May 7, 1995

This date may not be entirely familiar with the average New York Knick fan. Once you recognize it was the 1995 NBA Playoffs, and it was the second round, you have an idea of what Knicks' fans went through that Sunday afternoon. Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals between the Knicks and the rival Indiana Pacers had the city buzzing, mainly because of the gritty seven-game series both teams went through in the Eastern Conference Finals the previous year. In 1994, it was glorious for myself and other Knicks' fans as they took Game 6 in Market Square Arena and Game 7 at the Garden after trailing by double digits.

While the Knicks didn't complete the entire task of winning the championship, the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals series victory against the Pacers was great. Both teams met in the first round in 1993, and John Starks was ejected in one of the games after head-butting Reggie Miller, in which Starks was publicly ripped by his teammates on the court immediately after the head-butt. That got the rivalry started for years to come.

After the Knicks got by the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Pacers were able to get by the Atlanta Hawks, it set up the third straight playoff meeting between the two teams. With the Knicks up 105-99 with under 20 seconds remaining, Miller hits a three-pointer, and applies pressure to the Knicks on the ensuing inbounds. Anthony Mason throws the ball to a stumbling Greg Anthony, and the ball falls right into Miller's hands. Miller goes on to drain another three-pointer. On the Knicks' next possession, Patrick Ewing missed a shot and Miller grabbed a rebound and was foolishly fouled. Two clutch free throws later, and the Pacers miraculously have a 107-105 lead, all because of Miller in a matter of seconds. The Pacers took a 1-0 series lead, and won Game 7 at the Garden as well to take the series.

That wasn't the only bizarre ending that day. Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals between the Chicago Bulls and the Orlando Magic happened also. With the Bulls up 91-90 and having possession with 20 seconds left, the Magic decided not to foul, going against conventional wisdom. Michael Jordan dribbled up the court with Nick Anderson trailing him, and as Jordan turned to his left, Anderson poked the ball away on his right side. Anfernee Hardaway led a two-on-one break and got the ball to former Bull Horace Grant, who slammed it home. The Bulls had a chance to take the lead back, but Jordan decided to pass the ball to Scottie Pippen, who left the vicinity of the pass in a miscommunication with Jordan. The Bulls lose Game 1, and lost the only series they would lose in an eight year span with Jordan.

Talk about a crazy day. For the Bulls, it wasn't anything major. Jordan was motivated after the series loss, and came back stronger than ever, leading the Bulls to a 72-10 record en route to a 1996 championship. He would add two more after that to cement his legacy as the greatest player ever. For the Knicks, the two home losses was devastating, as it robbed them of an opportunity to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the third straight year. The Knicks would not go back to the Eastern Conference Finals until 1999, where they defeated these same Pacers as an eight seed. However, with Jordan out in 1994 and not at full strength after his comeback in 1995, the Knicks had their opportunities to win championships and didn't capitalize. To this day, Knicks' fans are still hurting from this day.

Falling Apart

F Carmelo Anthony has not gotten the Knicks to the level of play fans want to see.

The New York Knicks did what many Knicks' fans, including myself, have been accustomed to for a long time -- they choked down the stretch against the Boston Celtics. This game certainly had the feel of a playoff game. There were iconic images during this game. There was F Amar'e Stoudemire and F Kevin Garnett crashing to the floor scrambling for a loose ball. There was G Ray Allen getting elbowed by F Jared Jeffries, opening up a big gash that required stitches. Then towards the end of the game, there was F Carmelo Anthony getting elbowed by G Rajon Rondo and then he required stitches to close a gash.

F Kevin Garnett had a game-high 24 points and 11 rebounds.

The Knicks were in control for three quarters. They held a double-digit lead through most of the second and third quarters. They held a nine-point lead in the fourth quarter, but completely faded down the stretch. This game seemed to be another one of those marquee wins for the Knicks, beating a very good team while playing good defense like they did against the Miami Heat on February 27. Instead, they were outscored 23-4, turning a nine-point lead into a ten-point loss. This came after a bad loss to the Milwaukee Bucks the night before, preceded by a loss to the lowly Detroit Pistons on Friday night.

