Carmelo Returns The Glory To MSG; Melo Joins Amare' To Return Lustre To The Knicks

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, NYC, NY. The prodigal son returns, and he brings with him enough talent to make the New York Knicks a contender again.

After a nearly 3 year rebuilding project focused on the Free Agent Class of 2010 and a courtship of Lebron James that ended when he made his infamous "Decision" to take his talents to South Beach, the New York Knicks now have the Top 5 NBA player to headline the Madison Square Garden marquee.

Melo and Chauncey Billups are headed to play at Madison Square Garden.

The New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets finally completed the trade that took most of the season to work out. A package headlined by Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups will join the Knicks in return for a package of 3 Knicks starters (Raymond Felton, Wilson Chandler, and Danilo Gallinari), a young center (24 year old Timofey Mosgov), 3 draft picks (the Knicks 2014 First Round Pick and the Golden State Warriors 2012 and 2013 Second Round Picks), and $3 million in cash.

The Minnesota Timberwolves were also involved in the deal, taking on Eddy Curry's expiring contract and Anthony Randolph in exchange for Corey Brewer going to the Knicks. This helped Denver drop their salary this season by $25 million, saving them significantly on the luxury tax.

Although the "Summer of Lebron" was disappointing to Knicks fans, the free agent acquisition on Amare' Stoudemire was not only an incredible bright spot, it may have been the first domino that has now landed Carmelo Anthony with the Knicks.

Amare' has been a beast for the Knicks this season, and he has answered any question about his knee and about his legacy apart from Steve Nash. He has been the team leader for the surprising New York Knicks, who recently knocked off the Miami Heat, and as a result, has been prominent in the MVP conversation.

Both Carmelo Anthony and Amare' Stoudemire have expressed an interest to play together, and the two former Western All Star forwards will have the chance to play together now, with the New York Knicks.

Melo returns to his hometown, where he also played one season of college ball for Syracuse University. He ruled the mecca of basketball and lead his Syracuse Orangemen to their first National Championship in 2003. Melo will now have the chance to bring an NBA Championship to his hometown New York Knicks.

New York Knicks get:	Carmelo Anthony (SF) Chauncey Billups (PG) Anthony Carter (PG) Sheldon Williams (PF) Renaldo Balkman (PF) Corey Brewer (SG)
Denver Nuggets get:	Raymond Felton (PG) Wilson Chandler (SF) Danilo Gallinari (F) Timofey Mosgov (C) Knicks 2014 First Round Pick Warriors 2012 and 2013 Second Round Picks $3 million CASH
Minnesota Timberwolves get:	Eddy Curry expiring contract Anthony Randolph (PF)

Sometimes it's the guy you don't get that makes your team better. The then Seattle Supersonics missed on Greg Oden and ended up with a guy by the name of Kevin Durant.

The Knicks did not get Lebron James, but in Carmelo Anthony, they have the perfect outside scorer to complement Amare' Stoudmire inside. And we have yet to see Lebron come through with a clutch score in the closing seconds.

When it comes to clutch players, in Amare' and Melo, the Knicks now have two. Can a New York Big 3 be coming soon?

The Garden's Silent Prayer: Knicks Not Built To Beat Dwayne Wade's Sidekick Just Yet

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK.  The "Mecca of Basketball" hosted the much anticipated match-up of the resurgent New York Knicks vs. the Miami Heat and Lebron James Dwayne Wade's Sidekick.
 

The Knicks needed more to complement Amare Stoudemire's 24 points, 14 rebounds

The Madison Square Garden crowd was ready and seething early in the game, exuding an energy at Dwayne Wade's Sidekick comparable only to that seen when Lebron faced his former club, the Cleveland Cavaliers.
After 2 years of pursuit and a summer of free-agent seduction, the New York Knicks' front office was ultimately unsuccessful in landing the big fish of the "Summer of Lebron". After season ticket holders were promised the world, disappointment was inevitable.

"The Mecca" cheered loudly and jeered the visiting Heat even louder throughout the game's first half, and their emotions fueled the Knicks to a 57 - 57 tie at halftime.

However, it was a 33 to 17 Miami Heat third quarter advantage that gave the Heat enough of a cushion to cruise.

Lebron has been known to play well at the Garden, which helped to fuel speculation of Lebron playing all of his home games at Madison Square Garden for the New York Knicks. Instead, Dwayne Wade's Sidekick tallied his first triple-double at the Garden in a visitor's uniform.

Despite another great effort from Amare' Stoudemire, who has been an aboslute MVP for the Knicks this season and had 24 points and 14 rebounds in the game, the Knicks are still lacking two important building blocks necessary to beat the Heat: another reliable scorer and a defensive big man rebounder. Despite the frontcourt softness of the Miami Heat, the Knicks could not take advantage.

After the game was out of reach for the home team, the Madison Square Garden crowd fell into silence. A post-game interview with Chris Bosh indicated that he and the Heat believed that they were able to silence the Garden with their play.

The truth is that the silence was a collective silent prayer for Carmelo Anthony to come to the Big Apple.

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