Witnessing Greatness – Forwards

Prior to the start of the NBA Playoffs, the Hat Trick offered some thoughts on which NBA guards, currently active, will be in the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts after their careers are over. Today, we will look at forwards. The league is loaded with talented 3s and 4s. Sit back, take it in, and feel free to reply.

SLAM DUNK

LeBron James, Small Forward, Miami Heat – Prior to the end of this NBA season, I was on the fence on whether The King already had his ticket to Springfield punched. By winning his first NBA Championship, I am ready to punch the ticket, without reservation.

After nine seasons in the NBA, James’ career accomplishments are staggering. Even more staggering is that he is only 27 years old and just getting warmed up. “Not one…not two…not three…,” was not a punchline; it was a threat!

James is third all-time (#1 among active players) in points per game among players with a minimum of 10,000 career points, averaging 27.6 per night. In addition to stratospheric scoring, James averages 7 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals per game for his career. He has appeared in eight consecutive All-Star Games, won three league MVP awards and was the MVP of this year’s Finals.

James can retire after 20 seasons or can retire in 20 minutes. The vote on James on the Hall of Fame ballot is no more than a formality.

Can The King become the greatest of all time? 1

Paul Pierce, Small Forward, Boston Celtics – There has already been some debate on where Paul Pierce place is among the greatest Celtics of all time. What is not in dispute is that the 2008 NBA Finals MVP is among the greatest players of all time. Pierce’s ticket has been punched for quite some time.

The Truth is a 10 time NBA All-Star. Even after age 30, Pierce continues to average close to 20 points per game. He is in the top 10, all time, in NBA history for three point shots attempted and made. Pierce is second among active players for free throws made and attempted, a career 81% shooter at the foul line.

Simply put, Pierce has consistently played at the highest level over a 14 year career and is still among the best in the NBA at age 34. The up or down vote on Pierce Hall of Fame candidacy will require very little critical thinking.

Pierce is a slam dunk for the Hall. 2

Kevin Garnett, Power Forward, Boston Celtics – The Big Ticket has dominated the NBA during his 17 NBA seasons. The long, slender, imposing Garnett was drafted directly out of high school in 1995 because of his complete tool chest of abilities.

The 2008 NBA champion is a 14 time All-Star, a four time member of the Associated Press First All-NBA Team, and was the league MVP in 2004. Garnett is the career leader among active players in total rebounds and fourth all-time in total career defensive rebounds. With a 19 points per game career average, there had not been a more complete pure power forward (i.e. excluding Tim Duncan) to play over the span of Garnett’s career.

The Big Ticket 3

Dirk Nowitzki, Power Forward, Dallas Mavericks – Nowitzki will probably be the first European player to have spent the vast majority of his professional career in the NBA to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Nowitzki was the ninth overall pick in the 1998 NBA draft by the Dallas Mavericks. If you hadn’t heard of him then, you’d better recognize!

Nowitzki has an active streak of being on 11 consecutive All-Star teams. He is a four time First Team NBA member. He won the league MVP in 2007 and was the MVP of the 2011 NBA Finals.

For his career, he has averaged 23 points per game and 8 rebounds per game. He is in the top 5 among active players for career field goal attempts, field goals made, free throw attempts, free throws made, defensive rebounds, and points scored. He is a career 88% free throw shooter.

Nowitzki’s adaptation to American basketball required him to develop the more physical aspects of his game. While he presents the threat of a 7 foot tall forward able to bury an open jumper anywhere from 25 feet and in, Nowitzki spent much of his career being criticized for being “soft”, particularly on defense. During past two seasons, in spite of aging, Nowitzki’s post game and defensive aggressiveness and physicality have noticeably improved. Personally, I think Nowitzki’s improvement on D was the difference between the Mavs winning the NBA championship in 2011 and the Mavs being bridesmaids again.

4

ON TRACK

Carmelo Anthony, Small Forward, New York Knicks – After nine years in the NBA, Anthony has emerged as one of the elite players in the game. Anthony can flat out score, averaging 25 points per game in his career. Anthony is fourth among active players in points per game average.

As stellar as Anthony has been offensively, his defensive game has been noticeably lacking. If the five time All-Star wants to further ensure that he will be in Springfield one day, he has to place more emphasis on his defensive game. Of course, if he plays another five years averaging over 20 points per game, which appears to be a certainty, barring injury, his defensive game may not be relevant to his Hall of Fame evaluation. Some post season success (Anthony has only advanced to the second round of the playoffs once in his career) would help his cause, too.

