The way I look at it is the Heat are CLEARLY top dogs in the East (they're more than just a "bit" better than us).

But after Miami, I really believe the East is up for grabs, and there's no reason the Knicks should not be in the mix. Obviously, we need some things to break our way -- namely we have to stay healthy. But if we do stay fairly healthy, and if we consistently play defense the way we were under Woodson late last season, we'll be fine. The goal is to get to the East finals, and to achieve that goal, we first have to win the division. That won't be easy, to be sure, but again, if we're healthy and motivated and play defense, no reason we shouldn't make a run.

We need a couple of more solid vet pieces, and then we'll have the depth and experience to compete nightly, and if everyone accepts his role and stays healthy, and we eventually get something out of Shump, who knows. At the very least, I think it will be a fun season, especially with the rivalry with the Nets building. If both teams play to their potential, it will be all hoops all the time in NYC.

statandmelo1234 wrote:Look at this past season. When Woodson took over and the team was fully healthy, this team went on a tear. Blowing teams out left and right. Melo, Lin, Amar'e, Chandler, Shumpert, everyone was looking great. we started the season <b>8-15</b> and still ended up with over 6 games over .500. Through a season riddled with injuries and drama, we did pretty good still. Now, we have an offseason, training camp, preseason and everything to prepare the troops this time around. Imagine how good this team can be with gelling time. Heat may be a bit better right now but if they can work hard and play together like they can, they'll give Heat a run next time around..

in other words, let's stop trying to look at only the negatives. We still have a talented team that just needs a little work on their cohesiveness...

NO doubt and there is great upside if things come together.

Of course, all other teams get camp and time to gel but if Woodson can find a happy medium with Melo regarding getting him the ball and Lin can continue to grow into the role it could be a lot of fun to watch.

Playoffs are about luck. 8th seed would have left us with Chicago and perhaps we win that series. Maybe Miami has a harder time with Philly and perhaps boston pervails if Miami was "tenderized" a bit.

Luck and opportunity is what the playoffs are about. Sometimes it comes together just right. It has to in order to win.

statandmelo1234 wrote:Look at this past season. When Woodson took over and the team was fully healthy, this team went on a tear. Blowing teams out left and right. Melo, Lin, Amar'e, Chandler, Shumpert, everyone was looking great. we started the season 8-15 and still ended up with over 6 games over .500. Through a season riddled with injuries and drama, we did pretty good still. Now, we have an offseason, training camp, preseason and everything to prepare the troops this time around. Imagine how good this team can be with gelling time. Heat may be a bit better right now but if they can work hard and play together like they can, they'll give Heat a run next time around..

in other words, let's stop trying to look at only the negatives. We still have a talented team that just needs a little work on their cohesiveness...

+1 Positive thread only material!

And despite Jesus at South Beach, I still think our bench beats Miami's, providing Novak can continue to produce and we don't keep Mike Bibby.

Bonn1997 wrote:I find humor in self-declarations of outstanding use of logic. Anyway, the issue is whether we're really building a championship contender or just a poor man's version of the Atlanta Hawks. I'll still be skeptical but if Grunwald manages to add both Kidd and Camby this off-season, he'll deserve a lot of credit.

I agree..if you can put tyson and camby out there at any point at the same damn time, who's getting to the hole...

tj23 wrote:This team is a little better then some people give it credit for but I think we just might be the new Atlanta Hawks, which is basically what I signed up for when I was for the Melo trade. Now I'm complaining too much since this is what I asked for. Hopefully Kidd and Lin can make our offense run smoother and be more effecient. But Melo needs to be better himself and Amare needs to bounce back strong from his injury.

The Lin/Kidd combo will be the key- and Lin has to prove that the promise he showed last year was not a fluke. You have to hope that Kidd's leadership on and off the court will make a difference. He may be our only hope of controlling Anthony's game and getting everyone involved.

As some have mentioned- getting Camby would also be a great move for our rebounding, D, and general team toughness.

Amare bouncing back is more important than Anthony improving, because at this point, you know what you are getting from Anthony and should not expect him to improve his game, IMO. Amare's back, and him being the kind of player he was his first year on the Knicks is a necessity for our success. Anthony's greatest improvement will be if he comes back in the kind of shape he has probably not been in for many years, and maybe his entire NBA career.

Paladin55 wrote:

tj23 wrote:This team is a little better then some people give it credit for but I think we just might be the new Atlanta Hawks, which is basically what I signed up for when I was for the Melo trade. Now I'm complaining too much since this is what I asked for. Hopefully Kidd and Lin can make our offense run smoother and be more effecient. But Melo needs to be better himself and Amare needs to bounce back strong from his injury.

Yup. We may be in a situation where we have a good enough team to compete against anyone, but never take the final step. We have the kind of team where everything has to be perfect for us to beat the Heat, or maybe even the Nets.

The Lin/Kidd combo will be the key- and Lin has to prove that the promise he showed last year was not a fluke. You have to hope that Kidd's leadership on and off the court will make a difference. He may be our only hope of controlling Anthony's game and getting everyone involved.

As some have mentioned- getting Camby would also be a great move for our rebounding, D, and general team toughness.

Amare bouncing back is more important than Anthony improving, because at this point, you know what you are getting from Anthony and should not expect him to improve his game, IMO. Amare's back, and him being the kind of player he was his first year on the Knicks is a necessity for our success. Anthony's greatest improvement will be if he comes back in the kind of shape he has probably not been in for many years, and maybe his entire NBA career.

How can Stat ever be that player on this Knicks team? The first half of that year, he was all there was. If he had any kind of handle, MDA would have had him running the PNR with himself, for the love of crap!

I don't understand how anyone thinks Stat has to be an MVP candidate on this team for it to be successful.

The Knicks took as many games from Miami in the playoffs as the promising OKC Thunder.

jrodmc wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:

The Knicks took as many games from Miami in the playoffs as the promising OKC Thunder.

That's true but we lost by an average of 18 PPG and they did by 7 PPG. I do think OKC will have screwed up big time if they don't keep both Ibaka and Harden though.

And OKC won by 11 and we only won by 2. So obviously, OKC is 5 times better than we are. Despite the small sample size.

Sheesh.