Posted by TheGame:

The Knicks will be better next year but so will a few other teams that did not make the playoffs (i.e, the Sixers and the Bobcats). I do believe that we will make the playoffs but it is going to require that either Q comes back healthy or Balkman and Collins develop jumpshots decent enough to make defenses play honest. Curry is also going to have to improve his double team recognition. Simply put, the playoffs are not guaranteed. These players are going to have to come back next season better prepared and more skilled than they were at the end of this season.

Posted by BigSm00th:

why does curry have to develop into a defensive beast? they need to draft a shot blocker named sean williams and then we can all stop worrying about his defensive in efficiency. and he doesn't need to rebound big when he has two fowards both averaging over 10 a game (balkman and lee).

why does lee have to develop a jumper, he shot 60% from the year taking high percentage shots. nate averaged 40% from downtown after the allstar break and Q averaged nearly 40% when he was playing. they rarely played together. if the knicks had 2 guys shooting over 40% from 3, i think its safe to say curry would stop getting double teamed. jeffries was worthless this year and i imagine he wont play much next year.

marbury didnt come to this season in shape, i'll give you that, but he bought into the system, didn't fight with teammates, and fed the post this season. curry averaged 20 a game how was the post not fed?

crawford, as mentioned, was playing on all cylinders in the middle of february, the team was winning more than it was losing, and then he went down. why crawford wont be capable of this next year is beyond me.

and just fyi, all of this could've basically been said about the warriors last year (richardson shoots too low of a percentage and is hurt, davis is hurt, out of shape, and doesn't get his teammates involved, stephen jackson is a bum, biedrins needs to get more minutes, barnes gives all sorts of things off the bench but nothing in particular he needs to improve everything, ellis being a little man who shoots too much, play more cohesively, etc).

the team is young, they will improve. collins, balkman, lee, robinson can all be expeted to improve, they are all rookies or 2nd year players. even frye to an extent. that is 5 players who will get better, plus curry's general improvement in some areas. how you don't expect more consistent play based on that is beyond me. look if they don't do it next year i'm all for the blowing of it up, but if all of the improve next year and this team makes the playoffs and shows up and at least plays to a game 6 or 7, lots of people on this board refuse to believe that is reasonable. every positive is overlooked instead. insetad of saying balkman will get 30 minutes and average 12/11/2 steals/1 block you say he needs to develop a jumper. gimme a break!

Posted by TrueBlue:

LOL @ God Willing barring no injuries.

So we've already started with the built in excuse again.

[Edited by - TrueBlue on 05-06-2007 12:59 PM]

Posted by BigSm00th:

OK but what if a team with a core of players under 26 making the playoffs and battling with a team in the first round, maybe advancing? would that be cause for optimism?

this is like entourage. would a team with 6 players under 27 plus a rookie and veterans riding out their peak years making the playoffs and winning a handful games in the playoffs be something you're interesetd in?

look at the bulls, they made the playoffs last year as a young team and fought with the heat and lost in 6. this year they all improve, specifically deng/gordon/hinrich, and sweep the heat and are now in the 2nd round. you don't just all of a sudden turn around and make the nba finals.

Posted by BigSm00th:

OK but what if a team with a core of players under 26 making the playoffs and battling with a team in the first round, maybe advancing? would that be cause for optimism?

this is like entourage. would a team with 6 players under 27 plus a rookie and veterans riding out their peak years making the playoffs and winning a handful games in the playoffs be something you're interesetd in?

look at the bulls, they made the playoffs last year as a young team and fought with the heat and lost in 6. this year they all improve, specifically deng/gordon/hinrich, and sweep the heat and are now in the 2nd round. you don't just all of a sudden turn around and make the nba finals.

Posted by TrueBlue:

Posted by 4949:

Posted by TrueBlue:

LOL @ God Willing barring no injuries.

So we've already started with the built in excuse again.

[Edited by - TrueBlue on 05-06-2007 12:59 PM]

Perfectly said.

My only question is what players do we need to add so that when the injury(ies) happen we'll still remain the legit playoff threat that we apparently are?

Posted by BlueSeats:

Posted by TrueBlue:

Posted by 4949:

Posted by TrueBlue:

LOL @ God Willing barring no injuries.

So we've already started with the built in excuse again.

[Edited by - TrueBlue on 05-06-2007 12:59 PM]

Perfectly said.

My only question is what players do we need to add so that when the injury(ies) happen we'll still remain the legit playoff threat that we apparently are?

Marbury, Francis, Robinson, Collins, Frye, Balkman, Jeffries, James, Malik, Cato, etc, should fit the bill, no?

Not quite enough and considering the MLE may not be used and draft pick if used may not contribute, we're in trouble. Not to mention this team is more than capable of getting into another brawl when they start the season off slow again, suspensions to follow. Seriously who approaches a season thinking no injuries will happen?