5

Chris Bosh, Power Forward, Miami Heat – While Bosh was not a household name prior to his acquisition by the Miami Heat in the 2010 offseason, Bosh dominated opponents north of the border with the Toronto Raptors for the first seven years of his career. The seven time All Star helped a Toronto franchise with few highlights be competitive and reach the playoffs multiple times, including an Atlantic Division title in 2007.

Bosh averages 20 points and 9 rebounds for his career and has a career 49% field goal percentage. Winning an NBA championship last week helped bolster Bosh’s already credible Hall of Fame credentials. Bosh has played for nine years in the NBA. Another championship and/or 3 to 5 more seasons of high level play will likely cement Bosh’s place in the Hall.

He may be the "Ringo Starr" of The Heatles, but he's in the group! 6

POSSIBLE BRIDESMAIDS

Vince Carter, Small Forward, Dallas Mavericks – Vinsanity took the NBA by storm when Carter first entered the NBA in 1998. The eight time All-Star is among the top 10 among active players in career points per game, total points, field goal attempts, and field goals made. He averages 21 points per game for his career.

Given the length of Carter’s career and the high level at which he has played, a Hall of Fame induction would appear to be a forgone conclusion. Carter has some factors that may delay or deny his induction. First, Carter’s defensive game has never stood out among his peers. Second, he only averages 5 rebounds and 4 assists for his career. That is not bad, but far from what one would expect of a Hall of Fame Player. Even the aforementioned Anthony averages more rebounds per night.

Last, Carter’s productivity has plummeted drastically in recent years. Carter has not averaged over 20 points per game in three years. His scoring average has dropped to 17, 14, and 10 points per game in 2010, 2011, and 2012, respectively. This could call the longevity of Carter’s Hall of Fame level play into question.

Father Time: still undefeated. 7

Amare Stoudemire, Power Forward, New York Knicks – Stoudemire is a baller, without question. The 10 year NBA veteran has averaged 22 points and 9 rebounds per game during his NBA career. Stoudemire is a six time All-Star and earned First Team All NBA honors in 2007. He is among the top ten active players in points per game, and field goal percentage.

The threats to Stoudemire’s chances at the Hall of Fame are his durability and declining play. Stoudemire’s points per game average plummeted from 25 points per game in 2011 to 18 points per game in 2012. Some have theorized that the addition of Carmelo Anthony to the Knicks roster in late 2011 cut in to Stoudemire’s scoring. However, Anthony has very little impact on the sharp decline Stoudemire experienced in assists and blocked shots (falling by roughly half in those categories). Stoudemire also experienced declines in minutes played, field goal percentage, free throw percentage and rebounds per game. He has also vanished in the playoffs since joining the Knicks, averaging less than 16 points per playoff game during the past two seasons.

In addition, Stoudemire has missed substantial playing time in his career. Stoudemire missed 25% or more of his team’s regular season games in four of his 10 years in the NBA, including missing almost the entire 2006 season. Injury prone plus a possible career decline with limited post season success makes a tougher sell to the Hall of Fame Committee.

Stoudemire did not help his cause by punching the glass on a fire extiguisher door. 8

FUTURE HOPEFULS

Kevin Durant, Small Forward, Oklahoma City Thunder – The Durantula is one of the brightest stars in the game today. The three time NBA scoring champion, three time First Team All NBA member, and three time All-Star played in his first NBA Finals in 2012. If Durant’s next five years are like his first five years in the NBA, he will be a no brainer for a trip to Springfield.

9

Blake Griffin, Power Forward, Los Angeles Clippers – Having completed his second NBA season, Griffin is already a two time All-Star and has been among the league leaders in points per game and rebounds per game in each of his first two seasons. Averaging a double-double per night (22 PPG, 12 RPG) in his fledgling career, Griffin simply needs to continue to improve on his fundamentals, such as ball handling and jump shooting. Spread out over a full career, if Griffin’s performance continues to improve and peak, he will be an easy selection for the Hall.

10

LaMarcus Aldridge, Power Forward, Portland Trailblazers – The 26 year old Aldridge appears to be approaching his peak as he heads into his seventh NBA season, meaning he should be an unrestricted free agent after 2013. Aldridge will be THE big name in his free agent class.

