Clarion Content

The excitement is back in the world's most famous arena...Is winning next?

The Clarion Content is an institution run by Knicks fans. It speaks to our quixotic nature. The Knicks are on what feels never-ending quest to recapture the zen magic of egalitarian champions of 1970/1973, when Earl the Pearl shared the ball with Clyde the Glide, when Dave DeBusschere worked along side Bill Bradley.

Did the Knicks get closer with the acquisition of Carmelo Anthony?

There is no doubt we were against the trade from the beginning. Time has softened our opinion, but only the tiniest bit. The wound was cauterized early when the Nets threw salt in it, stealing Deron Williams for a half of what it cost the Knicks to get Melo.

Why were we against the trade and why are we still worried now?

Here is the litany.

Melo and Amare play the same position, the four, power forward. They basically like to get the ball in the same place. They are both used to being the alpha dog. Neither likes to play defense or do the dirty work on the defensive boards.

The argument we keep hearing is that the Knicks have two of the ten all star-starters. This would be a lot more relevant if all the games were played with the same level of defensive intensity as the All-Star game. The Knicks and D'Antoni system would crush with in that style of game.

As is? Not so much.

Who knows how well the Knicks will even mesh? If you read our tweets, you know we are on this vein before the crash and burn in Cleveland the other night. Before Charlotte bailed on Gerald Wallace, we thought there was an outside chance that the Knicks could miss the playoffs completely while waiting for Melo and A'Mare to jell.

Chauncey Billups, while more than a throw-in, is well into his thirties. Is he an improvement over Felton? Definitely on paper. But Billups can no longer run the court in seven seconds or less style of D'Antoni, Felton eight years younger was a better fit. Billups will be helpful in a slow it down, halfcourt, grind it out playoff series. Here's hoping the Knicks can win one of those before he retires.

Moreover, most reports indicate the Knicks G.M., the savvy Donnie Walsh, who built this team out of the scorched earth that Dave Checketts and Isiah left behind, opposed the deal. Walsh knew the Knicks could have Amare for nothing next year as a free agent. Why give up two solid starters, (trading the Italian Jeans model was addition by subtraction) Felton and Chandler, plus a first round draft pick? Especially knowing, the Knicks were not going anywhere in this year's playoffs? Walsh's contract is over after this season. Odds are, unless the Knicks pull of a first round miracle against the Heat or the Magic, Walsh leaves, and then this deal cost the Knicks their front office leadership as well.

So two power forwards, both whom want to be the alpha dog, neither of whom play a lick of defense or like to rebound, no first round draft picks until 2050 or so, missing out on Deron Williams... Unless D'Antoni gets fired, its says here that he plays Doug Moe to Melo and Amare's, Alex English and Ernest "Kiki" Vandeweghe.

One good thing about the deal, it has finally stopped the short-sighted D'Antoni from burying the hardworking, talented Toney Douglas on the bench. D'Antoni might be the worst judge of young talent, this side of Kahn, employed in the NBA.

Forgive us, NBA gods, if we Knick fans aren't excited about the prospect of 50 win seasons and first round playoff losses.

Labels: NBA, Predictions, sports, The Knicks