If it’s about making it on the all-star team then I don’t think you can  overlook the production of  David Lee. Last year he got overlooked by the coaches and fans. This year there should be no reason why David Lee can’t make the all-star team. You would think with millions  of people in New York this would be an easy task. Right now Lee’s   playing better basketball than he was a year ago. We already know that it will be a tough task for Lee to get in the all –star game because Bosh and Josh Smith playing the forward spots. His other competition is Gerald Wallace, a player he just made a poster out of.  There is still strong hope for Lee.

If Lee can not go in as a forward he should at least be allowed to beat out Shaquille O'Neal this year. Shaq has been looking like a shell of himself and does not have the numbers to make the All-Star Team. To be honest the “Big Aristotle”, “Superman”, “Big Diesel”, or the “Big Chicken McNugget” or whatever you want to call Shaq has done nothing to get into the all-star game. This season Shaq is averaging 10 points, 7 rebonds, and 1 assist. Shaq’s numbers are nothing to be doing back flips about. However, coaches might vote in Shaq based on his reputation and what he has done in the past.

David Lee’s other competition for the center spot if he gets voted  by the coaches as a center is Nets center Brook Lopez. Lopez this season is having a great year. The problem is his team is not winning. In the fact the Nets have only won 3 games. That being said that gives David Lee the spot over both Brook Lopez and Shaquille O’Neal for the backup center spot behind Dwight Howard.

Now we all know that the starting lineup is normally picked by fans and the bench normally is picked by coaches based on merit. An all-star appearance is not supposed to be charity folks. Coaches are supposed to pick the backups. One thing that I find that is flawed is that David Lee was listed at the forward spot  when Lee has been battling centers and playing center for the last two years.

David Lee has been playing this year like his life is on the line or should I say his contract is on the line. This year we have seen him hit the 15 foot jumpshot with no hesitation. He has developed a crossover to take his man off the dribble. Lee has also improved on his spin move to the basket. Not to mention Lee might be the best player in the league at playing the pick N’ roll game. He has been playing it so well that even Karl Malone and Stockton would have to give him props or some dap. When the Knicks first acquired Lee he was compared to Oakley for his rebounding talent. Now he is the Knicks go to guy. If that is not improvement I don’t know what is. Right now David Lee is averaging 19 points a game, 11 rebounds, and 1.1 steal a game. If Lee is not made an all-star this year then when?

The bottom line is Lee has been putting in work this year and needs to be rewarded. Shaq-fu an All-Star? No I don’t think so. Let’s make the player name David Lee an All-Star.

(Big C) Seriously, how bad can Jordan Hill be? This season we knew that Mike D’Antoni’s rotation was going to be short. However, the thinking was Mike D’Antoni would still able to play Jordan Hill during blowouts or back to back games. If not Hill  would get at least 10 minutes of playing time. However, it looks like Jordan might be handcuffed and glued to the bench for the year.

How slim are Jordan Hill’s chances of getting on the court? Very slim. It’s so bad that Jonathan Bender who did not play in four years, missed training camp, and missed preseason  and the month of November got playing time over Hill.

Many will say that Jordan Hill is a rookie so he is not supposed to get playing time. My response is what do you call Marcus Landry who is also a rookie also that went undrafted. Yet he is getting more playing time over the 8^th pick in last year’s draft. In the last game against the Hawks there was no Jonathan Bender to take minutes away from  Jordan Hill. Yet  Jordan Hill still did not get the nod to get playing time.  Is Hill getting 5-12 minutes on the court really going to hurt the team? Or is this really about who can knock down the 3 point shot and who can’t?

At this point who knows how good Jordan Hill is or can be. What we do know is that Mike D’Antoni does not have confidence in Hill nor does he see plans for Hill this year. From what I have seen from Jordan Hill in his limited playing time is a player that knows how to hit the midrange shot plus he is a player that goes up strong. What I have seen from Bender is a player that blocks shots but causes too many turnovers, and takes ill advised shots for a guy who gets limited minutes. If  Hill can’t get  experience on the court now then when will  that day happen? It’s not like next year Hill will be able to turn things around. Especially if the Knicks  resign David Lee or go after Amare or Bosh. Hill has to learn how to play in the system now.

