<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'></p> Most Popular Knick?</p> <div> <span style="font-style: italic">Nov 9</span> - Renaldo Balkman has been asked to guard everyone from Houston Rockets center Yao Ming to Milwaukee Bucks point guard Maurice Williams. So when Isiah Thomas is asked if he's confident that Balkman can defend just about anyone in the NBA, the Knicks coach gives an answer that is as quick as Balkman's first step:</p> </p> "Yes."</p> </p> Balkman's stock and Q-rating are soaring. He is becoming a valuable weapon off the bench and he is challenging David Lee for the title of Most Popular Knick. When Balkman runs from the bench to the scorer's table to check in, the Garden crowd already is cheering -- much like it once did for Latrell Sprewell. -- <font color="#000000">New York Daily News</font></p></div></div>
