New York

Coming off a thrilling 27-24 overtime victory against the New Orleans Saints in Week 10, the San Francisco 49ers will now travel to take on the New York Giants at 1 p.m. ET Sunday.

San Francisco sits as the four-point favorite, according to Odds Shark, and head coach Jim Harbaugh will take his 5-4 team to face a New York squad that has lost four games in a row.

The 49ers might have saved their season, having defeated the Saints a week before. Yet considering the competition within their division, and the NFC in general, San Francisco can scantly afford to lose any momentum.

This momentum was bolstered by an early 14-0 lead over the Saints. It was further fueled by the dramatic overtime win against New Orleans, who hadn't lost a home game since December 2012.

Can the 49ers continue this trend in Week 11?

While the Giants are quickly losing any hope for a postseason berth in 2014, they do have good recent history against the 49ers. One needs to look no further than the 2012 season in which New York bested San Francisco twice—once on October 14 by defeating the 49ers 26-3 and then the painful 20-17 playoff loss on January 22 the season prior.

Of course, those are two different teams, and the context is vastly different.

Let's break down this critical Week 11 contest and see what the 49ers will need to do in order to maintain the current rhythm San Francisco will need in the second half.

Overcoming Defensive Adversity

San Francisco will now be without perennial Pro Bowl linebacker Patrick Willis (toe) for the remainder of the season.

This loss hurts the 49ers in a big way. It's hard to fathom that the team will not enjoy the tandem of Willis and NaVorro Bowman at all in 2014. Instead, the middle linebacking duties will once again fall upon Michael Wilhoite and rookie Chris Borland.

Borland has made a name for himself in recent weeks. He currently ranks second on the team with 38 tackles and led all 49ers with 17 tackles a week ago. Putting faith in the rookie will be much needed considering the significant loss of Willis.

While Willis' loss hurts, the 49ers do have some excellent news that partially offsets the veteran's loss. Pass-rushing outside linebacker Aldon Smith is set to return from his nine-game suspension, which will help bolster a 49ers defense that has mustered just 15 sacks on the year.

Smith stated, via Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee, that he is in the best shape of his life.

“My body feels good, and I’m ready to go,” he said.

Barrows also reported that Smith has been working on some new pass-rushing moves and is eager to try them out against quarterback Eli Manning and the Giants' front five.

#49ers notes: Aldon Smith hints he's been working on new moves; the team's flagging pass rush could use them... http://t.co/El5pjoeb1G

— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) November 11, 2014

It is difficult to speculate just how much defensive coordinator Vic Fangio will use Smith in his first game back. He has been unable to practice with the team during the suspension and will likely need a little time to get back into the full-throttle swing of things.

But one can only fathom the pass-rushing prowess San Francisco will be able to employ with Smith's return. Envisioning combinations of Smith and rookie linebacker Aaron Lynch should be enough to put fear into the minds of opponents' quarterbacks.

The Giants have already allowed 20 sacks on the season.

But the pass rush will not be the only vital element to San Francisco's defensive game plan.

The 49ers' secondary has also endured a number of setbacks this season. Chief among these was the elongated absence of cornerback Tramaine Brock (toe). Brock has since returned from his Week 1 injury, but the 49ers defensive backfield has been tested this season.

Fortunately, they have answered.

Led by standout defenders Antoine Bethea and Perrish Cox, San Francisco's secondary has given up a mere 1,937 passing yards on the season. That's good for the fifth-lowest total in the NFL. Bethea and Cox have a combined seven interceptions on the year.

Bethea has been proud of San Francisco's defense, as shown in this video, which is special considering the multitude of setbacks this unit has endured over its first nine games. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGRE9AVNkm8

But another important aspect to the 49ers' defensive approach will be how they limit New York's ground game. The Giants rank No. 19 in total rushing yards (938) and are averaging just 3.8 yards per attempt—ninth lowest in the NFL.

	Attempts	Yards	TD	YPC
Andre Williams	114	335	4	2.9
Rashad Jennings	91	396	2	4.4
Peyton Hills	26	115	0	4.4

While running back Andre Williams leads New York in carries (114), the 22-year-old back is averaging just 2.9 yards per attempt.

