The Knicks Fix

Let's thank the San Antonio Spurs for not allowing the NBA Finals to drag on any longer than most of us outside of Cleveland wanted it to go. I picked the Spurs in 3-and-a-half games and I was almost right.

So is this Finals appearance by the Cavs the start of some changing of the power structure in the East? I don't believe so, but they will be a team to battle in the playoff standings. The Cavs have a lot of adjustments to make - possibly including head coach - before they can be considered a legitimate championship contender.

The Knicks can only hope the Cavs braintrust think this run suggests they have the makings of a great team. LeBron's support system starts with Boobie Gibson and then comes to a screeching halt.

As far as the East goes, when the Miami Heat are healthy, they are the best team. The Chicago Bulls, in my opinion, are the next legit challenger. The Pistons might be slipping a little, as are the Nets, but they're still formidable.

You also have to consider the Washington Wizards, when they are healthy, and the Toronto Raptors.

This improbable, unexpected run to the Finals for Cleveland had some of the Knicks grumbling about their late-season tailspin, which had something to do with critical injuries to Jamal Crawford, Quentin Richardson and David Lee. I won't dare suggest the Knicks could have done the same thing if they were at full health, but they definitely believe they had something going before Jamal, Q and David were lost.

Instead, it all stopped on that scorer's table in Washington, where Steve Francis stood after hitting the game-winning three. That was March 10. The Knicks were 29-34. They won only 4 games the rest of the way.

Not exactly the springboard to a championship run.

But after seeing the Cavs reach the Finals, one prominent Knick recently said that it gave them greater motivation this offseason because the Knicks "know we can beat Cleveland."

Beating Cleveland wasn't their problem this season. It was beating Portland, Seattle, Milwaukee, Boston and Philadelphia down the stretch. That's what cost them a playoff berth.

The Knicks went 2-2 against the Cavs this season, with both teams taking a game on the other's home court.

Richardson loved guarding LeBron. He loved the physical challenge of it. LB never dominated the Knicks, but he still wound up the leading scorer for the Cavs in all four games. He averaged 25.2 points per game against the Knicks. But Cleveland had no answer for Eddy Curry, who averaged 22 a game against the Cavs.

Do you really want to recall how things went for the Knicks against the Spurs? Didn't think so.

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With the Finals now over, the offseason officially begins. We'll start seeing immediate movement in the Seattle situation, where Sam Presti can now get into his decision on a coach -- PJ Carlesimo will get an interview, but some feel Rick Carlisle is on the radar, too - and then figure out what he's going to do with Rashard Lewis.

The clock is officially ticking on that one as July 1 approaches. As I've said, that will likely come to a head around June 28, the date of the NBA draft, when the Sonics prepare to draft Lewis' replacement, Kevin Durant. Isiah Thomas will be working that one hard.

But wait...do you hear more ticking coming from another direction? Yes, due south on I-95, right in the Beltway. Gilbert Arenas is opting out of his contract after next season. Imagine Agent Zero in New York.

Now stop teasing yourself. You really think Ernie Grunfeld is going to work a trade with Isiah and the Knicks?

Sigh. Sing it, Tiffany...

Coulda been so beautiful...

What we know from reading the morning papers in LA is that the Lakers drive to get Jermaine O'Neal has stalled because the Pacers apparently want to send Troy Murphy with O'Neal for both Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom.

See? The Knicks do not have anything near that kind of an offer, unless they made a package of Eddy Curry and David Lee.

What does it mean, however, that the Minnesota Timberwolves moved disgruntled guard Mike James to Houston for veteran Juwan Howard? The T-Wolves weere happy to get rid of the $23.4 million contract they gave to James, for starters. Howard's career is tailing off, though he did prove this year with the Rockets that he can still contribute. Reports out of Minnesota suggest it's not the only move Kevin McHale plans to make this summer and it seems more likely that the T-Wolves are trying to make Kevin Garnett happy. KG reportedly was involved in the discussions about getting Howard.

So, for now, I'd cross KG off the list of available players. Not that the Knicks ever really had a shot.

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My attempt to promote the good side of the story:

Stephon Marbury will be at Surfside Gardens Park in Coney Island on Saturday to tip-off his annual Stephon Marbury Basketball Classic. We're told he's also introducing a "Read to Succeed" initiative in the tournament. All players will be required to write an essay after reading at least three books, including one from the summer reading list of the Brooklyn Public Library.

SOME THOUGHTS

- Think Cavs fans were pleased to see ABC open the broadcast for Game 4 with the song, It Ends Tonight, by All-American Rejects? Considering the declining ratings, ABC must have been hoping to get the Finals over with so they could get back to showing Grey's Anatomy and Desperate Housewives reruns.

- You win an NBA title and see Eva Longoria running out of the crowd to jump into your arms with a big kiss. Well done, Tony Parker. Well done. Don't ever wake up from that dream, brother.

- In an answer to one commentor, No, I can not explain what ABC was doing with the choir making sounds along with video clips of past NBA moments. It was quite goofy.

- I hope Nate Robinson was watching Daniel Gibson enough to see exactly how he can make himself an effective NBA player. Robinson is just as good of a shooter and his athleticism should make him a better defender. But Gibson clearly wanted the challenge of guarding Parker in Games 3 and 4. N8 the Gr8 needs to get serious about his game or he's soon to disappear faster than Larry Hughes.

- Have a great weekend and Happy Father's Day to all you dads out there.