July 2, 2012 Leave a Comment
With the completion of the NBA Draft and free agency looming, it is the perfect time to see who is under the most pressure to bring home an NBA title to their team and city. With LeBron finally getting the monkey off his back, this list may surprise you on who may be under the most pressure to win. Read more of this post
May 9, 2012 Leave a Comment
First off, it’s good to be back on Zazenlife.com!
What better way to come back from a 2-week hiatus than to bash the New York Knicks.
I’ve watched this series pretty closely and I have learned a couple of things about this Knicks team. Read more of this post
February 19, 2012 Leave a Comment
Linsanity Continues
First Off, What a GREAT game.
The Knicks continued their great play today against the defending champs, the Dallas Mavericks.
This was a see-saw battle all game.
Jeremy Lin lifted the Knicks passed the Mavericks for an impressive win. However, contributions from J.R Smith and Novak were key to the Knicks holding on today.
Novak had 11 points in the 4th quarter with clutch 3-pointers to keep the Knicks ahead. J.R Smith provided a spark early in the game and gave the Knicks someone other than Lin that can threaten the middle of the defense.
However, Lin did have 7 turnovers today, that number needs to go down as the season progresses. Despite that, Lin has proven he is for real and the Knicks have found their point guard. Also with Baron Davis coming back, the depth at point guard will be a strength for the Knicks offense as the production should not drop as drastically when Lin is out of the game.
With Novak’s clutch shooting, Lin controlling the offense and the defensive mindset that has taken over this team, the Knicks can be a viable contender in the eastern conference.
Lin really seems to be the missing piece for this team.
Think about it.
How consistent has Fields,Chandler,Novak and Jefferies been since Lin’s emergence?
I use these guys as examples because they are important role players that each bring something different to the table for the Knicks. Amare may not have gaudy numbers, but the team is winning and I think that is what’s important to him.
I am so excited to see what happens when Melo and Davis are healthy and how they are incorporated into this team. Melo obviously will be in the starting lineup, but seeing how he meshes with Lin will be key if the Knicks want to contend this season.
Davis on the other hand, can give the Knicks a solid backup to Lin and contribute by running the offense when Lin is out of the game. It is unreal to see how stagnant the Knicks offense is when Lin is off the court.
The Knicks, all of a sudden have one of the deeper teams in the league. This team has depth, scoring ability and someone who can anchor their defense (Tyson Chandler).
Tyson has been GREAT for the Knicks so far, his defensive mentality has definitely made an impact on this team.
When you beat the defending champs, you deserve credit and I give the Knicks a ton of credit for their effort and their resilience.
Tyson Chandler Brings Attitude To The Knicks
February 17, 2012 1 Comment
J.R Smith To The Knicks!
Welcome to the big apple J.R Smith!
Earlier this morning J.R Smith tweeted that he will be joining the Knicks.
I like this signing a lot.
J.R Smith brings scoring ability and someone who can play either beside or behind Jeremy Lin.
Smith is a good shooter and someone who can penetrate the defense and create shots for someone else.
With Carmelo Anthony on his way back, the emergence of Jeremy Lin, and the addition of J.R Smith, the outlook for the Knicks seems very bright.
With that said, I think Smith will fit very well with the Knicks and with D’Antoni’s offensive system. However, the one negative I can see from this is that Landry Fields and Iman Shumpert’s minutes will suffer a bit.
Another risk the Knicks take with this signing is now implementing Smith into this offense. The chemistry seems to be at an all-time high and now Lin will not only have to learn how to play with Melo but now J.R Smith too.
Also, will Smith commit to playing defense?
One thing that has gone almost unnoticed during this 7 game winning streak is that the Knicks defense has improved dramatically. I understand the teams they have played haven’t been among the elite but part of being a playoff team is beating the teams you are supposed to beat and as of now, the Knicks have done that.
The Knicks have the potential to seriously challenge the Bulls and the Heat in the eastern conference. That is if Lin can play with Melo and J.R Smith can fit in without a problem.
Those are the questions, we’ll just have to wait and see for the answers.
Unless you have Time Warner Cable..
Please follow me on Twitter @PeterD024
February 9, 2012 Leave a Comment
Jeremy Lin
The Knicks have been searching for a solid point guard since game one. Mike Bibby is just too old, and Barron Davis will never be reliable with all of his setbacks.
Knicks fans do not panic! Harvard graduate Jeremy Lin has arrived and is making an impact.