Fellow back Rashad Jennings (knee) is questionable for Sunday's contest. He was able to practice this week, per Larry Hartstein of CBS Sports, after missing the last four games.

Tom Coughlin on RB Rashad Jennings: "Hopefully without a setback he'll be ready to go."

— Ralph Vacchiano (@RalphVacchiano) November 12, 2014

San Francisco's run defense—No. 5 in the league in fewest yards against (821)—should have little trouble bottling up an underwhelming New York running game. This will feed right into a reinforced 49ers pass rush, setting up all sorts of defensive possibilities.

Maintaining Offensive Identity

The 49ers turned back to their strengths in Week 10. San Francisco's offense, under the direction of offensive coordinator Greg Roman, did not shy away from using running backs Frank Gore and Carlos Hyde—a tandem that combined for 117 yards and two of the three 49ers touchdowns.

This approach played right into the strengths of San Francisco's offensive line—a unit that has largely been more effective in run blocking than in pass protection.

The O-line woes were a major question heading into last week, which followed an embarrassing eight-sack performance against the St. Louis Rams a week prior.

But a more balanced approach on offense fed right into what the 49ers do best.

"This is what we said we’re always going to do and we did it," said left guard Alex Boone via Taylor Price of 49ers.com. "[Roman] stuck to the game plan, and everybody up front mounted up. We knew it was going to be on us this week; and we came in here and ground-and-pounded and we did a helluva job doing it."

So how can the 49ers offense carry over this same approach to Week 11?

It should be noted that the Giants rank dead last in the league in yards allowed on the ground (1,302). They have also given up 13 rushing touchdowns—tied with the Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons for most in the NFL.

	Opponent	Yards Allowed	TD
Week 1	@ Detroit Lions	76	2
Week 2	vs. Arizona Cardinals	124	1
Week 3	vs. Houston Texans	119	1
Week 4	@ Washington Redskins	86	1
Week 5	vs. Atlanta Falcons	90	1
Week 6	@ Philadelphia Eagles	203	1
Week 7	@ Dallas Cowboys	156	1
Week 9	vs. Indianapolis Colts	98	0
Week 10	@ Seattle Seahawks	350	5
Total		1,302	13

The average of 144.7 allowed yards per game on the ground should also play right into the 49ers' ability to run the ball.

Look for Gore and Hyde to be featured parts of San Francisco's offense. New York cannot stop the run, and a run-based offense is what the 49ers do best.

If the running game can be established, quarterback Colin Kaepernick and the passing game should also be able to chip in to a good extent. The Giants have allowed 2,342 passing yards against—13th-most in the NFL—and are allowing 9.0 yards per passing attempt at MetLife Stadium compared to 6.8 on the road.

While pass protection has been an issue for the 49ers over the course of the season—31 allowed sacks never looks good—San Francisco can take some comfort in knowing that New York has also struggled in generating a pass rush. The Giants' 16 sacks are just one above the 49ers' 15. And New York isn't getting a player like Smith back in its ranks.

Perhaps the biggest pass-rushing threat will come from Giants defensive end Robert Ayers, who leads the team with 4.0 sacks on the year.

San Francisco's O-line will have to contend with Ayers and New York's pass-rushers. But the burden also falls upon Kaepernick, who needs to do a better job recognizing from where pressure will come and to be able to find his hot-route receiver in the face of a blitz.

If he can do this—combined with a strong effort from the O-line—sacks could be kept at a minimum, which would allow a balanced offense to thrive.

Have a Breakout Game

A 5-4 record reveals an accurate portrayal of the 49ers' season. 

Barely above the .500 mark, San Francisco has been able to squeak by in almost every one of its victories. The 49ers have yet to have a "statement" game.

Take a look at the scoring results, courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference:

Much of this can be attributed to a weathering-the-storm theory. San Francisco had to overcome plenty of adversity and challenges during the first half. Opening up the second half with a gut-checking overtime victory in New Orleans did not necessarily provide the opportunity.

But New York does.

The 49ers are presented with an excellent chance to dominate an opponent in every aspect of the game. On paper, San Francisco is clearly stronger than New York—offense, defense and special teams.

