With the NBA season finally underway, Amar’e Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony, and Tyson Chandler are on a quest to lead the New York Knicks to an NBA championship in this shortened 66-game season. Luckily Knicks’ fans in New York and across the country can watch each game on television.

Check with your service provider for channel listings in your area.

Note: All start times Eastern

January 2012

Mon 2, Toronto Raptors at New York Knicks, 7:30 p.m. (MSG, NBA LP)

Wed 4, Charlotte Bobcats at New York Knicks, 7:30 p.m. (MSG, NBA LP)

Fri 6, New York Knicks at Washington Wizards, 7 p.m. (MSG, NBA LP)

Sat 7, New York Knicks at Detroit Pistons, 7:30 p.m. (MSG, NBA LP)

Mon 9, Charlotte Bobcats at New York Knicks, 7:30 p.m. (MSG, NBATV)

Wed 11, Philadelphia 76ers at New York Knicks, 7:30 p.m. (MSG, NBA LP)

Thu 12, New York Knicks at Memphis Grizzlies, 8 p.m. (TNT)

Sat 14, New York Knicks at Oklahoma City Thunder, 8 p.m. (MSG, NBA LP)

Mon 16, Orlando Magic at New York Knicks, 1 p.m. (MSG, NBA LP)

Wed 18, Phoenix Suns at New York Knicks, 7:30 p.m. (MSG, NBA LP)

Fri 20, Milwaukee Bucks at New York Knicks, 7:30 p.m. (MSG, NBA LP)

Sat 21, Denver Nuggets at New York Knicks, 7:30 p.m. (MSG, NBATV)

Tue 24, New York Knicks at Charlotte Bobcats, 7 p.m. (MSG, NBA LP)

Wed 25, New York Knicks at Cleveland Cavaliers, 7 p.m. (MSG, NBA LP)

Fri 27, New York Knicks at Miami Heat, 8 p.m. (MSG, ESPN)

Sat 28, New York Knicks at Houston Rockets, 8 p.m. (MSG, NBA LP)

Tue 31, Detroit Pistons at New York Knicks, 7:30 p.m. (MSG, NBA LP)

Sources:

All data provided by NBA.com

Paul Rados is a Cleveland based freelance sportswriter and Featured Contributor for the Yahoo! Contributor Network. Follow him on Twitter @PSRados or leave him a message on Facebook. For a complete look at his freelance work please visit his Blog.

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Michael D’Antoni has lived the life of a military brat, only without the weapons, the war, oh, and a parent in a branch of the military.

That was all replaced by basketball.

D’Antoni, the son of New York Knicks head coach Mike D’Antoni and nephew of former longtime Socastee High coach Dan D’Antoni, is a worldly 17-year-old who has lived in four states and Italy on two occasions as his father followed a career coaching on the hardcourt.

“He’s had a rather nomadic life,” said D’Antoni’s mother, Laurel, who is in Myrtle Beach this week to watch her son play in the Beach Ball Classic. “He’s lived everywhere, and I think he does really well adjusting to different places. He understands that there are a lot of different places to see and a lot of different things he’s been exposed to. He understands this is our life. That’s all he knows. It’s always been that way.”

As a 17-year-old junior at Rye High in New York, D’Antoni is now trying to forge a small place of his own in the basketball world.

Despite the constant presence of basketball in his life, D’Antoni only casually played the game until last year. In the past couple years the 5-10 guard began to put in the time and effort necessary to make basketball a college consideration.

“It would definitely be fun to play in college. I’m not going to doubt that,” D’Antoni said. “I would love to do that. But if I can’t, then so be it.”

D’Antoni was born in Milan, Italy, and lived there for six months. He then moved to Treviso, Italy, for about three years; Denver, Colo., for three years; Portland, Ore., for a year; back to Treviso, Italy, for a year; Phoenix, Ariz., for six years; and Rye, N.Y., for the past three years.

“I’ve lived in so many different places I know different cultures, and I’d like to think I see things more open now,” D’Antoni said.

Italian was his first language. He learned English after moving to the U.S. and is now learning Spanish. “[Italian] comes and goes. Sometimes I remember a word and sometimes I can’t think of it,” D’Antoni said. “I always mix up my Spanish with Italian now because they’re so similar.”

He excels academically, and has played the cello in orchestra since fourth grade. “That’s been influential. It makes me more relaxed in school,” he said.

