It was odd, too, given Copeland’s strong finish to the season. Through March and April, Copeland averaged 12.3 points per game on 47.2% FG, 47.6% 3FG, and 3.3 rebounds per game in 21 minutes per game. He filled in admirably at the end of the season as various Knicks’ big men all caught the injury bug, placing the undersized Copeland at center.

In the first round series with the Boston Celtics, there wasn’t a huge need for Copeland; the Knicks’ offense was able to function fairly well. However, in the semi-finals, struggling to score against the staunch Indiana defense, the Knicks needed a floor-stretcher and a guy who could create his own shot, especially with so many of the Knicks’ most consistent scorers off-target. Last night, Copeland got his chance.

After Mike Woodson’s failed experiments at going “big” versus Indiana in Game 4, and the Knicks’ inability to break 85 points on the road, Copeland was told he’d be seeing real minutes in Game 5. Fans and analysts alike agreed with the move as Copeland could stretch the floor, potentially pull away Indiana’s bigs from the basket, and provide scoring to a parched offensive team.

Copeland responded with 13 points on 4-6 shooting, 3-4 from behind the arc, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals in 19 minutes. Furthermore, he provided the Knicks with momentous plays at various points during the game. Upon checking in in the second half, he immediately knocked down a three-pointer on a spot-up attempt. Later in the third quarter, he chased down DJ Augustin to break up a two-on-one fastbreak, misfired on a three, but collected an offensive rebound on a second attempt and laid it in to put the Knicks up 11.

Though his playing time has been limited, Copeland has had a positive effect when he’s on the floor. in 74 minutes of playing time, with Copeland on the court, the Knicks have an Offensive Rating of 108.5 – best on the team – and a Defensive Rating of 90.4 which is three points better than the Knicks’ average DefRtg in the postseason. His 18.1 Net Rating could be inflated by playing at the end of games or in short spurts, but overall, the Knicks have been better with Copeland on the floor.

Given his positive effect on Game 5, it seems likely that Copeland has secured a spot in the rotation for the remainder of the playoffs – hopefully longer than one more game.

However to accomplish what only eight other teams have done previously, come  back from a  3-1 series hole, the Knicks are going to need head coach Mike Woodson at his best, which means shrinking his rotation.

May 16, 2013; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks head coach Mike Woodson during the game against the Indiana Pacers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals at Madison Square Garden. Knicks won 85-75. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

There are several things that Woodson must do to maximize the Knicks chances to win Game 6 and force a deciding Game 7 at The Garden  and  the first deals with superstar Carmelo Anthony.

The first thing that Woodson must realize is that he has to pull out all stops to come away with a win. There is no tomorrow and if that means playing his best player minutes, then so be it.

Anthony needs to be on the floor as much as possible and if I’m Woodson I have a very hard time taking Anthony out of this game unless the Knicks build a comfortable lead.

The second thing that Woodson must do is play Anthony and Chris Copeland together often.

Copeland is the one Knick that is shooting the ball well and right now is really the only one capable of stretching the floor. If Anthony and Copeland are on the floor with a couple of guards who can penetrate, it opens up so many more options offensively.

Another must for Woodson is to go to the pick-and-roll with Raymond Felton far more often. If Felton is running the P&R with Tyson Chandler or Kenyon Martin, Indiana must respect his mid-range game, which means either Felton is making shots or creating plays for his big men. Either way, Felton is the guy who can put the most pressure on the Pacers’ defense.

But while that’s a lot of things that Woodson should do, there are also a lot of things he shouldn’t do.

The first being not giving J.R. Smith major minutes.

If it seems early on that Smith is about to shoot the Knicks out of the game, it’s almost impossible for Woodson to play him 30+ minutes.  It will be a tough decision, but if it looks as if Smith is going to have another tough night then Woody has to pull the plug.

Next there’s Jason Kidd.

Kidd shouldn’t be on the floor much in Game 6 as he couldn’t hit water if he fell out of a boat right now.  If you are Woodson, you love the intangibles that Kidd brings to the table, but he hasn’t hit a shot in over 202 minutes and it’s getting hard to run him out there right now. This just isn’t the right time to let the future Hall of Famer work out of his shooting slumps.

Finally Woodson needs to use less of Amar’e Stoudemire.

He only gave STAT six minutes of run in Game 5 and it’s hard to make the case that he should get more right now,

Sure the Knicks could use Stoudemire’s low-post scoring, but Stoudemire still hasn’t had enough time to adjust defensively. Copeland, at this point, can offer a bigger impact on that end because he can hold his own inside and out. Copeland proved he can hold his own defensively down low in Game 5. He had two steals in the contest and was aggressive against David West. That’s something that Stoudemire simply can’t do.

With the Knicks season on the line, the pressure is going to be on everyone to perform at a high level, especially Woodson. If he makes the right adjustments and some tough decisions, the Knicks will have a much greater chance of coming home for Game 7.

Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith are struggling. Jason Kidd couldn’t hit water if he fell out of a boat and the rest of the Knicks simply aren’t getting the job done when it comes to scoring the ball.

May 7, 2013; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks small forward Chris Copeland (14) shoots over Indiana Pacers power forward David West (21) during the first half in game two of the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports

That alone begs the question of why isn’t Knicks head coach Mike Woodson using Chris Copeland more in the postseason?

By no means is Copeland a savior, but the one thing he can do is fill it up and instead of watching Smith chuck up 20 bricks per night, it would be nice to see Woodson put some guys on the floor that may have been able to impact the series in a positive way.

I will admit that Copeland is horrendous defensively, but the Knicks are trailing 3-1 because they can’t make shots.

The numbers would suggest that he could have an impact.

In the postseason, the Knicks offensive rating is +15.5 points while Copeland is on the court. In addition, New York’s assist percentage is +8.5 percent (via Basketball Reference).

Then there is the fact that the Knicks have shot only 32 percent from the three-point line throughout the playoffs.

Copeland could help there as well as he has been one of the team’s most consistent shooters from deep, making 5-of-13 shots from downtown and has the third-highest three-point percentage (38.5) of anyone who is averaging more than one attempt per game.

He also has had success against the Pacers as Copeland averaged 10.8 points and shot 53 percent against them in the regular season.

For the most part I like the job that Woodson has done with this team this year, but he’s making a mistake by not playing Copeland. He’s only played in seven of the Knicks 10 playoff games and has averaged only 7.9 minutes per game.

It’s a shame to watch the Knicks go down with bullets still left in their gun.

It’s too late now, but Woodson clearly made a mistake by not turning to Copeland earlier.

A few made shots here and there and this could have been a different series.

Judging by the end of the regular season, common sense would have told you that Chris Copeland would be that guy.

Apr. 17, 2013; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks small forward Chris Copeland (14) waits to shoot a free throw against the Atlanta Hawks during the second half at Madison Square Garden. Knicks won 9892. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports

Apparently Knicks head coach Mike Woodson had other ideas.

In what turned out to be a head-scratching coaching decision, Copeland did not play a single minute in Game 4, even with Smith not available to Woodson.

You would have thought that the team benefited from Copeland’s offense, but the rookie didn’t get off the bench for four quarters or overtime.

This occurred while the Knicks shot only 34.4 percent (31-of-90) from the floor and made only 7-of-30 (23.3 percent) of their attempts from behind the arc.

Copeland told reporters afterward that he was healthy enough to play, as he has been dealing with a minor shoulder problem.

Jason Kidd was Woodson’s first guard off the bench and Quentin Richardson for 2:46 even got time in the second quarter. That alone would lead you to believe that Woodson had a problem playing Copeland in Game 4.

Copeland is struggling this series, going scoreless in 24 minutes of playing time.

But the Knicks could have used his scoring ability in Game 4.

If they had it, this series very well could be over.

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The NBA announced on Friday that Anthony was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Month for April.

Apr 15, 2013; Charlotte, NC, USA; New York Knicks small forward Chris Copeland (14) controls the ball during the second half against the Charlotte Bobcats at Time Warner Arena. Mandatory Credit: Curtis Wilson-USA TODAY Sports

Anthony nearly averaged a double-double (36.9 points, 9.9 rebounds per game) during the month as the Knicks went 8-2.

His big month also helped him capture his first scoring title in his 10-year career, outdoing Kevin Durant 28.7 points per game to 28.1.

Anthony winning the player of the month for the month of April means it is the first month of season  that Miami’s LeBron James didn’t capture the award.

In addition to Anthony winning player of the month, another Knick- rookie Chris Copeland- received an honor of his own.

Copeland, who saw a bigger role in the month of April due to injuries up and down the Knicks roster, was named the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month.

The 29-year old rookie ranked fourth among all rookies in scoring (15 points per game) and fourth in 3-point field goal percentage (.452) during the month of April, closing it with back-to-back career highs with 32 and 33 points respectively.