We all know games are not won on paper. But this does lead us to believe that the 49ers are in a position to break out against a lowly Giants opponent.

San Francisco can put up some crooked pass-rushing numbers provided the combination of Lynch and Smith work out well. A stout run defense can limit any Giants' rushing efforts.

Big gains on the ground should help set up a balanced 49ers offense on the opposite side, allowing for timely uses of play action and read-option calls.

Most importantly, San Francisco has to play as if its back were up against the wall. Trailing the 8-1 Arizona Cardinals and 6-3 Seattle Seahawks within the NFC West, the 49ers need to treat this—and perhaps each remaining contest—as a must-win game.

Playoff stakes could very well hang on it.

All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com and ESPN.com unless otherwise indicated.

Peter Panacy is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report, covering the San Francisco 49ers. Be sure to check out his entire archive on 49ers' news, insight and analysis.

Follow him @PeterPanacy on Twitter.

The New York Mets stunned the baseball world on Monday when they announced the signing of veteran outfielder Michael Cuddyer to a two-year contract worth $21 million.

This deal seemed like it would make a lot of sense heading into the offseason, but after the Colorado Rockies extended Cuddyer the $15.3 million qualifying offer, the Mets and Cuddyer no longer seemed like a logical match. It appeared unlikely that Cuddyer would get more money elsewhere and also that the Mets would be willing to give up their first-round draft pick in order to sign him.

However, despite the qualifying offer, the Mets pounced on the opportunity to add Cuddyer, and in doing so bolstered their lineup for the next two seasons.

Let’s look at the pros and cons of the signings.

Pros

First off, and most importantly, Michael Cuddyer is a really good hitter.

The Mets are an intriguing team in the near future because of their pitching, but as long as their offense remains mediocre at best, they’ll likely stay out of the playoff conversation. Adding Cuddyer gives the Mets a player who has a career line of .279/.347/.466, giving New York a talented hitter with extra-base power who also fits into its patient-approach philosophy.

Cuddyer also fills a hole for the Mets in the outfield. The Mets could have the makings of a well above-average outfield if Curtis Granderson has a bounce-back season and Juan Lagares continues playing great defense, and Cuddyer could fill the last corner spot as a bat-first option.

Cuddyer also can play first base. Considering Lucas Duda’s struggles against left-handed pitching, having Cuddyer on the roster should give the Mets a lot more lineup flexibility.

The move also doesn’t block the Mets’ hopeful future outfielders. By acquiring a veteran to a long-term deal they would have risked not having a space available for highly regarded prospects Brandon Nimmo and Michael Conforto. With that being said, teams shouldn’t acquire players with specific prospects in mind, as prospects fail more often than not and that would be bad business.

Cons

Unfortunately, this signing has a lot of cons, the biggest being the sacrificing of the 15th overall pick in the draft.

Sometimes it is hard for fans to realize the importance of draft picks in baseball because the odds of a player panning out are much lower than in other sports, and even when they do pan out, it is not for a number of years.

When running a successful organization—especially when you are limited financially like the Mets are—it is crucial to have talent and depth in your farm system. Look at the St. Louis Cardinals, for example, who consistently hit on their first-round picks that then often become crucial parts of their team. Without a first-round pick, the future of the Mets farm system takes a hit.

Also, it is not just the player the Mets would pick at No. 15 that they are losing, but also the slot money tied to that draft pick, which impacts the Mets' entire 2015 draft by giving them less money to work with.

Losing a draft pick is often worth it when signing free agents, but it is hard to defend losing the 15th overall pick to sign an aging outfielder with health problems to a two-year contract.

Cuddyer has put up impressive numbers while playing with the Rockies, hitting over .330 the past two seasons, but as is the case with all players in Colorado, the ballpark tends to inflate their numbers. While it is possible that Cuddyer is still a very good hitter, it is unlikely he will be able to replicate his numbers from the last two seasons.

He has also been unable to stay healthy while in Colorado the past three years, playing in just 280 of a possible 486 games, including just 49 last season. If Cuddyer doesn’t stay healthy while in New York, signing him and giving up the draft pick will almost surely be a mistake.

