Thursday's 105-102 loss to the Chicago Bulls means 10 losses in their past 12 games. At 8-14, the Knicks are eight games behind the Philadelphia 76ers for the Atlantic Division lead.

Their guard play is inconsistent. They take bad shots with the game on the line. They don't spread the floor and move the ball.

But don't worry. Baron Davis is coming back soon, and he's supposed to be the savior for all the Knicks' struggles.

No pressure or anything on him, right? Just come in and save the team before it's too late.

What will the Knicks do if the Davis experiment fails, though?

People sometimes forget that Davis is a guy approaching 33 years old with a bad back. They also forget that he hasn't played in an NBA game in almost a year. He can be cleared medically and practice all he wants, but there is no substitute for game action.

Initially, there will be some rust on Davis. There will also be some confusion with Davis running the offense off the bat. It will take some time for him to learn the tendencies of his new teammates.

You also have to consider that he might not be able to play major minutes off the bat.

Add all of that up and you have to ask what the Knicks will do if the Davis experiment fails.

For one, they likely won't be making a run at the postseason unless they figure something out quickly. If Davis doesn't pan out, there aren't really many options on the table for New York.

Looking at potential moves down the road, the Knicks have checked in on Cleveland point guard Ramon Sessions, but several other team will be in the mix as well, so the Knicks' chances at landing him won't be great.

Then there's the chance at a blockbuster deal around the deadline that would likely involve Amar'e Stoudemire, whose name, along with Tyson Chandler's, has popped up in connection with Dwight Howard.

That's a very unlikely situation though.

So, what it comes down to for the Knicks is that the Davis experiment must work out. If it doesn't, it's going to be a long rest of the season in the Big Apple.

Read more New York Knicks news on BleacherReport.com

As we enter February, it's not going to get any easier.

Games against the Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat and Atlanta Hawks, among others, are awaiting New York. The Knicks' performance during this stretch, which kicks off with a back-to-back-to-back, will speak volumes about which direction the team is headed.

Will Mike D'Antoni's seat cool off? Can the Knicks get their heads above .500? What kind of impact with Baron Davis' return have on the team?

The outcomes of this month's games will say it all.

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The Knicks made two crucial signings to get rid of two top point guards. Everyone continues to debate that the Carmelo Anthony deal was good for the Knicks, and that the signing of Tyson Chandler was better then keeping Chauncey Billups.

But looking back, was it really worth it?

Back track to the beginning of last year when Amar'e Stoudemire joined the New York Knicks in an attempt to bring the Knicks back. They were back and Amar'e was going strong with his team and the other quality players on the Knicks. The chemistry was flowing and Stoudemire was playing his best anyone had ever seen—even better then when he was with Nash.

At that time, he had Raymond Felton dishing out the assists with Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallinari maturing into solid players. In addition, Landry Fields was playing like the gem of his 2010 draft class.

The Knicks were doing everything right until the Carmelo Anthony deal.

Now, I'm not going to sit here and say that bringing Carmelo Anthony to New York was a bad move, because he has won the Knicks many close games and is really a solid superstar. Losing Felton hurt Amar'e.

Moreover, Carmelo hurt Amar'e.

Pick and rolls are no where to be found with the Knicks, and that was Stoudemire's game. If if the pick and roll suddenly didn't work, Felton would be able to find Stoudemire for a jump shot every time. It's safe to say their chemistry was fantastic.

But having Chauncey Billups wasn't the end of the world for the Knicks when the deal actually took place. However, Billups is probably more of a shoot-first player, like the rest of the Knicks guards that are healthy right now.

He was a veteran point guard that knew how to get the ball in his star's hands if he needed to, but wasn't near as good as Felton actually was in his half-season with the Knicks.

However, when the Knicks decided that they wanted Tyson Chandler to join the Knicks, they waived Billups. The Knicks decided to rely on Toney Douglas, who it has turned out was not ready to walk into Billups' shoe.

