Alan Hahn Live Chat Transcript

March 30, 09:00 AM EDT

 

10:59
KnicksNow - Max: 
Welcome back to another edition of our Friday Live Chat. Joining us again is MSG Network studio analyst, former Knicks beat writer and NBA columnist for Newsday, Alan Hahn.
 
11:00
Alan Hahn: 
Hey yo to all the killers, and the hundred-dollar billers...

Another LIVE CHAT is upon us as the Knicks continue to look ahead, not behind. A win tonight moves the team within 2 1/2 of the Hawks in the sixth spot. Going to have to do it again without Jeremy Lin (out with a sore knee). 

Let's get started with your questions. The Doctor is IN......
 
11:00
Comment From Long
how serious is lin's injury thanks
 
11:01
Alan Hahn: 
The team continues to say day-to-day and that it just needs rest. Consider that this is the first of a back-to-back so perhaps that has something to do with it. Knicks only play 2 games in a seven-day span next week. We'll see.
 
11:01
Comment From EJCanuto
Alan, knowing his injury history and work ethic, do you think STAT will play in any regular season games?
 
11:02
Alan Hahn: 
I think the best-case scenario finds him testing it out in the final games of the regular season, but to me, right now, that's being very, very optimistic. It all depends on how the back responds to the epidural. We already know his core is strong.
 
11:02
Comment From Michael Ganci
Do you see Shump's jumper continuing to be this good on a consistent basis this season? Visually it doesn't look like he made that big of an adjustment but it's falling right now.
 
11:03
Alan Hahn: 
A lot of it is confidence and rhythm and maybe he's getting both. Plus, the knee must be feeling better because his athleticism, which we saw early in the season, is showing through again. He wasn't known to be a very good shooter but work in practice can change that. Rhythm and confidence are everything.
 
11:04
Comment From DMass1990
Tyson Chandler has to be in the running for DPOY, surely?
 
11:05
Alan Hahn: 
He should be in the conversation for sure. If the Knicks make the playoffs with a plus-.500 record, he has to be a favorite. No one means more to his team defensively than Chandler.
 
11:05
Comment From AkberW
Do you think the Knicks will take that Division leader spot from Philadelphia?
 
11:07
Alan Hahn: 
The division is attainable, but very, very difficult because of the amount of games left and the fact that the Knicks have to overtake TWO teams. Not just the 76ers, but Celtics, too. Won't be easy.
 
11:07
Comment From TheWorldOfDee
whats the possibilty of keeping jr smith, novak and davis?
 
11:10
Alan Hahn: 
It won't be easy but all depends on how the season ends and what they get on the open market. JR has an option for next season, but if he opts out and becomes a free agent, the Knicks won't have the money to keep him. Novak is on a vets min contract and the way he's playing he will certainly draw interest. The Knicks have their MLE, which is almost assuredly going to Jeremy Lin, and then their bi-annual. They are capped out, so it leaves few options.
 
11:10
Comment From Brian Hernandez2
Aside from their Hawks history, is there any reason why Woodson is giving Mike Bibby more burn over Toney Douglas?
 
11:12
Alan Hahn: 
I think it begins there, that Woodson has history with Bibby and trusts him. Toney has been erratic and his confidence went down the drain. Now if you thrust him into the game, you're expecting him to just click? They haven't had much practice time, but in whatever time they've had, doesn't seem like Toney has done enough to distinguish himself. I thought for sure, with Lin out, that Toney would see time, especially as a defender.
 
11:12
Comment From Wenwen Chien
How about Melo? Is he ok w/ the groin pain? Will he play in the game?
 
11:13