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Assistant coaches Bruce Hamburger and Nick DiPillo just emerged from their offices and are checking out the spreads of salad and ziti. I guess all that stomach-churning tension makes you hungry.
In another room, Amy Scheer, VP of Marketing and Communication for the Libs, is on the phone with Essence Carson. Looks like she will be on the conference call as well. It should be a good story, having a Jersey girl playing in the Big Apple.
After the Liberty drafted National Champion Alberta Auguste out of Tennessee in the third round, I figured all would quiet down, we'd finally be able to get some lunch, and then prepare for the 4:00 pm conference call. Boy, was I wrong.
As soon as the draft ended, Blaze and Coyle went right to the phones, trying to secure free agents to come in and challenge for a roster spot.
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Another shocker in Liberty Land.
Wanisha Smith, a player out of Duke whom New York might have taken 14th overall had Larkins not fallen, drops into the Liberty's lap in the second round.
 Blaze is clearly pleased, congratulating her staff: "Great job guys, great job!"
A phone call comes from a rival GM, who clearly wants to swoop in and steal Smith from under New York's nose, but there's no way Blaze is giving up this gem.
While I am sure most teams are pleased with the players they selected, the mood in the Liberty room is downright jovial. There were some tense moments early on, but the front office staff is lucky enough to have three of its top-ranked players joining the team.
Coyle in particular seems in awe of this draft class, and is clearly looking ahead to tinkering with her new lineup.
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There was more excitement in the room as Erlana Larkins, a player no one expected to last this long, fell into the Liberty's lap with the 14th pick.
 Assistant Coach Nick DiPillo's mouth literally fell open in shock that she was still available.
Blaze immediately ran to the phone and told the league office the Liberty would be happy to take Larkins off the board.
It was quite the scene, with everyone biting their nails to see whether they could actually steal Larkins with the last pick in the first round.
Who knew a war room could be so much fun?
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With the seventh selection in the 2008 draft, the New York Liberty selects ... Essence Carson from Rutgers University.
 The room held its collective breath when the Washington Mystics selected Crystal Langhorne, and everyone was REALLY ecstatic with the pick as Carson was the player they were hoping to land.
Taking a look over at the draft board, I noticed the team had Carson ranked at the top of their list at the three-position.
Blaze and Coyle gave each other a high-five when the pick was announced.
Liberty fans have to be happy with the job done by the scouting department.
Now it's back to the board as the Liberty prepares for its second first-round draft choice.
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 It's Draft Day 2008, and I'm here in the Liberty War Room at the MSG Training Center with GM Carol "Blaze" Blazejowski, Head Coach Pat Coyle and the rest of the front office.
Everyone is pretty excited about having two first-rounders, as they will surely have an impact on last year's Cinderella squad.
Still, it's a bit more subdued than I would have thought. Perhaps it's from the tension of hoping the player they want is still there when they draft seventh? Whatever it is, everyone seems content right now to chow down on their bagels while reminiscing about stories from their pasts.
The big news so far is that the Liberty will be playing in the first ever professional outdoor game at Arthur Ashe Stadium this year on July 19. Pretty big news.
Less than 30 minutes 'til the draft starts!
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Ever wanted to get your photo taken with David Lee, or see where you stand next to Nate Robinson?
Well 460 lucky season subscribers got that opportunity on March 19th at the Knicks Annual Meet the Team Event.
Take a sneak peek at the event by CLICKING HERE.
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 NYKnicks.com's Bobby Angel and I live blogged tonight's game against the Heat.
Check it out...
10:13pm - And the Knicks win in OT, 103-96, behind a total team effort. See you next time...
10:08pm - Zach Randolph just drove the lane and rolled in a tough inside shot off the glass. That gave the Knicks a five point edge with 19 ticks on the clock. If they can hit their free throws...
9:54pm - We are going to overtime kids! Ricky Davis and Kasib Powell drained a few threes in a row to catch up and now we have extra basketball.
9:49pm - With 23 seconds left, the Knicks are up by three and Fred Jones is at the line for two shots: he made one, making it a two possession game. Big free throw.
9:41pm - And he got it! Wilson came back in and got his board and bucket and now...his first double-double as a pro. Ricky is happy...and now six players are in double figures for the Knicks. (Next up? Randolph Morris, who needs a bucket and two boards to get his first double-double...but he's on the bench, so it might be tough).
9:31pm - Fred Jones just got the entire Garden, including Nate and QRich from the Knicks bench, to leap from their seats as he flew down the lane and absolutely posterized someone with a monster jam. Next time down…he drained a triple...and the Knicks are looking good.
9:27pm - KCD+free T’s = Pandemonium
9:25pm - Wilson Chandler is two points and a board away from his first double-double. But he just picked up his fifth foul. Ricky here would kill to see that rook collect the double-double. Hopefully he can see it happen...
9:16pm - Fans just got to choose whether the KCD would perform to a Run DMC song or to Lenny Kravitz. They went with Run DMC and the dancers did it right...
9:09pm -"Hi, I'm David Lee...and you're not." DLee just stole the ball inside, pumped and then flushed it down for a reverse slam.
9:07pm - Wilson is playing the most contained, mature style of ball I have seen him bring all season. He is looking to pass, banging on the boards and not as occupied with getting his shots. I love the fact that he has showed such clear progression so quickly.
8:58pm - For Miami's players, it's all about showing what you can do...and Daequan Cook is proving he can play in the NBA. He has 15 points and three boards already. Cook's the only D-Leaguer on Miami that was actually drafted, and it shows...he's got great range and speed to get inside.
8:45pm - It's halftime now...Knicks are up by eight. Becky just got proposed to over GardenVision...she said yes, they kissed and got a huge cheer. New York..such romantics.
