up will be extremely scoring heavy and not very defensive. However, with Tyson out and the team struggling to put up buckets, Woodson is forced to get creative. Putting your 5 best players on the floor together is his best choice right now.

Rookie Tim Hardaway Jr. remains one of the only constants on Coach Woodson’s bench as he was one of the four players to crack double digits in points against the Spurs. On defense Felton and J.R. will have their hands full with speedy guards Jeff Teague and rookie Dennis Schroder as well as a red hot sniper Kyle Korver who is currently shooting a scorching 54 percent from downtown per Basketball-Reference.com.

All of this means nothing without effort; something that was absent Sunday and has changed on a game by game basis. This is either going to be a grind out win that the Knicks need now more than ever. If they come out flat and get blown out of the gym again expect the beginning of wholesale changes to follow.

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.

James Dolan Back with a Vengeance

Pouty James Dolan & Johnny McEnroe via SportsonEarth.com

When James Dolan told General Manager Steve Mills, Coach Mike Woodson and his staff that he expects this year to end with a parade in the Canyon of Heroes I can imagine their faces resembled a deer staring into the headlights of an oncoming vehicle. Whether Dolan was fed up with all the praise that Mikhail Prokhorov and the rival Nets have been getting over the offseason or he is genuinely tired of mediocrity like the rest of the fan base is still up for debate. What is not up for debate is that the Knicks roster as it stands today does not  look like a championship caliber team.  This is no fault of Woodson who is the best head coach the Knicks have had since Jeff Van Gundy, but the fault of owner James Dolan himself. Going all the way back to the hiring of Isaiah Thomas and the preceding disaster that knocked the franchise back a decade This is the same owner who promoted Dream Week to fans, a week where the best players in the league like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony would come to the Garden and wipe the floor with the home team. The same owner who gave the fans the pipe dream that Lebron James will be in a Knick in 2010 only to miss out and  give Amar’e Stoudemire a $100 million guaranteed contract as a consolation prize all the while the whole world knew his knees could shut down at any moment.

Dolan’s heart is in the right place, but it is clear that his decision making is not.. The firing of Glen Grunwald who did a tremendous job building last year’s team in favor of Steve Mills was a disturbing move. Now Dolan expects this Knicks roster to win a championship. I can hear LeBron James and Dwyane Wade laughing from South Beach. Now while every owner should expect that from his team why not come out last year and say that? As it stands now, last year’s roster was considerably better than this year’s squad. On top of that the Knicks did virtually nothing in the off season besides drafting Tim Hardaway Jr. and adding Andrea Bargnani. The only person Dolan should be furious at is himself for not letting his basketball guys handle basketball operations. My advice for Dolan is to keep quiet, give these players time to get a feel for each other and show Anthony that this franchise is dedicated to winning.

Iman Shumpert: Risking his Image for the Team

To the dismay of most Knick fans, myself included, Iman Shumpert removed his trademark flat top prior to the first game of the 2013-2014 season. I was stunned, shocked, in disbelief, and confused as I've grown to love that flat-top like it was my own. Many of us asked why. Well, in a telling new video that premiered last week Shump has the answer, and it may surprise you.  Take a look...

Although the flat top is gone, I love where Shump's head is at. Although it's just hair, these days an athlete's image is almost as important as their stats. For him to get rid of an essential part of his branding for what in his mind is the good of the team, says a lot about the type of player and person he is. This guy has the heart of champion and is hungry to bring the Knicks back to greatness. Although the year has started off rocky, Shump is one of the brightest spots on the roster and is shaping into one of this team's leaders. Let's hope he accomplishes his goals and helps bring that ship back to the greatest city in the world.