BOSTON – Carmelo Anthony has become public enemy No. 1 in Celtics Nation, which would explain the Knicks All-Star forward being accompanied by his own personal bodyguard as he ventured into hostile territory for Thursday’s game against Kevin Garnett and the Celtics. It is not uncommon for superstar players, Kobe Bryant for example, to have their own security detail. The Knicks employ two security guards that are with the team at all times while Anthony’s bodyguard occasionally travels to road games. Thursday’s nationally televised Knicks-Celtics game is the first meeting between the teams since Jan. 7 when Anthony, reportedly upset that Garnett made a disparaging comment about his wife, confronted the Boston forward outside the Celtics team bus. The NBA suspended Anthony one game for his actions. The reason for the extra security has nothing to do with Anthony possibly crossing paths in the hallways but rather the hostile crowd that awaits him at the Garden.

Well I guess when you’re heading into the white trash, racist capital of the world, you can never be too safe. I mean Christ their franchise player almost got stabbed to death in his own city. Better to be safe than sorry in Boston.

All this hoopla with security and trashbag fans aside, the Honey Nut Cheerios Bowl is a big game. For both teams. The Knicks have finally regressed to the mean, and they haven’t been the same team without Raymond Felton on the court. They’ve lost 4 of their last 6 with losses against any legitimate teams in the east. They’re playing .500 ball these days and let the Nets right back in the hunt for the Atlantic. The Celtics on the other hand are reeling. Doc Rivers is talking about cutting half the team. Saying how their play set the game of basketball back 30 years. Rumors swirling that Danny Ainge may finally blow it up and start to rebuild. If there was ever a time to kick the Celtics while they were down, it was tonight. On the flip side, the Knicks have lost 13 in a row in Boston. As if emotions weren’t running high enough for Melo vs. KG part II, both teams have a lot to win, and to lose, tonight.

All I know is this is as big of a regular season moment for Carmelo as you can get. Dude needs to put Lala and her Cheerios out of his head and he needs to give one of his 16/20 for 44 points performances. Let his play do the talking and put the team on his back. Because right now this squad is in need of a serious pick-me-up and it ain’t coming from anybody else other than Carmelo Anthony.