Even if he does stay healthy and hits, Cuddyer is still not a good defensive outfielder. For a team built on pitching like the Mets, outfield defense is crucial. While sacrificing some defense for offense could be a necessity because of the team’s financial limitations, Cuddyer could be a problem defensively during the next two years.

Conclusion

It is easy to have an instant reaction to this signing, but in reality it cannot be graded until the rest of the offseason plays out.

If the Mets continue to pursue free agents and improve their roster, it becomes much more defensible.

Giving up their first-round pick to sign someone for two years is ridiculous, but giving up the pick along with their much-less-valuable second-rounder while signing Cuddyer and someone else significant could put the Mets over the top and into the playoff conversation. However, if this is all they do this offseason, it is likely an abomination of a contract.

The biggest takeaway from this signing is the organization’s aggressiveness. Sandy Alderson would not give away the draft pick for a two-year contract unless he expected the team to win during that two-year window. Alderson began to act like this last offseason when he signed Granderson, but this move is much more aggressive and for the short term, which should excite fans.

With that being said, the Mets are still not a playoff team as currently constructed unless every player stays healthy and plays up to their ability. They need to make additional moves in order to bolster their offense, ideally with the addition of a shortstop via trade or free agency.

This aggressive move implies that might be the case, but knowing the Mets and their financial woes, it also wouldn’t be surprising if they sat on their hands the rest of the offseason.

 

All stats courtesy Baseball-Reference.

Follow Sean on twitter: @SS_Cunningham

Kenyan runners Wilson Kipsang and Mary Keitany won the 2014 New York City Marathon, but the real winners were all the runners who somehow managed to survive brutal conditions on a blustery New York day to finish a grueling 26.2-mile race.

Kipsang ran his first-ever New York City Marathon and now has another title to add to his championships from Berlin and London. He finished with a time of 2 hours, 10 minutes, 59 seconds, but the most impressive part of his day was when he pulled away in the last mile to clinch the win.

Keitany won by three seconds, which was the narrowest margin in New York City Marathon history. Like Kipsang, Keitany clinched her victory at the end, which was quite a different approach than when she jumped out to a large lead in 2011 and faded at the end to finish in third place.

As if winning a marathon wasn’t impressive enough, it was Keitany’s first 26.2-miler since 2012 thanks to the birth of her child.

In a testament to the hilly course that weaves over bridges and through New York City’s five boroughs and the weather conditions, Kipsang’s mark was the slowest winning time in New York since 1995 and more than seven minutes off his world record that he recently set in Berlin.

Among the other notable finishers were Geoffrey Mutai, who placed sixth and failed to become the first man to win three consecutive New York City Marathons since 1980-82, and Meb Keflezighi, who posted the best time for an American at 2:13:18. Keflezighi won the Boston Marathon this year. 

Here is a look at some of the top finishers, courtesy of the event’s official website:

Place	Name	Time	Country
1	Wilson Kipsang	2:10:59	Kenya
2	Lelisa Desisa Benti	2:11:06	Ethiopia
3	Gebre Gebremariam	2:12:13	Ethiopia
4	Meb Keflezighi	2:13:18	United States
5	Stephen Kiprotich	2:13:25	Uganda
6	Geoffrey Mutai	2:13:44	Kenya
7	Masato Imai	2:14:36	Japan
8	Peter Cheruiyot Kirui	2:14:51	Kenya
9	Ryan Vail	2:15:08	United States
10	Nick Arciniaga	2:15:39	United States

Place	Name	Time	Country
1	Mary Keitany	2:25:07	Kenya
2	Jemima Sumgong	2:25:10	Kenya
3	Sara Moreira	2:26:00	Portugal
4	Jelena Prokopcuka	2:26:15	Latvia
5	Desiree Linden	2:28:11	United States
6	Rkia El Moukim	2:28:12	Morocco
7	Firehiwot Dado	2:28:36	Ethiopia
8	Valeria Straneo	2:29:24	Italy
9	Buzunesh Deba	2:31:40	United States
10	Annie Bersagel	2:33:02	Norway

Perhaps the biggest storyline outside of the actual finishers was the wintery weather.

