Melo Watch

He's still in Denver, and as the days go on, the chances Carmelo Anthony will stay in Mile High can only increase. He's voiced that he wishes to play under the bright lights in New York, but the Nuggets and Knicks can't seem to work out a deal, much like the current NFL situation. As the February 24 trade deadline approaches, Anthony might end up once again signing with Denver, or becoming a coveted free agent.

Earlier today Knicks GM Donnie Walsh and coach Mike D'Antoni both declared the Nuggets' asking price for Anthony was to steep. The offer consists of the Nuggets also trading away point guard Chauncey Billups, in exchange for key Knicks players Danilo Gallinari and Raymond Felton, Eddy Curry's expiring contract, a first-round pick, and a third unnamed starter (Gallinari and Felton are the other two).

Indeed the price for the Knicks would be high, trading away most of Amare Stoudemire's supporting cast. They would be in a similar situation as the Miami Heat, but with two superstars instead of three. It'd be like Miami without James/Wade. However, the Nuggets aren't about to just hand over one of game's best, as earlier expected. A few weeks ago, there were rumors the Knicks would acquire Anthony in a three-team deal that would consist of them only having to surrender talented rookie Landry Fields and a few other players not in the rotation.

Will this deal fall through, an eventual historical swap? Only time will tell. For now both teams, and the players involved, are at least saying that they are playing like nothing is going on.  Certainly the thought of them changing cities is constantly on their minds, but that's part of sports. The fans in New York, they would be ecstatic if Anthony arrived in the Big Apple. But the cost to acquire him may be too great, and may even hurt the team in the long run.

Celts and Knicks "Rivalry"

With the Knicks improved play, has the rivalry between the Boston Celtics and New York Knickerbockers returned? Paul Pierce declined the claim it was renewed, before his team's close two point win over New York, the Celts' 11th straight win.

Honestly, whether it's currently a rivalry or not doesn't really matter, because it will be, since the Knicks are back. Amare Stoudemire has led the Knicks back into Eastern Conference relevancy, where the franchise should be. And his supporting cast, guys like PG Raymond Felton, are overachieving.

Let's face it. The Celtics Big Three is old, and everyone knows their best player isn't part of it, Rajon Rondo, who will be out for two weeks. Although currently they're playing well, and have a Finals shot for this year, as of right now their future is foggy.

I'm not going out and saying the Knicks will win the Finals, because they won't; however, they are playing better than they have all decade, which isn't saying much but it's something. The NBA isn't right with the Knicks in the basement, and those days seem to have ended.

Oh, and Paul Pierce, after last night's dogfight, claimed that "the Knicks have arrived."