During this Knicks recent struggle, losers of six of their last seven, and below .500 since the Anthony trade, the Knicks are getting a ton of media attention, much like the Heat received earlier this season when they were just above .500 at the end of November. Anthony wasn't the only piece received in this trade. The Knicks also got G Chauncey Billups, and his play was impressive early on also. However, it has fallen off since he came back from injury.

All Knicks fans want to see the Knicks make a serious run in this year's playoffs, even if they have to face a team like the Celtics or the Chicago Bulls. With that being said, Knicks fans will be happy to see the Knicks back in the playoffs after a seven-season drought. These last 12 games, plus the playoff run, should help the Knicks start next season strong. If the Knicks go through any stretches similar to this stretch next season, you better believe Donnie Walsh will hear all of New York City, particularly calling for Mike D'Antoni's job.

Mets Eat Salaries

The Mets released P Oliver Perez, who was due $12 million.

The New York Mets have well-known financial issues. Last month, it was revealed the Mets borrowed money from MLB last year. It was also revealed that they were looking into securing another loan for basic operating expenses. With that being said, it is completely baffling as to why they're cutting high-salary players and eating the money. The Mets announced in a span of three days that they're releasing 2B Luis Castillo and P Oliver Perez. With Castillo being released, the Mets have to still pay him $6 million. Perez will be owed a whopping $12 million to not provide any services for the Mets.

Mets also released 2B Luis Castillo, who was due $6 million.

Perez said he believes he was given a fair chance by the new Mets' regime, different than the views Castillo expressed. Castillo has already caught on with another team, signing a minor-league deal with the NL East rival Philadelphia Phillies. Perez will look to catch on with another team also, though he can just go on vacation and collect $12 million for the year. The Mets' new regime consists of a new manager in Terry Collins, and a new general manager in Sandy Alderson. Clearly, they are trying to rid themselves of expensive contracts brought on by former general manager Omar Minaya.

From a baseball standpoint, it's good to see the Mets making these kind of moves because they are sold on putting the best product on the field. However, with the Wilpon brothers' refusal to sell the majority of the team, cutting those players is not the best move. If the Mets can't afford to pay basic operating expenses with no assistance, how can they pay two players $18 million for nothing? It would've been extremely hard to trade both players, since they were so ineffective and expensive. However, packaging them with attractive players in a trade could've been an option.

It's surprising the Mets haven't received criticism for those moves. When the New Orleans Hornets of the NBA traded G Marcus Thornton to the Sacramento Kings for F Carl Landry, many people criticized the deal. The Hornets have been in financial problems for a couple of years, forcing owner George Shinn to sell the team to the NBA outright. All of the owners in the league owns a stake in the team, which is why some owners became upset they were taking on more salary. They also received criticism from the media, yet the media has not criticized the Mets for their moves. Maybe more criticism will come. However, the Mets better put out a better product than last year.

Playoff Seeding

Knicks head coach Mike D'Antoni believes the Knicks just need to get into the playoffs to make noise.

Now that the Knicks have a top-five player in F Carmelo Anthony to join forces with F Amar'e Stoudemire, what is the ceiling for the Knicks? After the Knicks easily handled the Jazz at home tonight, the Knicks are 5-3 since acquring Anthony. Two of those three losses have come against the league's worst Cleveland Cavaliers. The Knicks are 7-1 if they take care of business against them. The Knicks have impressive road wins against Miami and Atlanta as well, and an impressive showing at Orlando before they crumbled in the fourth quarter.

Can the Knicks, at 33-29, climb the standings in the last 20 games? If you ask coach Mike D'Antoni, he doesn't seem to care. D'Antoni said, in Sunday's edition of the New York Daily News, that he's not worried about the Philadelphia 76ers, who are directly behind the Knicks at the seventh spot. He said he's worried about the ninth-place Charlotte Bobcats. D'Antoni is clearly indicating he doesn't care if the Knicks finish as an eighth seed. Once the Knicks get into the playoffs, they'll be a dangerous matchup for any of the top teams in the Eastern Conference in his mindset.

