Carmelo Anthony and Baron Davis are both "doubtful" for Tuesday.

by Seth on Jan 30, 2012 1:53 PM EST in News

Tuesday's return to Madison Square Garden for a match-up with the Pistons is shaping up to be another fun-filled endeavor. From the sound of things, the Knicks will probably be as short-handed as they were for the last two games. Alan Hahn just twat:

DAntoni says both Melo and Baron are doubtful for tomorrows game vs DET.

Neither Carmelo Anthony nor Baron Davis practiced with the team today (both worked out separate from the rest of the guys). Davis apparently has a "little issue"-- no word on whether that's with his back or with his conditioning-- that's holding him back at the moment. Perhaps he's still dumbfounded from meeting Betty White?

Josh Harrellson, meanwhile, showed up at practice with his right wrist in a cast, but occupied himself by practicing lefty lay-ups. Remember how David Lee excelled with both hands because of an injury to his left arm in high school? Who's ready for an ambidextrous Jorts!?!?

Anyway, there was a point at which it seemed like tomorrow night's game could mark both the return of Melo and debut of Baron, but the excitement seems to have been unwarranted. Hooray!

(Side note: There more than likely won't be a Pre-Game Recon for tomorrow's game.)

Update: From Howard Beck:

Baron was held out today as a "recovery day," purely as a precaution. Medical staff doesn't want him to do too much, too soon.

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Comments

Does anyone know

why Melo didn’t even watch the Rockets game from the bench? Isn’t that fairly standard for injured players (particularly team captains)? Maybe it was messing with his swag?

by flossy on Jan 30, 2012 1:58 PM EST reply actions

I wondered that too

They sometimes have injured guys do rehab stuff in the locker room while the team is playing. Could be that.

Posting and Toasting: DWTDD.

by Seth on Jan 30, 2012 1:59 PM EST up reply actions

that was my guess

oh possibly getting treatment, i think i heard that somewhere

by blackhova on Jan 30, 2012 2:31 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

In a previous post, I was accused of being too negative...

so I’ll try to put a positive spin on the apparent lack of urgency and spirit being exhibited by Melo and Baron.

I’m sure the two of them will come back not only more physically prepared for the stretch run, but they’ll also return to the court with a newfound committment to ball movement, defensive rotations and Knick pride.

by bucketsncents on Jan 30, 2012 2:33 PM EST reply actions

apparent lack of urgency and spirit

lol

"But when he saw it, he just put his hands up and they couldn’t give it to him. It just fell to the ground, I-I don’t, you know … So, that showed me he had great experience..." - Jeff Van Gundy

by Anthony Bonner's Subpoena on Jan 30, 2012 2:36 PM EST up reply actions

Nice backhand...

I hope you’re right. Is it wishful thinking to think that they can just win the rest of the games?

by robk on Jan 30, 2012 2:57 PM EST up reply actions

Pretty funny

Do I detect a hint of sarcasm here??? Hard to disagree with the sentiment, I must admit.

by NY Tony on Jan 30, 2012 3:00 PM EST up reply actions

So when Melo was playing hurt

was that also an example of his lack of ‘spirit’?

by Chuck Burly on Jan 30, 2012 3:07 PM EST up reply actions

Obviously he is selective in his lack of spirit

2012 New York Mets, World Series Champions!

by astromets on Jan 30, 2012 3:23 PM EST up reply actions

ha... nice one

by bucketsncents on Jan 30, 2012 3:45 PM EST up reply actions

We could tank the rest of the season and try to get a top 5 pick...

That is protected right? Oy vey.

by Sprewell on Jan 30, 2012 3:08 PM EST up reply actions

I thought it was top 1 protected....

Get The Frickin' Rebound

by fuhry on Jan 30, 2012 3:35 PM EST up reply actions

It's Top 5 protected....

the MSG folks confirmed this the other night

by NY Tony on Jan 30, 2012 3:48 PM EST up reply actions

But at least we got some great players as part of the deal

by sisterray24 on Jan 30, 2012 6:52 PM EST up reply actions

Well it figures

I figure Carmelo will sit out the rest of the week and see what happens. This could very well be MDA’s last week. If he loses the next 4 he’s gone, especially if he loses to the Nets.

by Robert Curre on Jan 30, 2012 2:56 PM EST reply actions

Why especially if he loses to the Nets?