Aldridge has averaged 22 points per game in each of the past two seasons, up from 18 points per game in the three years prior. He made the All-Star Game for the first time in 2012 and has consistently been among the better rebounders in the NBA. The second half of his career will dictate whether or not Aldridge can reach the Hall of Fame.

LaMarcus is about to get PAID! 11

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Mariano Rivera’s Injury – The Turd in the Punch Bowl of this Week in Sports

Legendary New York Yankees closing pitcher Mariano Rivera (1-1, 2.16 ERA, 5 SV) suffered a serious knee injury in Kansas City yesterday. Rivera was shagging fly balls in the outfield, part of his long time pre-game conditioning routine, when he suddenly crumpled over near the warning track, eventually being helped off of the field. Rivera reportedly tore the ACL and the meniscus in his knee.

Rivera will most likely miss the rest of the 2012 season. At age 42, Major League Baseball’s last number 42 may have ended his career on Thursday. Rivera dropped a number of hints that this season may be his last. Considering Rivera’s stature in baseball and his first ballot Hall of Fame resume, my best bet would be that he either beats the six month rehab time and plays again this year or comes back next season to leave on his own terms.

Tough to watch from any angle. 1

WHAT AN AWFUL WEEK!

Regardless, bad news often comes in bunches. This past week offered a freight container of bad news. Here is a quick review of the week that was.

Saturday, April 28

Derrick Rose tears his ACL approaching the final minute of Game 1 of the first round of the NBA Eastern Conference playoffs. The Bulls were up by double digits and appeared to have the game in hand when the reigning MVP landed awkwardly while driving to the basket. With Rose’s injury, the Bulls hopes of winning the Eastern Conference, let alone the NBA Finals, are all but lost.

Tough to watch and possibly unnecessary. 2

Monday, April 30

New York Knicks star forward Amare Stoudemire lacerated his non-shooting hand after punching a glass pane of a fire extinguisher compartment in the Knicks locker room. Stoudemire missed Game 3 of the series, which the Knicks lost. His status for Game 4 is questionable.

Tough to see, but it has to be tougher on Stoudemire, who is not doubt kicking himself constantly for his costly stupidity. We've all done something incredibly stupid, but Stoudemire's mistake was for the world to see. 3

Wednesday, May 2

"Black Wednesday” in the National Football League…. Roger Goodell brought the hammer down on four current and former New Orleans Saints players for their involvement in the Bountygate scandal. Three players, two of which are no longer with the Saints, were suspended for part of the 2012 season.

The whammy was the year long suspension of Saints defensive captain Jonathan Vilma. In spite of the severity of the alleged offense, being the ringleader among the players in the Saints bounty system, the severity of Vilma’s punishment, including the loss of several million dollars in salary, was stunning and sent shockwaves throughout the fraternity of NFL players and legions of Saints fans.

In hindsight, if the reemergence of the ugliness of the Bountygate scandal was the worst news of the day, it would have been a pretty good day. Unfortunately, the suspensions and surrounding controversy were a blip on the radar compared to the news that would follow in the afternoon.

Former San Diego Chargers, New England Patriots, and Miami Dolphins linebacker and future Hall of Famer Junior Seau was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest. He was age 43. Rampant speculation about the safety of the game, dangers of concussions, and concerns about the well being of players after they leave the NFL followed. At the end of the day, a relatively young man and father who was beloved by his southern California community and an icon of the National Football League was gone far too soon in far too tragic fashion.

4

Thursday, May 3

While not tragic like the news of Junior Seau’s passing, another future Hall of Fame player was suddenly and unexpectedly saddled with a very difficult set of circumstances. Yankees closing pitcher Mariano Rivera suffered a probable season ending, and possible career ending, freak knee injury before a game in Kansas City. Rivera is the all time leader in saves in MLB history with 608.

Baseball fans can only hope that we get another chance to see this scene. 5

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Stoudemire Hits the Glass Hard - Not for a Rebound!

New York Knicks forward Amare Stoudemire is expected to miss Game 3 of the playoff series against the Miami Heat. Stoudemire reportedly punched the glass pane of a fire extinguisher in the Knicks' locker room following a Game 2 loss to the Heat. The Knicks are down 0-2 in the series, heading back to New York.

