Hey I'm all for being pleasantly surprised but I just don't see the talent on this team to be a contender in the east. I'm not even sure this is a low seed playoff team to be honest. Outside of Carmelo and possibly Calderon this team doesn't have one other player who would be starter on a contending NBA team. The Knicks may be starting Quincy Acy, for gods sake, a guy who couldn't crack the rotation on the Kings last season. This team is much much much closer in talent to last years squad than the 54 win squad. If you believe it's the other way around then I want some of what you're smoking. Cause it's some good ish.
This season is about seeing what we have an hopefully finding some diamonds in the rough, developing the couple young pieces we have (who aren't even bona dude blue chip talents--they all have question marks even THjr as much as I want to like him, let's be honest) and for Carmelo (HOPEFULLY) to learn how to play a different style of basketball than he's used to playing where his talents are maximized.
Not to mention the fact that the team is learning a whole new offense that is universally regarded as being difficult to learn. The good thing is that with our pick next season, our loads of cap space, and with a couple current team members possibly flourishing now that they have some proper support, we could become contenders in the east pretty quickly. Not to mention the cap exploding upwards in a couple seasons as a bonus. The real question is how long the Cavs will dominate the east and can we ever put together a squad that can seriously contest that team. Cause it's going to be an offensive wrecking ball.
Since dreaming of beating the Cavs is a pipe dream can I dream of the Knicks signing Durant and Noah when the cap jumps 20 million to go along with Carmelo?! Please!?