The Economics Major carried a 3.3 GPA at Harvard, and he is now carrying the Knicks in New York.
Ever since he started, he has lead the Knicks to victory scoring 20 plus points and playing great defense.
His only flaw has been his extremely corny handshake that he shares with Landry Fields.
Not such a serious problem for Lin and the Knicks, just a little embarrassing.
More importantly, Lin is tearing up everyone that he faces. People may argue that he hasn’t faced any great teams yet, but give the guy a break. He is playing on the NBA level and dominating in New York.
Does the name John Wall sound familiar?
Yea, well your boy Jeremy Lin crossed him over, drove to the basket and slammed one down.
He only has started a few games and people may say that his success will end soon, but what he is doing is incredible. He is also stepping up at the best time with Amare Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony sidelined.
ZazenLife sends our prayers and sorrow to the Stoudemire family. LETS GO KNICKS!
Video Source: youtube.com
January 4, 2012 Leave a Comment
The New York Knickerbockers
Courtesy: @NervousNeophyte
I would like to personally dedicate this New York Knicks blog to the former General Manager and President Joseph Donald Walsh Jr.,(aka Donnie Walsh), for doing everything a recent Knicks fan has ever asked for.
When I sit down and actually think about what that man has done for the Knicks in the past two years, I find it hard not to smile.
I’ll never forget the days when the Knicks and the MSG network would try to sell us the games of Steve Francis, Stephon Marbury and my favorite one of them all, Eddy Curry. The 2011-2012 New York Knicks are possible championship contenders with an all star front court filled with a great amount of respect that is given by us so-called die-hard New York Knick fans.
I’d be lying to you if I said I never thought about giving up on the Knicks in the past few years.
Staying home for a Friday night Knicks vs. Timberwolves match up and seeing them get blown out while the Timberwolves star forward Kevin Love drops 30 points and 30 rebounds isn’t necessarily what I would call a productive Friday night for Knicks fans.
I can now say that the NYK community can finally enjoy some productive and winning basketball. I hope I don’t jinx it but knowing the Knicks of late they’ll find a way to break the hearts of thousands once again. Check the 2010 Knicks playoff exit if you don’t believe me.
What amazed me the most about Donnie Walsh, is the way he negotiated multiple trades, not in favor of the basketball talent on the court, but in favor of their payroll. Mr. Walsh came in with one goal and one goal only, and that was to completely dump every huge salary issue the Knicks had on their financial books. Its funny how former coach, GM and President Isaiah Thomas found a way to make such a mess on and off the court; even though he was one of the games best guards to ever play the game.
Mr. Thomas would spend money like I do after a twelve pack and a few tequila shots and believe me that’s not a good thing.
Thomas deserves 75 percent of the blame for the Knicks abominable free agent signings and pathetic performances.
But year after year, New York Knicks and New York Rangers owner, James Dolan never tried to put a stop to the madness. He just continued to sign the checks and live in hiding.
Dolan would refuse to address the media every year.
I’m convinced he has no idea about hockey or basketball and doesn’t want to come off like an idiot in front of his hard paying fans if caught in a tough question during a press conference. Dolan showed his face when newly acquired superstar power forward Amar’e Stoudemire signed his new five year $100 million dollar contract.
When things are all going right in the MSG world, Dolan doesn’t hesitate to show his smile. During the dark days, he was just the wealthy ghost of 33rd and 7th Avenue.
Now the Knicks have a “Big Three” that consists of Brooklyn’s own Carmelo Anthony , power forward Amar’e Stoudemire and seven-footer Tyson Chandler.
The roster the Knicks have put together this year could arguably be one of the most talented opening day rosters in franchise history. With Carmelo’s ability to score at will and Amar’e Stoudemire’s leadership, the Knicks should be in tip-top shape to make a serious run at the NBA title. Its hard to believe how far the Knicks have come in the past three years.
The Knicks are plugging in veteran role players such as Mike Bibby and Baron Davis to give quality minutes and guide the way to the young talents of Iman Shumpert , Landry Fields and Tony “Teach Me How To” Douglas.
The garden will be rocking every time the boys in orange and blue are in town.
This New York City fan base is ready to join them at the Canyon of Heroes during their championship parade.
P.S. What ever happened to David Lee?
December 25, 2011 4 Comments
Amare Taking It To KG
I rarely watch basketball games in their entirety, but this game was the exception. I was very curious to see how the Knicks would perform against a Boston team that has championship experience and great team chemistry.