The Knicks were left with a Big Three of two dominant forwards and a massive big man to go along with it. But they had no solid guards that have a pass-first instinct.

And when you have no legitimate point guard to get the ball in the hands of your stars, those stars will not matter. Anthony and Stoudemire are just as good offensively as Kris Humphries when the Knicks don't give their stars the ball without isolation.

In the end, these deals didn't work out in the Knicks favor (for now); instead, it has worked out for the Nuggets and Clippers, as both of those teams are over .500 and most definitely will make the playoffs.

It is quite obvious that James Dolan, owner of the Knicks, pushed for these acquisitions and not Mike D'Antoni, the coach.

The signing of Baron Davis was smart, but when is he going to come back?

Baron Davis can definitely help the Knicks, but the Knicks knew better then to sign Mike Bibby for the time that Davis was going to be out. There were other veteran pass first guards available over Mike Bibby, who has been beyond ineffective. Earl Watson would have been the better choice there.

Even I was fooled that the Knicks were a legitimate contender at the start of the season. I think all teams finally realize how important it is to have a pass-first point guard on their team.

Reports are saying the Knicks are looking to bring in Kenyon Martin after his stint in China. Another power forward? If it means trade, then trade for a point guard that can actually make the Big Three successful and turn this season around. We need a point guard Knicks!!

So, what is a great deal without a great point guard?

Read more New York Knicks news on BleacherReport.com

The Knicks made two crucial signings to get rid of two top point guards. Everyone continues to debate that the Carmelo Anthony deal was good for the Knicks, and that the signing of Tyson Chandler was better then keeping Chauncey Billups.

But looking back, was it really worth it?

Back track to the beginning of last year when Amar'e Stoudemire joined the New York Knicks in an attempt to bring the Knicks back. They were back and Amar'e was going strong with his team and the other quality players on the Knicks. The chemistry was flowing and Stoudemire was playing his best anyone had ever seen—even better then when he was with Nash.

At that time, he had Raymond Felton dishing out the assists with Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallinari maturing into solid players. In addition, Landry Fields was playing like the gem of his 2010 draft class.

The Knicks were doing everything right until the Carmelo Anthony deal.

Now, I'm not going to sit here and say that bringing Carmelo Anthony to New York was a bad move, because he has won the Knicks many close games and is really a solid superstar. Losing Felton hurt Amar'e.

Moreover, Carmelo hurt Amar'e.

Pick and rolls are no where to be found with the Knicks, and that was Stoudemire's game. If if the pick and roll suddenly didn't work, Felton would be able to find Stoudemire for a jump shot every time. It's safe to say their chemistry was fantastic.

But having Chauncey Billups wasn't the end of the world for the Knicks when the deal actually took place. However, Billups is probably more of a shoot-first player, like the rest of the Knicks guards that are healthy right now.

He was a veteran point guard that knew how to get the ball in his star's hands if he needed to, but wasn't near as good as Felton actually was in his half-season with the Knicks.

However, when the Knicks decided that they wanted Tyson Chandler to join the Knicks, they waived Billups. The Knicks decided to rely on Toney Douglas, who it has turned out was not ready to walk into Billups' shoe.

The Knicks were left with a Big Three of two dominant forwards and a massive big man to go along with it. But they had no solid guards that have a pass-first instinct.

And when you have no legitimate point guard to get the ball in the hands of your stars, those stars will not matter. Anthony and Stoudemire are just as good offensively as Kris Humphries when the Knicks don't give their stars the ball without isolation.

In the end, these deals didn't work out in the Knicks favor (for now); instead, it has worked out for the Nuggets and Clippers, as both of those teams are over .500 and most definitely will make the playoffs.

It is quite obvious that James Dolan, owner of the Knicks, pushed for these acquisitions and not Mike D'Antoni, the coach.

The signing of Baron Davis was smart, but when is he going to come back?

