NBA Rumors: Baron Davis Must Return to Save Slumping New York Knicks

After a strong start, the New York Knicks have cooled off considerably. That's mostly because they don't have a true point guard like Baron Davis to lead the charge on offense. Carmelo Anthony currently leads the team in assists at just over four per game, and that isn't going to cut it.

Marc Berman of the New York Post provides the details on the point guard's return:

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Baron Davis is likely to participate in his first practice today and the Knicks are shooting for the injured point guard to make his debut Saturday in Houston for the finale to their four-game road trip, according to sources.

The Knicks prefer to start Davis on the road because there would be less pressure for him to perform. But if he has the slightest setback during practices, then his debut would be pushed back to the first game back, against the Pistons at the Garden next Tuesday.

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Finally, Davis is nearing a return to the court. That's the thought running through the mind of every Knicks fan after watching the team drop six straight games. Davis is exactly what the team needs to turn the tide back in their favor before it's too late.

Adding a rejuvenated Davis (see above for what he's capable of when healthy) to the mix would lead to an instant improvement on the offensive end. His presence would allow Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire to worry more about exploiting matchup advantages than running the offense.

Only three times during his 14-year career has Davis averaged less than seven assists per game. He's not the dynamic scorer he was during his prime with the New Orleans Hornets and Golden State Warriors, but the Knicks have enough players who can fill it up.

They need somebody to feed those guys on a consistent basis. That's where Davis, whose signing was questioned due to ongoing back problems, will have his biggest impact.

It will be important for head coach Mike D'Antoni to strike a good balance between getting the offense clicking on all cylinders again and making sure not to overwork Davis. He'll play a crucial role in the team's playoff hopes, but obviously won't be able to do so if he's on the shelf with an injury.

The best option is playing him limited minutes in the first half so that he'll be prepared to be a significant contributor in the second.

Regardless of how D'Antoni decides to use him, Davis will be the shot in the arm New York needs. Things have been slowly slipping away over the last couple weeks, and, in a shortened season, there's always chance for a slump to snowball into a disaster.

Davis will make sure that doesn't happen to the Knicks while also proving his signing wasn't such a bad idea after all.