The nets are doing about as well as us — they’ll probably have a better record than us by the time we play them — and it’ll be our 3rd game in a back-to-back-to-back. I’d think it’d matter a lot more if we lost to Detroit and then Washington next week, as those teams are more obviously worse than us right now.

But I really can’t see D’Antoni getting fired until he gets a few games with Davis on the court. He’s entitled to a chance to do his job with someone who can plausibly claim to be a PG, since he’s made it abundantly clear that he can’t run his system without one.

by sisterray24 on Jan 30, 2012 7:04 PM EST up reply actions

Dolan would pitch a bitch if the Knicks lose to the Nets.

His obsession with getting the best of the Russian Mobster who owns the team coming to Brooklyn is what led him to overpay for Carmelo Anthony in the first place.

by Robert Curre on Jan 31, 2012 9:25 AM EST up reply actions

True

But Dolan got SO punk’d. Without the threat of Carmelo going to the Nets, the Nugs would have had to take Chandler, Curry, and a pick – maybe they would’ve got Gallo. The prospect of losing Carmelo to the Nets caused Dolan to destroy his team….

Then Proky turns around and snags Deron. Walsh had the balls to stare down the Russian, but Dolan pushed him aside – and now, rather than being humbled, I’m sure he is just mad at Proky, and if the team loses he will take it out on D’antoni.

Get The Frickin' Rebound

by fuhry on Jan 31, 2012 10:48 AM EST up reply actions

Of all the things screwed up about this franchise right now

That has to be the most depressing. Billionaires’ pissing contests? That’s too much for me (esp. since the billionaire who owns our team is so outmatched here). I just can’t handle that extra level of defeat.

by sisterray24 on Jan 31, 2012 12:06 PM EST up reply actions

So if Baron is all of the things we hope him to be

Can Butterfingers, Stickyfingers, and ….Tyson not only coexist but play their games? Of course they’d have less balltime and it’d deflate their numbers, but could we run MDA’s offense?

posi..tive ....thoughts..?
@krishhhayyy

by gymtanlandry on Jan 30, 2012 3:25 PM EST via mobile reply actions

MDA is gone by next weekend!

by Robert Curre on Jan 30, 2012 3:45 PM EST up reply actions

YAY

yay

Dump Melo
If that doesn't work dump Pringles

by YuckFou on Jan 30, 2012 5:22 PM EST up reply actions

let's see

less letting Melo take the ball up and go into iso, more STAT PnR, Tyson will probably do the same, and a PG who is not TD brickhouse. I hope so. I also hope TD & co find their collective shots, because that will be just as important

2012 New York Mets, World Series Champions!

by astromets on Jan 30, 2012 3:51 PM EST up reply actions

I'm finding it hard to picture

I see Stat and Ty doing a lot of the same thing with that offense. Amar’es jumper has to come back like immediately. Other than that I think we’ll have continuing issues with Melos ballhogging.

I love Tyson. Almost always, no matter what, he’s playing his game

posi..tive ....thoughts..?
@krishhhayyy

by gymtanlandry on Jan 30, 2012 4:03 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

someone will be able to get STAT the ball close to the hoop

instead of him doing his roll and charge or brick move. His jump shot will be key too, I agree with that, and that Tyson will be about the same, hopefully getting to the line more. Boom dizzle is not going to just bring the ball up and give it to Melo, so while there will still be plenty of Melo iso, it won’t happen play after play down the stretch of the 4th quarter

2012 New York Mets, World Series Champions!

by astromets on Jan 30, 2012 5:56 PM EST up reply actions

I'm probably missing something, but

isn’t it pretty obvious how this system is supposed to work?

Davis brings the ball up and gets the offense in motion with a STAT PnR. Chandler sets up on the low weak side to get ready for a rebound, alley-oop, or pass from Amare at the hoop. Melo’s on the wing for a pass if the PnR is unavailable, and Fields (or whoever) is in the corner looking for a 3.

That seems well-spaced to me, and puts everyone in the position they want to be in. But maybe I’m missing something

by sisterray24 on Jan 30, 2012 7:17 PM EST up reply actions

Wasn't it the great and wise Tyson Chandler who once said...