Baron Davis can definitely help the Knicks, but the Knicks knew better then to sign Mike Bibby for the time that Davis was going to be out. There were other veteran pass first guards available over Mike Bibby, who has been beyond ineffective. Earl Watson would have been the better choice there.

Even I was fooled that the Knicks were a legitimate contender at the start of the season. I think all teams finally realize how important it is to have a pass-first point guard on their team.

Reports are saying the Knicks are looking to bring in Kenyon Martin after his stint in China. Another power forward? If it means trade, then trade for a point guard that can actually make the Big Three successful and turn this season around. We need a point guard Knicks!!

So, what is a great deal without a great point guard?

Read more New York Knicks news on BleacherReport.com

With the New York Knicks struggling for answers, Mike D'Antoni must turn to a player whose only consistency is that he is inconsistent. 

As a basketball player, Baron Davis is the NBA's best impersonation of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. 

With a basketball in his hands, he is a beautiful yet bewildering blend of the two aforementioned fictional characters, displaying the intellectual side of Dr. Jekyll as well as the savage ferocity of Mr. Hyde.

Both characters make an appearance, yet he has become more and more like Mr. Hyde as his career slogs on, with his unpredictability often being a monstrous distraction to his team.

In a recent interview, he said all the right things, making many Knicks' fans mouths water at the possibility of what he can bring to the hardwood.

Ideally, Davis has all of the qualities that suggest the Knicks' quest for a quintessential point guard should come to a screeching halt.

However, the painful reality for Knicks' fans and possibly even more so for Mike D'Antoni is that Davis is a former shell of himself.

Although he can certainly make a bigger difference than the other parade of point guards the Knicks have tinkered with this year, the bigger question is whether or not he can stay on the court.

While Davis' skills fit D'Antoni's system perfectly, the mustachioed coach must realize Davis' physical limitations and will only be able to unleash him on opponents for 20-25 minutes a game.

While many Knicks fans hope Davis can spearhead a renaissance for the Knicks similar to that of the 2007 "We Believe Warriors" campaign, unfortunately his impact will likely be much less triumphant.

Certainly his mentoring of the Knicks youngsters proves that he may have taken another step towards maturity. Sadly, it may be too late, as the game he was once capable of—which the Knicks crave so badly—his body can no longer handle.

The excruciating fact of the matter is that the Knicks lack depth beyond their prized formidable frontcourt trio of Carmelo Anthony, Amar'e Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler, who are all injury prone. Therefore, Davis can, at best, only become a temporary solution to a long-term problem of depth that must be addressed in order to take the Knicks to the next level.

Read more New York Knicks news on BleacherReport.com

With the New York Knicks struggling for answers, Mike D'Antoni must turn to a player whose only consistency is that he is inconsistent. 

Baron Davis is the NBA's best impersonation of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. 

With a basketball in his hands, he is a beautiful yet bewildering blend of the two aforementioned fictional characters, displaying the intellectual side of Dr. Jekyll as well as the savage ferocity of Mr. Hyde.

Both characters make an appearance, yet he has become more and more like Mr. Hyde as his career slogs on, with his unpredictability often being a monstrous distraction to his team.

In a recent interview, he said all the right things, making many Knicks' fans mouths water at the possibility of what he can bring to the hardwood.

Ideally, Davis has all of the qualities that suggest the Knicks' quest for a quintessential point guard should come to a screeching halt.

However, the painful reality for Knicks' fans and possibly even more so for Mike D'Antoni is that Davis is a shell of his former self.

Although he can certainly make a bigger difference than the other parade of point guards the Knicks have tinkered with this year, the bigger question is whether or not he can stay on the court.

While Davis' skills fit D'Antoni's system perfectly, the mustachioed coach must realize Davis' physical limitations and will only be able to unleash him on opponents for 20-25 minutes a game.

