Let's ask it this way - are we one of the top two teams in the east?

I'd like to say yes - but being realistic...

I don't think so. So ECF is too much to expect. Hey you never know but I wouldn't expect it.

After making the playoffs for 14 straight years and on the last year NY was eliminated in the first round only to miss the next 2 playoff years so we can bring class and style back to the Garden with Zeke, Wilkens and Starbury and you telling me we aint deep in the playoffs this year?

Unthinkable!

Posted by OldFan:

Let's ask it this way - are we one of the top two teams in the east?

I'd like to say yes - but being realistic...

I don't think so. So ECF is too much to expect. Hey you never know but I wouldn't expect it.

Old fan anybody is a favorite in the east right now that is why I worded the question that way. I was referring to our knicks with all the talent it has.

Even with a HOF coach ? I thought after the trade, all we needed to do was get Chaney out as coach and we would win close games especially with Starbury running things.

Posted by Bobby:

After making the playoffs for 14 straight years and on the last year NY was eliminated in the first round only to miss the next 2 playoff years so we can bring class and style back to the Garden with Zeke, Wilkens and Starbury and you telling me we aint deep in the playoffs this year?

Unthinkable!

the only way we MAYBE get out of the first round is if we're the #4 or #5 seed or we win the division. indy, detroit, and nj are still better than us and will beat us in a 7 game series (barring a trade to seriously upgrade our post presence).

We're one trade away from getting out of the first round.

In the frontcourt, KVH, KT & and aging Deke will NOT get is over the hump against playoff-caliber frontcourts. Because of his age, we can only count on Deke for no more than 35-30 minutes a night; at times, we are better (offensively) with Doleac on the floor. KT plays solid Offense and D, but gets abused by anyone more athletic than him. As for KVH, if his shot isn't falling (and sometimes even when it is), he's a waste of space in every other area besides getting a few boards.

As if the frontcourt wasn't problem enough, now Allan Houston is hurt.. again. This looks like a recurring issue which has had and will continue to have a negative impact on Allan's game thoughout the season. His point production, lateral movement, and his already limited defensive maneuverability will all stay in a declined state as long as his knee is hampering him.

Then there's the Marbury factor. It's going to take a few more games for him to get really comfortable running our offense. He brings fire, passion and skill every night. Has anyone ever taken the time to consider what could come from Stephon's constant communication with Isiah? They speak to eachother every day. I am sure that Marbury, if he hasn't done so already, will start sharing his opinion with Zeke about who needs to go. Steph and Zeke have enough in common in history, attitude and opinions where it's not too far-fetched to figure that they'll agree on more than a few topics.

Marbury has to be growing tired of players not catching his passes, not making correct decisions quickly enough, turning over the ball, not hitting open shots, etc. It's not about the players getting used to the passes, it's that they are not athletic enough. That, as well as the bad decisionmaking also play a significant part in turnovers and blown scoring opportunities. On defense, those same negatives cost us alot of would-be stops and forced turnovers.

Isiah made the same observations, and will make necessary changes because of it. If the Sheed deal doesn't happen before the deadline, we can still acquire him with a sign-&-trade in the offseason. Maybe for now, we can make a trade that will both make the roster more balanced strengthwise and put us in a better bargaining position by getting players who can make immediate and consistent contributions to the team in the problem areas.

If we make that next move, we can get out of the first round. Anything after that is more based upon who we get in that deal.

All in all, my expectations are high, yes, but are IMO are realistic based on the current and predicted composition of the team.

[Edited by - HARDCOREKNICKSFAN on 01/25/2004 11:12:58]

i don't agree with the deep in the playoffs and upset talk. indy is light years better than us and detroit is the definition of a team. nj has been handing us ass-whoopings for 2 years straight. ok, now we have marbury, but who can match up athletically to rj and kmart. i don't want kurt back here, especially for the $8 mil/year that's being rumored. we'll see how much he's gonna hurt us during the playoffs this year - kmart, j.o., ben wallace - he's going to get abused.

The Honeymoon is about over can Lenny now get this team to win more than 4 consecutives games in a row?

Especially in the East, the playoffs are anybody's game. Right now, we're on pace to perhaps challenge for home court advantage in the first round (4th seed). We'll assume Detroit, Indy, and NJ will control the top-3 spots. We could fall in the first round or go all the way to the finals-- nothing's guaranteed, regardless of seeding.

When talking team matchups, I think one thing to consider is the Knicks' depth. We go 2-deep at each position and have a bunch of multi-positional (versatile) players. If anything, tonight's win over the Pacers at least put us on the same planet as them.

The Pacers are still the same young team that has lost in the first round the last few years-- in fact, in spite of their record, they're worse on paper--- they lost MAJOR depth over the summer, giving up All-Star Brad Miller for virtually nothing... and losing Ron Mercer for nothing.

NJ gave up Mutombo for nothing, then lost Mourning. Griffin would have been great, but it looks like he's not going to be a part of their active team this year.

Detroit traded away key contributors in Barry and Robinson, signed the over the hill Elden Campbell; their success comes mostly as a result of internal improvements.

It's funny (and ironic) that all of the projected playoff teams have had coaching changes... So much for stability.