New York Knicks: Second-Half Add Intrigue

The Atlanta Hawks played the New York Knicks Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden, and it was more like an exhibition game.

The Hawks approached this game by being lackadaisical. They did not play defense, and they hoisted stupid shots. They played the game as if they were in the Rucker League.

With the way the Knicks are struggling these days, they appreciated Atlanta’s gesture.

The Knicks ran the ball up the court well. They were able to get transitional baskets, and they would run-n-gun often. It was good enough for them to celebrate a 102-90 romp against the Hawks.

The Knicks would be National Basketball champions if every game was like that. Too bad, most teams don’t play like the Hawks.

All last night’s game did was put an exclamation mark to the team’s first half. They will enter the post All-Star break as a sixth seed in the Eastern Conference.

As good as that accomplishment is, it is only good enough to buy a cup of coffee. In other words, it means nothing.

It’s the second half that counts. This team was coming off a bad month in January. There’s no guarantee this team can snap out of it. They won two in a row, but so what.

The Nets stink, and the Hawks decided to start the All-Star break early rather than playing to win.

The post-All-Star break will be interesting for the Knicks on and off the court.

Transactions, front office, health and performance will make or break this team from next week to April.

Everyone talks about the Carmelo Anthony deal to the point of annoyance. They wonder if Donnie Walsh or James Dolan will pull the trigger. There are questions about other teams vying for his service.

If the Knicks get him, it will be interesting how Anthony will fit in. He is going to have to deal with high expectations of winning and producing. He will have to deal with the scrutiny.

He has showed immaturity about his free agent situation this season, so he may not handle a losing streak well if he plays for the Knicks.

Knicks fans have this arrogance that it’s a done deal. That would be foolish to think that way. The Denver Nuggets might consider going for it by keeping Anthony. They are in the playoffs if the season ends today, and they are capable of making a run.

Unlike the Knicks, the Nuggets have a better supporting cast that can go far in the playoffs. They actually play defense too.  Just looking at that roster, it’s beyond imagination to why Anthony would leave a good situation and join an unstable situation.

Unstable situation?

Well, there is Walsh’s contract status to deal with. The Knicks have to pick up his option by April 30th.^.

James Dolan hasn’t given any indication he will, and he doesn’t seem interested in doing so. He wants Isiah Thomas to eventually run the franchise and coach the team.

He did not want to fire Thomas in the first place.

He was only fired because David Stern ordered him to do so in light of the Anucha Browne Sanders sexual harassment lawsuit.

In Dolan’s eyes, Thomas served his time. He feels it’s time to bring him back.

Anthony is going to want to know who’s in charge of the Knicks. He wants to come with the idea Walsh is going to be there for several more years.

Maybe he doesn’t care, but he should.

Thomas would put this franchise back than moving forward. Not even the Nuggets superstar and Stoudemire can mask Zeke’s incompetency.

Walsh’s future will hover the team for the next couple of months. One wonders if he even wants to be back.  Right now, it’s hard to believe he is coming back.

Then, there’s the future of Mike D’Antoni.

His job status is tenuous at best. Even this year’s success guarantees him nothing. Dolan does not think much of him.

He feels Thomas is an upgrade over D’Antoni.

The health of Amar’e Stoudemire is a concern.

Can his knees hold up? He has been ineffective this month. He has not played at the level he was playing in November and December. He is not even a MVP candidate despite Knicks fans chanting “MVP” last night at the game.

The role players need to play better, especially Raymond Felton. The Knicks point guard hasn’t been shooting the ball well last month. He has to figure it out.

It would be nice if this team actually play defense. That would be some concept, right?

There are many issues the team has to deal with. It will be interesting how all of this unfolds.

Knicks fans are already celebrating a playoff berth. They think it’s a lock. It’s good to feel that way, but this team has done nothing to earn the benefit of the doubt.

They have ways to go. After watching this team play in January, it’s hard to consider them a playoff team.

It will be interesting how they do with teams taking them seriously. Games like that last night will be rare in the post-All-Star break.