That was a rough week for the Knicks

It's not enough just to be a bad New York Knicks team according to the NBA schedule makers. No, you have to be a bad Knicks team that faces the Lakers, Cavs, Celtics at home and then travel cross country to face the Trail Blazers.

Ouch.

Kobe dong whipped you with 61 points to the point where you were cheering his name and chanting "M-V-P" as he walked off the court. That's kind of like hating the pretty girl because she's so superficial and then dating her because in your heart of hearts, you are also truly superficial.

Then LeBron dropped a triple-double with 52-11-10 before the league took it away so he settled with 52-11-9. I'm sure Knicks fans were really hoping the league would take away some of those points, or at least find away to fast forward to the offseason of 2010.

Friday fun? Not for the Knicks who fell the the defending league champion Boston Celtics. No one really went off for the Celts, but no one had to when you've got the league's best defensive player, one of the league's most clutch performers and Jesus Shuttlesworth all in one lineup.

Overlooked was a transcontinental trip to face the Trail Blazers. Overlooked, of course, until Brandon Roy beats you at the buzzer.

Again, tough week for the Knicks.

Except for Stephon Marbury, who in an unrelated story recently cashed another million dollar check written out by New York Knicks.

Knick knack, paddy whack NY cuts some deals

As the saying goes: "When in Rome, do as the Romans do."

P.S. Sorry Jeff, I've got to take this one since I'm sitting in "The Garden" as I write this.

It's been a busy day for the New York City sports media with all the transactions that have been going down recently. Here's a brief update.

• Mike Mussina calls it a career. The Moose is no longer loose in the Big Apple, announcing his retirement months after completing his first 20-win season. Mussina is a borderline Hall of Famer with 270 wins and a .638 winning percentage, but is without that elusive World Series ring. I'm on the fence about him being in the Hall until further notice, but for now, he's in the Hall of Very Good.
• Speaking of the Yanks, Hal Steinbrenner, a.k.a. Mini Boss, has taken full control of the team as George Steinbrenner's era has finally come to an end. I figure if all the owners approve of another Psyco Steinbrenner running up free agent prices, how can they not approve Mark Cuban buying the Cubs?
  
• The re-tooling of the Knicks began with the trade of guard Jamal Crawford, who is prominently displayed in several commercials and billboards in and around the Garden, for Golden State forward/center Al Harrington. Harrington will fit well in D'Antoni's Phoenix Gone East offensive fun-and-gun system as he will be paired with Zach Randolph in the front court.

Oh wait...

• Randolph was traded to the L.A. Clippers today in exchange for guard Cuttino Mobley and forward Tim Thomas. I think it's a move than can help both teams as Baron Davis gets a go-to post player to go along with Chris Kaman and the Knicks get Mobley and Thomas - who will benefit from a high-scoring offensive attack. Thomas excelled under D'Antoni before, so I can see him paying dividents upon arrival.

By the looks of things, the Knickerbockers are eying a potential acquisition of LeBron James in the year 2010 ... coincidentally, the same year in which the Cubs are eying their first World Series title since 1908.

That's it from me as I'll sign off from The Garden. I'm gonna catch the end of the Duke-Michigan game without having to constantly check on my laptop for updates and such.

You guys take care, and I'll see you soon. I'm sure of it.

Marbury's Magical Mind

While I am the resident NBA blogger on this site, many do not know I am also a doctor.

Yes, I have a Ph.D in locating and analyzing crazy people, and the NBA has two of them with a very severe case of the crazies. Today, we will look at one of them who goes by the name Starbury. If you could all please look at the photo to the right, we will begin our dissection of the demented.

As you can see, Stephon Marbury decided he would hug a reporter who wrote a column about him over the summer. The column said Starbury was "toxic" to the team and he needed to leave. Marbury said he had a spiritual revelation of sorts during the off-season and would pray for those who criticized him.

My diagnosis is Starbury is going to play the crazy card.

You see, he has already played the my teammates around me suck card, the coach sucks card, the G.M. sucks card, the I'm not one hundred percent card, the I'm not getting treated fairly card, the I threaten to hold out card, the trade me now card, the no one can buy me out card, and even the reverse psychology card.

By playing the crazy card, Marbury has opened a world full of possibilities. One day he may come in as the player who is in touch with his spirituality, like he already did. Maybe he will be the angry guy who threatens to eat a reporter's children. Hell, maybe he roller skates on to the floor during warmups and has John McCain's face tattooed across his stomach.

Either way, it will be another entertaining year from Starbury and I am glad the Knicks have to deal with it.

For as crazy as the man is, he has shown flashes of greatness on and off the court. Despite not giving 100 percent most nights and killing chemistry with teammates, there are nights when he puts his ego aside and fills it up. Take for instance his inspired performance against a very good Utah Jazz team last year when he filled it up for 28 points and six assists to lead the Knicks to a highly improbable victory.

Off the court, he donated millions, not thousands like all the other athletes, but millions to the Hurricane Katrina relief. He also has extremely affordable shoes, which is especially nice for young kids that look up to the stars of the NBA.

At the end of the day, when Marbury is done with the Knicks he could very well be done with basketball. G.M.'s are reportedly interested in the Star, but I doubt they really want to take him. His reputation has outgrown him and pretty much everyone thinks he is a cancer.

So enjoy the craziness this season cause it could be the end. We will have the touching moments of Marbury inspiring his team to a win or donating to a worthy cause, and we will see the insanity of temper tantrums and missing practices.

NBA season can't get here fast enough