8:31pm - Malik Rose just won the "Who Wins the Oscar?" competition on GardenVision for his rendition of a line from "Coming to America." He beat out Fred Jones and Jamal and when he was announced as the winner, Jared Jeffries made him raise his arms in victory (they were on the sidelines for a timeout). High comedy.
8:21pm - Chris Ahearn and Kasib Powell were just taken out of the game for Miami. But some guy named Lasme is in...WHO ARE THESE GUYS!?!?
8:16pm - The Sweetwater Clifton City Spirit Award went to two FDNY rescue paramedics who saved one of the men trapped in the crane collapse on March 15th. These are real heroes and they get a standing ovation from the MSG crowd.
8:07pm - Renaldo Balkman just cleaned up a Mardy miss and slammed it home. Next time down he almost stole Miami's inbounds pass. He can be so much fun to watch sometimes.
8:01pm - Get this...David Lee is letting Knicks fans vote on his next hairstyle. Fans in The Garden can text their vote for him to get shaven, a mohawk, or some weird spiked hair deal. I can't believe he is willing to do that! So...do you vote for what would look best, what would be funniest to see once, or what would be the hardest for him to upkeep? I say, make him go mohawk. Check out thedleedo.com after the game.
7:57pm - Lee is getting it done in a lot of ways. Last possession, he was stuffed by Blount, recovered the ball and put it home. Next time down, he rebounded his own miss to put it in again. And Jeffries just took a Z-Bo pass on the baseline and swooped in for a pretty reverse. Knicks look good tonight.
7:51pm - DLee and Z-Bo have started out hot, with 10 points and seven boards between them already (six to go in first). Now, the New York Stix are on the court (think the movie Drumline). Pretty impressive...and they end with a hell of a flourish.
7:41pm- The lineups were just announced. Wilson and Jamal in the backcourt, Jeffries and Lee in the front and Z-Bo in the middle, tonight. Here comes tipoff...should be a good one.
7:21pm - Minutes after the Heat took the court to a chorus of boos, the Knicks entered, this time to blaring music and even louder cheers. A section in the 300's has the "Ole" chant going and now both teams are doing layup lines.
6:37pm - Mardy Collins is practicing jumpers as models get their picture taken at center court. Gotta love The Garden. Meanwhile, Manhattan College's team warms up at the other end. Wait...I mean the Heat. Who are those guys? Does the D-League have any players left?
6:32pm - Well, the Circus is in town. Know how I know? The smell of elephants in the air. How do I know the smell is from the elephants? Just trust me....
5:55pm - Here is the celebrity rundown for tonight's tilt: Billy and Stephen Baldwin (Actors), Rampage Jackson (Light Heavyweight Champ), Angela and Vanessa Simmons (MTV), Marc Roberg (OAR), Michael Rapaport (Actor), Lauren Browne (Project Runway), Jason Strudwick (NYR)
NYKnicks.com's Bobby Angel and I blogged live from tonight's Knicks game against the New Jersey Nets.
9:49pm - Funny how stats don't tell the story. Devin Harris is looking great tonight, but his stats are nowhere near his season numbers...But a stat that is telling is that Wilson is in double-figures. He needs work, but he has a pretty refined offensive game for a rook.
 9:43pm - Ummm...Nenad Krstic is back. He has a season-high 20 points and keeps draining long jumpers. On the Knicks end, Jamal, Z-Bo and DLee are having big games, with both big men likely to have double-doubles.
9:41pm - The Knicks Acroback Tumblers were back. There is one of them who's got ridiculous hops. I mean, he stands out even in a group of Acrobats! The crowd loves it.
9:32pm - Wilson's back. And he drained a three...Crawford also nailed a couple...chants of "Defense!" continue and the Knicks are making a little run.
9:29pm - Ahh the t-shirt toss. But not a toss this time, but a shot, as a gun-wielding KCD shoots (yes, hot) the shirts into the crowd. And, as always, people prove that they will do almost anything for something free.
9:21pm - The KCD just came out to the court to show a slightly more legit dance routine...The Knicks are down in this one, but The Garden is still hopping.
9:16pm - The Dance Contest is going on, where a KCD dancer struts her stuff and then two fans try to match it. This one was simply AWESOME. One woman was dressed in a sweat suit and totally took the opportunity to strut her stuff. She ended with a cartwheel, and fell, but then transitioned to a closing pose and the crowd...went...crazy. Fun stuff
9:12pm - Michael Rappaport is in attendance tonight. He was just shown on GardenVision and the crowd gave him a cheer. Lee has nine boards already.
9:08pm - The KCD are back on the court. They got knocked out of the brackets for the NBA's best dance team. Ridiculous. They are definitely more talented than any other team. This is New York, for God's sake!
9:06pm - You know who is playing well right now? Jared Jeffries. He just had a great block of Devin Harris, who had streaked away on a breakaway. And he has been aggressive offensively and I'm not sure I've seen him better, to be honest. He looks good.
8:57pm - OK, here we go again. The second half is underway. The Nets are very hot from the field right now. And remember that key to the game I mentioned? The Nets have gotten to the line 14 more times than New York so far. The Knicks put out a slightly different starting lineup, with Fred Jones starting in place of Wilson Chandler.
8:43pm - The Bombastic Bouncers from the circus are on the court to entertain us and Henrik Lundqvist is being interviewed off to the side of the court by Jill Martin. Gotta love The Garden. The Bouncers (think gymnasts, not guys in black who tell you are not dressed well enough to get in) are flying all over these inflatable donut things in neon green, yellow and pink. Subtle, the Bouncers are not.
8:40pm - Well, the Knicks are down at the half and Richard Jefferson is having a heck of a night. He has 21 points already, with four threes, and is apparently taking his team's race for the playoffs pretty seriously.