“It’s time to man up!”

by bucketsncents on Jan 30, 2012 3:46 PM EST reply actions

I have a question When MDA is fired next Saturday night

Will Dan and Phil stay on as assistants? Or will they bail like Lenny Wilkens guys did when he was let go!

by Robert Curre on Jan 30, 2012 3:50 PM EST up reply actions

If Dan D'An stays...

that is just cold.

by flossy on Jan 30, 2012 4:16 PM EST up reply actions

i think they'd all bail, there's a stink around the garden...

and it wreaks of cap purgatory and long-term mediocrity. JVG paved the way…

by bucketsncents on Jan 30, 2012 6:29 PM EST up reply actions

jordan farmar for toney douglas and a future 2nd

would you guys do it? he wants to start on a team and is butthurt about having to play behind deron and brooks. he is actually having a pretty good year in limited mins but he would be a good stopgap until baron gets right (never)

by William_H_HOLLA on Jan 30, 2012 4:57 PM EST reply actions

Is Jordan Farmar any good?

Get The Frickin' Rebound

by fuhry on Jan 30, 2012 5:02 PM EST up reply actions

he's not bad. he would definitely be an upgrade.

he’s posting an 18.9 PER and shooting 45% on 3’s. it’s good for both teams because the knicks need a PG in the worst way and the nets want to clear as much cap as possible.

by William_H_HOLLA on Jan 30, 2012 5:06 PM EST up reply actions

also,

farmar wouldnt disappear in the playoffs assuming we make them.

by Fabfreebird on Jan 30, 2012 5:07 PM EST up reply actions

I like Farmar

I have been a big fan since he went to back to back final fours with UCLA. He was kind of exposed by Derrick Rose, but who isn’t? He is a real point guard.

Dump Melo
If that doesn't work dump Pringles

by YuckFou on Jan 30, 2012 5:25 PM EST up reply actions

yep, he is great as a backup PG but is also a luxury the nets dont need with deron getting so much playing time

the only problem is the nets and knicks haven’t traded with each other since the 80s. doubt they’d start dealing with each other now, especially after that stupid billboard apparently had james dolan getting emotional.

by William_H_HOLLA on Jan 30, 2012 5:28 PM EST up reply actions

I'd take Farmar on a straight up swap for TD

Definitely not down to give away any more draft picks though.

Then again, Shawne Williams is probably depserately missing D’Antoni and his system (which will hopefully come back to life sometime this year). I’d maybe do TD and a 2nd rounder or TD and Jerome Jordan for Farmar and Extra E

KNICKS NOW
http://nyknicksnow.blogspot.com/ - check it out!

by WSD on Jan 30, 2012 5:34 PM EST up reply actions

shawne williams needs surgery, hes playing through some crazy pain

i dont even think d’antoni’s system could save him this year

by William_H_HOLLA on Jan 30, 2012 5:39 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah. Haven't heard a thing about him since he went to the Nets.

It’s like he entered a black hole.

by robk on Jan 30, 2012 5:40 PM EST up reply actions

Problem is

Farmar makes 4 million a year, and is signed for this year and next. A trade of Douglas, Balkman and Walker would match, but only Walker is expiring. So we can’t offer them much in the way of salary cap relief. That deal would only get them an additional million or so under the cap next offseason.

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=7yz7lrr

Of course, if they felt Douglas was a better fit for them they might do it.

Get The Frickin' Rebound

by fuhry on Jan 30, 2012 5:26 PM EST up reply actions

Though

Fields, Walker and Balkman would save them over half of Farmar’s cap hit next season – if they renounced Fields.

I aint’ makin’ that trade though. Not without a first rounder, which the Nets aren’t giving up (wait, I don’t think they have one anyway, gave it up for Deron).

