making the playoffs sure( whether sliding in or winning the division outright) sure beats not making the playoffs. If you are good enough to be in the race, then you should aim to win the race. To be close and not make it will do more damage than tanking the season. There is no reason why they can't win the atlantic and place 4th in the east. Unless they play a real powerhouse team in the first round (Detroit, Miami with Shaq) the 1st round games should be competitive. Opponents can no longer just look at the knicks as a gimme win. Please don't tell me about Chicago in the first round, I am not convinced that they are good enough to just dominate a series vs the knicks, we could extend a series to a game 6 or 7 and then at that point it's anyones game. When Marbury got here, we made the playoffs, what happened, they pretty much collapsed into a zone and left shandon open to take 3's. You can't just take that approach anymore. This team makes the playoffs, their mental toughness will grow to a whole new level, thats what I like about this knick team. Their future is bright and they can go as far as they are willing to fight for. You have to start believing and drinking the kool-aid again. They need the fans now more than any other time.

I refuse to answer this question on the grounds that it may incriminate me.

We could easily lose all of the next 5 games so i think people are looking at the schedule and assuming we've hit our high-water mark for the season at 5 games under .500 and that if not an outright collapse, the knicks probably play well enough to lose more than they win the rest of the way and finish 9th or 10th.

We're in limbo because we don't know what to make of 33-36 wins and 9th place. Does that constitute the improvement Dolan is looking for?

We are a top 20 team. Meaning we are better than the bottom third.

Chicago will get our pick which should be about no. 10.

I don't think we collapse this year.

Last year it all went down hill when TvBury got hurt and Antoinio ran into the stands to protect a fan from his wife.

The trades all season last year contributed to Larrys numerous line ups as well as injuries and playing the Seniors in their home town.

I think the playoffs are always important because it leaves an imprint on hungry players...Players improve most in the offseason..The great ones(Magic and Jordan) always spoke of the devastation about losing in the playoffs...They spoke about how is shaped their offseason workouts..
I'll take the losing record and the playoffs for our young kids..