Thanks to freezing temperatures and strong winds, the start of the wheelchair competition actually had to be moved from the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge in Staten Island to Brooklyn so nobody blew over.

Buster Olney of ESPN seemed to have some level of appreciation for what the runners (and tens of thousands of spectators) were dealing with:

Wind gusts at 38-45 mph… And they're saying on air that the runners face a head wind or cross wind for the first 20-20.5 miles.

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) November 2, 2014

Another notable finisher was tennis star Caroline Wozniacki, who managed to run the course in less than 3:27:00 despite never attempting more than 13 miles in training. She commented on the entire experience, according to The Associated Press (via ESPN.com):

"The crowd was amazing. It was incredible. It was such an incredible experience. I'm so happy to have done this. I'm so proud. Now I have this medal. I can say that I've done the New York City Marathon. I've even done it at a cool time. So I'm really, really happy."

Fellow tennis star Serena Williams was waiting at the Central Park finish line to greet Wozniacki.

Wozniacki played well down the stretch of the tennis season, and it is only natural to wonder if the marathon training helped her game and if it will continue to do so moving forward.

She is one of the speedier players on tour, and improved endurance will prove beneficial during the grueling conditions of some of the summer tournaments. If nothing else, it is a testament to her overall athleticism that she managed to run a marathon in a respectable time while still managing a busy tennis schedule.

While Wozniacki left her mark, the day belonged to the champion Kenyan runners. Neither the weather nor the unforgiving pavement of the New York City streets could do anything to slow them down on Sunday.

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Maybe celebrities really aren’t just like us.

After all, how many of “us” could find the time to train for and run the New York City Marathon while balancing life in the spotlight? A large number of celebrities will do just that on Sunday at the 44th edition of the event.

Between the diverse course that covers all five of New York City’s boroughs to the more than 130 bands that are scheduled to perform along the route, runners and spectators alike will have plenty to see on Sunday.

However, few things will catch the eye as much as a celebrity sighting.

With that in mind, here is a look at some of the notable celebrities running in the 2014 New York City Marathon. Information on celebrity appearances is courtesy of Masslive.com and running.competitor.com.

Caroline Wozniacki

Perhaps no marathon runner in the entire event has the type of schedule that tennis player and this year’s US Open runner-up Caroline Wozniacki does.

Not only is she racing in her first-ever marathon, but she is doing it a mere eight days after a semifinal loss to Serena Williams in her final tennis match of the year. Between that small amount of recovery time and the fact that she travels across the world for her tennis, Sunday’s run will certainly be a challenge.

She discussed it, via Aimee Berg of USA Today:

I'm a little nervous. This is the farthest I'm going to run. I think it's going to be an unbelievable experience. The New York City Marathon has always been on my bucket list.

CNN-IBN News and IBNLiveSports noted that there is a certain trait that helps Wozniacki compete against the best in the world in tennis. That same trait will undoubtedly come in handy on the stretch run of her first marathon:

RT @IBNLiveSports: Caroline Wozniacki never lacked self-belief against the best http://t.co/vD3bYYHA1I #Tennis

— News18 (@CNNnews18) October 24, 2014

Her longest training run was only 13 miles, so she has her work cut out for her. Wozniacki will be running for New York Road Runners Team for Kids.

Bill Murray

Bill Murray never misses an opportunity to make people laugh, and he did it again on a recent appearance on the Late Show on CBS. Instead of staying in studio with David Letterman, Murray hit the streets of New York with a headphone jack and conducted the interview via audio while training for the race.

Murray is always a crowd favorite and will likely thrill spectators on Sunday.

Tiki Barber

Nobody in the history of the New York Giants has run for more yards than Tiki Barber, but Sunday will be an entirely new type of running than what he did on the gridiron. 

Barber, who is now a CBS Sports Radio co-host, and his wife, Traci Johnson, will both run their first marathons for PitCCh In Foundation.

Joe Bastianich

Joe Bastianich is a MasterChef judge who will likely put up an impressive time on Sunday. In addition to his television work, Bastianich competes in Ironman triathlons, so the New York City Marathon could just be a jog in the park for him.