With Pablo Prigioni doubtful for Game 1 against the Boston Celtics, Copeland could find himself in the starting lineup Saturday afternoon.

Either way, hopefully the hot streaks of Anthony and Copeland continue into the month of May and beyond as the Knicks will need a lot from both guys to make a lengthy playoff run.

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But with the Knicks getting healthy for the postseason, you have to wonder exactly what, if any, role Copeland will have in Knicks’ head coach Mike Woodson’s rotation for the postseason.

Apr 15, 2013; Charlotte, NC, USA; New York Knicks small forward Chris Copeland (14) controls the ball during the second half against the Charlotte Bobcats at Time Warner Arena. Mandatory Credit: Curtis Wilson-USA TODAY Sports

Copeland did his part to earn playoff minutes down the stretch, finishing the regular season with back-to-back games of 32 (Charlotte) and 33 points (Atlanta). Even though those games didn’t come against the greatest competition, he’s done enough to be a big part of things in the playoffs.

With Pablo Prigioni listed as questionable for Game 1 against the Boston Celtics on Saturday, Copeland could find himself in the starting lineup with Raymond Felton shifting back to the point and Iman Shumpert moving to the 2.

But where will Copeland’s minutes come from when Prigioni is healthy?

Considering the fact that the Knicks bigs are also healthy, Copeland could be in a fight with Marcus Camby as the 10th man in Woodson’s rotation, but don’t be surprised if he steals some minutes that would normally be given to Steve Novak.

Sure the Knicks could use the long-range shooting of Novak, but good teams have had success taking him out of games, something I expect the Celtics to do.

In addition, the shots haven’t been falling for Novak as of late as he hasn’t shot above 42 percent from behind the arc since the month of February, knocking down only 37.3 percent in March and 41.3 percent in April.

If Novak isn’t able to knock down three’s in volume, he offers up little other value to the team.

Like Novak, Copeland has his struggles in terms of rebounding and defense, but he brings a lot more to the table.

Copeland’s per 36 minute scoring average of 20.3 points is the highest on the team besides NBA scoring champion Carmelo Anthony, and he can make a big difference against a strong defensive team like Boston.

Like Novak, Copeland can knock down the long-range shot, but unlike Novak, has the ability to put the ball on the floor and get to the rim, as well as get to the free-throw line.

The Knicks need a legitimate third scoring option next to Anthony and J.R. Smith to contend for a championship, and Copeland is a guy that can provide exactly that.

Since training camp began, Copeland is a guy that has earned everything he has received.

He’s let his play do his talking for him and it could result in playing a major role in a Knicks lengthy playoff run.

That’s something that likely wasn’t envisioned a couple years ago after Copeland had been cut twice in the Spanish Second Division, and wasn’t expecting a call from the NBA after falling so far under the radar.

But Copeland has persevered and earned a spot in the Knicks’ playoff rotation.

Unfortunately it could come at the expense of major minutes to Novak.

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Apr 5, 2013; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks point guard Jason Kidd (5) gets off and makes a three quarter court shot at the end of the third quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at Madison Square Garden. New York Knicks defeat the Milwaukee Bucks 101-83. Mandatory Credit: Jim O

First here’s the list of the players who were on the 2011-2012 team that weren’t brought back for this season:

PG Mike Bibby 2013 Team: None
PG Baron Davis 2013 Team: None
PG Jeremy Lin 2013 Team: Houston Rockets
PG Toney Douglas 2013 Team: Houston Rockets/Sacramento Kings
SG Landry Fields 2013 Team: Toronto Raptors
SG Bill Walker 2013 Team: D-League
SF Renaldo Balkman 2013 Team: Philippine Basketball Association
PF Josh Harrelson 2013 Team: Miami Heat/Puerto Rican League
PF Jared Jeffries 2013 Team: Portland Trailblazers
C Dan Gadzuric 2013 Team: Venezuelan League
C Jerome Jordan 2013 Team: Philippine Basketball Association

When you really look at this team last year, they weren’t that talented. Besides your big guns, these weren’t players that translate into a championship roster and it showed when only four out of the 11 former Knicks are playing in the NBA. Grunwald knew he had championship players in Melo and Tyson and he did a masterful job bringing in the pieces to propel the Knicks. Let’s grade the Knicks offseason moves:

PG Jason Kidd: 6.0 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 3.3 APG, 37 FG%, 35 3P% 2012 Team: Dallas Mavericks

Jason Kidd wasn’t brought to New York and expected to put up his former All-Star numbers. He was brought here to do exactly what he is doing now, and that is to be a leader. Anthony has given Kidd full credit on how Kidd has shown him to mentally and physically prepare for games and to also have that championship mentality. Kidd started out hot this season but cooled down for a while. Kidd is still a threat on the court that rarely makes mistakes, will make the smart play, is unselfish, and isn’t a player you want to leave open. This signing worked out just as Grunwald envisioned it.

Grade: B

PG Raymond Felton: 13.9 PPG, 5.5 APG, 2.2 RPG, 42 FG %, 36 3P% 2012 Team: Portland Trailblazers

After being dealt away from the Knicks in the blockbuster trade that brought Anthony to New York, Felton was brought back after a forgettable year in Portland. Felton played the best basketball of his career in New York pre-Melo and Knicks fans were excited to hear he was coming back after the team decided to let Lin walk. We saw how much he means to this team when he was injured and the Knicks’ got into a losing slump. Felton has been a great manager this season and is a huge part of this team’s success. I believe he will play a huge part in the Knicks’ playoff success. Grunwald hands down made the right decision signing the cheaper and more effective Felton over Lin.

Grade: A

PG Pablo Prigioni: 3.5 PPG, 3.0 APG, 44 FG%, 38 3P% 2012 Team: Spain

The 35-year old Argentinean rookie was very durable for Mike Woodson this year, playing in 78 games. Knicks fans didn’t know what to expect out of the unknown Prigioni, but it’s hard not to like him. He might be a NBA rookie, but he is a seasoned basketball veteran. Prigioni rarely makes mistakes, plays solid defense, and fills in his minutes nicely. Pablo’s game doesn’t jump off the stat sheet, but he does his job, no matter if it’s 18 minutes or eight minutes.

Grade: B

SG James White: 1.9 PPG 2012 Team: Italy

It seems like White was just roster filler but Woodson found something in him to start 15 games. White doesn’t bring much to the table and doesn’t have the capability to be an impact player on the Knicks. White’s time to shine was the Dunk Contest and he failed pretty miserably. Not much was expected out of White so he pretty much did what we all thought was going to do.

Grade: D

SF Ronnie Brewer: 3.3 PPG 2.2 RPG 2012 Team: Chicago Bulls

Brewer was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder at the trade deadline but as a Knick he was featured in Mike Woodson’s starting lineup. Brewer is known for his defense, but his lack of offensive production and being any sort of offensive threat drove him out of town.

Grade: C-

Apr. 17, 2013; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks small forward Chris Copeland (14) looks to pass the ball around Atlanta Hawks power forward Anthony Tolliver (4) during the second half at Madison Square Garden. Knicks won 9892. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports

SF Chris Copeland: 8.2 PPG, 2.1 RPG 47 FG%, 42 3P% 2012 Team: Rookie Season (Played five seasons in Europe)

It took a while for Copeland to fully get into Woodson’s rotation because of defensive and rebounding reasons, but the kid is a scorer. Copeland is going to get his minutes in the playoffs and I think he will make them count. We know defense is a huge difference maker come playoff time but if Copeland can come off the bench and get double digits, that’s all Woodson needs out of him. He is coming along now, but it was an up and down season for Copeland with his low playing time for a majority of it. Copeland fits his role well, not too high and not too low of a grade.

Grade: B

PF Kurt Thomas: 2.5 PPG, 2.3 RPG 2012 Team: Portland Trailblazers

The oldest player in the league started 17 games for the Knicks and played in 30 of them. Thomas had his moments during the year but wasn’t very effective and a serious threat. Thomas was cut just before the playoffs, so that gives you a feel of how much he really meant to this team.

Grade: C-

PF Rasheed Wallace: 7.0 PPG, 4.0 PPG 2012 Team: Retired

Wallace became a fan favorite with his gritty play and his three to the dome move, but Knicks fans didn’t see much of it. Sheed couldn’t get the body into basketball form and battled with injuries for 75 percent of the season. Wallace recently retired so it’s hard to give him a good grade. He was fun to watch when he played, but his impact on this Knicks season was insignificant. Grunwald didn’t get much out of this signing when it comes down to it.

Grade: C

PF Kenyon Martin: 7.2 PPG, 5.3 RPG 2012 Team: Los Angeles Clippers

Martin wasn’t an offseason move, but I will include him anyway because he has had a big impact. K-Mart was signed after the trade deadline partly because of injuries but he has asserted himself quite well. Martin is a tough dude down low and when he and Chandler are out there together, not many teams are going to out rebound the Knicks. Martin will play a big role for the Knicks and if he’s healthy, he will become a fan favorite for a long time if he can help the Knicks make a deep run.