Though his game is still developing, D’Antoni’s maturity translates to the court. “He can keep his composure on the court. He never gets too high and never gets too low.” Rye coach Chris DiCintio said. “… I think he sees the big picture when he’s playing on the court, like he sees the big picture as far as life is concerned.”

Rye has lost its first two Beach Ball games, with one remaining Friday against Gaffney. D’Antoni has been a minimal factor in games, hitting 3 of his 10 field goal attempts – all 3-pointers – for nine points.

“If he gets a little stronger and maybe a little bigger he can get some small school’s interest,” said Dan D’Antoni, a Knicks assistant coach and a Beach Ball founder. “I don’t think his interest in basketball was as fueled as it has been in the past year. The main thing is his strength and getting stronger. His skill set is pretty good he just needs the strength to be a little more aggressive when he plays.”

Mike D’Antoni never pressured his son to play basketball. “He never stressed it or

anything, just if I wanted to do it he’d be there to help,” D’Antoni said.

Because of the NBA lockout, D’Antoni’s father was there to help this past summer and fall, along with his coaching uncle. They helped not only D’Antoni with his game, but DiCintio and his entire team.

Has D’Antoni been blessed or cursed by all the traveling? “It goes both ways,” D’Antoni said. “It’s great to move around and see these different places and see what I’ve gone through. But then again I wouldn’t mind settling down in one place.”

The toughest part isn’t having to constantly make new friends. “You get used to making friends after moving place to place. It’s harder to lose friends,” D’Antoni said. “I guess when I was younger it was so much easier for me. But this past move from Phoenix to New York, since I was in seventh grade in Phoenix and moved to New York in eighth grade, it was a hard change because it was the last year of middle school and I have to make friends all over and get ready for high school while I’m starting from scratch. It was really tough.

“But I went through it and now I’m fine. It’s perfect,” he said.

He stays in touch with many of his friends around the world by playing X-box Live with them.

He’s unsure of his academic focus in college, possibly something in business or science, he said. “I’m not quite sure where he wants to go,” his mother said. “I think if anything that’s the problem. There are so many opportunities, and every place we’ve been has brought a lot of joy to him.”

In a basketball family, experiences on the court have played a small role in shaping Michael D’Antoni.

“He’s experienced everything,” Dan D’Antoni said. “He’s in line academically, doing things that will last more of a lifetime than basketball. He’s a great kid; a super person to be around. He’ll be fine regardless of what happens in basketball. If it doesn’t work out, he’s had a great experience and he’ll move on.”

The New York Knicks are preparing to reach out to several free agents, including Grant Hill, according to multiple reports.

Newsday, which reported the Knicks’ interest in Hill last Wednesday, said free agents Caron Butler and Shawne Williams were also discussed, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.

While Butler and Williams are both notable players, Hill is a living NBA legend, making him the highlight of the rumors.

Hill strongly considered but turned down an offer from the Knicks in 2009, opting to stay with the Phoenix Suns instead. At age 39, the gracefully aging star has still proven himself a valuable role player, making $3.2 million last season while averaging 13.2 points per game, 30.1 minutes per game and starting 80 of the Suns’ 82 games.

The NBA, fresh out of a grueling lockout that delayed and shaved games off the upcoming season, has prohibited agreements of any kind until training camps open Dec. 9.

Suns president Lon Babby told The Arizona Republic that re-signing Hill “is an absolute first order of business and top priority.”

“But Phoenix is on the decline and Hill’s closest friend on the team, Steve Nash, is in the final year of his contract and may be traded,” Newsday reported, adding that Nash could possibly land with the Knicks and reunite with Hill next year.

Hill – if he were to sign with New York – would also be reunited with his former coach, current Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni.

The Phoenix Suns claim that Grant Hill is their top free agent priority, but according to Newsday, they’ll have to fight off the Knicks’ advances: “On the first day the NBA permitted team executives to contact agents about players, the Knicks prepared to reach out to several free agents, including one who turned them down two years ago. Although Caron Butler and Shawne Williams were discussed Wednesday, a person with knowledge of the situation said the Knicks are also interested in Grant Hill. Hill strongly considered an offer by the Knicks in 2009 but decided to stay with the Suns. The Lakers reportedly also have Hill on the radar. Though 39, Hill showed no signs of slowing down last season as a reliable role player and defensive specialist with the Suns. He made $3.2 million and started 80 games, averaging 13.2 points and 30.1 minutes. Although the free-agent moratorium ended Wednesday, agreements of any kind are prohibited until Dec. 9, when training camps are to open. Suns president Lon Babby told The Arizona Republic that re-signing Hill ‘is an absolute first order of business and top priority.’ But Phoenix is on the decline and Hill’s closest friend on the team, Steve Nash, is in the final year of his contract and may be traded. If the Knicks’ plans for Chris Paul don’t come to fruition, Nash could wind up in New York as a free agent next summer to reunite with Hill, Amar’e Stoudemire and Mike D’Antoni.”

