Kobe dunks on Nets' Humphries and Wallace at Barclays; Gets M-V-P chant

After 14 All-Star seasons, Kobe Bryant has been called just about everything while visiting an NBA opponent's building.  But one thing he is usually never called outside the comfy confines of Staples Center is, "M-V-P!."

Bryant didn't hear the chant only once during the Lakers game against the Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center Tuesday night — but three different times.

The Los Angeles Lakers superstar didn't let the Brooklyn fans down after this emphatic, one-handed dunk between the Nets' bookends Gerald Wallace and Kris Humphries after the "M-V-P!" serenade.

With 2:45 left to play, Bryant delighted the easily swayed Brooklyn crowd by slicing and dicing the dumbfounded duo with the right-handed jam to give his team an 82-80 lead.

Bryant later drove past Wallace for a layup with 1:42 left for an 86-83 lead and stole a Wallace pass with 45 seconds left to kill any chance for the Nets to make it a one-possession game.

"I was pretty shocked that the lane was so open. I think everybody's been drinking the Kobe-Pass Kool-Aid," said Bryant, who finished with 21 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals for a 92-83 win. "So everybody kind of stayed on the perimeter with the shooters.  It just parted like the Red Sea so I felt a little like Moses."

Bryant claimed the play tweaked his sore elbow, but he resisted rubbing it down while the Brooklyn crowd went crazy because he didn't want to "mess up the swagger."




Even Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni was awestruck by the fantastic dunk.

"The dunk was pretty awesome so I don't know how hurt he is," said D'Antoni.  "I'm sure he's banged up, but he gets his rhythm."

"From my perspective it's pretty cool," said Bryant about the love from the stands.  "I enjoyed it immensely."

The Barclays Center crowd seems to agree.

Jeremy Lin granted his 'early-Bird rights' but NBA will appeal

The Players Association won and so did the New York Knicks after Jeremy Lin and Steve Novak were granted their "early-Bird rights" by an arbitrator, giving the team more financial flexibility this summer.

Friday's ruling by arbitrator Kenneth Damm means that Lin— as well as Novak— will be able to re-sign with the Knicks without the confines of a salary cap. 

Within an hour of the ruling, the NBA issued a statement saying it would appeal.  If that goes over past July 1 free agency, it could create a delay in the Lin/Novak negotiations.  Union attorney Ron Klempner said he believes the appeal will be resolved by then, paving the way for Lin and Novak to have Bird rights by then.

Because the Knicks will not have to waste their $5 million mid-level exception to sign either of those players, the team can take that money to improve their roster in other ways (i.e. a veteran point guard).  Steve Nash leads the list of experienced point guards the Knicks have their eyes on but that looks like a long-shot— especially the way the organization bum-rushed Mike D'Antoni—Nash's friend and former coach in Phoenix— out of New York.

Point guards Jason Kidd, Jameer Nelson, Andre Miller and shooting guard Ray Allen could also fill the $3 million slot.

Had the arbitrator sided with the NBA, and neither player was granted his so-called early-Bird rights, the Knicks would have had to use their exception money on Lin and left them with little room to make other moves and Novak was as good as gone.

"Can't tell you how great it is to have my Bird rights preserved," tweeted Novak.  "A lot of hard work was put into making this happen."

For now, it looks like Linsanity is still at the Garden.

Tyson Chandler on London Olympics: I'd represent

The loss of big men Dwight Howard and LaMarcus Aldridge for the London Olympics after surgeries have created a huge hole in the middle of the USA basketball team but not if Tyson Chandler can help it.

The New York Knicks center is ready to put his own red, white and blue Superman get-up and fly to the rescue after the Knicks playoff run is through.

After the injuries to the two centers and Andrew Bynum saying he wasn't interested in joining the squad, Chandler may now even get to start for the U.S. Olympic team.

Chandler, who was not selected for the 2008 Olympic gold-medal team but was a member of  Team USA in the 2010 World Championships says he wants in. He was already named one of the 20 finalists for 2012 in London in January.

"I'm definitely ready to represent my country," Chandler told The New York Post.  "I'm very excited.  Just  to be able to be considered for the USA team is a blessing and something I'm very proud of.  I committed myself when I joined in 2007.  I still feel that way."

Although Chandler didn't play at this year's 2012 All-Star game, he's had a remarkable season and is a strong candidate for Defensive Player of the Year.  His 'D' on the court is outstanding.  In the three games he's missed, the Knicks allowed an average of 116.3 points— far above their average in the Mike Woodson Era.

Charles Barkley says 'Knicks still stink'

Charles Barkley always seems happy to bash the New York Knicks and was at it once again on Thursday.  Speaking to WFAN in New York, the opinionated TNT analyst— who was critical of former-coach Mike D'Antoni's system— has not changed his opinion of the team— even with the winning ways of new coach Mike Woodson.

The Knicks have won six of their last eight games but that didn't keep Barkley's mouth shut.

"The Knicks still stink, dude," Barkley told the radio show hosts.  "They're not going anywhere [in the playoffs], they're gonna be one-and-done."