The Knicks were already underdogs in this series. I expected this one to be over in five games without the injury issues (basketball related or not) working against the Knicks. The Heat have had very few threats from the Knicks in the first two games. I don't see how they win another game in this series without Stoudemire. Melo can't do it himself, especially without Jeremy Lin in the lineup.

Just two years ago, the Knicks are associated with lottery ping pong balls, lots of them! It appears to be all but certain that they will have consecutive first round exits from the playoffs. This team fell a long way since winning the Eastern Conference Championship in 1999. This setback ensures that 2012 is no more than part of a baby step for the Knicks to return to the conversation about the NBA's elite contenders.

So I am guessing this isn't the smartest thing he's even done.

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And…The Linsanity Continues!

Once is a coincidence. Twice is a pattern. Three times is a trend.

Five times? After five times, expectations begin to form. Jeremy Lin started his fifth career NBA game. For the fifth time in a row, Lin scored 20 or more points. For the fifth time in a row, Lin dished out at least seven assists. For the fifth time in a row, the New York Knicks won, and in doing so have a game and a half lead over the Milwaukee Bucks for eighth place (which would qualify them for the final playoff spot) in the Eastern Conference.

BUT WAIT! THERE’S MORE!

As if Lin’s rapid rise to media stardom (soon to be legitimate NBA stardom if this continues) were not enough, another element of lore was added to the Jeremy Lin story. The Knicks took their act north of the border to Toronto last night. The struggling Raptors led the Knicks by several possessions in the fourth quarter, only to have the Knicks tie the score in the final minute of the game. Prior to the final possession, Lin had a double-double with 24 points and 11 assists, fueling the Linsanity whether the Knicks won or lost. Then…

Lin BURIES the three point shot! Knicks win! The Linsanity continues! 1

SHORT TERM IMPACT

“You got to have a j-o-b!”

Stepping away from this fascinating story, which continues to grow legs of it own and seems to be running away from every other sports related story, what does this mean for the Lin and the Knicks? For Lin, it means he has a JOB. J-O-B!

Lin has been on three NBA rosters since July of 2010. The Golden State Warriors cut him. The Houston Rockets cut him on Christmas Day, albeit more due to roster and salary cap logistics than performance issues. Multiple outlets in the media and people within the Knicks organization itself speculated that Lin was possibly a week away from being cut by the Knicks. A five game run like that of Lin’s, barring a complete regressing and collapse in performance, assures Lin of some employment for the rest of this season and into next season.

For the Knicks, should Lin simply demonstrate competence and, perhaps, above-average play from the point guard position, they are “back in the game”, so to speak. The Knicks spent the bulk of this season in the lower half of the Eastern Conference standings. The Knicks grabbed a spot on the contender’s radar last season when they acquired power forward Amare Stoudemire in free agency and small forward Carmelo Anthony and point guard Chauncey Billups in a mid-season trade with the Denver Nuggets. Billups departed New York for the Los Angeles Clippers during this past offseason and the Knicks acquired injured point guard Baron Davis and center Tyson Chandler before this season began.

Now, Jeremy, the word for today is "job". JAY-OH-BEE! 2

Chemistry

The Knicks were loaded in the front court, but with Billups’ departure and the wait for Davis’ recovery, they were bankrupt in the backcourt in a coaching system that revolves around guard play. The prevailing thought among many speculators – fans, media, or otherwise – was that if the Knicks could stay within striking distance of .500 until Davis could return to the lineup, the Knicks could make a push, get into the playoffs, and try to make a postseason run.

Lin’s rapid ascension had changed all of that. The Knicks are competitive now. If Lin plays as he has for the remainder of this season, Baron Davis goes from potential season savior to trade bait (and a seven figure contract to be potentially unloaded). The media has also speculated about the affect that the injured and frequently-shooting, high scoring Anthony’s return to the lineup will affect Lin. Without a doubt, Lin will pass more and score less. I think, however, that adding one of the NBA’s best players to the lineup will help the Knicks more than hurt. Don’t you?


LONG TERM

Will Melo be Mellow? Is There Heat on the Heat?

The Knicks season was on the verge of becoming a footnote prior to the start of Linsanity. Head Coach Mike D’Antoni was in danger of losing his job. Now, with the addition of a highly productive point guard, the Knicks, on the floor, are right back in the mix in the Eastern Conference with the Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, and the quietly surprising Philadelphia 76ers.