8:34pm - Good opportunity here for the Knicks. Two minutes left in the half and New York had a couple of nice possessions in a row (ending with Crawford jumpers). Let's see if they can make a run.
8:19pm - The Knicks Acroback Tumblers just performed. Going out on a limb here to say that those guys might be able to dunk. They are seriously impressive and the crowd loves them every time. Also, Wilson Chandler's favorite pet? A snake. Guess not everybody's perfect.
8:15pm - Had some Knicks talking about their first ever dunks on GardenVision right now. So cool. Is there anything in sports cooler than a dunk? Even climbing the wall to bring back a homer in baseball is somewhat possible. But a dunk? Never happening...not for me.
8:09pm - One good thing about the break in the action? The KCD rocking the house in hot, little retro, 70s gear. Me likey.
8:08pm - The first quarter just ended and the Knicks are down. They were playing very well, but a couple of turnovers toward the end gave the Nets a lead. Man, this crowd is into it, oohing and aahhing every big play.
8:01pm - HSBC Bank Shot Contest just went down on the court. The guy was...ummm...not good.
7:58pm - David Lee just had three offensive rebounds on one play! He went 1-4 shooting and grabbed three boards in around five seconds. The crowd loved it and went nuts.
7:52pm - It's a fast-paced game so far. One thing is for sure, Chandler is not shy about putting up a shot. But he's looked really good so far. He's very aggressive. It's fun to watch.
7:46pm - The Knicks are energized early. A DLee block, Jeffries saves it back to Lee who pushes it up-court to Jamal. Quick Jamal pass to Chandler for a layup; very pretty possession. And then a couple of plays later it's Chandler again, with a baseline drive for a two-handed; vicious stuff.
7:43pm - And we are underway. Wilson Chandler is starting again, but this time as the two-guard with Jared Jeffries at the three.
7:37pm - The Circus is in town and the ringmaster, Chuck Wagner, was singing the anthem. Pretty good and crazy to think that there are elephants and tigers somewhere else in the building.
7:32pm - The Nets have been scoring more, but giving up more, since Devin Harris replaced JKidd in New Jersey's backcourt. Might be a track meet tonight.
7:27pm - Z-Bo is starting tonight and the Knicks are wearing their old-school, hardwood Classics uni's. It's a cool look, but like I said last time, without the short-shorts it's just not complete.
7:18pm - Hey, quick key to the game: In the three games this season against Jersey (all wins), the Knicks have gotten to the stripe way more (around 10 more visits per game) than the Nets.
7:14pm - The winner of the "Can You Keep the Rhythm" contest is performing on The Garden floor right now. There's a lot of people here already, so it must be pretty daunting to dance in front of such a big crowd. On the other hand, they are on the floor of The Garden. Pretty cool.
7:01pm - Some guy just told me that the last time the Knicks swept the Nets was the 1990-91 season. So we are due. Knicks are still in the locker room, but the arena is really filling up. Zach is back, by the way, but Nate is down. So the Knicks still won't be at full-strength.
6:31pm - It's expected to be a sell-out and people are already flowing in and getting to their seats. There is a buzz tonight. Guess the fans want to see the Knicks dispatch of the Nets and their playoff chances.
6:18pm - It's the early stages and people are trickling around The Garden now. The Knicks are going for a season-sweep against the Nets (they won all three other games). More than that, the Knicks are trying to deny their cross-river rivals a playoff berth, as the Nets are 1 1/2 games out of the eight spot. Should be fun to watch.
 NYKnicks.com's Bobby Angel and I live blogged tonight's contest against the Grizzlies.
Check it out...
9:53pm - Well, the Knicks lost, but there were five players in double-figures and the young guys showed progress. Wilson Chandler had the best game of his career, so things were good on that end.
9:51pm - Navarro just subbed out and the crowd went wild. he clapped to the crowd as he left the court and Mike Miller made him stay standing as the crowd cheered.
9:47pm - The Grizz are pulling away right now. Mike Miller and Rudy Gay have been absolutely unstoppable. Though the team is down, MSG is still packed and the fans are still into it. No matter what happens, The Garden still rocks.
9:38pm - KCD out again, tossing free t-shirts into the stands. Apparently, free t's = set for life - at least judging by the fans' reactions.
9:28pm - KCD back on the court...impressive performance. Let's see if the Knicks can pull out the fourth quarter victory. The Garden is hoppin' right now and the Navarro chants have pretty much given way to cries of defense or cheers for Nate.
9:20pm - Kia shootout right now. Kevin from Brooklyn has 30 secs to hit 2 of 10 three-point attempts for five grand. Not one. Not one! Kevin will NOT be drafted in 2008.
9:18pm - Mardy Collins just stole the ball, ran down the court and slammed it in. We are tied at 90 folks...
9:14pm - Nate is putting on a show...he's flying all over the court and the crowd is going nuts. Knicks on a serious run right now...
9:10pm - KCD rocked the court again...to Lenny Kravitz this time. They looked great, as always. Out of the break, Renaldo Balkman put in a slam, rebounded the ball and sent an outlet to Nate who was fouled driving the lane.
9:04pm - Rudy Gay just blocked DLee on one end and then flushed one home over Jared Jeffries. Then Navarro hit a three and the crowd is in ecstasy...but Nate followed with one of his own and MSG showed who was boss with an even louder cheer.
9:01pm - Navarro is in again...I know this because the crowd just erupted during that timeout. He's got a great shot, but e seems a bit small to really guard anyone. Earlier, Mardy Collins backed him down...even Nate seems way bulkier than he is. Jeffries just took a charge...Knicks playing very well right now.
