My take, but I left out the bench:

Yahoo!Sports http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ycn-8282967

Welcome Flip. The article was a pretty solid analysis. I think the Knicks will jump up and bite the C's on the butt. I don't think they've seen our best punch yet. I think the C's can raise their level of play for a couple of games, but I don't think they have it in them to chase us for 6-7 games. I think the way we play is gonna put pressure on them and that their best players will get in foul trouble trying to stop us. We don't really try to foul on D and I think that will actually work in our favor.

Mike like to play more of a prevent defense. I think we'll also see more zone from the Knicks too. In the end I just think having Melo and STAT will put a ton of pressure on the C's to defend them for extended minutes, cuz they're both young enough to go for extended minutes. We don't have to worry about anything but the game we're playing and Mike will treat each game like the 7th game. With plenty of rest in the series there's no reason not to go all out. The C's can't afford to take that approach. Their older players can't go that hard and be able to bounce back game after game. My prediction is Knicks in 6

Freakin lockouts stink. I hate to hear the owners talking like they're broke. It's their own fault if they are. These guys have to legislate just to protect themselves from each other. It's not the players fault.

Anyway. The Knicks really don't have any pressure. It's not like anyone thinks they're supposed to win, so they can go into this really playing to enjoy themselves in a rare free year. If they take this series to 6 or 7 games they will be vindicated and if they should make the 2nd rd. it's a party in NY. I think they're gonna shock the establishment and beat the C's. I don't think it's a good thing for the C's to face the Knicks in a series where they'll get a chance to adjust to the level of play and get familiar with the tricks they pull to score. They don't have superior top talent in terms of creating their own offense, but the C's are smarter than the Knicks and have a high BB IQ. However the longer these two teams play the more the Knicks will adjust to what the C's are doing and I think they have more answers than the C's do. Melo and STAT have a few more levels they can take their game to and I expect to see that happen.

Don't get me wrong, I love the Knicks - but the Celtics are a much better team. This is a club that has won a championship and been to the finals again as well as the ECF - against a team that has just been rebuilt from the ground up.

Seriously - people think this is going 6-7 games with the Knicks possibly taking the series? I wonder what they have slipped into the coolaid around here.

I would love it if that happened but its a long shot.

PG - Rondo gets it but he has been playing bad lately so maybe Billups will get the best of him. I favor Rondo here.

The article says the SG position it even against Allen and Fields? No way, Allen is taking that one easily. Fields has seriously dropped off since the trade. I think he is showing his true rookie value right now. I think he is going to be a solid player but he is still a rookie and a second round pick at that. Allen is a proven vet who is on a level Fields will probably never reach.

SF I would say is even - cant give it to the Knicks because Melo has only been to the WCF once and never made it to the big dance, however he is a great player. Pierce is a proven winner, but is getting older. I put it even.

PF I would put at even or give KG the edge. I love STAT but he plays no defense - KG can still beast even though he is older. I put it at even to be fair.

C - no way the Knicks get the edge here or even close to even. Celtics will destroy us at this position.

Bench - C's all the way, they have a proven squad and we have a bunch of parts pieced together at the last minute as leftovers and trade throw in's.

The Celtics in my opinion are heavily favored, but I would love to be wrong.