For all of the speculation about how Carmelo Anthony, a forward who shoots a lot and was forced into the point guard role while Davis recovered from injury, I think the bigger personnel clash will be in the backcourt, not from a star in the frontcourt (Anthony) who will have gone from having to pass the ball to having someone pass to him.


Will the Baron Put The Knicks in the Red?

What happens with Baron Davis (13 PPG, 7 APG in 2011)? Is he moved to shooting guard? Does he become a sixth man? Do you trade him? Do you take a wait-and-see approach, observing Lin’s performance once his hot streak cools down some? Let’s be clear: Lin is taking Davis’ job, a job for which Davis never had a chance to demonstrate his merit in New York.

Being from New Orleans and being a Hornets fan, I can tell you, first hand, that when Davis, the Hornets’ former franchise player, is not happy, the rest of the team will not be happy. Davis outwardly voiced his discontent with the situation in New Orleans, in spite of having recently received a max contract. He forced his way into a trade to the Golden State Warriors.

Three seasons after Davis’ final (full) season with the Hornets, the Warriors reached the playoffs for the first time in 13 years and reached the conference semifinals for the first time since 1991. The Hornets, who had reached the playoffs five straight years, would only win 18 games and have nothing but NBA lottery ping pong balls in their future. The Bees were able to draft Chris Paul with the third pick in the 2005 NBA Draft and rebuild the franchise because of the collapse, but would not return to the playoffs until 2008.

No two situations are the same. The moral of the story is that Baron Davis can be toxic when he is unhappy. Jeremy Lin is taking Davis’ job. Do you think he will be happy?

Kobe Bryant: Game killer (as in your game). Baron Davis: Coach killer.... 3

THE STORY CONTINUES

I am just a blogger, not an NBA insider. I cannot begin to speculate on how Lin will impact the answers to some of the complex questions I posed about the future of the Knicks, the Eastern Conference, and the league. I simply hope this story continues because it is interesting, good for basketball, and good for sports.

To be continued tonight at Madison Square Garden against his point guard counterpart Tyreke Evans (17 PPG, 5 APG, 5 RPG) and the Sacramento Kings….  4

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Word on the Tweet - March 2, 2011

George Karl, after Carmelo Anthony's defensive effort against LeBron James on Sunday:

@carmeloanthony Where the hell was THAT the last 8 years!?!? #SandBagging

1

Chauncey Billups, after draining the go-ahead jumper heading into the final minute of Sunday's game against the Heat:

@Amare1 Gee, ya think I deserve some of that action, now??? RT @carmeloanthony Don't forget you and I have the shoot for the new promotional poster on Monday. #GiveMeSomeEFFingCredit

Amare Stoudemire:
@ChaunceyDangerfield Fo sho! I'll make a few calls. RT @Amare1 Gee, ya think I deserve some of that action, now??? #WeCanHaveABig3Too

"Now we have a big three. Nyah!" 2

Mike Bibby, after securing a buyout from the Washington Wizards, at a possible cost to him of up to $6.1 million:

@KingJames Free at last! Free at last! Thank God almighty! I'm free at last!!! #TakingMyTalentsToSouthBeach #TakingRingMeasurements #NoMoreWizards

Gilbert Arenas:

@LightChocolate Smart move. The gun laws are more reasonable in Florida, too. RT @KingJames Free at last! Free at last! ... #StillOnProbation

I'm sure the NRA was ready to race to Agent Zero's defense. 3

NFL Owners, in response to an offer from the Players Union:

@NFLPA Don't call us, we'll call you. #PaulieFromGoodFellas #GotBills? #Hardball #BillionairesDontSweat

Union Rep:
@WeWhoHaveTheGoldMakeTheRules We have options. #UFL #CFL #AFL #NoGamesNoGain #PayTheBills RT @NFLPA Don't call us, we'll call you. ...