It's shocking that D'Antoni openly admits that. The Knicks should be worried about climbing the standings, hopefully for a fourth-place finish, where they'll have home-court advantage in the first round. That'll make them more dangerous if they were to climb the standings and get a lot of wins together before the playoff run. It's easy to remember the Knicks are the only team in NBA history to go to the NBA Finals as an eighth seed.

However, with the Celtics most likely going to occupy the top seed in the conference, it's better that the Knicks can avoid them in the beginning, with the hopes that they can see them further in the playoffs. There's no telling where the Knicks will eventually finish when it's all said and done. However, the goal is to continue to win games. As a Knick fan, I feel no satisfaction with the fact D'Antoni feels this way. They still have to prove they can win to the rest of the country.

Cash Strapped

Mets' owner Fred Wilpon is looking to secure another loan for operating expenses. 

It was revealed last week that the Mets were loaned $25 million from MLB last season to help cover operating expenses for the club. Ouch! Now it's being reported that the Mets are trying to secure another substantial loan in order to cover operating expenses. Bottom line -- this team is in financial disarray. This all stems from the Bernard Madoff ponzi scheme in which billions of dollars was stolen. The Wilpons, who own the Mets, are being sued by a trustee for at least $300 million and as much as a $1 billion.

The Wilpons maintain they were simply a victim of Madoff's scheme. No matter what the issue is here, they are still operating a professional baseball team and it's very cloudy as to what the financial future is with the team. It is not known if the players are in danger of not being paid from time to time, but that's a problem the players need to start thinking about. 3B David Wright already made it a point that this is an issue, in which a resolution is needed quickly.

The Wilpons are looking to sell about 20-25% of the team. There's already been a couple of suitors out there that have popped up. It was reported the team contacted Donald Trump about buying a percentage, and Trump reportedly wants to have full ownership. That won't work out if the Wilpons remain steadfast on controlling the majority of the team.

There is a simple resolution to all of this. The Wilpons need to sell EVERYTHING. Don't strangle the ball club and Mets' fans. The Mets are in the best media market in America. They'll get a ton of people who want to buy. Securing multiple loans is not the way to go, because that backs them up even more with that obligation on their back. The Wilpons have had full ownership since 2002, and Fred Wilpon first bought a stake of the team back in 1980. Just give it up and let the players perform without having money hanging over their heads. Let the Mets fans enjoy what could unpredictably be a good season for them.

Biggest Draft Bust?

The Jets drafted DE Vernon Gholston with the 6th pick of the 2008 NFL Draft.

Lost in the Jets' success the past couple of years has been the disappearance of DE Vernon Gholston. Sources have said the Jets are releasing OL Damien Woody, DL Kris Jenkins, and DE Jason Taylor in addition to Gholston. The moves make sense for the Jets, as they're looking to retain WR Santonio Holmes, WR Braylon Edwards, CB Antonio Cromartie, and WR Brad Smith. Woody, Jenkins and Taylor are accomplished veterans who were simply the victims of business decisions.

The Jets can still retain Woody and Jenkins, if it comes at a much cheaper price. Taylor had a successful year given his role with the team. However, there are rumblings that Taylor is done with professional football, as he looks to show business. The Jets are already spending a good amount of money next year on LB David Harris, who they decided to place the franchise tender on. Harris signed it so he's a lock for this upcoming season as the Jets will try to negotiate a long-term deal with him. Harris is only 27 and has been important for the success of the defense since he's been in the league.

As for Gholston, he has draft bust labeled all over him. When talking about draft busts, people usually look at the offensive side of the ball. Notable draft busts in the past 15 years have been QB Ryan Leaf, QB Akili Smith, and QB JaMarcus Russell. When we take a look at it a little deeper, there probably isn't someone who comes close to Gholston in the discussion.