The Knicks are 33-29 and have clinched a playoff spot.  The rejuvenated team currently has the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference and are three games behind the slumping Orlando Magic— who lost Dwight Howard for the rest of the season— for the No. 6 slot.

The Knicks would play the No. 2 seed Miami Heat if the playoffs started today.

"I don't dislike the Knicks," Barkley said.  "But they just don't have a good team.  I told you, they're the No. 7 seed.  You guys act like they're the No. 1 or 2 seed."

FIU fires Isiah Thomas; Knicks fans on alert

Florida International has fired men's basketball coach Isiah Thomas, after the Hall of Fame  player went 26-65 in three seasons.

Thomas took over at FIU in a surprising move,  one that gave the former New York Knicks coach and president a chance to restore his reputation after his disastrous turn in New York.

New York fans are now wondering if Thomas— Knicks owner James Dolan's favorite accessory— could make a return engagement and continue the series of blunders he left behind in Madison Square Garden.

Under Thomas, FIU never won more than 11 games in a season— after signing an unusual five-year deal which paid nothing in base salary in his first season and agreeing to give nearly half of any gross revenues from ticket sales, commissions collected on food and beverage concessions and sponsorships to the former NBA star.

Knicks fly Air LIN-gus to win over Pacers

Just when you thought Linsanity was over, the NBA craze pulls you back in.  Saturday night, inside Banker's Life Fieldhouse, Jeremy Lin once again showed everyone what all the hubbub was once all about.

Sporting their St. Patrick's Day green uniforms, the New York Knicks coasted to a 102-88 victory over the Indiana Pacers and won their third straight game under interim coach Mike Woodson.

The Knicks are back in eighth place in the Eastern  Conference and Lin is looking like the flashy point guard former head coach Mike D'Antoni unleashed before his abrupt retirement last week.

Lin finished the game with 19 points, seven rebounds, six assists and only two turnovers.




The Knicks turnaround since D'Antoni's departure has been amazing.  Last night, the team even played defense and held the Pacers to 14 points in the fourth quarter.

Lin was all over the place and sliced and diced Indiana's defense like the J-Lin of old— well...  three weeks ago.  He slashed his way to the basket and dished passes in traffic even when the Pacers were knocking him around.

On one play before the half, Lin raced down the lane for a tear-drop off the glass, but fell hard to the floor.  He seemed light-headed after the play but on the next possession went full-court for another lay-up.

"I'm learning to play in a less spread offense," Lin said.  "A lot of stuff is still the same.  But there are times when I won't have as many opportunities.  I just need to be select about when to go.  I think tonight was a big step."

After the 2-and-8 slump before the Knicks' coaching change, the team is 3-0 and play watchable basketball once again.

The retailers better stock the shelves with plenty of green #17 jerseys— Linsanity is back.

Lin says he owes D'Antoni "a lot" for starting Linsanity

No one was more stunned about New York Knicks head coach Mike D'Antoni's resignation than the man at the center of all of the Linsanity— Jeremy Lin, himself.

"I was surprised," Lin said of D'Antoni's departure.  "I know some people were talking about it and what-not, but I didn't know the reality of it.  I figured after the shoot-around he's definitely be here."

"What he did for my career, I'm not going to forget what he did for me personally," Lin said.  "It's very emotional.  I'm sad to see him go and I owe a lot to him."

Lin has many reasons to be thankful for D'Antoni.

The Knicks coach took a chance on the little used and oft-travelled point guard— who was bunking on his brother's couch— when he got the chance to show his skills.  Putting Lin in the starting lineup turned New York and the NBA upside-down.

Lin thrived under D'Antoni's fast-paced system and turned the Knicks from a plodding, boring team into a winning sensation.  The team was 8-1 after Lin was given the chance to take over on Feb. 4 and brought roaring crowds back to Madison Square Garden.

Interim coach Mike Woodson— a defensive coach— indicated he will make changes to the Knicks lineup and style of play, but after one game, the most noticeable difference was a lull in Lin's game.  He finished last night's 121-79 rout of Portland with un-Lin-teresting numbers (six points, six assists and six turnovers).

Whether or not it was Carmelo Anthony's return or if D'Antoni lost control of the team as the reasons for the end of Linsanity, it's a moot point now.  D"Antoni is gone and Linsanity has subsided.

Lin, on the other hand, will continue to take the changes in stride.

"It's going to be, including the D-league, like my sixth or seventh system in the last year and a half.  It'll be all right," Lin said with a smile after last night's game.  "We're not going to change everything.  Some things will be the same."

One thing that won't ever be the same is the few weeks of optimism that thing called Linsanity brought to the Garden.

Knicks better get out the Lin-iment

Jeremy Lin has been getting all the calls since his phenomenal run of Linsanity started but, last night, he got a taste of what life in the NBA might hold after Linsanity.

Jason Kidd smashed a forearm across the New York Knicks sensation in what looked like a flagrant foul  to everyone by the Dallas Mavericks point guard as Lin rose for a lay-up.  That is everyone except the officials.

