Knicks Rumors: Baron Davis Will Not Rescue Knicks Upon His Return

Some think the New York Knicks need a new head coach. Everybody thinks they need a new point guard.

On the bright side, one thing we know for sure is that the Knicks are going to get a new point guard in the near future. Baron Davis is on the comeback trail from a herniated disc, and indications are that he will return very soon.

In fact, Howard Beck of The New York Times reported on Monday night that Davis could join the Knicks' lineup by the end of the week. The Knicks aren't saying anything, and Mike D'Antoni wants to get Davis some more work in practice, but the end of the week is the best-case scenario.

So how does Davis look in practice now?

Well, Beck says that his timing is "off" and his stamina is "iffy." Understandably, Davis is rusty. 

The question is how long Davis will remain rusty. Getting into playing shape is going to be hard enough. Getting into the flow of things will be an entirely different challenge. He can practice all he wants, but getting on the same page as Carmelo Anthony, Amar'e Stoudemire, Tyson Chandler and the rest of his teammates will have to be done in games.

That's going to take some time, and it's not going to be easy. 

So if you're a Knicks fan who is expecting Davis to be the cure for what ails the Knicks the second he steps foot on the court, don't hold your breath. That's expecting too much.

Don't get me wrong, I'm willing to admit that Davis could very well be the answer to the Knicks' prayers down the line. The team's problems at point guard have been well-documented, and Davis is a guy who could be the answer if he comes back and plays up to his capabilities.

I'm just saying it won't happen soon. Davis will return to action, but the Knicks' struggles are going to persist for a little while longer. The team is already a few games below the .500 mark, and I fully expect them to hover there for a couple more weeks.

The key for the Knicks will be to finish hot in the last six weeks of the season or so, and that's where having Davis will come in handy. If he can provide the sense of chemistry the Knicks have been missing from the outset, there's no reason the Knicks can't go on a run and stay on a run once the postseason begins.

But there will be growing pains, make no mistake about that. Rome wasn't built in a day, and the Knicks will not be repaired in a day.

If you're a Knicks fan, I'd be more worried about the worst-case scenario: that Davis will come back and the team's problems will persist for the rest of the season.

It's possible that this is exactly what the Knicks are in for. After all, Davis wasn't exactly Chris Paul at last check.