Grade: B+

C Marcus Camby: 1.3 PPG, 3.3 RPG 2012 Team: Portland Trailblazers

Camby is a shell of his old self, but that still isn’t a valid excuse of his lack of production. His minutes and role on this team is obviously much less than he is accustomed too, but when he played it wasn’t like he was noticeable. Only playing in 24 games doesn’t help his cause and Woodson seemed to be very hesitant to insert him into any sort of consistent rotation.

Grade: C

Resignings

SF Steve Novak: 6.6 PPG, 41 FG%, 42% 3pt% Contract: 4-Years/$15 million

The Knicks couldn’t afford to let Novak walk after leading the league in three-point percentage in 2012 at 47 percent. Novak dropped out of the top 10 this season with 42 percent but it is very hard to duplicate success when it comes to shooting three’s. Novak feasts off open shots and he does well against below average teams. He rarely makes an impact in big games against stiff defenses, but for the price the Knicks got him for and the way he spaces the floor is a threat, it was a good deal.

Grade: B

SG J.R. Smith: 18.1 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 2.7 APG, 42 FG%, 35% 3pt% Contract: 2-Year/$5.7 million

It’s hard to picture the Knicks this year without J.R. Smith. Smith always comes off the bench but he plays starter minutes, with the third most played minutes on the team. He should win the Sixth Man of the Year award and is at times the Knicks best scorer on the court. Smith, along with Carmelo Anthony, carried the Knicks at the end of the year and were playing like the best scoring combination in the league at some points. Smith is sometimes a little wild with his shot, especially in the beginning of the season, but seemed to mature towards the end. He is a clutch player and is a leader on this team. For the money Smith is getting, his deal is one of the best in the NBA. He will likely opt-out after this season since his market value is pretty high so it will be hard for the Knicks to bring him back, but he has been one hell of a player in New York.

Grade: A+

I understand that these are the types of players Grunwald was restricted to going after so you can’t knock him. The Knicks finished with the best record they have had in almost two decades so he obviously put together the best Knicks team in a while. Overall these acquisitions worked out and most of these players will play huge roles in the playoffs.

The Knicks improved to 54-28 on the season, which gave the Knicks their most victories in a season since the 1996-97 season.

Apr. 17, 2013; New York, NY, USA; Atlanta Hawks shooting guard John Jenkins (12) dribbles the ball past New York Knicks small forward Iman Shumpert (21) during the first half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports

It turned out to be a battle of the benches as the Hawks rested their starters as well. For the Knicks, the likes of: Carmelo Anthony, J.R. Smith, Raymond Felton, Jason Kidd, Tyson Chandler, Kenyon Martin and Marcus Camby all sat this one out.

That meant it was just another opportunity for Chris Copeland to shine, as the rookie led all scorers with 33 points, just one game after dropping 32 against the Charlotte Bobcats on Monday.

The Knicks shot 42 percent from the floor and drained 37.5 percent of their attempts from behind the arc. The difference in this one though was the fact that they limited the Hawks to only 2-of-21 shooting on three-point attempts.

With that being said, let’s take a look at how the Knicks graded out to close the regular season.

Individual Grades

Pablo Prigioni (8 points, 3-of-3 shooting, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal)

Prigioni got off to a monster start and was on his way to putting up a monster line before spraining his ankle at the end of the first quarter. His status right now is unknown for Game 1 of the playoffs on Saturday, but even though he played only 11 minutes, he earns a high grade for his start. Grade: A

James White (20 points, 8-of-15 shooting, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals)

White got 43 minutes of playing time to show what he could do and he didn’t disappoint, scoring 20 points on 8-of-15 shooting. The impressive part was that he knocked down 3-of-6 attempts from behind the arc. He also grabbed some rebounds and moved the ball successfully. In addition, he was solid at the defense end of the floor. Even though it wasn’t against great competition, White was impressive. Grade: A

Iman Shumpert (18 points, 7-of-11 shooting, 7 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals)

Shumpert had a great all-around game Wednesday night and was very efficient doing so. He was able to successfully break down the Hawks’ defense. He also thrived as the primary point guard once Prigioni went down. I think it is safe to say that Shump looks like a much different player right now than he did a couple of months ago. Grade: A

Chris Copeland (33 points, 14-of-29 shooting, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 2 blocks)

Copeland shined once again and made his case for minutes in the postseason. He scored from all over the floor, getting to the basket, scoring inside and drawing contact and getting to the free-throw line eight times. He only attempted four three-pointers on the night which makes his all-around game even more impressive. He wasn’t very active on the glass, but it was a great performance nonetheless. Grade: A

Apr. 17, 2013; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks center Earl Barron (42) on the court against the Atlanta Hawks during the first half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports

Earl Barron (11 points, 5-of-14 shooting, 18 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block)

Making his Knicks season debut, Barron owned the glass, grabbing eight rebounds, including six offensive boards. He was extremely active in the paint and found a way to get open in the lane a lot. He missed a lot of shots, but that probably should have been expected from a guy who hasn’t played a game in a very long time. Grade: A

Steve Novak (3 points, 1-of-8 shooting, 1 rebound, 3 assists, 1 steal)

Novak played 41 minutes and threw up a ton of bricks. He missed on 5-of-6 of his three-point attempts and didn’t do much to contribute in other areas. Not a pretty way to end the regular season for Novak. Grade: D

Quentin Richardson (5 points, 1-of-11 shooting, 10 rebounds, 1 assist)

Richardson showed some rust, but this also was expected after not playing a game since the preseason. After making his first shot of the night, Q went on to miss his next 10 attempts. He did show some aggressiveness on the glass though and grabbed 10 boards, five of them offensive. Grade: C

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But a bad situation for one guy creates an opportunity for others. What you do with that opportunity is what matters.

Apr 12, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; New York Knicks small forward Chris Copeland (14) dunks against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Knicks’ forward Chris Copeland has been a guy that realizes he has a golden opportunity in front of him and when he’s been given the chance, Copeland has certainly done his part. It doesn’t matter if Copeland is coming off the bench to play the 3 or being forced to start at the 5 due to injuries, when he’s on the floor he brings energy and production.

That begs the question of if when the Knicks get completely healthy, should Copeland remain a part of Mike Woodson’s rotation during the playoffs?

Offensively that answer is yes. The Knicks could definitely use his scoring punch and the energy he brings. On the season, Copeland has averaged 7.6 points per game, but in games where Copeland has played 18 minutes or more, that average jumps up to 13.8.

Defensively it’s a different story. You need defense to win in the postseason and that’s something that Copeland doesn’t bring to the table. He’s gets beat off the dribble routinely and isn’t a very good rebounder. There’s almost no excuse for a 6’8″ forward to average only two rebounds per game.

But Copeland’s defense has improved a tad bit as of late and he could force his way into minutes in the postseason. Since last Sunday in Oklahoma City, Copeland has played hard defensively and has impressed Woodson.

“He’s been solid all year,” Woodson told Newsday’s Al Iannazzonne. “I’ve been on Cope because I want to see him get better all-around not just scoring the basketball and it’s going to help us. We need guys to defend. It’s great that he can put the ball in the hole and he’s done an excellent job in that area but I need him to defend like he did the other night [in OKC].”

That being said, I feel once the Knicks are healthy, Copeland deserves to be a part of the playoff rotation.

He’s an intriguing player who brings a lot to the table and makes the Knicks a better team when he’s on the floor.

As the regular season winds down, it looks like Copeland has three more games to plead his case.

After a tight first quarter, New York broke the game open in the second and opened up a comfy advantage with a 13-0 run. The Cavs never sniffed the lead after that and led by 20 at one point in the fourth quarter.

Apr 12, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; New York Knicks small forward Carmelo Anthony (7) is fouled by Cleveland Cavaliers small forward Alonzo Gee (33) while attempting a three-point basket in the third quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

The Knicks were once again playing short handed and had to go small by starting Chris Copeland at center, but it didn’t matter as both Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith were outstanding.

New York shot 51 percent from the floor and 36 percent from behind the arc and limited the Cavs to only 43 percent shooting on the night. Despite being very small, the Knics held their own on the glass, only being outebounded 46-44 on the night. The only negative was that the ball didn’t move tht much as the Knicks had only 15 assists on 40 made shots.

With that being said, let’s tke a look at how each Knicks player graded out in Friday night’s win.