In the first half the Knicks had complete control of the game, it seemed everything Boston did, New York had the answer for it. However, the 3rd quarter proved to be almost fatal for the Knicks winning chances.
The Celtics, led by All-star point guard Rajon Rondo, overcame a 10 point deficit at halftime and took the lead heading in the 4th.
The 4th quarter was an epic seesaw battle between a team predicated on flawless execution in the Celtics, against an upcoming power in the East in the Knicks, this game had a playoff atmosphere and this Knicks win had a “changing of the guard” feel.
Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudmire carried the Knicks past the Celtics. They did it with clutch shooting and good team defense led by the newest Knick Tyson Chandler.
Chandler Made A Defensive Impact Today
BUT..
There are some important factors us Knick fans MUST confront before we can officially label this Knick team a Championship caliber team.:
The Celtics Did Not Have Paul Pierce - Any basketball fan knows that Pierce is the unquestioned closer on this team. He is a great clutch shooter and a nightmare for opposing teams to guard. The Knicks received a Christmas gift for him not playing this afternoon.
Consistency - The Knicks started the game very strong, however they allowed the Celtics to come back and take the lead in the 3rd quarter. I give credit to the Celtics for coming back, but from a Knicks perspective you got to close the door on a team, especially a team with championship experience.
Rondo Having His Way With The Knicks Defense
Point Guard Play - The Knicks had no play execution in the 2nd half. Their talent (Carmelo and Amare) allowed this team to edge the Celtics. The Knicks could not set up scripted plays from the point, you just felt that the knicks were trying to figure out how to get the ball to Melo and Amare. A healthy Baron Davis can really make this team a threat in the East, experienced Point Guard play is CRUCIAL for a team to be successful in the playoffs.
Manage Your Expectations - We are ALL excited about the Knicks being relevant again, and this win proves that. However, you can not account for how important Paul Pierce is to the Celtics.
I believe this game would have been completely different if he played. It was a great win, BUT I don’t put the Knicks over the Celtics YET.
Let’s enjoy this win because it is a great one. It could be the first step towards a championship, something that Knick fans have been dreaming of for 40 years. However, the Knicks must improve their point guard play and their ability to keep teams from crawling back into games.
This is something that will take time to do, but the question is how much time?
December 14, 2011 1 Comment
The Lockout is finally over and its time to prepare for what should be a fun season for the New York Knicks. Here are what i think the 5 most important things to look for throughout the Knicks season.
The NBA Lockout lasted 149 days
1. The Lockout Effect- after 149 days the NBA owners and the players association decided to end the lockout and agree on a new CBA. Unfortunately this means that traininig camps and preseason will be shortened to 3 weeks, and condensed NBA schedule will tests the stamina and endurance of all teams. The Knicks need to get right to work in training cap and pre-season in order to build championship caliber chemistry between Amar’e Stoudamire and Carmelo Anthony. It will be interesting to see how well the Knicks superstars mesh in the first couple of weeks in the season.
Tyson Chandler was one of the main reasons the Mavericks won a championship last year
2.The Addition of Tyson Chandler- Comming into the season, the goal for the Knicks had been to form a big 3 in New York, similar to the big 3 that was formed in Miami. Once it became evident that Knicks did not have the pieces to pull off a trade for either Chris Paul or Dwight Howard, they turned to Tyson Chandler. Chandler may not be considered a “superstar” in this league but he is a perfect fit for the team. Last year Amar’e struggled on the defensive end because he was defending out of position. Amar’e is a true power forward having him guard opposing team’s centers is a mismatch. Tyson Chandler will provide strong defense and ferocious rebounding. He could be the piece that makes the Knicks a serious contender in the eastern conference.
The Knicks need a big year from Toney Douglas
3. The Emmergence of Toney Douglas- Although the NBA owned Hornets are making it very difficult for teams to trade for Chris Paul, i do not see him making it to free agency this summer. Too many teams with significant pieces are interested in the perennial all star guard, and eventually the NBA will allow the trade of Paul. This means that the Knicks are going to rely on Toney Douglas to run the point. In order for the Knicks to be title contenders Douglas must elevate his game. Douglas is an excellent defended, but he shoots more than you would like your point guard to shoot, and his court vision is not that of a top point guard. The Knicks did sign Mike Bibby, but his age could be a problem in D’antoni’s run and gun offense. I see Douglas getting most of the run at point guard this year and it should be interesting to see how his game develops.