Katrina Bowden

Katrina Bowden is best known for her role as Cerie in 30 Rock and will be running for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Billy Demong

Billy Demong is accustomed to going fast, although there won’t be any snow on the ground during Sunday’s race. 

He is an American Nordic combined skier and took home the 2010 Winter Olympics gold medal. This will be his first marathon, and he is running for Team for Tomorrow.

Teri Hatcher

Teri Hatcher is a Golden Globe Award-winning actress who has appeared in a number of television shows and movies, including Desperate Housewives, and will run for the J/P Haitian Relief Organization on Sunday.

Angie Martinez

Angie Martinez may not be as recognizable as Hatcher, Murray and Wozniacki to those not from New York, but the Power 105.1 DJ is known as “The Voice of New York” to many in the city. It seems only appropriate that she is touring the five boroughs on Sunday, although doing it as part of a marathon is impressive.

She is running for the PitCCh In Foundation. 

Sean “Diddy” Combs, who ran in the 2003 New York City Marathon, donated $26,000 to Martinez’s cause, so her experience was a success before the race even started.

Sam Ryan 

Sam Ryan is an MLB Network host and ran the New York City Marathon last year as well.

Alexis Welch 

Alexis Welch is best known as the wife of Amar’e Stoudemire and will be running for PitCCh In Foundation.

Gary Williams 

Gary Williams is a host on the Golf Channel and will run on Sunday for the Buck Williams MBA Fellowship at the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School. It’s something of a marathon just to read through the name of Williams’ cause.

Richard Blais

Richard Blais won the show Top Chef: All-Stars and has become something of a regular at the New York City Marathon. 

He actually ran the course in 2012 even though the event was cancelled because of Hurricane Sandy, and this will be his third time (if you count that 2012 run). He is running for Grassroots Soccer.

Amber Sabathia

Amber Sabathia is a co-founder of the PitchCCh In Foundation, along with her husband CC Sabathia.

In an unsurprising twist, that is the foundation that she will run for on Sunday.

In order for the triangle offense to run smoothly, positive energy and good passing from the 5 is imperative. 

Samuel Dalembert may not have the accolades or mobility of his predecessor, but he is far from a liability. The center has shown a willingness to develop as a player and teammate, improving his offense and motor.

Dalembert may be a stopgap at the 5, but his effort shows he's capable of being more than an afterthought. 

Passing

Somehow, along the way, Dalembert's passing ability has slipped under the radar. He has tremendous court vision for a big man and the soft touch needed to find cutters and open teammates along the perimeter. 

With New York still adjusting to the triangle, Dalembert's wherewithal to find the open man within the flow of the offense will be an asset moving forward. 

Unlike Tyson Chandler, when Dalembert has the ball in his hands, he is capable of making a play. Defenses will need to honor the 5 and his ability to create, which, in part, should open the offense for his teammates. 

Ball movement and quick reads will be the key to perfecting head coach Derek Fisher's offense, and Dalembert has shown an unselfish willingness to excel as a facilitator at the 5. 

Fisher said the following, via Marc Berman of the NY Post: "He’s going to be a great asset for us, I think on both ends. He’s a good passer on the offensive end, better offensively than people give him credit for."

Shooting

Dalembert isn't a prolific shooter by any means, but in comparison to Chandler, he's a bona fide stud from the perimeter. 

The triangle requires competent shooting from the center position, and Dalembert possesses that ability. He could knock down open shots from 15 feet or less, which will keep defenses honest and allow him to find his teammates cutting to the basket when he's foul-line extended.

Early in Dalembert's career he was known for his explosiveness and ability to finish lobs around the rim, but he's expanded his game to become a more well-rounded individual. 

Phil Jackson said the following about Dalembert, via Charley Rosen of ESPN.com: "He has an effective short-range jumper and, in the past he's complained about not getting enough touches. But so does almost everybody else. What Sam needs to learn is how to be a scoring threat in the pivot."

If the center could take his game to the next level, and be more consistent in the pivot, he'll provide more than enough offensive output from the 5 to help alleviate the scoring load from Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith's shoulders. 

