The Knicks look to avoid being swept in their second straight postseason appearance as they take on the Heat tomorrow in Game Four. The last time the team facing elimination was able to produce a three-game winning streak in a New York-Miami playoff series was in 1997, when the Heat were able to overcome a 3-1 deficit to advance to the Conference Finals. While the chances of such a comeback by New York are quite improbable, the team will certainly be playing under that premise going into tomorrow's matinee matchup. Here's what else we've heard out of the Big Apple:
- Al Iannazzone of Newsday says that Amare Stoudemire could return to the starting lineup tomorrow in place of Steve Novak if he is cleared to play. If not, then J.R. Smith could start in place of Novak (Sulia link). Earlier, Iannazzone took note of Mike Woodson's post-practice comments about Amare, saying that he looked "pretty good." Woodson also said that he will leave it up to Stoudemire and his doctors to decide if he's ready to play.
- Newsday's Neil Best suggests that regardless of the Knicks' performance in this year's playoffs, it's still too soon to give up on Carmelo Anthony.
- Roderick Boone of Newsday discusses what's going through the mind of Steve Novak amidst his struggles against Miami. Novak says that he has no problem if Woodson decides to use him with the second unit after experimenting with him in the starting lineup in Game Three.
- Iannazzone obtained Carmelo's thoughts on avoiding a sweep.
- Benjamin Hoffman of The New York Times' Off the Dribble blog talks about the last time the Knicks won a playoff game.