8:59pm - Knicks are in the midst of a 14-0 run...MSG is getting amped up.
8:56pm - The cheer stix do their job as Milicic missed both from the charity stripe. Then it was Wilson again...followed by two Jamal free throws...Osi Umenyiora is having a great time courtside. DLee was just fouled going up and Osi flew out of his seat.
8:53pm - Second half starts with a Lee slam and then, on the next possession, Lee set up Chandler for a bucket of his own. A run to start the half...?
8:43pm - So if you don't know...the Red Panda Acrobat sits on a 10-foot unicycle...KCD Latrice tossed plastic bowls to her and she places them on her foot. Then she flips the bowls on her head. As she goes along, she adds more and more bowls. It's actually pretty amazing.
8:35pm - Halftime now. The Red Panda Acrobat is going to perform, so that should be cool. She's pretty impressive.
8:30pm - A legit wave just broke out in The Garden. It's gone around the arena three times and shows no sign of stopping.
8:25pm - Wilson Chandler is guarding Memphis point guard Javaris Crittenton. That ability to cover 1-5 on the floor is what has people excited. He really looks like he can be a legitimate part of a winning rotation.
8:22pm - Mike Miller is putting on a show. He has 15 already...five minutes to go in the first half.
8:17pm - Gardenvision just showed a couple of big Nate moments from his 45-point game against Portland. This crowd loves it some Nate...
8:13pm - Jared Jeffries in an animal tonight. Eight points already...a couple on angry slams. After a couple of DLee free throws, the Knicks are within three early in the second quarter.
8:09pm - Ahh the KCD...in old-school, retro Knicks gear. Such a reliable pleasure...don't forget to vote for them in the 2008 NBA Dance Team Contest. To vote:
Click here
8:03pm - Juan Carlos Navarro just checked in and the fans went nuts. "Navarro" chants still ringing out in the stands.
8:01pm - Kids Slam Dunk Contest going on...Little kids slamming on a 5-foot hoop. First kid just went off backboard for the slam. Next up..a 360 reverse. Next this little girl did 2 cartwheels, got the ball and...missed the hoop altogether (but she got it in on her second chance).
7:56pm - The Spanish fans have a "Navarro" chant going. They are begging for him to be put in the game.
7:53pm - Answer: they went with Jamal, who nailed a deep two out of the timeout and then drove to the hoop to draw the foul.
7:51pm - Another Memphis run. Mike Conley is looking good with a steal and a bucket in the last series...Mike Miller just drained a three and the Knicks called timeout. They'll be looking to settle down, of course, but it'll be interesting to see if they go to Morris down low or leave it in the hands of Nate and Jamal on the wing.
7:46pm - Grizz ran out to a 6-0 lead, but Wilson Chandler put the home team on the board with a jumper...a defensive stop and a Nate three later...6-5, Knicks down by one.
7:38pm - Eight year-old Anthony just blew The Garden away with his anthem. Definite Idol contestant in a few years.
7:25pm - I have to talk about it again. Nate is playing like a little kid with MaliK Rose on the perimeter. He threw up an off-balance chuck from the corner and it went in...so he started a little shimmy/moonwalk to the funk music playing in the background. Moments later, Malik is working with Randolph Morris on his post-up moves, giving words of wisdom and encouragement to the youngster, getting his first pro start tonight.
7:23pm - Juan Carlos Navarro. Man of the People. He is on the sidelines, shaking hands and taking pics with his fans. It's a pretty geared up crowd already...and the game hasn't even started. Should be a fun night.
7:21pm - The Knicks just came out and everyone went wild. The Harwood Classic warmups look sweet...Nate is going nuts, jumping and banging chests with people...he almost attacked DLee under the bucket during layups. The guy has a permanent smile on his face...fun to watch.
7:19pm - The Grizzlies just ran out on the court...Juan Carlos Navarro has a huge Spanish contingent here to cheer for him. There are Spanish flags everywhere...every time he hits a free throw in these warm-ups, people go crazy.
7:07pm - Game time approaching. Isiah's giving the kids a long look tonight and he's already announced that Z-Bo won't be playing tonight so that Randolph Morris can get some extended minutes. The starters: Nate, Crawford, Wilson Chandler, DLee and Morris.
6:43pm - By the way...as you know we are big fans of the KCD here. So it goes without saying that they got our votes in the 2008 NBA Dance Team bracket (more than a couple votes, to be honest). Give them your support...trust me, they deserve it:
Click here
6:41pm - Renaldo Balkman is posing with fans and signing some kid's sneakers right now. DLee is talking to a Brandon Tierney and a Knicks beat writer at the sideline and Jerome James is practicing free throws. The music just kicked in a bit ago and people are starting to trickle in...
6:28pm - Knicks are on the court warming up, as is Darko for Memphis. Looks like the Knicks are sporting the Hardwood Classic 1972-73 uni's. Cool look, but I wish they had gone with the short-shorts.
5:45pm - Here is the celebrity rundown for tonight's contest: Osi Umenyiora (New York Giants), Allan Houston (Knicks Great), Kim Catrell (Actress - Sex in the City), Matt Striker (WWE Wrestler), Robert Klein (Comedian/Actor), Selita Ebanks (Model)
You asked, and the heart of the New York Knicks answered.
Following Thursday's practice, Nate Robinson responded to your e-mails.
Watch Nate discuss his special 45-point night and fill us in on why he wears No. 4.
Thank you all for the e-mails!
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 Thanks to your support, the Knicks City Dancers have made it to the Sweet 16 in the third annual NBA.com Dance Team Bracket.
Your favorite dancers will go head-to-head with the Magic Dancers on Thursday in a bid to reach the Elite 8, and they need your vote.