Individual Grades

Pablo Prigioni (3 points, 1-of-2 shooting, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, 3 steals, 1 block)

Prigioni played 35 minutes and while he scored only three points, he was very effective moving the ball and on the defensive end of the floor. The Knicks are 14-1 with Prigioni as the starting point guard and he did the little things to help the team win once again.  Grade: B

Raymond Felton (7 points, 3-of-7 shooting, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block)

Felton wasn’t as aggressive as he stepped back and let Smith and Anthony carry the load. He did contribute a bit in other areas, grabbing four boards nd dishing out four dimes, but Felton has not had back-to-back games with more than 10 points in the month of April. Grade: C+

Iman Shumpert (8 points, 3-of-11 shooting, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block)

Why was Shump on the floor for 36 minutes in what amounted to a petty meaningless game? He shot the ball poorly, but made up for it by being a beast on the glass. Of his 11 boards, three of them came at the offesive end. He also dished out a few assists and played pretty solid defensively. Grade: B+

Carmelo Anthony (31 points, 12-of-24 shooting, 14 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals)

While  ’Melo is busy trying to win the scoring title, what has gotten into him in terms of rebounding? Anthony had another aggressive day on the glass and  grabbed 14 boards (seven offensive) and had a pretty dominant night, even though he sat the entire fourth quarter again. Grade: A

Chris Copeland (12 points, 5-of-9  shooting, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 2 steals)

It’s not good when your starting center grabs one rebound, but give Copeland credit for competing hard, playing well out of position. He scored 12 points, but provided energy and finished with a plus-17 rating, which says alot about his performnce. Grade: B+

Solomon Jones (0 points, 0-of-0 shooting, 1 rebound)

In his Knicks debut, Jones played 12 minutes, grabbed a rebound and turned the ball over twice. He didn’t attempt a shot, but Jones isn’t here to score the ball. However this isn’t China and I’d like to see more from him in terms of rebounding and playing defense. However I will cut him a break with his grade since it was his first game. Grade: C-

Steve Novak (3 points, 1 -of-7 shooting, 1 rebound,1 steal, 1 block)

Novak struggled from the field, going just 1-of-7 in 25 minutes. Otherwise he didn’t do much to contribute to the win. Grade: D

Jason Kidd (6 points, 2-of-3  shooting, 4 rebounds, 1 assist)

Kidd knocked down a couple of threes and grabbed four rebounds, finishing with a plus-15 rating, the third best on the team. It was a typical Kidd-like performance as he impacted the game without necessarily putting up big numbers. Grade: B

James White (0 points, 0-of-0 shooting)

White only played five minutes and somehow finished with a minus-nine rating. But mst of that was a result of the Cavs cutting the deficit during garbage time so I won’t penalize him too much. Grade: C-

J.R. Smith (31 points, 13-of-16 shooting, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 1 block)

Simply outstanding. Just when you thought the old J.R. was returning after a rough night on Thursday, Smith turned in an extremely efficient performance, which included making his last 12 shot attempts. Grade: A+

It happened on the road against a very tough team in a very tough building to win, as the Thunder entered the game 33-5 on their home floor.

Despite allowing 120 points and watching Thunder point guard nearly take over the game with a 37 point effort to go with 11 rebounds and eight assists, the Knicks won an offensive slugfest 125-120.

Apr 7, 2013; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; New York Knicks guard Raymond Felton (2) talks to Knicks center Tyson Chandler after he was charged with a technical foul during the second half at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Carmelo Anthony outdueled Kevin Durant and took ahold of the NBA’s scoring lead and more importantly led the Knicks to their 12th consecutive win and sent a message to the NBA in the process.

The Knicks were shorthanded, without Kenyon Martin and Marcus Camby, leaving Tyson Chandler as the Knicks only healthy big man. In addition, they found a way to win despite allowing OKC to shoot 57.7 percent from the floor and 52.9 percent from behind the arc.

The Knicks didn’t have a bad day from the floor themselves though, knocking down 49.5 percent of the attempts from the floor and 44.1 percent of their three-point attempts on the afternoon.

With that being said, let’s take a look at how each Knicks player graded out in one of their biggest wins of the season.

Individual Grades

Raymond Felton (16 points, 5-of-12 shooting, 8 assists, 4 rebounds, 1 steal)

Felton has been much better since getting moved off of the ball and Sunday was no exception as he was an important part in winning. His ability to get into the lane and finish among the Thunder bigs was crucial and he made a huge play late in the game when he fell in the lane and still found a way to tip the ball out to J.R. Smith who knocked down a huge three. Grade: B+

Pablo Prigioni (3 points, 1-of-2 shooting, 3 assists, 1 steal)

Prigioni struggled for a change with the defensive pressure of the Thunder, including making a pair of costly third quarter turnovers on back-to-back possessions that allowed the Thunder to get back into the game. In addition, everyone that attempted to guard Westbrook on this afternoon struggled in a big way. It wasn’t Prigioni’s best day, although he was instrumental in getting the ball moving during his 19 minutes. Grade D

Iman Shumpert (0 points, 0-of-2 shooting, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal)

Shumpert’s shot wasn’t falling early and he struggled defensively on Durant. The result was only 11 minutes played and Anthony moving out to the perimeter to guard Durant. Grade: D

Carmelo Anthony (36 points, 15-of-29 shooting, 12 rebounds, 1 block)

It wasn’t a 40-point effort from ‘Melo, but it was just as dominant. Anthony made it happen from the inside and the outside and somehow scored 31 points before making it to the free-throw line for the first time. He did a better than average job on Durant defensively and his nine offensive rebounds spoke of a man on a mission. Simply another elite performance from Anthony. Grade: A+

Tyson Chandler (15 points, 6-of-9 shooting, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocks)

The Thunder scored 120 points, so Chandler’s defense wasn’t a factor, but he was active at the offensive end, scoring 15 points and grabbing three offensive rebounds. The Thunder didn’t miss much on the afternoon so his rebound total is rather low, but he was a big part in the win nonetheless. Although another technical foul could have proved costly. Grade: B-

Apr 7, 2013; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; New York Knicks forward Chris Copeland (13) handles the ball against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Nick Collison (4) during the first half at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Chris Copeland (13 points, 5-of-9 shooting, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block)

With some of the Knicks starters in foul trouble, they needed a spark from their bench and got one as the Knicks reserves scored 36 first half points and totaled 55  for the game. However they don’t win without the early spark that Copeland provided. He was able to have success getting to the rim and ultimately opened things up for the long-range shot. Copeland still has his shortcomings, but on this afternoon he was exactly the spark that the Knicks needed. Grade: A

Steve Novak (6 points, 2-of-4 shooting, 2 rebounds)

Novak didn’t contribute much, but knocked down a pair of big three’s in only 12 minutes of playing time. Grade: C+

Jason Kidd (14 points, 5-of-8 shooting, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals)

In addition to Copeland adding a spark, Kidd’s play was vital in the victory as he had a very productive day, knocking down four triples and doing all of the other things that the future Hall of Famer always does to help this team win. Grade: A

J.R. Smith (22 points, 7-of-18 shooting, 7 rebounds, 4 assists)

Smith’s shot wasn’t falling at the rate that it has been as of late, but he made up for it by getting to the free-throw line nine times. I am a little worried that he didn’t take the ball to the rim a lot as nine of his 18 attempts came from behind the arc, but he had a big fourth quarter and knocked down a huge three that swung the momentum the Knicks way for good. Grade: B+

James White: DNP (Coach’s Decision)

Kenyon Martin: DNP (Left Knee)

Marcus Camby: DNP (Left Foot)

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To say that this five-game west coast trip, which concludes Monday night in Utah, has been brutal would be an understatement.

Playing without Carmelo Anthony, Tyson Chandler and Amar’e Stoudemire the Knicks lineup is a joke right now and couldn’t hang with a talented Clippers team. With J.R. Smith the main scoring option, naturally the Knicks shot only 35.8 percent from the floor as a team. New York made only 29 shots from the floor, but 12 of them came from behind the arc.

March 17, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; New York Knicks point guard Raymond Felton (2) shoots a basket against the defense of Los Angeles Clippers power forward Lamar Odom (7) during the game at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Unfortunately they allowed the Clippers to shoot 45.8 percent for the game, which along with getting outrebounded 51-39 proved to be their downfall.

With that being said, let’s take a look at how each Knicks player graded out during another awful loss.