In six seasons in Atlanta, Mike Woodson helped the Hawks go from being one of the worst defensive teams in the league to a borderline top-10 squad (Icon SMI)

Mike Woodson wasn’t a defensive miracle worker in Atlanta, but he won’t have to be in New York, where the Knicks have hired him as Mike D’Antoni’s designated defensive coordinator. In six years as Atlanta’s head coach, Woodson turned the Hawks from one of the league’s worst defensive teams into a borderline top-10 outfit that peaked, in 2008-09, to sit 11th in the league’s points allowed per possession rankings.

The Hawks’ improvement hasn’t moved Woodson to the ranks of Tom Thibodeau or Dwane Casey in terms of turning so-so defenses into top-five monsters. Still, that improvement in Atlanta was huge, even if it coincided with the maturation of Josh Smith and the drafting of Al Horford — a pair of mobile bigs that served as the foundation for much of what Woodson did with the Hawks’ defense. As players developed and personnel improved, Atlanta became consistently good at two things it was terrible at when Woodson first arrived: defending the three and avoiding fouls. That kind of consistent, category-specific improvement stems from a coach’s philosophy: Orlando or New York attempt a ton of threes because their coaches believe it is more efficient to play that way. The Knicks were among the league’s worst last season at both defending threes and fouling, and lifting them toward the league average in those categories would be huge.

The Knicks don’t need to be the Celtics or the Bulls, though that would be helpful. The team’s offense, given more time for Carmelo Antony and Amar’e Stoudemire to mesh, should be potent enough. The very best of D’Antoni’s Phoenix teams — the 2004-05 and 2006-07 versions — proved you can build a legit title contender around a dynamite offense and an average defense. The armchair clichés paint those Suns teams as defensive sieves, but that doesn’t stand up; Phoenix ranked 17th in points allowed per possession in 2004-05 and 13th in 2006-07, and they managed that while playing in a superior conference. And if not for a few unlucky breaks — Joe Johnson’s injury in the 2005 playoffs, the infamous 2007 suspensions against San Antonio — one of those Phoenix teams could well have won a ring.

That’s the formula for the 2011-12 Knicks, because Woodson is not going to turn this bunch into an elite defense. Any team built around Anthony and Stoudemire — two subpar defenders, and one subpar rebounding big man — is going to have a tough time reaching that level, and there is no Kevin Garnett-style, unifying on-court force on hand to mask everyone else’s limitations and serve as the fulcrum of a great defense.

Woodson is going to have to scramble, which is good, because he knows how to do that. In Atlanta, Mike Bibby was already in serious decline at point guard — the guy serving as the initial line of defense against most pick-and-roll plays. The Hawks lacked a starting-caliber “true” center, meaning Woodson manufactured a semi-undersized front line out of Smith and Horford. He took that apparent weakness and made it something of a strength, using the speed of his big men in a system that often had them switch onto guards during pick-and-rolls in order to make up for Bibby’s inability to pursue his guy over picks. The Hawks defensive rebounding suffered as a result, since one of their two above-average rebounders often ended up on the perimeter when a shot went up. Woodson’s Atlanta teams ranked 24th or worse in defensive rebounding rate in each of his last five seasons, and he comes to a Knicks team that ranked 26th in that category last season. But the trade-off was probably worth it.

It’s premature to assume the Knicks will adopt the style of defense Woodson’s Atlanta teams played. Woodson isn’t the head coach here, and the personnel is different. But those Atlanta teams showed Woodson’s capacity to adapt to the personnel and build a decent defense out of parts that didn’t look like they should add up.

Decent would be great for the Knicks. If New York can climb to something like 15th — league average — in points allowed per possession, they are going to be a major problem, provided their offense is as good as it should be. Woodson’s presence doesn’t guarantee that, but having another defensive-oriented voice around can only help.