It amazes me when people on the forum site last year's win total as the limited objective.
This team was ALWAYS injured and could not develop an experienced rotation.
They simply did not have enough practicing time with their starting 5 because there were always major injuries.
The team won a considerable amount of games last year without a consistent rotation of players due to injuries of Shumpart, Amare, Camby, Rasheed, Thomas, Felton, Tyson, broken down Kidd etc. Injuries decimated their bigs and wore out Chandler. Worn out/injured Chandler, JR, Kidd got this team a 2nd round exit.
How ridiculous is it that this team went for a stretch starting James White???
Seriously, this team would outperform last year's record if they just stayed the same and simply had a reasonably healthy core.
And now even if they do lose core people, they at least have versatile, experienced players coming off the bench.
With a full season of Beno, Meta, Shumpert, Martin this team would already outperform last year's squad by simply having a rotation with consistency and defence.
Add to that mix, upside "wild cards" like injury prone Bargnani and Amare
Some promising youngs like THJ, CJ, and Tyler
and you have the makings for a consistent core that would put last season's team to shame offensively and defensively.
Jason Kidd was a great on court coach, but he was shot by January and his inability to defend or put up points when left open really was a serious liability the whole 2nd half of the season.
I expect this years group to have more toughness and a lunch-pale dimension.
And because of its healthy depth, its' offence will be much more nuanced than isolate Carmelo, P/R Chandler and or chuck 3s.
I feel there is way too much apathy and attrition on this board; they will be far more consistent and less fragile.