Raymond Felton (16 points, 7-of-15 shooting, 9 assists, 3 rebounds)

Felton’s line is decent, but he was a non-factor for most of the game. He started very slow and built his stats up when it was far too late. Defensively he struggled once again, although to his credit it was against Chris Paul, but the trend continues where the Knicks don’t get anything valuable from their point guard. Felton logged 41 minutes and the Knicks didn’t get enough out of him. Grade: C-

Iman Shumpert (5 points, 2-of-6 shooting, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal)

It was another frustrating day for Shump as he played only 17 minutes and had very little impact on the game. It would have been nice to see him on Paul during crunch time, but Mike Woodson continues to show little faith in the second-year guard in crunch time. Grade: C-

Chris Copeland (13 points, 5-of-11 shooting, 4 rebounds, 2 assists)

Cope drilled three of his four attempts from downtown and shot 45 percent from the field, finishing with 13 points. He got 26 minutes in his third consecutive start and played well at the offensive end of the floor, but continues to be brutal defensively. He’s part of the reason the Knicks got crushed on the glass as it almost seems illogical that a 6’8″ forward can’t rebound. Add that in with the bad fouls he continues to make and you see the holes in his game. But his offense is worth having him on the floor with the Knicks so shorthanded. Grade C+

Kurt Thomas (2 points, 1-of-5 shooting, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal)

Thomas scored only two points in his 16 minutes but did a decent job on the Clippers bigs, even though it looked like he tweaked something in his leg in the second half.  Grade: B-

Kenyon Martin (4 points, 2-of-6 shooting, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block)

Because of the injuries, K-Mart is playing way too many minutes as he logged 28 more on Sunday. He struggled offensively, but he is there to play defense and rebound, where he was decent against the Clippers as the combination of Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan combined for only 20 points on 10-of-19 shooting. Grade: B-

Steve Novak (9 points, 3-of-3 shooting, 2 rebounds, 1 steal)

Novak managed to get three triples to fall and was the only Knick to log a positive plus-minus, at plus-nine. Grade: B

March 17, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers point guard Chris Paul (3) controls the ball against the defense of New York Knicks point guard Jason Kidd (5) during the game at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Marcus Camby (1 point, 0-of-6 shooting, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal)

The 38-year-old didn’t bring much to the table on a day he was needed to help out with the Clippers size.  He failed to make a field goal and finished with one point, four boards and no blocks in 22 minutes. Grade: D

Jason Kidd (11 points, 4-of-7 shooting, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals)

Kidd made some shots for a change, including 3-of-5 attempts from three-point range. But when Kidd finishes with only one assist in 25 minutes, which means he hasn’t been very effective. Grade: C

Pablo Prigioni (2 points, 1-of-2 shooting, 1 assist, 1 rebound)

Prigioni continues to fall out of Woodson’s rotation as he didn’t get into the game until the second half, but he and Kidd played pretty well together. Grade: C

J.R. Smith (17 points, 4-of-20 shooting, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal)

Smith had a team-high 17 points, but don’t let that fool you into thinking he played well as the Knicks sixth man did not. He was a miserable 4-for-20 from the floor, which included making only 1-of-7 shots from behind the arc. He also was lousy defensively when he drew the assignment of guarding Paul. With the Knicks as banged up as they are, Smith is the primary scoring option and that’s bad news for the Knicks as he tries to do too much when the Knicks are healthy. When they are injured he tries to do even more. A performance like this at both ends of the floor is simply unacceptable.  Grade: F

Tyson Chandler: DNP (strained neck)

James White: DNP (coach’s decision)

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This is nothing new for Woodson as he hasn’t had a full complement of players all season long. But while it is expected that Kenyon Martin will have a much bigger role in Stoudemire’s absence, someone else should as well.

January 30, 2013; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks forward Chris Copeland (14) passes while defended by Orlando Magic forward DeQuan Jones (20) during the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Journeyman forward Chris Copeland should become a big part of Woodson’s rotation the rest of the regular season, if for any reason to help replace Stoudemire’s scoring that they counted on during the course of the past couple of months.

The rookie is averaging only 6.6 points on the season, but he has been much more impressive than that and is one guy that has seemed to take advantage of his limited minutes this season.

Copeland’s per 36 minutes average is quite impressive at 20.6 points during that span and he’s shooting 49.1 percent from the floor on the season. He’s also a guy that can score from both the inside and outside, shooting 36.4 percent from behind the arc on the season. During Saturday’s blowout win over the Utah Jazz, Copeland showed that scoring ability, finishing with 12 points in just seven fourth quarter minutes.

With Stoudemire out and Carmelo Anthony still listed as questionable for Monday night’s game in Golden State, Woodson knows that Copeland needs to be given more minutes.

“Cope can score the basketball,” the coach said to ESPN’s Jared Zwerling and Ian Begley. “On our bench, I need guys that can score. I’m not going to hesitate to throw Cope in because I know he can do that. He does it very well. I’ve just got to get him committed on the other end. I wouldn’t be doing my job if I just let him go one way. Tonight, I thought he proved a little bit that he deserves to be on the floor.”

Of course the problem with playing Copeland more is the fact that he doesn’t offer much except scoring,

To say that Copeland isn’t a very good defensive player would be kind and he doesn’t rebound well for a 6’9″ forward.

But the kid can score the ball and the Woodson needs to take some pressure off of Anthony (when he returns) and J.R. Smith as Copeland can help add some energy and scoring punch to the second unit.

When you look at how the Knicks will replace the loss of Stoudemire, Woodson might not have to look very far as Copeland could end up being the right guy for the job.

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It’s not that the Knicks won’t want to go out and improve their team when the trade deadline approaches; it is that they won’t be able to.

January 5, 2013; Orlando FL, USA; New York Knicks power forward Amar

Because the Knicks began the season as the oldest team in NBA history, they don’t exactly have the trade assets to use to entice another team to make a deal.

Currently the Knicks have only one player under the age of 27 and that is Iman Shumpert and he isn’t going anywhere in the near future.

Chris Copeland could be a guy that would interest teams, but his contract expires at the end of the season and only cost the Knicks $473k, meaning there would be no need to consider moving the 28-year old rookie. Even if another team wanted Copeland, the Knicks wouldn’t be able to improve thanks to being a luxury tax paying team, which is problem No. 2.

CBS Sports’ Ken Berger reported that the Knicks would love to deal Amar’e Stoudemire for cap relief purposes, but there won’t be any takers on STAT thanks to his contract and his health risks.

The only other trade option the Knicks have could be Marcus Camby as contending teams may want to add a defensive presence, but that is a stretch considering Camby signed a three-year deal in the offseason which no other team will likely want to touch and he has had health concerns of his own.

Because of the lack of tradeable players and the current salary cap situation of the franchise, it all but rules out a midseason improvement. With 15 guaranteed contracts, the Knicks can’t even sign a player (plenty of Kenyon Martin rumors), without releasing a player and eating his contract first.

That means what you see is what you get from the Knicks this season, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Sure they have slumped recently, going only 5-8 over their past 13 games, but after the end of January it looks like this team will be as close to 100 percent healthy for the first time all season.

That will give them plenty of time to continue to build chemistry as the playoffs approach. It also eliminates the potential of making a move just for the sake of making a move.

Sometimes it is a bummer when you don’t see your team out there trying to add the missing piece to what could be a championship team, but in the Knicks case that could be a good thing.

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Copeland is averaging 6.8 ppg, 1.3 rpg, while shooting 49% from the field, in only 12.2 minutes per game. Copeland is also giving a boost to the team’s already above average three-point shooting as he is shooting 39% from beyond the arc. While his numbers may not be that great, they improve when he starts games. In his four starts, he is averaging 17.5 ppg, 4 rpg, shooting 56% and 48% from the field and three point line respectively.

Copeland has shown that he is one of the more versatile offensive players on the team. Prigioni and he have shown a great pick-and-roll game, he can score with his back to the basket, and he shoots very well from the perimeter as well. Copeland showed off his polished offensive game against the Hornets on Sunday afternoon, where he scored 22 points in 30 minutes. Copeland shot 9-15 from the field, while shooting 50% from beyond the arc.

Another positive aspect of starting Copeland at the 3 is that it allows Carmelo Anthony to continue his MVP-like play at power forward. Carmelo has proven this season, yet again, that he excels at defending and scoring at the 4. ‘Melo is faster than most, if not all, power forwards, which allows him to get by them while driving, but is strong enough to bang with them on the other end of the court in the post. Copeland at small forward allows Mike Woodson to start ‘Melo at the 4 without sacrificing any scoring from the lineup.

However, Copeland does have some issues that could prevent him from being the long term answer at the 3. For a 6-8 forward, Copeland does not rebound well, which is even more serious when you consider how terrible the Knicks have been at rebounding all season long. He is only averaging 4 rebounds in start, and Woodson could probably get more out of a bigger lineup.

Another issue, as I previously mentioned, is Copeland’s defense. He has been beat to the basket multiple times, but more seriously has shown that he struggles with bigger players down low. This may be the reason Woodson has lessened Copeland’s time at power forward. While his man-to-man defense has left something to be desired, Copeland has shown he has decent hands for blocks and steals.

With all the injuries that the Knicks have at this point in the season (Rasheed Wallace, Marcus Camby, and Raymond Felton are all injured), and the recent lack of scoring early on in games, it may be a smart move to start Chris Copeland. The injection of offense could help the team’s offensive flow as well as challenge defenses when they double Carmelo Anthony. Stoudemire (who’s defense is still shaky) expects to close out most games, so Copeland’s poor defense would not matter much in the scheme of things. Copeland has proven that he belongs in this league this year, and maybe he can prove he deserves to start on this team with his next chance being against the Pistons on Thursday.