While many Knicks fans hope Davis can spearhead a renaissance for the Knicks similar to that of the 2007 "We Believe Warriors" campaign, unfortunately his impact will likely be much less triumphant.

Certainly his mentoring of the Knicks youngsters proves that he may have taken another step towards maturity. Sadly, it may be too late, as the game he was once capable of—which the Knicks crave so badly—his body can no longer handle.

The excruciating fact of the matter is that the Knicks lack depth beyond their prized formidable frontcourt trio of Carmelo Anthony, Amar'e Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler, who are all injury prone. Therefore, Davis can, at best, only become a temporary solution to a long-term problem of depth that must be addressed in order to take the Knicks to the next level.

Read more New York Knicks news on BleacherReport.com

Head coach Mike D'Antoni has been on the hot seat since Phil Jackson retired, but the Knicks' current inability to put together a winning streak has rendered it scalding. It's unlikely that any decision is made on the head coach's future before Baron Davis returns, but when dealing with Knicks owner James Dolan, anything is possible.

So, how can New York turn its season around? Or better yet, how can it salvage D'Antoni's job, Amar'e Stoudemire's image and Tyson Chandler's sanity?

Through Carmelo Anthony.

Like it or not, the Knicks live and die with Anthony. Their offense is run through him and he will be given the green light a majority of the time. Stoudemire helped revive this franchise, but it's Anthony's offense now.

And no one should have an issue with it.

Yes, Stoudemire needs his touches, and finding Chandler off the pick-and-roll is imperative, but for the Knicks to succeed, Anthony needs to be taking shots and hitting them.

Don't fool yourself into believing Anthony can be a bona fide facilitator as opposed to an inherent scorer. His skill set is clear, and while he is an adept passer, he's no point guard.

Does that mean he cannot do both? Absolutely not, it just means the Knicks can rarely afford a night where he totals one point.

What Anthony has struggled to do his whole career is find the balance between scoring and facilitating. When he first arrived in New York, D'Antoni forced him to devote himself to the seven-seconds-or-less system. The result? Visible struggles and a staggering end to a brief playoff appearance. 

That was to be expected, though. A new state of mind cannot be achieved overnight, and somewhere along the lines both Anthony and D'Antoni forgot that.

For whatever reason, D'Antoni has attempted to appease Anthony by allowing him to isolate his opponents. The coach stepped outside of his comfort zone to allow Anthony to enter his—a noble, yet gullible decision.

Anthony's tactics have proven less than effective, as double-teams flocked his way, leaving the small forward to force the action while Stoudemire and company stood idly by. The fact that Anthony has rarely wavered in his detrimental-to-ball-movement ways is disturbing, and the question as to why must be posed. 

D'Antoni doesn't appear to have the tight-knit relationship with Anthony that he does with Stoudemire, Chandler and the rest of the team. They are rarely seen speaking on the sidelines and, up until recently, Anthony hasn't showed any public support for his coach.

There's the problem.

Assuming Anthony has always been on board with D'Antoni's basketball philosophy is naive. This system forced the All-Star forward to change everything he stood for, and that doesn't come without resentment.

But the time for Anthony to defy D'Antoni's game plan is over. The coach allowed his star to play a personalized style of basketball thus far, and it clearly hasn't worked. Anthony's love for isolation has not only isolated his defender, but his teammates as well.

For the Knicks to succeed, they need to play team basketball; they need to embrace D'Antoni's offensive concepts, Anthony needs to embrace them.

Forget about whether or not D'Antoni is the right coach to lead New York to a title. He is here now, as is Anthony, and it is their job to make it work.

On that front, D'Antoni has been as flexible as possible. He has compromised his offensive schemes and beliefs to appease who was supposed to be the team's second savior. And now it's Anthony's turn to concede.

The forward's backing of D'Antoni is a good start, but is just that, a start. Anthony has finally uttered the right words, but he must now take action. For the Knicks to keep their sinking ship afloat, he must emerge as a true leader.

