Boston's two best stars are past their prime. NY's 3 main players are in their primes.

Nets have a good roster but have no experience playing together. NY's three main players have a good chunk of game (50+ games) together.

Philly just acquired Bynum and is really relying on a very young core of players. This is the team that was in free-fall to end the previous season. They will have a lot of growing pains.

Knicks totally destroyed the Pacers head to head two or three times after Woodson took over. Knicks are only better now at pg and should be better defensively tanks to Camby and Felton.

The Knicks truly have no excuses this year. I don't put much stock in the last two seasons as there was way too much player turnover and no training camp. This year, they need to get a top 3ish seed at the very least. They need to aim to win 52+ games.

gunsnewing wrote:

If that picture stays healthy, it represents the dark side of the ultimate Starphucque Force.

LA Sith versus NYK Jedi. Dolan would make a great Yoda.

IN my heart and on paper I hope for 2nd seed.

Our division is really tough. Boston, N*ts and Philly are very good.

Seeding is not always based on one teams output but how others do as well.

Expectations are high for the team and media hate will be intense if they faulter under the weight of its own starphuch and N*ts finish higher.

IrishKnickFan wrote:

Nalod wrote:I got them 4th seed at 52 wins.

IN my heart and on paper I hope for 2nd seed.

Our division is really tough. Boston, N*ts and Philly are very good.

Seeding is not always based on one teams output but how others do as well.

Expectations are high for the team and media hate will be intense if they faulter under the weight of its own starphuch and N*ts finish higher.

i wouldnt put the nets anywhere in that group they havent earned it yet

Look, I can appreciate your high integrity as a knick fan, but we all talking out our asses about "on paper" improvements. At the same time we proved we needed an 18-6 run to finish a game ahead of the 8th seed last year.

Everyone starts with the same record.

Orlando finished well last year. They don't get respect because they are rebuilding. not the same team.

Others have on paper improvements that garner the some increased enthusiasm. Philly promotes some yoots and brings in Bynum. Boston gets some rooks to beef up bench and Terry for some quick offense. N*ts on paper are imnproved basically bring in BroPez who did not play but 5 games last year and JJ. JJ's contract don't play on the court. If healthy they have perhaps the best back court in basketball. Two allstars. Hate the Kardasian but he was 5th in rebounding last season at 11 per game. ON paper they look to be a .500 team or better.

Thats a big improvement over last year. They earned that prediction.

Knicks bring in Camby, Kidd and Felton with a full preseaon with Smith, Novak and others. Thats great, but 29 teams also have preseason and have guys working out the last few weeks.

On paper the knicks Should be the 2nd seed. If they can go basically injury free between Amare and Melo and solve the spacing problem at the elbow between them along with Tyson then it could be a "grand" season. Our defense should be improved if Amare and Melo are buying in.

But injuries do happen and the chemistry might not be there for a while so 52 games and 4th seed might be realistic. That is still a hell of a regular season in our recent history!

Im a reaslistic fan.

Travla wrote:No idea of the seeding, a lot of new pieces to fit. I'm looking for 50 to 55 wins and a good run in the playoffs. Next season is when I'll start to think Championship. Very excited about this season....Go Knicks.

I dont get the two year thing, I'm willing to bet the knicks retool around Melo and Chandler in year 3.

If Amare isn't on the knicks in year three(might be unmovable), his money will be and that's 20million dollars worth.

The Knicks also have a first round pick that year and Melo has an option.

Kurt Thomas is a 41 year old body ready to retire this summer making 1.4 million.
Jason Kidd is a 41 year old body ready to retire next summer making 3.1 million.
Marcus Camby is a 40 year old body ready to retire next summer making 4 million.

While there is a chance these guys play out their contracts, the reality is starting in the off season we have 8-9 million dollars in contracts that we can trade and cost the team we deal with nothing because these guys agree to call it a career. That's better than an expiring.

Felton has a movable deal
Novack has a movable deal
JR smith has a movable deal

Mini MLE for two seasons

The knicks have alot more assets to retool than you think, which is why I don't buy this 2 year window stuff.

Anji wrote:Retooling isn't just about free agency.

If Amare isn't on the knicks in year three(might be unmovable), his money will be and that's 20million dollars worth.

The Knicks also have a first round pick that year and Melo has an option.

Kurt Thomas is a 41 year old body ready to retire this summer making 1.4 million.
Jason Kidd is a 41 year old body ready to retire next summer making 3.1 million.
Marcus Camby is a 40 year old body ready to retire next summer making 4 million.

While there is a chance these guys play out their contracts, the reality is starting in the off season we have 8-9 million dollars in contracts that we can trade and cost the team we deal with nothing because these guys agree to call it a career. That's better than an expiring.

Felton has a movable deal
Novack has a movable deal
JR smith has a movable deal

Mini MLE for two seasons

The knicks have alot more assets to retool than you think, which is why I don't buy this 2 year window stuff.

I don't know why you're bringing up Melo's option, even if he opts out we would have to waive his bird rights in order to gain cap space. And I have no idea why Kidd and Camby signed three year deals if they're going to retire before they end. And with the new CBA there are steep restrictions on teams over the cap so it will be very difficult to make trades to improve.