Filed Under » New York Knicks

New York Post managing editor Frank Zini reportedly met with nearly three dozen staffers today to inform them that they no longer had jobs in light of the New York Knicks decision to not re-sign Jeremy Lin.

"I'm out of a job," confirmed Jeff Sierman, who ran the Post's 32-person Jeremy Lin pun staff. "I thought the Knicks would keep Jeremy forever and that I would have as much job security as you can in this business. But, suddenly, I'm jobless and desperate for linterviews."

The New York Daily News also is reportedly about to get rid of it's 14-person Jeremy Lin pun staff.

"I wish the Knicks realized there are a lot of jobs on the line here," said Daily News Chief Lin Pun and Wordplay Editor Michael Ranuado. "And for the record, when I said 'line' there, I mean for the L-I-N part to be accentuated."

While the New York Knicks failed to get out of the first round of the NBA playoffs again, the team is picking up a lot of postseason recognition. Tyson Chandler was named NBA Defensive Player of the Year and to the NBA's All-Defensive 2nd Team, while teammates Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire were named yesterday to the All-Defensive 28th Team.

"I think it really shows the effort I put into defense," said Stoudemire. "I've been in the league 10 years, but this is the first time I've been named to one of the all-defensive teams. I'm glad my defense is finally being noted in a positive way."

Stoudemire and Anthony are joined on the All-Defensive 28th Team by Steve Nash, Hedo Turkoglu and J.J. Redick. The 29th and 30th Teams are made up entirely of Sacramento Kings and Charlotte Bobcats players.

Anthony who, like Stoudemire was named to an All-Defensive team for the first time in his career, says defense is obviously not the Knicks' problem.

"If you average Tyson's Defensive Player of the Year in with me an Amare getting 28th team, we're like top 20 in the league in defense," said Anthony. "You can win with top 20 defense. We just need to score more. I will take that responsibility on me next year by shooting more, even if that means my defense has to suffer a little bit."

After being eliminated in the first round of the NBA Playoffs by the Miami Heat in five games, Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony says he is confident in the direction his team is headed.

"We're only going to get better," said Anthony. "If we can get me and Amar'e and Tyson Chandler and Jeremy Lin all healthy and playing together through a full training camp and NBA season, as well as maybe adding a few new pieces? I could see us getting all the way to a first round Game 7, I really can."

Anthony says his playoff track record gives him the wisdom to make such a prediction.

"I've been to the playoffs nine times in my career and once made it to the promised land of the second round," he said. "I want to take the Knicks there one day. Maybe not next year, maybe not the year after that. But I can guarantee that the Madison Square Garden rafters will rain confetti and streamers two to possibly three times next year in the playoffs for first round wins, provided we are given a playoff opponent we match up well with, preferably a team who is without several of their top players due to injury."