So click here to help Courtney, Sierra, Michelle, Amy and all the rest of your favorite girls make it one step closer to the championships.
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 NYKnicks.com's Bobby Angel and I live blogged tonight's contest against the Hawks.
Check it out...
8:28pm - In the end, Atlanta was too much for the Knicks tonight. Three Hawks with 20 or more and only Nate got there for New York.
8:16pm - The guy next to me called it and he was right. Knicks are making a run: A Nate jumper, Jeffries layup in traffic and DLee bucket inside, all without allowing Atlanta to score, has them right back in this. The energy has changed and the crowd is flying right now.
8:10pm - Atlanta is pulling away now, as Joe Johnson, Josh Childress and Marvin Williams have been strong tonight. The Knicks are playing their youngsters and the Hawks are in the playoffs with a win, so they haven't let up the brakes all night and are looking to put the game away.
7:55pm - Joe Johnson is simply unstoppable right now. He has 25 points and nine assists with a minute to go in the third quarter. It's not just that he's doing it, it's how. From downtown, driving layups, mid-range jumpers. Just on fire.
7:50pm - NY Lottery three-point shootout just went down. I like to think that if I got that chance, I could at least get rim. Or if not rim, some area within the vicinity of the net. Not these guys, though.
7:46pm - A DLee putback slam just ignited the crowd. The Knicks are playing their young guys, but Dlee and Fred Jones are still getting it done.
7:42pm - Ahhh, the KCD are back on the court. Such a reliable pleasure. Speaking of the KCD, remember to vote for them for best dance team on nba.com on March 20. I'm watching them very, very closely. They deserve it.
7:32pm - Randolph Morris, who started the second half, is announcing himself right now, with back to back buckets. After a layup by Nate and a driving layup by DLee, the Knicks are up.
7:23pm - Some guy just proposed over Gardenvision. She said yes and planted a big kiss on him...he sort of drew away, as if embarrassed by the kiss in front of so many people. Dude...if you propose on Gardenvision, you are kind of asking to be kissed in public. Embrace it.
7:15pm - The Knicks are down by four at the break. Before the entertainment comes on...a question: I think Florida and Ohio State both missed out on the NCAA Tourney. Has that ever happened before? Both teams from last year's Championship game missing the Tourney altogether?
7:07pm - Zach Randolph and Fred Jones have joined Nate to give the Knicks some offensive firepower and New York is right back in it, down by three with two minutes to go.
7:00pm - The Knicks City Kids just revved up the crowd with a number to a Gloria Estefan song. Even Q-Rich was cheering from the Knicks bench. Meanwhile...the young Hawks are on fire and have opened up a lead.
6:58pm - Balkman just ended up eight rows up in the stands chasing after a loose ball. Not an exaggeration...seriously, 8 rows. He high-fived fans once there and between his dunks and his hustle, The Garden fans are pretty happy with him right now.
6:51pm - Sitting courtside, you really get a sense of what a leader Jamal Crawford has become. He's shouting out words of encouragement and directions to his young teammates. Number 11 has grown leaps and bounds this season.
6:47pm - Ahhh...the KCD Latino Night outfits. Worth the wait...They are wearing vibrant, orange outfits and moving to a little Hip-Hop Flamenco routine. !Que guapas son las bailadores! Impresionante...
6:36pm -Renaldo Balkman air-balled a free throw just now..but then he raced down the lane and put in a soaring, one-handed slam to make up for it. The crowd just went nuts...The game has been dunk-happy so far.Fun to watch...and the Knicks are winning too.
6:31pm - Around the World contest going on right now. One guy won a trip to Barcelona, but the next one just missed 6 shots in a row from Vegas...but then he nailed it and another for a trip to Berlin. Fans were close to booing that guy out the door, though. He got hot and saved himself.
6:25pm - The wave just broke out in the 400 section as there is a break in play. Nate is on fire, with seven points in seven minutes. Randolph Morris is on the floor now. Another guy to look out for.
6:21pm - J-Smoove is putting on a show. Another dunk… this time I think his elbow hit the rim. Sick...just sick. (But the Knicks have the lead, as Nate Robinson has joined DLee with big buckets on the offensive end).
6:19pm - Lee is establishing himself early on the offensive end, with the first two buckets for the home team. Wilson Chandler just missed an explosive baseline slam, but so far Josh Smith has raised eyebrows. First he drained a three and then he just drove coast to coast for an emphatic slam. Wow. That was vicious...
6:14pm - We were just talking about it here...is Al Horford the Rookie of the Year? I know Durant is going to get a lot of votes, but I'm going with Big Al. Of course, I am not even close to having a ROY vote...but what do you think?
6:10pm - The teams were just announced...in Spanish, which was a cool twist. No Curry, since he's down for the year...so Lee is at the 5. Wilson Chandler is starting again at the three. It'll be interesting to see if he can lay claim to a major role next year. So far, I think the results have been really positive. What do you think?
5:48pm - Latino music has been blaring all night, but there is a brief timeout as the Knicks run out to the floor for layup lines before tipoff. Both teams are warming up: Josh Smith is flying all over the court, contesting teammates jumpers and shooting long, arcing threes from deep; Renaldo Balkman and Zach Randolph are banging down low, practicing converting after contact. Cool scene right now. Garden is starting to buzz...game time soon.
5:07pm - Players from both teams are warming up right now. In fact, almost the entire Hawks lineup is out on the court. Josh Childress has a funky shot - he sort of extends his arms and then flips it to the hoop. Whatever he does works, though, as he's sixth in the league in field-goal percentage at 58%.
