The New York Knicks have garnered little buzz this season.  Isaiah Thomas is gone.  Stephon Marbury is gone.  So they’ve been out of the spotlight for almost a year now.

They’re a young team that, with a few shrewd front office moves, could at least become a playoff participant in the Eastern Conference (after all, it only takes about 35-37 wins each season for that to happen). 

Sunday afternoon, the Knicks got slaughtered by 50 points - courtesy of the visiting Dallas Mavericks.  That’s right folks – the visiting Dallas Mavericks.  The same franchise that was once renown for sending physical bruisers to the floor like Anthony Mason and Charles Oakely let themselves get plastered by a cream-puff team like the Mavs, 128-78.

Under routine circumstances, young teams excel at home.  They feed off of the energy from the crowd and use their adrenaline to stay in ball games against superior opponents.

Maybe Josh Howard had some 'special treats' for the Knicks before game time.

What could have caused the Knicks to be one step behind the Mavericks all night?  Well, I have a couple of theories…

1.  Maybe disgruntled ex-Knick Stephon Marbury wanted to stick it to his former organization.  I could see him sneaking back into the New York locker room and supplying each Knick with a pair of his shoes.  That would explain the 33% shooting (4-25 from 3-point land).

2.  Perhaps during the pre-game meal, Josh Howard secretly baked the dessert.  Then he replaced the regular brownies with some pot brownies.

3.  New York had probably prepared a game plan that included Dallas major weakness – their point guard.  Veteran Jason Kidd had logged many effective years in the NBA, but he has slowed down considerably.  And he can’t shoot.  So, the Knicks were expecting a slow, non-shooting point guard to be starting for Dallas.  Well, with Kidd out of the lineup for “personal reasons” the Knicks were blindsided.

The Mavs probably won’t win any more games by this margin, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the Knicks lose more games by that margin. 

They just better make sure that Starbury can’t get into the building.

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