Gholston racked up a total of ZERO sacks in his three seasons with the Jets, after being drafted sixth overall. Gholston even had a little incentive to get a sack this past season. He had a $9 million escalator clause in his contract if he got at least ONE sack. He couldn't even manage to do that! When picking players on the defensive line that high, there's always a risk because a defensive lineman doesn't impact the game the way a quarterback does. A couple of years ago, Buccaneers' coach Raheem Morris said that the 2009 season will determine if DE Gaines Adams will be a draft bust or not.

Morris said that, and Adams had six sacks in his rookie season. He racked up another 6.5 in his second season, and he's being labeled as a draft bust. Adams was traded to the Bears in the middle of the 2009 season, after only racking up one sack. He didn't rack up any sacks with the Bears before tragically passing away in his home in the offseason at the young age of 26.

With an assortment of defensive linemen getting high ratings in this upcoming draft, scouts better look at Adams and Gholston while considering their choices. DL Gerald McCoy was drafted third overall, and we haven't heard his name all year last season. Drafting a defensive lineman that high could be rewarding, like the Texans drafting DE Mario Williams in 2006 first overall, and the Lions drafting DL Ndamukong Suh second overall last year. However, to think that the Jets defense could've been way more explosive if Gholston resembled anything of his days at Ohio St. Now, he has to look for a team willing to take a chance on him in the uncertain times that is the NFL. 

Staying Home

Knicks F Amar'e Stoudemire blocks Heat F Lebron James layup attempt during the final seconds of Knicks' 91-86 victory.

Most people have given F Carmelo Anthony credit for guarding F Lebron James in isolation situations on the last two offensive plays for Miami. Of course, we know James was unsuccessful at putting the ball in the basket on both occasions, getting his shot swatted by F Amar'e Stoudemire the first time. It was a remarkable block, and with F Shawne Williams getting the rebound, the Heat had no other choice but to foul in hopes of getting another possession. James missed a three-pointer which ended all hope of sending the game into overtime. The rants about James' inability to come up big in clutch situations came again on all major sports outlets.

A couple of weeks ago, the Heat played the Thunder in a Sunday afternoon showcase game on ABC. The game is noted for F Kevin Durant calling F Chris Bosh a "fake tough guy" after they both got into it a little bit in the first quarter. However, if anyone can remember the outcome of the game, the Heat won a nail-biter. James, with the Heat down one, passed off the opportunity to make the go-ahead basket by passing it to a wide-open G Eddie House, and he proceeded to knock down a three-pointer that put the Heat ahead for good with under a half-minute to go.

This past Thursday, most NBA fans tuned into TNT for the Heat-Bulls matchup. The Heat lost that game, another game against a championship contender in the Eastern Conference. That loss put the Heat at 0-5 against the Celtics and the Bulls combined. However, it has to be noted that the Bulls haven't played in Miami yet. However, the way the game ended was similar to the way the Heat-Thunder game concluded. G Derrick Rose drove toward the basket on an isolation play being guarded by James. Rose deferred the opportunity to take the go-ahead shot and passed it to a wide-open F Luol Deng, who knocked down a three-pointer to put them ahead for good.

So why does this matter? The same scenario presented itself during last night's game. James got an isolation against Anthony, with House standing in the corner behind the three-point line. G Chauncey Billups was guarding House, but lurking off of him a little in anticipation of James' subsequent move. As James drove toward the basket, that put Billups into play. Would he stay home with House and prevent the open three-pointer? Would he help Anthony out and provide a double-team? Billups decided to stay home, thus forcing James all the way to the basket. Stoudemire came from the other side of the paint, coming off of his man which was Bosh, to make the block.

Since James drove left, it was hard for him with Bosh on the right side of the lane, to make a pass to him at the last minute. Also, Stoudemire waited until James committed to driving and scoring for him to make his move. However, while Anthony provided the one-on-one defense and Stoudemire provided the block, the MVP on this play was Billups. Staying home on House prevented a wide-open shot, and forcing James to score the ball is probably the best thing, since he has shown over the course of his career to find the open guy more times than not in clutch situations. This play is certainly bound to occur down the stretch of many more games. Hopefully, other teams and players learn from Billups.