5:00pm - It's the Fourth Annual Latino Night tonight, so there are some changes around The Garden for this game. Apparently all the in-game entertainment will have a Hispanic theme (KCD salsa - I will be paying close attention for you, not to worry). Plus there's Hispanic food all over. Of course, it's also the day before St. Patty's so there should probably be corned beef around here somewhere...
4:55pm - Here is the celebrity rundown for tonight's game: D'Brickashaw Ferguson (NY Jets), James McAvoy (Actor-Atonement), Caridee English (America's Next Top Model).
4:37pm - Randolph Morris and Jamal Crawford are out on the floor warming up,as a KCD Dee Delgado is being interviewed on the sideline and employees and a few special guests seep in. Morris has a good sweat going already and Crawford's shot seems to be on tonight.
Knicks fans, it's time for another round of Q & A with a member of the team.
 Fresh off scoring 45 points against the Portland Trail Blazers, spark-plug guard Nate Robinson is ready for your questions.
So, whatever is on your mind, simply ask by firing Nate an e-mail today, then check back here next week to see if he responded to your inquiry.
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If you're like me and a huge fan of the Knicks City Dancers, now is your chance to show your support!
 The KCD are up against the Chicago Luvabulls in the first round of the Annual NBA Dance Team Bracket.
Voting starts Thursday, so be sure to vote early and often for your favorite girls in the NBA by clicking here.
In case you need a taste of what the KCD are all about, check out this gallery.
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NYKnicks.com's Bobby Angel and I live blogged tonight's contest against the Blazers.
Check it out...
10:21pm - The Knicks fell to Portland, 120-114 in overtime tonight despite an electric finish that saw Nate Robinson reach a career high 45 points. As they walk off the court, Brandon Roy embraces Nate and Jamal Crawford, friends from back home in Seattle. Thanks for checking in. See you next time...
10:10pm - Nate just raced down the court and faked Blake out of his shoes (literally...Blake had to put his sneaker back on). Nate drains a free throw and he has 43, tying Jamal Crawford's Knicks season high.
10:06pm - The Cheer Stix do their job as James Jones misses the first free throw...Knicks down by two with eight seconds left...No timeout called...and Nate blitzes down the court for a contested layup to tie the score at 108. We're going to OT!
10:00pm - Blake just nailed one at the buzzer. 22 ticks on the clock, Knicks down by three...
9:56pm - Nate just did a hesitation dribble drive that broke Steve Blake's ankles. Knicks within one with 1:11 to go...The crowd is insane right now and so is Nate, who has a career-high 38 points. And counting...?
9:50pm - Fred Jones just tossed in a running jumper and the Knicks just caused a shot-clock violation as chants of "Defense" cascaded from the stands. Knicks down by two with just over two minutes remaining.
9:34pm - The KCD are back on the court, dancing and tossing t-shirts into the stands. I said it before and I'll say it again...people will maim, kill or steal for these free t's.
9:31pm - Wilson Chandler just got the ball on the wing, sliced through the defense and lofted in an acrobatic shot off glass for the hoop and the harm. Gardenvision just played Tom Hanks yelling "Wilson!" from "Castaway." Spike Lee just went nuts...
9:22pm - Nate just drained a looooong two...he has 34 and counting (22 points in the third quarter on 8-10 shooting). Time Out and the Knicks City Kids are back on the floor.
9:20pm - It's about time. My boy "Will the Thrill" is back in the game. Guarantee something flashy.
9:15pm - The 1050 ESPN Halfcourt Shootout - the winner gets $1,050. Unfortunately, they don't give out cash for missing the hoop, backboard and anything resembling a net.
9:09pm - He did hit the free throw...and moments later he drained a three to put the Knicks up by one...Next time down, Nate put it in again. He has 27, 6 and 4 with 5:22 to go in the third. This is shaping up to be his best game as a pro.
9:03pm - A monster DLee swat set up Nate for a fastbreak. After his first free throw, the Knicks are within one. Portland called timeout and if Nate can drain the second, the Knicks and Blazers will be tied up at 68 apiece. Another bright spot: the timeout brought the KCD to the floor.
9:01pm - "Nate the Great" just got a technical for celebrating his monster start to the half. BS if you ask me...
8:59pm - Jared Jeffries started the half instead of Wilson Chandler. Fred Jones just drained a jumper and the Knicks are within one.
8:47pm - The Knicks came back on the court to a huge cheer. DLee came out first and stretched for a minute and then the rest of the team joined him and they are all taking shots and warming up. Halftime over in three minutes...
8:45pm - Gardenvision just showed a guy proposing to his girlfriend. She covered her face and didn't seem to want to say yes. They kissed, but that guy is going to hear about that for a while...
8:43pm - Columbia Union Acro-Airs are performing right now. Must be 30 people on the court performing flips and being tossed in the air. Pretty cool. Right now, a few gymnasts are doing backflips and stuff and crossing right by each other. A collision would be even cooler, but I don't see that happening. These guys are good.
8:29pm - Nate just deked Aldridge and cut through traffic for an off-balance layup. He was fouled in the act and after the free throw, the Knicks are within five.
8:26pm - The severely undermanned Knicks are hanging tough. Down eight with just under three minutes in the half.
8:19pm - Led by Quentin Richardson (14 points), the under-manned Knicks are in the midst of an 8-0 run to get within four. Portland timeout and the KCD are on the court dancing to LL Cool J's "Mama Said Knock You Out (Don't Call it a Comeback). They are in boxing gear...but no one is confusing them for Vladimir Klitschko.
8:14pm - Gardenvision just showed Zach Randolph and Jared Jeffries talking about playing each other in the state championships back in high school. Both teams were undefeated...and Z-Bo's squad pulled out the win. Still, Jeffries is quick to point out that he was Indiana's "Mr. Basketball." Both were first-team All-Indiana.
