this is huge.. we need to go 7-2.. If we had some balls we could win all 9

knicks: orl-@phi, mil, @njn-mia, @bos, gs-@atl, sea

raptors: cle, ind-@cha, @sas, @hou, mil-@cle, @was-mem

nets: nok, sac, nyk, was, bos-@phi, @dal, @hou-@sas

orlando: @nyk-@det, det, hou-@chi, @den, @sas-@dal, mil

we have the easiest schedule over the next 9 games.

[Edited by - djsunyc on 02-20-2007 11:51 AM]

orl - L
@phi - W
mil - W
@nj - W
mia - L
@bos - W
gs - L
@atl - L
sea - W

I bet we go 5-4.

djsunyc is right! They really do need to win 7 of the next 9. Now of course if they don't that doesn't mean that they won't have a chance to do anything, but it would really put them in the race with a solid stretch like 7-2.

Orlando has an absolutely Brutal schedule. This is the hardest part of their schedule coming up. I don't think they're gonna be able to stay at or above .500 the rest of the way. So the Knicks can take advantage of that by stringing some wins together. Orlando started out hot, going 13-4 and then they've gone 14-22 since. After us they face Det. tomorrow and then Det at home on Fri. Then they've got a back to back against Hou and Chi. Then head to Den, SA & Dal. The rest of their schedule is hard too. So if the Knicks want the playoffs I think it will be there for the taking.

Probably be more like 4-5, 5-4. It's a slight below .500 team. I agree that if they are going to make headway, this is a good part of the schedule to do it.

Posted by kam77:

We *should* go 7-2 but you know we're not. We haven't shown evidence of being able to put together this kind of streak. I do think 7-2 is possible on paper, but 5-4 is more realistic, while still being optimistic.

Spoken like someone who has gone to Isiah's School of Lowered Expectations.

Be realistic with 5-4, be satisfied with "only" being one game off at 4-5 and understand if they go 3-8. Even though they should go at least 7-2 with this schedule.

I guess you can never be disappointed with lowered expectations.

Posted by kam77:

7-2 is an ideal, intended to probably validate dissapointment later that many folks here have. "See, I told you we should go 7-2, and we didn't so Isiah sucks etc. etc."

now that's putting words in people's mouths.

Posted by kam77:

Islesfan

7-2 is an ideal, intended to probably validate dissapointment later that many folks here have. "See, I told you we should go 7-2, and we didn't so Isiah sucks etc. etc."

5-4 is realistic. I'd be dissapointed with any less than 5-4 since that would indicate that the team is underperforming relative to expectations.

The next time you try to put words in my mouth be prepared to eat them.

Right, if they went 4-5, some people here wouldn't be rationalizing how it's really only 1 game worse than what they "realistically" should have gone so it shouldn't be made into a big deal.

what would make anyone think the knicks will do anything better than 5-4 or 4-5 over the next 9? what evidence have they shown in the 1st half of the season to indicate that they can accomplish this. they have been mediocre the whole year...win one, lose one.

i'd be interested to hear anyone's thoughts on the matter of evidence. and, please, do not use the "easier schedule" logic as the knicks have prooved that the opponent does not matter, their 'will to win' and professionalism does....which is far too inconsistent this season to suggest them having a 'run' in them...

SAS just making a similar point about the Knicks going 7-2...He said they will be 30-32 with 20 games left...They don't want to be the 8th seed and play Detroit in the first round...If they play hard with playoffs in mind, they should go 6-3...But nothing we have seen this season would lead us to believe it...I'll be watching though..

In any stretch of games this year, the least amount of games it took us to produce 7 wins was 11 (when we went 7-4 in Dec-Jan.)

Distilling 7 wins in these next nine games will be practically impossible considering the evidence.

Still, its why we watch. I say we have no shot unless we win these first two games out of the gate - meaning if we win tonight, with Philly tomorrow we can have no let down.