Get The Frickin' Rebound

by fuhry on Jan 30, 2012 5:30 PM EST up reply actions

they still have their own 1st rounder this year, but that's besides the point

why would they give up a sure lotto pick in a stacked draft for walker, balkman, and fields? lol this would be a pure salary dump for them not some franchise altering blockbuster deal.

by William_H_HOLLA on Jan 30, 2012 5:35 PM EST up reply actions

Though

If they could get Fields for Farmar that would be a good deal for them. But the Knicks won’t make a deal like that. They have Baron coming back and in the offseason they can probably sign someone better than Farmar. It might be nice to have Farmar now, and if we had a 4 million expiring we might be able to nab him, but we don’t. So we will have to struggle along waiting for Davis and of course the Jeremy Lin Explosion

Get The Frickin' Rebound

by fuhry on Jan 30, 2012 5:39 PM EST up reply actions

yea, that's why i left fields out of my first post

i was thinking toney douglas and cap filler but i guess the knicks dont have the expirings to get it done

by William_H_HOLLA on Jan 30, 2012 5:40 PM EST up reply actions

give us the 2nd rounder and I guess so

don’t think it would take much to pry him away

2012 New York Mets, World Series Champions!

by astromets on Jan 30, 2012 5:58 PM EST up reply actions

nets would be giving the knicks the better player

why would they give up a draft pick??

by William_H_HOLLA on Jan 30, 2012 6:52 PM EST up reply actions

because I want the draft pick, not to give it up!

He is having a better year, but is he the better player? Asking cause I really don’t know his game too well

2012 New York Mets, World Series Champions!

by astromets on Jan 30, 2012 9:28 PM EST up reply actions

hell yeah... i got reamed 2 years ago for going after farmar... but the kid is an actual PG

by bucketsncents on Jan 30, 2012 6:30 PM EST up reply actions

i'd trade TD for gary payton... yup, the retired version

by bucketsncents on Jan 30, 2012 6:32 PM EST up reply actions

no.

Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows

by Rorschach44 on Jan 30, 2012 6:59 PM EST up reply actions

D'Antoni should just start Lin tonight.

At least he is actually a point guard and actually on the team and actually not hurt and has ever completed a pick and roll in his life and… why didn’t we get a friggin’ point guard when we dumped Chauncey? Oh yeah, we got Baron Davis who’s awesome but can’t play! Oh and we got this guy CArmelo Anthony who we picked up for the small price of our whole darn team that we’d all come to love and he’s hurt too and can’t play either. Sweet! Well, as effed up as this all is… GO KNICKS!

by Sprewell on Jan 30, 2012 5:18 PM EST reply actions

In hindsight

We should have tried a litle harder to get a servicable PG besides Baron. But everyone hoped Toney could handle it.

Get The Frickin' Rebound

by fuhry on Jan 30, 2012 5:31 PM EST up reply actions

we still can

unless we want this current core to back Boom up when he finally gets going

2012 New York Mets, World Series Champions!

by astromets on Jan 30, 2012 6:16 PM EST up reply actions

I had really wanted them to snag Earl Watson

I mean, as much as you can want a team to reasonable snag a backup PG. But he’s having a nice season in Utah. He’s a natural playmaker, good passer, decent shooter, and quick.

He’d be nice to have right now while we wait for Baron

KNICKS NOW
http://nyknicksnow.blogspot.com/ - check it out!

by WSD on Jan 30, 2012 11:12 PM EST up reply actions

I agree

But Watson got snatched up pretty quick while we were still working out the Chandler deal, I think.

Get The Frickin' Rebound

by fuhry on Jan 31, 2012 10:59 AM EST up reply actions

if only r

"It's just pain."

by FIRESATHER327 on Jan 30, 2012 5:33 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

if only they played tonight

"It's just pain."

by FIRESATHER327 on Jan 30, 2012 5:33 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

I wish they were

2012 New York Mets, World Series Champions!

by astromets on Jan 30, 2012 6:17 PM EST up reply actions

how many minutes will Baron realistically be able to play when he returns?

Seriously. The back may be healed but he’s no spring chicken. Something else is going to breakdown. So even if he’s the second coming of Earl the Pearl how much can one he really help dig out of this hole?

by I know smart people on Jan 30, 2012 6:36 PM EST reply actions

What about sessions?

i don’t see why cleveland wouldn’t move him? td and a 2nd rd pick?

by Riyaad_NYK on Jan 31, 2012 12:33 AM EST reply actions

Sounds really enticing but if TD's not hitting 3s off the bench who the fuck is? His struggles occurring because the team is struggling and he is being misused. you gotta figure under the right circumstances hell get his shot back.

remember he led the league in 3pt field goals made after the all-star break last year. But, but but, if the BD experiment blows up for whatever reason……then i say do the trade if cleveland is willing to. Its the lesser of two evils.

by bababooey2 on Jan 31, 2012 3:40 AM EST up reply actions