And Anthony can only lead on the court if he becomes a follower off it.

Follow @danfavale

Read more New York Knicks news on BleacherReport.com

Head coach Mike D'Antoni has been on the hot seat since Phil Jackson retired, but the Knicks' current inability to put together a winning streak has rendered it scalding. It's unlikely that any decision is made on the head coach's future before Baron Davis returns, but when dealing with Knicks owner James Dolan, anything is possible.

So, how can New York turn its season around? Or better yet, how can it salvage D'Antoni's job, Amar'e Stoudemire's image and Tyson Chandler's sanity?

Through Carmelo Anthony.

Like it or not, the Knicks live and die with Anthony. Their offense is run through him and he will be given the green light a majority of the time. Stoudemire helped revive this franchise, but it's Anthony's offense now.

And no one should have an issue with it.

Yes, Stoudemire needs his touches, and finding Chandler off the pick-and-roll is imperative, but for the Knicks to succeed, Anthony needs to be taking shots and hitting them.

Don't fool yourself into believing Anthony can be a bona fide facilitator as opposed to an inherent scorer. His skill set is clear, and while he is an adept passer, he's no point guard.

Does that mean he cannot do both? Absolutely not, it just means the Knicks can rarely afford a night where he totals one point.

What Anthony has struggled to do his whole career is find the balance between scoring and facilitating. When he first arrived in New York, D'Antoni forced him to devote himself to the seven-seconds-or-less system. The result? Visible struggles and a staggering end to a brief playoff appearance. 

That was to be expected, though. A new state of mind cannot be achieved overnight, and somewhere along the lines both Anthony and D'Antoni forgot that.

For whatever reason, D'Antoni has attempted to appease Anthony by allowing him to isolate his opponents. The coach stepped outside of his comfort zone to allow Anthony to enter his—a noble, yet gullible decision.

Anthony's tactics have proven less than effective, as double-teams flocked his way, leaving the small forward to force the action while Stoudemire and company stood idly by. The fact that Anthony has rarely wavered in his detrimental-to-ball-movement ways is disturbing, and the question as to why must be posed. 

D'Antoni doesn't appear to have the tight-knit relationship with Anthony that he does with Stoudemire, Chandler and the rest of the team. They are rarely seen speaking on the sidelines and, up until recently, Anthony hasn't showed any public support for his coach.

There's the problem.

Assuming Anthony has always been on board with D'Antoni's basketball philosophy is naive. This system forced the All-Star forward to change everything he stood for, and that doesn't come without resentment.

But the time for Anthony to defy D'Antoni's game plan is over. The coach allowed his star to play a personalized style of basketball thus far, and it clearly hasn't worked. Anthony's love for isolation has not only isolated his defender, but his teammates as well.

For the Knicks to succeed, they need to play team basketball; they need to embrace D'Antoni's offensive concepts, Anthony needs to embrace them.

Forget about whether or not D'Antoni is the right coach to lead New York to a title. He is here now, as is Anthony, and it is their job to make it work.

On that front, D'Antoni has been as flexible as possible. He has compromised his offensive schemes and beliefs to appease who was supposed to be the team's second savior. And now it's Anthony's turn to concede.

The forward's backing of D'Antoni is a good start, but is just that, a start. Anthony has finally uttered the right words, but he must now take action. For the Knicks to keep their sinking ship afloat, he must emerge as a true leader.

And Anthony can only lead on the court if he becomes a follower off it.

Follow @danfavale

Read more New York Knicks news on BleacherReport.com

In the cameo, he plays an athlete going to Elka Ostrovsky, a "sports whisperer"  for help with his game. 

That got us to thinking, what other shows could he do?

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In the cameo, he plays an athlete going to Elka Ostrovsky, a "sports whisperer"  for help with his game. 

That got us to thinking, what other shows could he do?

Begin Slideshow