#Knickstape Invades Houston? Who will rise at All-Star Weekend for the Knicks?



The Knicks just finished the Piston 102-87 in London as Iman Shumpert made his return in style. Shumpert impressed in his 14 minutes of play. The Knicks will fly back to London, and prepare for Monday's game against the Nets at MSG. Before then TNT will announce the 2013 NBA All-Star starters for each conference. Melo is a lock for the All-Star game, and it looks like KG will join him in Houston as a part of the Eastern Conference starting line-up.

Will anybody from the Knicks join Melo in the game? The Knicks have had Amar'e and Melo play in the game solo the last two seasons, and outside of a David Lee appearance nobody has represented the Knicks in the All-Star Game. Tyson Chandler deserves a spot, but will he get it. I believe he gets in, but what hurts Tyson is he isn't exciting. Josh Smith can put on a show, and having Bosh with Wade and James is fun for some. Brook Lopez represents a change from Dwight Howard as the East top center. So Tyson has to get in over some of these guys.

Who else can join Melo and/or Tyson Chandler in the All-Star Game? J.R. Smith? I know what you are thinking, "J.R. Smith? Really?" Yes, really. Smith has been one of the best Sixth Men in the league, and the All-Star game is about putting on a show, and boy can J.R. Smith put on a show. Seeing J.R. Smith throwing down dunks through out the game would be a sight to see.

Don't worry, NBA All-Star weekend Saturday should feature several Knick players. First, Steve Novak should be in the 3-Point Contest, and knowing Novak he would be the favorite to win it. We have seen Nate Robinson in the Dunk Contest, but James White can take the Dunk Contest to a whole new level. "Flight" White might be the best dunker in the league as Kevin Durant has voiced support of White's dunking skills on Twitter.

Anthony, Chandler, Smith, Novak, White, and a possible Mike Woodson sighting as coach can excite Knicks fans this All-Star Weekend in Houston, Texas.

J.R. Smith Dunk of the Year!

One of the sickest dunks that I have seen in a long time.
J.R. Smith should be the leading candidate for Sixth Man of the Year.

Amar'e returns, Knicks winning ways do not.

Amar'e Stoudemire made his season debut tonight against Portland, and looked like a guy who was playing his first game. Amar'e was not the only Knick who struggled, outside of Melo and JR Smith, nobody else stepped up. Once again the Knicks do not show up in the first half as they were sluggish and once again played very little defense. Jason Kidd can not stop anybody to save his life, and it is frustrating to watch him play. What does Chris Copeland have to do to play? Novak can not hit a three yet he still finds a way to play over Copeland. This team is going to go downhill fast without Raymond Felton and Iman Shumpert. They can not beat teams with the effort they are playing with now. Melo keeps on scoring and has been the Knicks saving grace all season long. Blaming Amar'e Stoudemire is going to become popular in the upcoming week, but it is not going to be fair or justified. The Knicks issues are that they are struggling to find a way to stop opposing guards. Nor do they play defense with intensity for a complete game. Another Knick killer is missed free throws as they leave key points at the free throw line. The Knicks defense has it moments, but opposing teams are able to make runs that kill the Knicks. At this point the Spurs look like they will come into MSG and win. The Knicks have to beat the Magic and Celtics but that is easier said then done at this point for the Knicks.