If Jonathan Bender can learn plays in one month I would assume that Jordan Hill who played with this Knicks’ team since training camp can also. In the game against the Rockets Jonathan Bender played 17 minutes for only 2 points and 1 turnover. There is no way anyone can tell me that Hill would have done a worse job than that. Right now the only advantage I see that Bender has over Jordan Hill is the ability to hit the 3 point shot. What is the point of having a guy who is able to hit the 3 point shot if he is also turning the ball over and forcing ill advised shots? Mike D’Antoni, it is time to change up your rotation.

Jordan Hill mix

(Big C) These brothers are starting to get noticed. No, I am not talking about  Brook Lopez and Robin Lopez or the Mario Bros. I am talking about the Knicks’ rookie Marcus Landry and his brother Carl Landry. Carl Landry was drafted by the Houston Rockets. He is also the guy that is giving Al Harrington a run for his money for the NBA 6^th man award.

While Carl Landry is getting noticed around the league his brother Marcus Landry, a star out of Wisconsin who went undrafted, is also getting attention. Not from  Sports Center but from his coach and Knicks President Donnie Walsh. Marcus was undrafted so he had to look for his big opportunity in the summer league playing with the Kings. The thought process was that if he played well he would get noticed by some scouts and NBA GM’s. Lucky for Marcus, the Knicks’ President Donnie Walsh was one of those that was impressed by Marcus’ shooting and scoring. The final test came for Marcus during the Knicks training camp and preseason. The end result is Marcus made the cut.

Marus Landry is still improving and working on his game to prove doubters wrong. He has impressed the Knicks coaching staff with his hard work playing scrimmages and staying late after practice. From what has been said from Knicks announcers is that Marcus is lighting it up in practice.

Coach Mike D’Antoni has been pleased with Marcus Landry so much that in recent games he has gotten the nod in the rotation over Knicks first round pick rookie Jordan Hill. In the recent win over the Bobcats Marcus was one of the first players called off the bench with Nate Robinson.  Apparently his ability to knock down the 3 point shot and score quick points has impressed coach Mike D’Antoni. Landry may not get your normal 30 minutes but in his 6-10 minutes he is hitting shots. As the season progresses and the Knicks make a big push for the playoffs do not be surprised if you see more Marcus Landry as Mike D’Antoni tweaks his rotation. Landry will get minutes as long as Al Harrington is out.

 Marcus Landry has even given some advice against playing his brother Carl:

 "It's going to be great," said Marcus, who played at Wisconsin. "I faced him before in college. He's been doing a little trash talking, so we'll see what he does. He just keeps calling me weak. We'll see what he comes up with."
Marcus could come in handy for his scouting report on Carl.
"I know all his moves, every last one of them," Landry said. "I'll call them out. I'll call the move out before he does it."-NY Post

Marcus Landry highlights

Danilo Gallinari now has the attitude of “I want the ball so I am going to go get it.” If not he will try to free himself up. The bottom line is Gallo has been more aggressive on the offensive end of the court. When  a player is more aggressive his teammates will naturally try to look for them. Being passive will get you nowhere in a league where players are fighting for roster spots and their career, day in and day out. If the shot is not falling Danilo Gallinari has been driving hard to the hole and picking up fouls. I have also noticed him cutting baseline and completing back door plays.

Danilo Gallinari has a new attitude as part of the package. We have witnessed him dunk on Hibbert and go into a Bruce Lee “Enter the Dragon” stance and shoot critical daggers to bring the Knicks to victory. I don’t know if it’s because he’s watching basketball video’s like the Larry Bird tape or  Kung Fu Joe. The bottom line is he’s playing with a passion to win. He could miss 3 shots in a row and still comeback and still shoot with confidence. There is no shame in his game.