CBS Sports Representative:
@WeWhoHaveTheGoldMakeTheRules Get your s__t together, guys!  #PlayingWithMyMoneyIsLikePlayingWithMyEmotions


Kendrick Perkins, after learning he was traded from the defending Eastern Conference Boston Celtics to the Oklahoma City Thunder:

@BigPerkFans This feels like the worst day of my life. Thanks for your support. #DontJump

After signing a $36 million contract extension with the Thunder a few days later:

@BigPerkFans THIS IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE!!! #ImRiiichBitch

Perkins has 36 million new friends in OKC. 4

Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett, after being hit in the head with a ball during batting practice and suffering mild concussion-like symptoms:

@TitoJunior SKIPPER! WHY am I pitching in batting practice? This is #PRACTICE! We're talkin' about PRACTICE! #WTF #AllenIverson #WhyIDontPlayFootball

Red Sox GM Theo Epstein:

@TitoJunior SKIPPER! WHY is he pitching in batting practice? This is #PRACTICE! We're talkin' about PRACTICE! #SixteenMillionReasonsNotTo

Former NFL QB Brett Favre:

@LordBeckett Welcome to my world. #HeadTrauma

At least Favre only had so much at risk up here to begin with. 5

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The Big THREE in N.Y.C.

“The Big Three”: This label became a requisite element of NBA-speak in the 2007 offseason when the (then) last place Boston Celtics traded for Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett to play with Paul Pierce. The Celtics went from worst to first, beating the Lakers in the 2008 NBA Finals and winning the Celtics’ first NBA Championship since 1986.

The Big Three 1

“The Big Three” label grew legs this past summer when LeBron James of the Cavaliers took his talents to South Beach to join forces with newly acquired Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat. Subsequent promotional appearances including simulated smoke filled stages and speculation about the 2011 Heat breaking the 1996 Chicago Bulls’ record of 72 regular season wins followed. Many thought that “The Big Three” in Boston and “The Big Three” in Miami were on a collision course in the Eastern Conference Playoffs.

The Big Three 2

Last week, the New York Knicks completed a blockbuster trade to acquire All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony and other Denver Nuggets players. Anthony teamed up with Amare Stoudemire, whom the Knicks acquired in free agency from the Phoenix Suns this past summer. The sports media has been abuzz with talk of how the team of Melo and Amare would shift the balance of power in the Eastern Conference. There has been constant talk of how this tandem has brought the spotlight back to New York. I have heard talk about how the Knicks might match up against one of the teams with a “Big Three” in the playoffs (the Celtics or Heat).

Who is that guy on the right and why is he in the picture with Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire? 3

HELLOOOOOOOO! Was I the ONLY person who noticed one of the “other” players that came with Melo to the Big Apple? I know that I am a sports fanatic and guys like me tend to notice the activities of more obscure players, role players, and anonymous athletes who chip in their contributions to their teams by toiling in anonymity. So perhaps I am placing too much stock into one of those “other” guys who hitched his wagon to Carmelo Anthony’s star by ceremoniously moving the ball up and down the court to hand it off to one of the two big dogs.

Was Chauncey Billups not one of the pieces that the Knicks also demanded in exchange for being fleeced of draft picks and four of its starters? I thought I had been misinformed about Billups being part of the deal. Certainly, had Billups been included in this heavily covered trade, there would be talk of “The Big Three” in New York! Certainly, Billups would be one of three critical pieces upon which the Knicks would hinge their short term success if he were a part of the deal.

Nope! I must have heard all wrong. Billups must still be in Denver. Perhaps he has an undisclosed injury and just hasn’t been seen at the Pepsi Center. After all, the catchy “Big Three” label would be applied immediately to a point guard averaging 17 points per night. The acquisition of the 2004 NBA Finals MVP, a five time All-Star, joining Anthony and Stoudemire would trigger “Big Three” ink over every sports page in the country if it happened.

Melo said that last night was not just about the big stars. Look at him supporting one of the little people on the team. 4

I suppose the Knicks, one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA at the time of the trade, were able to hold the Heat Index (Miami’s “Big Three”) to under 90 points in the Heat’s own building on national television because Melo lifted the defense onto his shoulders and vicariously forced the Heat’s backcourt to turn the ball over nine times (side note: kudos to Melo for stepping his D UP last night against The King). The Knicks must have had a “#4 – Billups” jersey sitting around that some stunt double wore and sunk the go-ahead basket heading into the final minute of the game.

That’s only something I would expect to see from a member of a “Big Three”. If the Knicks did have a “Big Three”, the top seeded teams in the East might be on notice, heading into the playoffs. If the Knicks had a “Big Three”, the New York area might have some cause for optimism THIS year.

I am sure Doc Rivers, Eric Spoelstra, Tom Thibodeau, and Stan Van Gundy are all sleeping soundly in spite of the possibility of facing the Knicks in the playoffs…unless, of course, the Knicks have a “Big Three”.


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