Lin's knockdown wasn't the worst part of last night's 95-85 loss to the Mavericks.  It was how the defending champions have figured out the point guard's game since getting beat by the Knicks two weeks ago and how the officials looked the other way when Lin got battered by a veteran player.

Expect other teams and officials to follow the lead.

"They trapped him more," said Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni about the Mav's strategy.  "He did OK."

Lin had a good game (14 points, 7 assists and only 2 turnovers) but it was only half of the output in their first meeting (28 points, 14 assists).

There are many more questions surrounding Kidd's "hard-nosed" play.  Where were the rest of the Knicks while Lin was crumbled on the floor?

Did they have his back or were they just showing respect to Kidd— one of the toughest and most respected players in the NBA?

It was the Knicks fifth loss in the last eight games and the end of Linsanity is looming.

It looks like there won't be any more free passes for the Knicks best passer.  They  better do something before he ends up in a s-LIN-g.

Mark Jackson On Long List To Replace Walsh As Knicks GM

Mark Jackson, the former NBA point guard and current analyst for ESPN and ABC, is having his name bandied about once again for the position of general manager of an NBA franchise.  This time, New York's favorite son, Jackson was on the list of GM candidates to assume control of the New York Knicks for departing team President and GM Donnie Walsh.  According to reports, Walsh submitted Jackson's name to owner James Dolan a month and a half ago.

Since 2007, Jackson's name pops up every time there is an opening in an NBA front office or head coaching position and he has still yet to take one of the jobs.  The New York-bred Jackson would be a lot more welcome at Madison Square Garden than Knicks boomerang Isiah Thomas.  Thomas' shadow is always lurking behind Dolan.

Jackson's name has already been tossed around this year for GM positions with the Minnesota Timberwolves and he is considered a finalist for the Golden State Warriors head-coaching job.

The former Knicks guard had been mentioned as a candidate for the Memphis Grizzlies GM post in 2007 and the Atlanta Hawks last season and has yet to leave the broadcast booth.

The question that is louder than an NCAA women's softball game is why is Jackson in such high demand?

There is no question about Jackson's NBA pedigree.  He was the 18th pick coming out of St. John's and was Rookie-of-the-Year with the Knicks in 1987.  In his 17-year career, Jackson acquired the third highest career assists total and was known as a tremendous leader on the floor.  He even led the sickly Los Angeles Clippers to the playoffs...twice! 

The 46 year-old Jackson has the court savvy and intellect only an all-time NBA player could gather and has become one of the finest analysts on television--in any sport.  The problem, naysayers always bring up, is Jackson's lack any front office or coaching experience whatsoever.

Knicks Introduce 'Melo; Dolan: Isiah Participation "Fiction in some one's mind"

At 5:22 p.m. tonight, Carmelo Anthony was introduced to fans as a New York Knick for the first time.  The former-Denver Nugget stood alongside another former-Nugget, and new Knicks point guard, Chauncey Billups at a press conference at Madison Square Garden.

Anthony and Billups wore Knick warm up sweats and were introduced by Knicks owner James Dolan, who reiterated his statement that he, Knicks' head coach Mike D'Antoni and Knicks' president Donnie Walsh all worked in unison to land the 26 year-old superstar.

Dolan repeated what he said earlier that Isiah Thomas--who is in his second season as coach of Florida International University's men's basketball team-- had nothing to do with the Knicks getting Carmelo Anthony.  "It is untrue and fiction in some one's mind," stressed Dolan.

Last week Dolan, miffed by reports of Thomas' involvement in the dealing, said,"I'm assuming Isiah is getting ready for the NCAA Tournament.  That's what I'm assuming."

The low-key press conference was slowed by a group photo-op with Anthony, Billups, Dolan, D'Antoni and Walsh before it was crashed by Knicks' star player Amar'e Stoudemire.

The Knicks own version of the Big 3 stood together in public as New York Knicks for the first time as Stoudemire smiled for photos alongside Anthony and Billups.

It's Legends Night at the Garden tonight, but most eyes will be on the new #7 as Anthony makes his debut.  Tickets are going for up to five times face value.

Anthony said he was happy to be back home. "New York needed a moment like this," he said.  "New York basketball is back."

The former Red Hook schoolboy continued by saying, "At the end of the day I'm going in the right direction."  It's a dream come true and I'm ready to rock."

"This was about sitting down with my family and deciding New York was the place to bring my talent," he said.

Dolan said Walsh did a good job of making the trade with the Nuggets and made it sound like his job as president was secure.  "We wanted to wait until the trade deadline before talking about his [Walsh] contract which ends in JUNE!"  Emphasis on June was Dolan's.

Tonight, the new Knicks' Big 3 heads onto the Garden floor for the first time as teammates in a game against the Milwaukee Bucks.

There have been too few big moments at Madison Square Garden in recent years.  First, it was Stoudemire, now comes 'Melo.

For once, it's one big happy family at the corner of 33rd and Seventh Avenue.