“We’ll gauge it today and tomorrow, but I’m not counting on Jeremy Lin to play,” Woodson said on a conference call Monday. “So we’ve just got to continue where we’ve been in terms of guys in uniform. But I’m not counting on him to play. … That’s how it’s been here in the last month and a half and that’s how I’m preparing.” (ESPN New York)

I will give my fellow Knicks fans some hope though. Woodson has said “that’s how its been here in the last month and a half and that’s how I’m preparing”.

What I’m thinking is this. Even if Woodson knows that Jeremy Lin will play he’s not going to let the Miami Heat know it. Why give them a chance to prepare when his team is trying to climb out of a 3-1 hole?

Could this be the Knicks modern day Willis Reed moment? I know, I know it’s only the first round but could it be?

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The best part is watching LeBron James throw his arms up in front of his face as protection.

That’s right they’re still putting up Top 10 plays without their superstars as guard Terrel Harris grabbed a loose rebound, tossed it behind his back to a waiting Chris Bosh dropped in an easy layup. It would have been even better though if he slammed it home. Harris grab and pass though makes it Top 10 worthy.

“If you look at the playoffs with Dallas, you saw what Tyson Chandler did,” Dalembert said, referring to the 7-foot-1 center who helped the Mavs beat the Heat in six games for the title last June. “He was basically a key ingredient for them to win a championship. And Miami didn’t have somebody like that. Somebody able to stop (foes from) getting second shots and somebody able to rebound and finish. I could fill that role and be an asset for that team.” (FOX Sports Florida)

Samuel made some great points in that quote and I’m sure the Heat had already thought of those before the lockout even ended. Question is was Dalembert the player they were hiring to help fix that. That I’m not sure.

There are only two things I’m sure of here. Dalembert wants to play for a team who can make the playoffs, preferably contend for the title like the Heat. The other is that he’ll have to take a paycut if that’s what his goal.

The Heat would only be able to offer Samuel the teams mid-level exception, just like another one of the teams he’s considering.

“It’s one of my options as well,” Dalembert said of New York, where he spent portions of the offseason working out with Elton Brand, his one-time teammate in Philadelphia. “It’s a building process. It can be similar to Miami when they get all the pieces together. It’s something that can work and they need a big,” he said, adding that if the Knicks get a quality center, Amar’e Stoudemire can play less at center and more at his natural position of power forward. (FOX Sports Florida)

I have no doubt Samuel will have no shortage of options, he also mentions the Houston Rockets as a preferred landing spot. Most teams in the NBA would love to have a seven foot center, who scores eight points a game, eight rebounds and just under two blocks a game. The guy is a nightmare for opposing offenses.

The question is does he care more about the money or the winning. He made over $13 million while playing for Sacramento in 2010-11, I doubt he makes anywhere near that for the 2011-12 season. So does he take even less to play for a winner?

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@SpearsNBAYahoo: Heat made a qualifying offer to Mario Chalmers making him a restricted free agent.

“It’s up to everybody,” Chalmers said “I love playing here. I would love to stay here, but, I mean, I’ve got to do what’s best for me and my family.” (Hoops World)

After last years spending spree and the expected decrease of the salary cap it’s very unlikely that the Heat can resign Chalmers. It’s more then likely Mario will get a contract that Miami just can’t match, especially after his performance in the NBA Finals.

Chalmers isn’t the fastest of guards but he’s proven that he’s got the skills to play at a high level and in pressure situations. During this years playoffs, Chalmers averaged 6.4 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists, in the NBA Finals those numbers spiked to 11.8 points, 4 assists and 2.2 threes per game.

This was Mario’s third season in the NBA and he obviously had his worst statistically, which was expected playing with the Big Three. There were glimpses of his potential thou throughout the season and earlier on in his career, evident by his 10.0 points, 2.8 rebounds and 4.9 assist per game averages in his rookie year. If he was given the chance to play on a team where he could be a focal point he has a chance to really blossom as a player.

Considering he got a smaller contract as a second round draft pick, I’m sure he’ll be chasing the money this off season. Again this move for the Heat was just to cover their ass once he moves on.

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