“As a former player, I understand how the days leading up to the trade deadline can be nerve-wracking for an NBA player. Nonetheless, as General Manager of the Lakers, I have a responsibility to ownership, our fans and the players on this team to actively pursue opportunities to improve the team for this season and seasons to come. To say publicly that we would not do this would serve no purpose and put us at a competitive disadvantage. Taking such a course of action at this time would be a disservice to ownership, the team and our many fans."

Things have yet to come easy for Mike D'Antoni since arriving in New York.

Even when it seems like things are on the upswing, he's now facing his steepest challenge - meshing a suddenly ultra-talented-but-volatile lineup into a contender this season. And his job security will likely hinge on it.

With Amar'e Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler in the fold, D'Antoni was without the point guard he needed to steer the ship, and it stared to show early on.

The team was floundering at 8-15, when, with nothing to lose and the season basically on the line, D'Antoni inserted a seldom-used, bench-warming Harvard grad into the lineup at point guard against the Nets on February 4.

This was the birth of Linsanity. And the first point guard D'Antoni was comfortable with running his offence since he had Steve Nash in Phoenix.

The emergence of Jeremy Lin was surreal, and - with Stoudemire and Anthony out - completely necessary. The trio was basically on the floor together for minutes before circumstances left Lin as the go-to guy.

Lin was able to put his stamp on the game having the ball and dictating the Knicks' offensive flow. Suddenly, they became a cohesive unit on the floor. It didn't matter who was scoring, Lin made sure that it was the right person each time down.

The return of Stoudemire came first, and that was viewed as a major plus. A master finisher on pick-and-roll in Phoenix, D'Antoni finally had that elusive two-man combo to work with at the top of the key.

The return of Anthony came Monday, and Knicks fans were holding their collective breath, fearful that 'Melo's mega presence - and more importantly, his desire to take the ball and go to work one on one - would disrupt the Knicks' sudden surge of success.

Well, it was disrupted. By none other than the lowly Nets. And now the questions will begin to swirl.

This was not all 'Melo's doing - he attempted just 11 shots all game, but there were possessions in the fourth quarter (around the time that Lin usually takes over) where the 23-year-old gave way to Anthony.

In Phoenix, D'Antoni had the perfect roster - a lead dog at point, a guy whose job was to get into the paint and score, and a whole lot of good players who were there to score when called upon. It's a little more complicated in Gotham.

Anthony needs the ball to be effective unless he's willing to change his game. That's not likely.

Stoudemire needs the ball inside, and should never be spotted up in the corner for a three. That's a win for the defence every time.

And we haven't even talked about the acquisition of JR Smith, who will need his shots to be that effective sixth man they need. Baron Davis is back too, and he's traditionally been effective handling the ball and being a big-time scoring guard.

Oh, and don't forget about Lin, who has proven that he needs to be the guy with the ball for the Knicks to be successful.

We're about to find out just how good a coach D'Antoni is, and this is where we want to hear from you.

If you were head coach of the Knicks, how would you handle this situation?

Do you change the offence? Do you change the starting lineup or rotation? Or do you go to management and tell them they need to make a deal?