The thing that I am most excited about is Danilo Gallinari’s defense. In the month of December and this month so far  I have seen Gallinari staying with his man. Most important small guards have had a hard time shaking off the 6’ll forward. We all know that Jared Jeffries has the ability to stay with guards off the dribble but I think Gallo could also help out in that department. Last month Danilo said he wants to be an all-around-player. Well it looks like he’s acting on it and not just saying things to sound clever or cute. He is also a big part in help defense and getting defensive rebounds.

Overall, I like the progress and swagger that Danilo Gallinari is bringing.

 Danilo Gallinari highlights

It looks like Donnie Walsh is pleased with last year's draft pick Danilo Gallinari. As a matter of fact Donnie is so pleased with the NBA leader in 3 point shots made that he gave second year player Danilo Gallinari a Larry Bird career highlight Video.

"A few days ago Donnie Walsh handed Danilo Gallinari, the Knicks’ promising young forward, a DVD that could alter the trajectory of his career. Walsh, the Knicks’ president, gave Gallinari a collection of Larry Bird highlights, a captivating 30-minute compilation highlighting many of Bird’s best moves, passes, post-ups and rebounds.

Gallinari said he had watched the tape at least 10 times over the past three days and that every move was seared into his mind. The one play Gallinari enjoyed the most, he said, was when Bird told the former SuperSonic Xavier McDaniel that he was about to shoot a 3-pointer over his head and there was absolutely nothing McDaniel could do about it.

“And then he did it,” Gallinari said, shaking his head. “What’s better than that?”

For Walsh, the only thing better would be to see Gallinari take all the aspects of Bird’s game that he could emulate — Bird’s court awareness and vision, his positioning, and perhaps a bit of his supreme self-confidence — and fold them into his swifter, more athletic frame.- "New York Times

 If Danilo Gallinari can model his game after Bird that alone would be a huge plus. As much as people remember Bird for shooting 3 point shots, he was more than that. He was a complete player. Bird was one of the best passers in his era, plus he made hustle plays and got rebounds. Right now Danilo has shown that he can pass and shoot. If he can add a desire to win and play both ends of the court, like Larry Bird, then watch out.

 Larry Bird Highlight mix

No  need for Marcus Landry or Jonathan Bender to panic. The Knicks have guaranteed both players a contract for the rest of the season. According to Alan Hahn’s twitter both players will finish the year in a Knicks’ uniform:

“Bender and Landry were not put on waivers. Both will have guaranteed contracts thru end of season.” –Alan Hahn

There is no surprised there. The coaching staff is really high on Landry and Mike D’Antoni is really impressed by Jonathan Bender. As mentioned by Mike Breen the other night, Landry is one those guys that continues to work hard and stay after practice along with Bender. Keep in mind that Marcus Landry as well Jonathan Bender  are players that are ahead of  Hughes, rookie Jordan Hill, Darko Milicic. and Eddy Curry in Mike D’Antoni’s rotation. For a bunch of guys that were just picked in October and December they are doing well so far.

This just goes to show you that you don’t always have to have a draft pick or make a trade to find talent. Sometimes there is gem in the talent pool of unsigned free agency too.

Rafer Alston just got cut from the Nets. Don’t even think about him wearing a Knicks’ jersey. As much as Knicks fans would love for him to come home to New York it is not going to happen folks. At least not this time around. This Knicks team is finally playing together and learning about their strengths and weakness. This is no time to bring in another player unless we are talking about a superstar.

We all know that Rafer Alston is a pass first point guard, however Mike D’Antoni is not going let Duhon lose his starting spot.  Not to mention Nate Robinson is a better player off the bench than Skip. If Alston was on this Knicks team I really doubt he would even crack the rotation. To add insult to injury, Alston is shooting 34% from the field.

Let’s also not forget about the Larry Hughes and Toney Douglas factor. With Larry Hughes complaining about minutes and Toney Douglas barely seeing minutes this is not the time to start thinking about Rafer Alston.  Alston is talented but we also know that he had problems getting minutes in Orlando, Toronto, as well as the team he just got waived from the Nets. Can you really imagine Hughes and Alston on the bench together complaining about minutes? It would be the first time Mike D’Antoni got heckled by his own players during a game. Overall Alston to the Knicks is a bad idea right now.