The Knicks knocked down 11 three-pointers and held New Orleans to only 40 percent shooting- something we haven’t seen from the Knicks’ defense in quite a while.

January 13, 2013; New York, NY, USA; New Orleans Hornets forward Ryan Anderson (33) passes defended by New York Knicks forward Chris Copeland (14) during the fourth quarter of an NBA game at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

It was a big win for the Knicks, who had seen their Atlantic Division lead trimmed to two games by Brooklyn while losing five of their previous seven games.

Here’s a look at how each Knicks player fared in our daily report card.

Game Stats

Field Goal Percentage: 43.2% (35-of-81)

Opponent’s Field Goal Percentage: 40.2 %( 33-of-82)

Three Point Percentage: 36.7% (11-of-30)

Opponent’s Three Point Percentage: 17.4% (4-of-23)

Free Throw Percentage: 76.0% (19-of-25)

Opponent’s Free Throw Percentage: 77.3% (17-of-22)

Assists: 24-14 (Knicks +10)

Rebounds: 47-45 (Hornets +2)

Points in the paint: 42-28 (Hornets +14)

Individual Grades

Jason Kidd (5 points, 2-of-4 shooting, 8 assists, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, 2 turnovers)

Kidd started sloppy, but had a real strong second and third quarters at both ends of the floor and got to rest the entire fourth quarters. Eight assists in 23 minutes looks very nice. Grade: B

James White (2 points, 1-of-2 shooting, 2 rebounds)

This could be the last we see of White with Iman Shumpert due back. He started and played only 10 minutes so it is hard to give him a grade, but he played a lot early when the Knicks struggled. Grade: D

Chris Copeland (22 points, 9-of-15 shooting, 4 rebounds)

January 13, 2013; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) shoots over New Orleans Hornets forward Al-Farouq Aminu (0) during the first quarter of an NBA game at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Copeland got the start at the 3 so Carmelo Anthony could play the 4 and it worked out nicely and Mike Woodson should do this more often. The rookie make 9-of-15 shot attempts, drained four shots from behind the arc and played decent defense. Eleven of his 22 point came in the first quarter, when the Knicks were struggling as a team. It was an all-around nice effort for Copeland. Grade: A

Carmelo Anthony (27 points, 9-of-25 shooting, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block)

‘Melo started very slowly but rebound nicely with a 17-point second-quarter explosion, scoring 14 straight points for the Knicks during a run that led the team to an eight-point halftime lead and gave them momentum. It wasn’t his best performance as he was only 9-of-25 from the floor, but it was a good day overall. Grade: B

Tyson Chandler (5 points, 1-of-3 shooting, 14 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 blocks)

Chandler got only three field goal attempts and scored only five points, but did grab 14 boards and block three shots. Even though the Hornets scored 42 points in the paint, Chandler was busy contesting shots and had a good day at the defensive end of the floor, and got to rest the entire fourth quarter. Grade: B+

Amar’e Stoudemire (12 points, 3-of-6 shooting, 3 rebounds)

Stoudemire had potentially his best game since returning to the Knicks’ lineup. STAT finished with 12 points and three rebounds in 23 minutes, hitting 3-of-6 shots from the floor and 6-for-6 from the line. All three of his buckets came on strong post moves in the paint, which is a good sign. Grade: B+

Ronnie Brewer (2 points, 1-of-3 shooting, 2 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block)

Typical day for Brewer. He didn’t have much impact in his 14 minutes. Grade: C-

Steve Novak (9 points, 3-of-8 shooting, 1 rebound)

Novak didn’t do much until the fourth quarter when he knocked down all three of his triples, to pretty much put the game away. Grade: B

Pablo Prigioni (8 points, 3-of-4 shooting, 5 assists, 4 rebounds)

Prigioni was very good. He finished with eight points, five dimes and four boards and played some very good defense and forced several turnovers that the Knicks turned into easy baskets. Grade: B+

J.R. Smith (8 points, 3-of-11 shooting, 6 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 steals)

Smith didn’t shoot the ball well, but had a good game nonetheless. He dished out six assists and was very active at both ends of the floor. Two years ago Smith could not have impacted the game if he wasn’t scoring. That isn’t the case now. Grade: B-

Kurt Thomas: DNP- Coach’s Decision

Rasheed Wallace: DNP- Sore Left foot

Marcus Camby: DNP- Plantar Fasciitis Left Foot

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December 28, 2012; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings forward James Johnson (52) dribbles the ball past New York Knicks guard Pablo Prigioni (9) in the third quarter at Sleep Train Arena. The Kings defeated the Knicks 106-105. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Of course the Knicks should have never been down 27 to the Kings to the first place.

Playing once again without Raymond Felton and Carmelo Anthony, the Knicks allowed 71 first half points before their furious second half comeback.

With that being said it is time to hand out individual grades in our daily report card and to no ones surprise, there won’t be many high grades given out on the defensive end.

Game Stats

Field Goal Percentage: 49.4%( 41-of-83)

Opponent’s Field Goal Percentage: 45.3% (39-of-86)

Three Point Percentage: 36.7% (11-of-30)

Opponent’s Three Point Percentage: 50.0% (15-of-30)

Free Throw Percentage: 60.0% (12-of-20)

Opponent’s Free Throw Percentage: 76.5% (13-of-17)

Assists: 28-26 (Kings +2)

Rebounds: 46-34 (Knicks +12)

Points in the paint: 34-30 (Kings +4)

Individual Grades

Jason Kidd (16 points, 6-of-13 shooting, 7 assists, 6 rebounds, 5 turnovers)

It was a bit uncharacteristic for Kidd, who only knocked down 4-of-11 shots from behind the arc and committed five turnovers on the night. And eveyone was bad guarding the perimeter and Kidd certainly played a part inn that. But other than that it was Kidd filling the stat sheet as usual. Grade: B-

Ronnie Brewer (0 points, 0-for-1 shooting, 4 rebounds)

Brewer only played 11 minutes and as he has been lately, extremely ineffective. He wasn’t involved in the offense and was out there early when every Kings player had success from the perimeter. Grade: F

James White (4 points, 2-of-3 shooting, 1 assist, 1 steal)

Dec. 26, 2012; Phoenix, AZ, USA: New York Knicks center Tyson Chandler reacts as he talks to a referee in the first quarter against the Phoenix Suns at the US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

White started for Anthony again and only played nine minutes. He made a pair of shots but didn’t do anything to make an impact. Grade: D

Kurt Thomas (0 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block)

Thomas played only 13 minutes, which seems to be his limit, and didn’t take a shot from the floor. He did his usual though- play some defense and grab a few rebounds. Grade: C

Tyson Chandler (21 points, 9-of-13 shooting, 18 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block)

Chandler was outstanding once again, except from the free-throw line where his six misses came back to haunt the Knicks. Other wise he was efficient from the floor and outstanding on the glass. DeMarcus Cousins had a double-double, but Chandler made it difficult on him. Another great game, but the misses from the line will cost his grade. Grade: B+

Chris Copeland (23 points, 8-of-16 shooting)

Copeland once again made a case for more playing time in the future by being an offensive spark off the Knicks’ bench. But he didn’t do much other than score. In 41 minutes, Copeland grabbed only one rebound and dished out only one assist. Grade: B

Steve Novak (11 points, 4-of-7 shooting, 2 rebounds)

Novak was more involved in the offense, which is a good thing. But in a game like that, his skill set offered very little help in other areas. It was good to see him get seven shots off though. Grade: C+

Marcus Camby (2 points, 1-of-3 shooting, 2 rebounds, 4 blocks)

It was another example of what Camby can bring to this team on the defensive end of the floor, blocking four shots in 11 minutes. I would have liked to see him out there a little more and would have liked to see Camby grab more than two rebounds, but he ws effective in the little time he received. Grade: B

Pablo Prigioni (0 points, 0-of-2 shooting, 2 rebounds, 9 assists, 1 steal)

Prigioni didn’t score, but the Knicks played well with him out there. They were a +17 with him on the floor and Prigioni dished out nine assists in only 18 minutes. I will take that from him. Grade: B+

J.R. Smith (28 points, 11-of-25 shooting, 7 rebounds, 5 assists)

Smith wasn’t efficient from the floor again, missing 14-of-25 shots, but he led the team in scoring and played a game-high 43 minutes. But it hasn’t been Smith just jacking up bad shots lately as he had another complete outing with good rebound and assists numbers. Grade: B+

Rasheed Wallace- DNP (foot)

Carmelo Anthony- DNP (knee)

Raymond Felton- DNP (finger)

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But will his calls go unanswered?