Defense

Dalembert isn't likely to be a Defensive Player of the Year candidate, but he isn't a slouch by any means.

Although he isn't the strongest center and his mobility could be questionable against smaller, more athletic teams, he's competent enough to protect the rim and alter shots. 

As reported by Marc Berman of the NY Post, Carmelo Anthony mentioned Dalembert's presence in the middle: "His presence, his defensive presence, the way he’s able to control the paint and alter shots, even if he don’t block a shot, he’s still there. He’s making a presence."

Chandler may have had a reputation as an elite defender and rim protector, but in his last season or two with New York, he left a lot to be desired on the defensive end. He relied too often on tip-backs as opposed to exploding up to grab rebounds, and he shied away from contact. 

Dalembert is the opposite: He's willing to secure loose balls, clean the glass and bang down low. He embraces physicality, and he doesn't whine when calls don't go his way. Dalembert is a blue-collar defender with a no-nonsense attitude who wants to win and make an impact. 

In Dalembert, the Knicks have a tough player nearing the twilight of his career who is ready and willing to leave every bit of energy and passion he has on the court each night. 

Jose Calderon has his work cut out for him in his first year wearing blue and orange. Assuming his calf strain doesn't prevent him from suiting up next Wednesday for opening night, Calderon is the likely choice for the New York Knicks' starting point guard. 

A star he is not. But since creating shot opportunities for teammates is a responsibility shared by every single player in a triangle offense, it can take some pressure off a point guard. He doesn't need the court command of Steve Nash or the speed of John Wall. He doesn't have to create assists like Chris Paul, shoot like Steph Curry or drive the lane like Derrick Rose.

That doesn't mean he can be just any chump in a jersey, though. 

Calderon is no chump. He's got those mysterious, magical things that all coaches love: intangibles! And he'll need them all this season.

During preseason, Knicks players have approached the triangle with great tranquility and optimism, sunshine and daisies. Yet once the losses start to count next week, that peaceful attitude could degrade into panic if the offense isn't as smooth as Amar'e Stoudemire's skin after a wine bath.

When they fall behind, the players may choose to abandon the new strategy instead of perfect it. They might devolve into iso madness, every pass going to Carmelo Anthony, every shooter trying to single-handedly win the game. (I'm lookin' at you, Iman Shumpert, J.R. Smith, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Carmelo Anthony!)

Calderon's main job will be to set the tone. Keep them honest when they start to abandon the game plan. Keep them inspired when they're worn out.   

Another charge will be to get 'Melo involved in the offense without shifting to isolation ball. Thus far, Anthony has shown a real commitment to executing the triangle, thinking "pass" before "shoot"—often to the surprise of his teammates, who aren't expecting the ball to come to them once it touches his hands. Yet 'Melo is still the star, and one of the best natural scorers in the league.

As Derek Fisher explained, per Fred Kerber of the New York Post:

As a coach, that is my job, to help everybody realize, that we have to figure out a way to blend this together that doesn’t put Carmelo on an island and put the rest of the guys on another island. We have to really be on the same page.

If it's Fisher's job from the sidelines, it's Calderon's job on the hardwoood. As Dan Feldman of NBC Sports' ProBasketballTalk wrote, "Calderon is a pinpoint passer, careful ball-handler and sweet shooter. If you were designing the ideal complement to Melo offensively, he’d look something like Calderon."

Striking the right balance will be essential. If Calderon cannot control this by always having his hands on the ball—which would defy the triangle's rules about ball movement—he can encourage good behavior and discourage bad behavior with effective communication. 

Fortunately, these are areas where Calderon shines. As Dwane Casey, who coached Calderon while he played for the Toronto Raptors, said, per ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk, "He is one of the most beautiful leaders I’ve ever been around. Very knowledgeable… he’s a guy that you remember as a player, he was a big part of what we started here and kind of set the tone.” 

In his own words, via the New York Post's Steve Serby, Calderon said, "You gotta play for the name you got in the front [of the jersey], not in the back." 

As long as the rest of his teammates have that same attitude—and the jersey designers don't start putting last names on the front—the Knicks have a better chance to run a successful triangle offense than any team since Phil Jackson left the Lakers.