8:07pm - Knicks City Kids just performed at the quarter break. It's amazing how much the fans love these kids, especially when they do flips. Personally, we prefer the KCD:).
8:00pm - The Dress and Dribble contest just went down. Two kids line up against each other and race down the court, put on waaay oversized Knicks jerseys, shorts and sneakers, and go back down. First one to get the clothes on and get a bucket wins. Funny stuff. Meanwhile...LaMarcus Aldridge and Martell Webster are playing well against the short-handed Knicks and have nine points apiece. QRich is keeping New York in it with 10 points so far.
7:53pm - Ex-Knick Channing Frye just checked into the game for Portland and got a warm cheer from The Garden crowd. New York fans don't forget...
7:51pm - NBA bloopers are playing on Gardenvision right now. KG high-fiving Glen Davis' so hard that Davis' hand went into his eye was the highlight.
7:43pm - FYI - Jamal is out with a bruised hand and Eddy is out with a knee bruise. Wilson Chandler is lined up against Brandon Roy on defense...should be an interesting matchup.
7:38pm - Anthem just went off without a hitch. But I see Jamal lined up wearing a suit...I guess that bruised hand from last night was worse than we thought...Starting lineups were just announced. Jamal and Eddy Curry are both out tonight. It's Nate Robinson running the point, QRich at off-guard, Wilson Chandler getting another start at small-forward, DLee at the four and Malik Rose at center.
7:19pm - As music blares and The Garden starts to fill up, the Knicks entered the court through a fan tunnel to begin their warm-ups. A couple of minutes later, the Blazers did the same thing and now both teams are in layup lines...14 minutes 'til game time...
7:10pm - Gardenvision just played a story of a kid with a heart problem who recently received a transplant and then got to have a dream day with the Knicks, with help from the Make a Wish and Garden of Dreams foundations. He hung out, played pool and ball with the players and got his own Knicks jersey before he was announced to a crowd at the training facility in Purchase, NY. Pretty great stuff.
6:56pm - Since Renaldo was kind of putting on a slam dunk show just then, I'll throw out the question: What's the best dunk you ever saw in a game? What's the best slam you ever performed yourself? For me, it's the Starks' dunk over MJ and the Bulls or Vinsanity's slam over Frederick Weiss of France in the 2000 Olympic Games. (As for the best I ever put in myself, that would be the reverse flush on an 8-foot bucket when I was in 10th grade...and by best, I mean only. And by 8-foot bucket, I mean 7-foot with a hanging rim...Sad but true).
6:46pm - If you are scoring at home, Balkman is consistently draining jumpers off a curl. Let's see how it translates to the game, but it's a great sign. (So is the vicious two-handed tomahawk slam he just put in.)
6:33pm - But now it is time to work: DLee is practicing post moves, setting up on the block, collecting a pass in the post and then either pounding inside for a layup or juking and taking a turnaround jumper from eight to 10 feet out. Meanwhile, Renaldo Balkman is shooting jumpers from all over the court, all with Knicks assistant coaches watching and helping. If either or both of those guys start hitting outside shots with greater consistency, watch out...that would be huge for the Knicks.
6:26pm - And here comes DLee to the court…first he stops to joke around with one of the honorary ball kids, then he takes a picture with a youngster from the stands...if he starts kissing babies then we'll know he's running for President! (In all seriousness, he's a great guy...he's a fan favorite because of the way he plays but also because he is so approachable.)
6:21pm - Oden is on the court now. He is practicing free throws. He looks pretty good and at first I was surprised, considering his 63 percent free throw percentage in his one season at Ohio State. But then I remembered that, a) it's easier to hit shots in warm-ups than in a real game, and b) he broke his right wrist right before his college season and was shooting free throws lefty. 63 percent with your off hand is actually pretty amazing.
6:13pm - Tonight is Knicks Garden of Dreams Day. There will be all sorts of PSA's on Gardenvision talking about the charity and the Knicks players will be wearing special black Garden of Dreams T's during warmups. To learn more, go to gardenofdreamsfoundation.org and check out the site. (That's my community service for the night).
6:01pm - On the other end of the floor, Randolph Morris is practicing shots from the elbow and Fred Jones is sitting on the scorer's table catching up with some old friends (remember, he came over with Z-Bo from Portland in the off-season).
5:59pm - Both teams are warming up on the court right now. Portland's Greg Oden is sitting on the bench, not warming up, sporting a mini-fro-hawk and laughing with teammates. Steve Blake is playing one-on-one with a trainer and ex-Knick Channing Frye just finished up draining some jumpers.
5:54pm -The Anthem singer, 11-year old Alexis Biesiada just warmed up...the real thing will be at 7:30pm, but she did a great job just now. I can't imagine being 11 and singing in front of a MSG crowd (but I can imagine hitting the game-winning shot...in fact, I just did it. It was pretty impressive - half-court fall-away j as the buzzer sounded).
5:46pm - KCD Latrice is practicing with a new toy - one of those guns that shoots t-shirts into the crowd. Either she needs a lot of practice or the "gun" is out of gas, because the shirts are falling limply to the ground only a few feet away.
5:40pm - Here is the celebrity rundown for tonight's game: Fabolous (Rapper), Eric Milligen (Actor, Fox's "Bones"), Damon Dash (Producer, co-founder of Roc-A-Fella Records with Jay-Z and Kareem "Biggs Burke)
NYKnicks.com's Bobby Angel and I blogged tonight's contest live against the Detroit Pistons.
Check it out...
10:08pm - Detroit ekes out a victory over New York, 101-97. Thanks for joining us. See you tomorrow night against the Blazers.
10:05pm - Jamal gets it to Curry who puts it in off glass. The Knicks play suffocating defense on the inbounds and the Pistons are forced to call timeout. New York is down two with five ticks on the clock.
