uPtoWnNY said:

Surprised no one's talking about the five Christmas Day games. Lots of great basketball except for the Lakers getting their asses handed to them.

I watched about ten minutes of ball total all day AND the Lakers lost AGAIN! I planned on watching more but I ended up being really busy from about 6 AM until 8 PM. Caught the end of the Warriors game, though, at least they won.

Knicks lead the league in blocks. They could be a decent defensive team if it wasn't for D'Amphony and his coaching staff. Team defense does wonders.

[Edited 12/27/10 14:26pm]

uPtoWnNY said:

Knicks lead the league in blocks. They could be a decent defensive team if it wasn't for D'Amphony and his coaching staff. Team defense does wonders.

You know I agree with you on all points. But I don't think they have a chance of beating Miami, Orlando OR Boston in the playoffs this season, so it doesn't really matter. They just need to continue to get better, which they're doing a fine job of. Also, the players on the court CAN play defense whether the coach teaches it or not. The great ones do. But it's hard work, so a lot of players don't do it.

Cerebus said:

Also, the players on the court CAN play defense whether the coach teaches it or not. The great ones do. But it's hard work, so a lot of players don't do it.

But that's why you need a coah who preaches defense and holds players accountable, like Popovich. Even when the Knicks get better talent, they won't take that next level with the fraud we have as coach. In the playoffs, it's about rebounding and getting crucial stops at money time.

Dwight Howard to Leave Orlando?

Dwight Howard has an early-termination option on the last year of his contract (2012-13) and thus can exercise it and become a free agent after the 2011-12 season.

And as Ken Berger of CBS Sports notes, there has been some indication Howard hasn't 100 percent married himself to the Magic before their trade deals on Saturday.

"People with knowledge of Howard's thinking said the superstar is on board with Orlando's moves, with one saying he's 'a big fan' of the changes," wrote Berger. "But as he grew restless over the summer about the developments in South Florida, and as the Magic were exposed in recent weeks, Howard privately already was beginning to weigh his options. Like the list of stars he wanted to join him in Orlando, he was forming another list: potential suitors for him. Two teams were on it, according to sources: the Knicks and Lakers."

Like Berger, ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher is also hearing the Lakers whispers, which we've reflected below.

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports adds more to all this, writing it's possible it might be championship or bust for Orlando to keep Howard.

"As the Magic GM tore apart one of the best teams in the NBA, the words hung over his every machination," he wrote. "To keep Howard, the mandate's unmistakable: nothing short of a championship."

So while Howard may like the team's recent changes, it's possible how they perform this year and next -- whether the Magic can contend for, or make, the NBA Finals -- may go a long way towards revealing what Howard's future holds.

Heard most of that before, particularly the part about him being on board with the changes. Supposedly he was even asked to OK the players leaving and joining the team. Makes sense if they want to keep him. I knew about his early out clause, but I'd never heard ANYTHING about him joining the Lakers. Shiiiiit! Pencil in a few more rings for Kobe if that ever happens. They sure as hell need someone to take up the slack for NoPau Gasol and Andrew Broken right now.

Put Howard at the 5 and Gasol at the 4 - that's devastating.

Mikan...Wilt...Kareem...Shaq...Howard would continue the tradition of Laker big men.

[Edited 12/29/10 1:53am]

uPtoWnNY said:

Put Howard at the 5 and Gasol at the 4 - that's devastating.

Mikan...Wilt...Kareem...Shaq...Howard would continue the tradition of Laker big men.

[Edited 12/29/10 1:53am]

Dwight shouldn't be scurred. Don't run from the Heat.

How 'bout those Knicks!!! After a ten-year drought, real basketball is back at the Garden. I still don't like D'Amphony.

uPtoWnNY said:

How 'bout those Knicks!!! After a ten-year drought, real basketball is back at the Garden. I still don't like D'Amphony.

I still can't believe u sold my boy Amare short..................

uPtoWnNY said:

How 'bout those Knicks!!! After a ten-year drought, real basketball is back at the Garden. I still don't like D'Amphony.

Yeah but what the fuck was that bailing out shit by San Antonio about with 3:11 left to go in the

game down by only 11 points.

[Edited 1/5/11 14:07pm]

phunkdaddy said:

uPtoWnNY said:

How 'bout those Knicks!!! After a ten-year drought, real basketball is back at the Garden. I still don't like D'Amphony.

Yeah but what the fuck was that bailing out shit by San Antonio about with 3:11 left to go in the

game down by only 11 points.

[Edited 1/5/11 14:07pm]

I think Popp was saving his guys for the Boston game.

Poor Mavs. Karma ain't gon' leave Cuban alone no time soon.

uPtoWnNY said:

phunkdaddy said:

Yeah but what the fuck was that bailing out shit by San Antonio about with 3:11 left to go in the

game down by only 11 points.

[Edited 1/5/11 14:07pm]

I think Popp was saving his guys for the Boston game.

Saving them with 3 minutes left to go in the game. Yes 3 minutes would have really wore

those guys out.