Dec. 17, 2012; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks small forward Chris Copeland (14) looks to pass the ball against the Houston Rockets during the second half at Madison Square Garden. Houston won 109-96. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports

Copeland starting for the injured Carmelo Anthony, scored a career-high 29 points on a very efficient 11-of-19 shooting performance Monday night against the Rockets.

He has been opening eyes since Summer League play began, but you have to wonder what the rookie’s role will be on this team in the future?

With Anthony coming back from a sprained ankle, Copeland certainly won’t be in the starting lineup. The return of Marcus Camby on Friday could also cost Copeland minutes as Knicks’ head coach may need to use Camby in the rotation more than before because the Knicks’ defense has not been as strong as of late.

Add to that the fact that Amar’e Stoudemire is set to return in a couple of weeks and there is now a logjam for minutes at the 4.

Copeland’s stat line says he is only averaging 5.3 points per game, but when he has been given more minutes, he has produced very nicely. He’s been a nice spark off the bench who has proven that he can fill it up. In addition, the rookie is shooting an impressive 53.3 percent from the floor.

But scoring hasn’t been the problem for the Knicks and with Stoudemire coming back soon; it should be even less of one.

Right now Copeland doesn’t offer much at the defensive end of the floor, which ultimately could cost him minutes.

I really like the spark that Copeland brings off the bench, but there are only so many minutes to go around and it is likely Copeland won’t get many, if any of them, in the next couple of weeks.

There’s always the chance he could be assigned to the D-League for a stretch just to get some minutes, but that remains to be seen.

It would be nice to see Copeland has a spot in Woodson’s rotation in the future, but that just may not be possible once the Knicks are completely healthy.

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Camby’s disappearance from the rotation upon returning from a training camp injury was odd. Many speculated that Camby had either done

Nov. 9, 2012; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks center Marcus Camby (23) waits for a rebound against the Dallas Mavericks during the first half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports

something to anger Mike Woodson or an injury was being covered up. According to Steve Popper, the latter was true as of this morning right until the news actually broke.

While Camby’s medical issue with his hooves (one that causes pain and inflammation at the bottom of the foot) is troubling, it also is not the back-breaking type of issue that probably would have been imagined at the start of the season. As mentioned, Camby was hardly getting playing time to begin with – and when he was, he was only effective half of the time – and the Knicks have a fair amount of other options. Tyson Chandler’s play of late warrants extra time on the court; if Rasheed Wallace doesn’t bark at referees anymore, he’s been fairly productive; Chris Copeland was a boost of energy this past Sunday; Kurt Thomas is still alive, as Seth Rosenthal points out. Amar’e Stoudemire’s return is not too far off either.

Going forward, however, it would be nice to get Camby back and healthy, as he could play a vital role for the team. The Knicks gave him a three-year contract and gave up a number of pieces in the sign-and-trade to acquire him (two backup big men, a backup point guard, and draft picks). Furthermore, the above-listed big men options, excluding Copeland, are all fairly aged themselves (basketball players are not like fine wine or liquors) and might not be dependable as the season wears on. If Camby can recover, he’d be a nice healthy option to have off the bench.

Should the Knicks not find a role for him as the season goes forward, however, it is possible that Camby could be used as trade bait for another team. It’s early, and the thought of a trade is about as unappealing as ever, but there is always a market for backup centers.

In the meantime, it’d just be nice to see Marcus rest up and recover quickly, hopefully with a future role in the rotation waiting for him.

While it wasn’t the best year in terms of wins and losses, the team did win its first playoff game in about a decade, but more importantly Madison Square Garden was rocking for a two month stretch. The reason for all the excitement that surrounded last year’s team was simple- Linsanity.

Mar 21, 2012; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New York Knicks guard Jeremy Lin (17) during the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center. The Knicks defeated the Sixers 82-79. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-US PRESSWIRE

What Jeremy Lin did a season ago to capture the attention of basketball fans everywhere (and non-basketball fans) was nothing short of amazing.

By now, everyone knows the story of how Lin ended up wearing a Houston Rockets uniform this season, but do the Knicks have a similar story this season in Chris Copeland?

Their stories are similar.

While Lin went undrafted and bounced around from team to team and spent some time in the D-League before finally getting his opportunity with the Knicks last season; Copeland is a 28-year old rookie who spent the past five seasons playing in Europe.

What Copeland did in the preseason was very impressive, averaging 15 points in 25 minutes of action. He showed his versatility, playing both forward spots and spending some time at center. He also showed that he can knock down an outside shot and seemed more comfortable and gained more confidence with every minute he spent on the floor.

Copeland won a battle for the Knicks’ 15th roster spot in training camp, but with Amar’e Stoudemire out for 6-8 weeks, he could end up playing a bigger role on this team than anyone ever imagined.

Like Lin, Copeland has some work to do in other areas of his game, most notably on the defensive end of the floor.  Also like Lin, Copeland has become instantly popular very quick among the Knicks’ fan base.

Will Copeland have the impact Lin did?

Not likely. The way Lin captured the attention of America is something that happens only once every handful of decades.

However even if Copeland isn’t the sequel of Linsanity, he’s still a great story. One that’s certainly worth keeping a close eye on.

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Oct 13, 2012; Hartford, CT, USA; New York Knicks forward Chris Copeland (14) dunks the ball against the Boston Celtics during the second half at XL Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-US PRESSWIRE

There weren’t many decisions to make anyway.

The Knicks announced on Saturday afternoon that Henry Sims, John Shurna, Oscar Bellfield and Mychel Thompson have been waived.

Each player received minutes during the preseason, but out of all the training camp invites, Chris Copeland stood out the most. Now that the roster stands at 15, it’s very likely that Copeland and Rasheed Wallace will lock up the Knicks’ final two guaranteed roster spots; although it could be possible the Knicks could go outside of the organization to add depth, but that is extremely doubtful at this time.

A source close to Copeland told ESPNNewYork.com on Wednesday that he believed the 28-year-old would make the team.

With Amar’e Stoudemire’s timetable uncertain, Copeland could see 15-20 minutes off the bench to provide versatile scoring he showed in the preseason. Copeland put up a combined 55 points in the Knicks’ two meetings against the Celtics, proving he could score in Mike Woodson’s offense.

As for Wallace, he began competing in 5-on-5 action, so apparently he’s a little bit closer to seeing some actual game action.

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Oct 20, 2012; Albany, NY, USA; New York Knicks forward Chris Copeland (14) shoots the ball as Boston Celtics forward Jeff Green (8) defends during the second half at Times Union Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-US PRESSWIRE

But Chris Copeland ended that battle early on.

Even though the Knicks haven’t made the announcement yet, or released or assigned any of the 20 players in camp to their D-League affiliate, there won’t be much drama concerning who the 15th contract will go to.

Copeland finished his strong preseason with 16 points on 5-of-12 shooting in the Knicks’ overtime win over Brooklyn on Wednesday. Overall, he averaged 15.5 points on 51 percent shooting.

He did all that you could ask a young player looking to make a team to do- go out and earn it.

“I’m optimistic, but you never know what they’re looking for,”  Copeland told ESPN’s Ian Begley. “I’m excited and I’m blessed to have the opportunity. I’d love to be here.”

Copeland can play multiple positions. With Amar’e Stoudemire out for another two weeks, Copeland could provide points from the power forward spot.

The Knicks will need to cut five players from their roster to get down to the mandatory 15 by Monday. They have 13 players under guaranteed contracts and Rasheed Wallace is signed to a non-guaranteed contract. Wallace will make the team and Copeland should as well.

However to earn a spot in Mike Woodson’s rotation, he will need to improve on defense, rebounding and limit his turnovers. Copeland finished the preseason averaging 2.8 rebounds and 2.8 turnovers.

However given the injury situation, he’s a guy that can provide a sppark off the Knicks bench and I would be shocked if Woodson doesn’t give him an opportunity early on in the season.

Then came the preseason game against Boston, in which he scored 21 points in 19 minutes. Copeland is averaging 15.4 ppg in the first 5 games of the preaseason, and is practically a lock to make the team. Copeland has shown that he can hit 3-pointers, and play well in pick-and-roll situations.

Now that STAT will be out for 2-3 weeks someone will have to pick up the slack at the 4. Marcus Camby has yet to be cleared to play, and the same goes for newly unretired Rasheed Wallace. Kurt Thomas will get some minutes, but so far has not played much more than 15 in any game. As far as starting in place of Stoudemire, Woodson has made it clear that for now it will be Kurt Thomas if the other team is big and ‘Melo if the opponent goes small.

Copeland could play a key role in the rotation early in the season. Assuming that Camby and Wallace are not ready by opening night, which is a realistic possibility, then Copeland would be one of the first big men off the bench. After Novak and ‘Melo, Copeland would be the only player who is able to play the 4/5 off the bench with all of the front court injuries.