10:02pm - The Garden crowd is rocking and their chants of "Defense" can be heard on Seventh Avenue.
10:00pm - Fred Jones lofts one in from the lane and New York is within four
with a minute remaining. After a Detroit timeout, the theme from "Rocky" plays and the Knicks play tough defense giving New York the ball, down by four, with 36 seconds in the game.
9:54pm - Solid Knicks defense causes a Detroit shot-clock violation. Curry puts one in on the other end and New York is down by six with two minutes to go...
9:45pm - This town loves a Champion and Giants cornerback Aaron Ross enjoys a huge ovation when shown on Gardenvision. Then Nate barrels to the bucket for a deuce off the glass and five Knicks are in double-figures.
9:40pm - The KCD are on the court again, this time tossing free t-shirts into the crowd. It's amazing what people will do for free shirts...
9:38pm - Detroit is up by six, after Malik Rose just drained a three (no, not a typo). He also put in two shots before that as he is on fire right now.
9:29pm - The KCD are on the court, performing the initial moments of two routines. The fans get to choose which one they complete...and they choose the one done to "Calabria." That routine has them gyrating and diving to the floor...wonder why the fa
ns chose that one?
9:20pm - They are playing Tic-Tac-Toe on the court, where they have to hit a layup to place an X or an O on the game board set up at center court. Unfortunately, the very complex rules of Tic-Tac-Toe prove too much for one contestant, drawing boos from the crowd…But now they are cheering as Sean Avery and Brendan Shanahan of the Rangers are shown on Gardenvision.
9:16pm - David Lee has a double-double already, and we are still in the third quarter. And just now Fred Jones drove the lane and floated in a teardrop for the hoop and the harm. After the free throw the Knicks have a 66-65 lead.
9:15pm - Carl Banks is shown on Gardenvision drawing a cheer. For some reason, the Giants are popular these days...
9:13pm - It’s a timeout and the KCD come on the court. Yay.
9:10pm - Detroit comes out of the break hot, but Nate drains two threes and just like that the Knicks are back in it...
8:52pm -
Now the conductor has his jacket off and is swinging it through the air like John Travolta (uh oh, now I'm dating myself too).
8:47pm - Montclair, New Jersey's "Drums of Thunder" is on the court now. It's a bunch of kids playing the drums and the conductor is seconds away from a massive coronary. I think he might be more intense than Tom Coughlin yelling at Laurence Tynes.
8:43pm - Nate just went through the legs and up in the air with 6’10” Theo Ratliff between him and the bucket. Nate won, the Knicks and the Pistons are tied at the break, and the MSG crowd is on its feet.
8:37pm - Richard Hamilton draws two technical fouls and is ejected from the game for complaining about a non-call on the other end of the floor. Meanwhile the Knicks have tied it up at 51.
8:35pm - This time it was Will "The Thrill" Chandler with a ferocious flush, again set up by a driving dish by Crawford.
8:31pm - Jamal just lit up the crowd with an off-balance, contested reverse layup. Right before that, he set Curry up for a vicious slam.
8:25pm - Curry and Crawford are carrying the Knicks with 15 and 12 respectively.
8:20pm - According to "Know Your Knicks," Wilson Chandler wants to guest star on Family Guy and Malik Rose dates himself by telling the crowd that his favorite basketball movie is The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh. If you're scoring at home, that's a 1979 movie starring Dr. J. (Yes, I had to look it up). Meanwhile, the Pistons went on a mini run and are now up by 11.
8:10pm - The Knicks City Dancers perform a sassy number in some sort of sequined, wildly attractive school girl outfit. The highlight of the night for some, no doubt.
8:06pm - The HSBC Bank Shot Contest draws a crowd as Dante nails the free throw to have a chance at a three worth ten grand. The crowd groans after Dante finds nothing but air.
8:01pm - The New York Stix Marching Band pumps up the crowd, and Spike Lee, during a TV timeout.
7:45pm - Strudwick, Orr, and Valiquette are shown on Gardenvision. The Rangers faithful at The Garden go bonkers.
7:30pm - "Will the Thrill" Chandler is announced as a starter tonight, much to
the delight of the crowd.
7:15pm - Knicks come out through a fan tunnel of about 30 kids. A nice touch.
6:40pm - D-Lee just finished his warm-ups and now is signing autographs while the crowd chants his name. No wonder this guy is a fan favorite. Number 42 actually took time out after practice recently to answer some of your questions. Check it out here.
6:30pm - Pre-Game warmups are going on. David Lee is practicing a 12 foot jumper in front of a group of 40 lucky fans. Meanwhile, the house music just went on and The Garden is already starting to fill up.
5:25pm - Here is the celebrity rundown for tonight's game. Colin Hanks (Actor), Aaron Ross (New York Giants), Carl Banks (New York Giants), Colton Orr (New York Rangers), Jason Strudwick (New York Rangers), Steve Valiquette (New York Rangers), and a pair of Ford Models to boot.
What kind of ovation do you think the Giants will get?
Hey Knicks fans, you asked, and the master of the "Leebound" answered.
Here's what number 42, David Lee, had to say in response to your questions...
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 Knicks fans, it's time for another round of Q & A with a member of the team.
This time, fan favorite David Lee will be fielding questions on issues spanning his three-year NBA career, from his off-court endeavors to newfound celebrity status.
So, whatever is on your mind, simply ask by firing David an e-mail today, then check back here Wednesday to see if he responded to your inquiry.
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You asked, he answered!
Knicks guard Jamal Crawford, arguably the hottest player in the NBA right now, responded to questions submitted by you, the fans.
Check out what No. 11 had to say :
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