A Standing O: Star-Melo and the Trade Deadline

It's been a fun season in Knicksland but last night was something extra special. Last night was the Knicks fans' consolation for not being chosen by LeBron in The Decision. When he saw SportsCenter last night, he probably wondered how nice it would have been to be King in New York City at MSG. If anything, the Carmelo trade was a nice reminder of how exciting Knicks basketball can be with an opening montage that had to make everyone from the Tri-State Area excited about the Knickerbockers again. One guy certainly excited? Alex O and he tells us why in his latest Standing O:

The Star-Melo shined brightly at MSG last night

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This is a great post showing what Melo means to the Knicks offense. Now the Knicks have 2 players who can command a double team. Not many squads have that. Bill Simmons made a great point--- the Knicks now have 2 of the 10 guys that started in the All-Star game. It will take a few weeks to find out how this team can gel. We did not see Anthony Carter, or Shelden Williams, or Balkman or Brewer. It will be interesting to see who gets time with the new squad. One thing that we saw last night was how good Toney Douglas can be. Playing tough D and shooting the lights out, Douglas is showing what he can do when he is healthy and given some time. Hopefully seeing more of him will be the new normal. Clearly defense and rebounding will continue to be issues with this team.

I am not 100%, but I think LaLa was wearing a puffy shirt at the game last night. It was great to get a feel for the excitement in the garden last night. The highlight of that was when LALA was asked what their 3 year old son said when he was told Daddy was traded to the Knicks: “we’re going home!”…………

AWESOME!

I confirmed this A.M. that Deron Williams can not sign an extension with the Nyets. He must wait until this summer at the earliest and will be under the new collective bargaining agreement. Prokhorov and Billy King made a gamble, that they can sell him on Crooklyn and keep him around to get other talent. One thing we know for sure is that the Nyets still stink now, and that if Williams had a beef with Jerry Sloan, it will be interesting how he will be able to tolerate Avery Johnson’s annoying voice.

Rumors of a Jermaine O’Neal for Shane Battier trade would certainly alter the odds in Vegas on the East team in the NBA finals. I prefer to dream of a return of Marcus Camby form Portland back to the Knicks. The word on the street is that Marcus likes the Northwest, and he is threatening to retire if he is traded. Paul Allen (owner of Blazers) seems content in making a move. Isn’t it amazing to see when owners of clubs get cheap when they are worth so much money? I guess the bottom line is that they are business men.

One last trade deadline note: Mark Cuban is griping about the Carl Landry (going to Hornets) for Marcus Thornton (going to Sacramento). Big salary discrepancy so New Orleans threw in some cash. This is not normal and since the NBA owns the Hornets they can easily approve the trade. I admire Cuban’s moxy, but hey what does he have to lose---- David Stern already stole a NBA title from him and the Mavs a few years a go.

One of the most mind bogling moves ever by an owner was in the summer of 2003 when Cincinnati Reds owner Karl Lindner (R.I.P.--- owner of Great American Insurance co. hundred+millionaire) decides to do a salary dump deal. The Reds were about 10 games out around the all-star break and Karl got cheap. The player he dumped…… a third baseman by the name of Aaron Boone who hit a very famous home run, later that year.

NYC hoops is back--- St. Johns played their first game in 10 years as a ranked team last night and pounded the DePaul Blue Demons. It will be great to see them back in the big dance this year.