The Knicks need to stay healthy in order to make a run this year
4.Injuries- In professional sports, injuries are a major factor. Every team has injuries so you can’t blame the success of the team. Having said that, the Knicks are a team that needs to say injury free in order to be successful due to their lack of depth. Carmelo Anthony is coming off an off season where he had procedures on his elbow and knee, Amar’e Stoudmaire couldn’t finish the playoffs last year because of a back issue that lingered into the postseason. As well as his back, Amar’e's knees will always be a concern because his history of knee problems and the fact that his knees are un-insurable on his contract. Also Knicks newest player, Tyson chandler missed over 30 games in consecutive seasons before becoming a defensive staple for the championship Mavericks last year. If the Knicks plan on making a run at the east this year they must stay healthy.
Is Mike D'Antoni the Knicks coach of the future?
5.Mike D’antoni- Since he took over in 2008, Mike D’Antoni has done a good job of getting the Knicks out of the basement of the Eastern Conference , and putting them in position to compete for a title, but can he take them all the way? Last year the Knicks were in the top 5 of the NBA in scoring, but they were bottom five in points allowed. Everyone knows that a Mike D’Antoni coached team is going to score a ton of points, but the question is can they play defense? The offseason aquisitions of 7 footer Tyson Chandler, and former Atlanta Hawks Coach and defensive specialist Mike Woodson should be a huge boost on the defensive end of the floor. If the team struggles defensively, i wonder how long D’Antoni will last in New York?
December 10, 2011 2 Comments
Now that the NBA Lockout is finally behind us, we can look forward to the frenzy that is the NBA free agent wire, wild trade rumors, and pre-season predictions. Along with the NBA season and its tremendous story lines heading into the 2011-2012 season.
- Will Dallas repeat?
- Can Kobe land his 6th title?
- LeBron’s play in the playoffs
- Can Boston win with Garnett, Pierce, and Allen one more time?
- Can Derek Rose lead his team to the finals?
- How good can the Knicks be?
- Is it Durant’s time to go to the Finals?
The most intriguing headline to me is how good can the Knicks be? (Yeah I’m a Knick fan). However, Last season left me wanting so much more, I know the team was put together midseason with the addition of Carmelo, but I feel this team has so much potential. Especially since the Knicks were so competitive against in the Celtics in the first round, and now we finally get to see how this team progresses in a shortened 66 game regular season.
Also, for me personally, I don’t really pay attention to the NBA season until Christmas, so opening day against the Celtics on Christmas is pretty great for me. A solid meaningful home game against an opponent that swept you from the playoffs in the first round, well know about this Knick team very quickly.
With the addition of Chandler, the Knicks could really make some noise this season and in the playoffs. I’m not saying they are going to win it all, but I feel it’s reasonable to think this team now is talented enough to win a 1st round/maybe 2nd round matchup in the playoffs. Chandler gives this team a defensive and athletic presence in frontcourt that has been sorely missed for the past decade.
In addition, I feel this is the first time in a long time that Knick fans have high aspirations heading into the season (and rightfully so). I am a football fanatic, but I must say when the Knicks are competitive, the city definitely has a different buzz to it. The Knicks are a historic franchise with a passionate fan base hungry for playoff success.
During Basketball season the story is always the Knicks, unless the Nets acquire Dwight Howard, the Nets will ALWAYS be an afterthought (Although, moving to Brooklyn and being in the talks for Howard is a step in the right direction).
With Melo, Stoudemire, and now Chandler, this could be one of the best front courts in the NBA. Fields at the 2 is solid; he is a good perimeter defender and the only one on one defender the Knicks have. The question lies at Point Guard, Billups is a clutch player with championship medal, but his contract and his understanding of D’Antoni’ system is the problem.
Toney Douglas could be and should be the Point Guard for the Knicks; he is quick and a defensive pest in the back court and will not get torched (at least not as easily as Billups) by Rondo and the quicker guards in the NBA.
In a season filled with story lines, I will be paying attention to none more than the progress of the Knicks throughout the season, I am eager to see how the Knicks match up against the powerhouses in the East (Miami, Chicago, Boston).
What I am more eager to see; MSG packed watching LeBron get his shot blocked on his way to the basket by Chandler to win the game for the Knicks. Perfect time to come back NBA, I did not miss you, but I was getting worried about you, Welcome Back.