Copeland could replace STAT as the primary low post force until his return as he has proven that he can be effective from that spot on the court. Copeland could come off the bench, and play primarily with Pablo Prigioni, who he has shown a great deal of chemistry with.

The real question with Copeland is what will happen after all of our frontcourt players return? Camby and Wallace are both better rebounders and defenders than Copeland. STAT would most likely return to the starting lineup, which would further improve the bench leaving less minutes for Copeland. It would be almost impossible for Woodson to find enough minutes for Camby, Kidd, Smith, Wallace, Prigioni, Novak, Brewer (when Shump returns), Thomas, AND Copeland.

The sad truth of it is that Copeland would have to pull off a “Lin-sanity” like performance in the opportunities he is given at the beginning of the season in order to earn a permanent role in the rotation. Most likely though, he won’t play himself out of the rotation, but other players will simply play themselves in (Shumpert, Smith, Camby) after they return.

Copeland could be a decent trade piece towards the deadline if the front office finds a the right player to get in return. He has impressed me thus far, but there is little he can do to make a big impact on this team barring injuries to other key players. There is one thing for sure, he is the only smart choice for the last roster spot on the Knicks.

Oct 13, 2012; Hartford, CT, USA; New York Knicks forward Chris Copeland (14) dunks the ball against the Boston Celtics during the second half at XL Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-US PRESSWIRE

Really there are only two questions left to be answered.

One, will the Knicks keep Rasheed Wallace, which is pretty much a given, and secondly, who will get the last guaranteed contract.

With the latest injury to Amar’e Stoudemire, it looks as if that final question has answered itself.

Stoudemire’s void creates an opportunity for Chris Copeland to make the Knicks’ roster, although Copeland’s play so far would suggest that he didn’t need Stoudemire to create a void for him.

Copeland has been nothing short of outstanding throughout the preseason.

After impressing during the summer league, Copeland has been outstanding during the preseason, capping things off so far by scoring a game-high 34 points on 11-of-18 shooting. He was perfect in nine trips to the line and hit three three-pointers.

Stoudemire’s injury isn’t serious and Copeland should make the team and could possibly be a part of Mike Woodson’s rotation, at least early on.

The Knicks are still a banged up team and one thing is for sure, Copeland can play.

After bouncing around Europe and the D-League for the last five years, it would be a nice story if he makes the team. It would be an even nicer one if Copeland can contribute and help the Knicks win games.

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There’s a good bit of debate right now concerning who will lock down the New York Knicks final roster spot heading into the 2012-13 season.

If the Knicks decide to keep Rasheed Wallace, which is all but certain, that leaves one sport up for grabs with Chris Copeland, John Shurna and Mychel Thompson currently the leading candidates.

July 17, 2012; Las Vegas, NV, USA; New York Knicks player Chris Copeland (14) in the first half of the game against the Denver Nuggets at Cox Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-US PRESSWIRE

With that being said, right now Copeland could have that spot locked up.

While preseason numbers don’t normally mean a whole heck of a lot, Copeland’s performance Saturday night against Boston, in which he scored 21 points in 19 minutes might have been enough to earn the training camp invitee a spot on the regular season roster.

Copeland impressed the coaching staff during Vegas summer league with his inside-out game and toughness and showed some skill on pick-and-rolls with Pablo Prigioni and Jason Kidd. He also showed the knack to absorb contact and drawing fouls.

He can play and defend multiple positions, which gives Copeland some added value, especially since both the Knicks’ frontcourt and backcourt are currently stretched thin because of injuries.

However the Knicks will get healthy, which means they will likely keep the one of the three that can offer up the most throughout the course of a season, although whoever they keep won’t see a ton of minutes.

That means despite  Copeland’s heroics on Saturday, Thompson could still have the edge, especially since J.R. Smith and James White are the only capable healthy shooting guards at the moment. He has the ability to shoot the three, create some offense and defend, which are needs from the perimeter and he has some NBA experience under his belt from last season in Cleveland. Thompson showed some offensive ability against Boston and also grabbed six rebounds and stayed defensively with the Celtics quicker guards.

You can also make the case for Shurna, who can stroke it from downtown even though he has struggled through two preseason games. Shurna is athletic, can rebound and fill the lane in transition.

That’s what makes this battle for the final roster spot a very interesting one.

All three guys add something positive to this team.

Despite Copeland’s heroics Saturday night, he hasn’t locked anything up just yet, although he may have taken a big step in coming close to doing so.

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July 17, 2012; Las Vegas, NV, USA; New York Knicks player Chris Copeland (14) in the first half of the game against the Denver Nuggets at Cox Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-US PRESSWIRE

But of the training camp invites, players fighting just to make it past preseason, one rose to the occasion and carried the Knicks in the fourth quarter: Chris Copeland. Copeland had impressed during Summer League, earned an invitation to training camp, and last night shined during the minutes he was given.

The 6′ 8″ forward did not play in the first half, but in the second half, he came out energized, and in the final 17 minutes (the fourth quarter and a surprisingly intense, exciting overtime), formed a devastating pick-and-roll tandem with Prigioni. In almost Jeremy Lin-like heroic fashion (too soon? Sorry), the Copeland-Prigioni tag team shredded the stumped Boston defense, consisting entirely of bench players at the end of the game. Time and time again, Prigioni masterfully found pockets in the pick-and-roll to hit Copeland who time and time again, clumsily, incredibly effectively dove to the basket for layups, dunks, and/or free throws.

And in the final minutes of overtime, it was Copeland who secured a defensive rebound in the final seconds, made two free throws to give the Knicks a three point lead, and then blocked Jamar Smith’s last-second three-point attempt. Copeland finished with 19 points on 6-11 shooting, with 4 rebounds in 21 minutes.

The Knicks still have two open roster spots. Thus far, none of the other training camp invites have impressed in game play, and Rasheed Wallace has not yet even played with the team. It’s quite possible that Copeland, having provided the type of game where you will remember where you watched for the rest of your life, could receive a spot on the roster. However, for Copeland, time is his greatest enemy. The Knicks still have four preseason games to play, in which Copeland will have to be able to demonstrate similar on-court effectiveness. If he can come anywhere close to his performance last night, he will almost surely be rewarded with a contract.

However, despite the winless trip to Vegas, it wasn’t a total loss as the franchise got a look at evaluating several young players.

July 17, 2012; Las Vegas, NV, USA; New York Knicks player Chris Copeland (14) in the first half of the game against the Denver Nuggets at Cox Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-US PRESSWIRE

Here’s a look at how the eight guys who played the most performed.

James White: Let’s start with the two guys on the Knicks roster for next season. white is a fantastic athlete, but that doesn’t always make you a good basketball player. He showed that in Vegas.

White did average 4.3 rebounds per game, but he shot the ball miserably, connecting only 29 percent of the time. He scored only four points in his first two games, but ended up scoring 11 against the Denver Nuggets, but did so shooting only 4-of-12 from the floor. Grade: D

Chris Copeland: I liked what I saw from Copeland and he’s also signed to the Knicks for the 2012-13 season. He averaged  13.6 points per game, shooting 47.3 percent from the floor and also knocked down an impressive 41.7 percent of his shots from behind the arc.

He scored 17 points on two different occasions and was the only Knicks player who played in at least three games to average double figures in scoring. Grade: B+

Jeremiah Rivers: Well he’s not as good as his brother Austin, that’s for sure. He  shot only  38.5 percent from the field and scored only 3.5 points per game in 17 minutes of action per game. Grade: D-

Chris Smith: J.R.’s brother wasn’t very impressive either, averaging only 5.2 points and 1.4 assists per game. In addition, he shot only 29 percent from the floor and  62.5 percent at the free-throw line. Grade: D-

Mychel Thompson:Thompson was overall very unimpressive in Vegas. He averaged only 5.6 points per game and grabbed 3.4 rebounds per game shot only 32.1 percent from the floor.

Thompson did do a little on the defensive end, recording three steals in a game against Denver. Grade: C-

Artsioum Parakhouski: Parakhouski went to Radford and doesn’t have exceptionally great size at 6’9″, but he opened up my eyes as much as anyone during the Knicks five game stretch.

He shot 58.2 percent from the field and averaged 8.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game. Unlike the rest of the unrestricted free agents that were on this team, I can see some team inviting Parkhouski to training camp. Grade: B+

Wesley Witherspoon: The Memphis product looked pretty good through three games, averaging 12.5 points per game through the Knicks first three contests. However he went scoreless in the fourth game vs. Toronto and scored only three points in the finale against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Grade: C

Mustapha Farrakhan: To say Farrakhan was not impressive would be kind. He had the same amount of turnovers as assists (1.8 per game). He showed no ability to run an offense consistently and shot the ball very poorly throughout. Grade: D

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