22-year old small forward Danilo Gallinari is starting to heat up with his shooting stroke.  He has played in 11 games so far in December and he is averaging 36.9 minutes, 15.3 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.  Gallinari is shooting 44.2% from the floor and 39.7% from three point range which is a nice improvement over the first two months of the year.  Gallinari has now played in 30 games (all starts) for the Knicks so far this year and he is averaging 34.6 minutes, 15.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game.  The Knicks need Gallinari to keep shooting well as he helps the offense spread the floor when he’s got his stroke going.

The Knicks have won 8 games in a row and they are now 16-9 on the season, just four games behind the Celtics in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference.  Amare Stoudemire has scored at least 30 points in each of the Knicks last 8 wins.  Stoudemire has played in 6 games in December for the Knicks and he is averaging 40.5 minutes, 33.2 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.8 blocked shots per game.  He is shooting 58% from the floor and 91.7% from the free throw line so far this month.  Stoudemire has now played in 25 games (all starts) for the Knicks so far this year and he is averaging 34.4 minutes, 26.2 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.0 blocked shots per game.  The Knicks need Stoudemire to keep up the good work as he is definitely proving to be worth the cash the team is paying him.

When the Knicks signed 26-year old point guard Raymond Felton it wasn’t a sexy signing.  But, Felton has rewarded the Knicks by playing the best basketball of his career so far this year.  Felton has played in 16 games (all starts) for the Knicks so far this year and he is averaging 36.9 minutes, 17.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, 8.0 assists and 1.9 steals per game.  Felton has been doing it all for the Knicks as he is playing well on defense as well as offense.  He keeps all of his teammates involved in this offense while making sure he gets his fair share of the shots.

23-year old SG/SF Wilson Chandler lost his starting job to rookie Landry Fields. Instead of moping and griping about it, Chandler seems to be embracing his role as the Knicks’ Sixth Man. Chandler has played in all 3 games (0 starts) for the Knicks so far this year and he is averaging 33.3 minutes, 21.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 1.3 steals and 3.0 blocks per game. Chandler has been so good off the bench that I’m thinking the Knicks should keep him there while playing him starters minutes.

23-year old SG/SF Wilson Chandler continues to keep improving which has the Knicks’ brass excited. Chandler played in 65 games (64 starts) for the Knicks last season and he averaged 35.7 minutes, 15.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. He has now played in 182 games (150 starts) in his three years with the Knicks and he is averaging 31.5 minutes, 13.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. Chandler’s name is being floated around in trade rumors but he might be one of the younger players the Knicks should keep to build a foundation for the future.

The Knicks had better keep 27-year old power forward David Lee or they are going to be sorry. Lee played in 81 games (all starts) for the Knicks last season and he averaged 37.3 minutes, 20.2 points, 11.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.1 steals per game. The Knicks had to use Lee at center last season but he is much better as a power forward where he isn’t giving up much size. Lee has now played in 368 games (210 starts) in his five years with the Knicks and he has averaged 30.1 minutes, 13.0 points, 9.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game on 55.7% shooting from the floor.

Starting center David Lee knows that he is going to be a unrestricted free agent at the end of the year and he has really stepped his game up in April which is perfect timing for him. Lee has played in 3 games so far in April and he is averaging 42.3 minutes, 26.3 points, 13.7 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Lee has now played in 75 games (all starts) for the Knicks this season and he is averaging 37.5 minutes, 20.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.1 steals per game. Lee has shot 54.8% from the floor and 81.2% from the free throw line as he has no weaknesses on offense. The Knicks should re-sign him but they have their eyes on bigger prizes like LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.

The Knicks look like they have gotten a couple of promising youngsters from the Celtics for Nate Robinson. SF/SG Bill Walker has really excelled with the Knicks so far. He has played in 16 games (6 starts) for the Knicks and he is averaging 25.2 minutes, 10.1 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. Walker is shooting 56% from the floor for the Knicks and he will keep getting shots as long as he keeps shooting like he is right now. SG/SF J.R. Giddens just recently got into some games for the Knicks and he is playing pretty decent. He has played in 4 games (0 starts) for the Knicks so far this season and he is averaging 7.5 minutes, 6.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game on 52.6% shooting from the floor. Giddens will likely start getting more P.T. soon for the Knicks.

The New York Knicks have not been shy about playing the new guys and they have benefitted from it despite being 0-2 with them. Tracy McGrady is really playing well for the Knicks so far. He has played in 2 games (both starts) for the Knicks so far and he is averaging 31.0 minutes, 20.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game. McGrady still needs to get his legs under him so look for the Knicks to limit his minutes to about 30 per night. Eddie House has really been solid for the Knicks in his first couple of games. House has played in 2 games (0 starts) for the Knicks so far and he is averaging 33.5 minutes, 17.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.0 steal per game. Sergio Rodriguez has already bumped Chris Duhon from the starting lineup but the Knicks need him to pick up his offense. Rodriguez has played in 2 games (1 start) for the Knicks so far and he is averaging 27.5 minutes, 4.5 points, 2.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 4.5 steals per game. But, Spanish Chocolate is only hitting 25% of his shots from the floor and that just isn’t anywhere near good enough. J.R. Giddens and Bill Walker have not appeared in a game for the Knicks yet.

21-year old forward Danilo Gallinari is really playing well in his second season for the Knicks. He has played in 39 games (32 starts) for the Knicks this season and he is averaging 31.7 minutes, 14.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game. Gallinari is a good outside shooter as he has hit 40.6% of his shots from three-point range already this season. His outside shot makes opposing big men guard him outside opening up the paint for David Lee to dominate.