Melo this season will be under a lot of pressure. He wanted to be here, wanted to get paid, got his coach and this is now HIS team!

I don't doubt Melo's talent and the work it takes to play like that. He has managed to do a good job elevating his more mature image off the court. On court he is so very talented and puts up great stats. The only "flaw" I would question is his intensity and the true desire to win. Was the move to NY about knicks "winning a championship" or elevating his brand. His brand has been elevated. He has succeeded very much here.

I have never been a big fan of his in Denver but I do find him likable as a knick and respect that on court talent. He has star power, handsome and a great smile. Great things for MSG and the Knick brand. All the things a Starphucher would ever want in a player.

Obsessive hyper thread attention whore participants in the UK want to win. I don't think he is of the same DNA as a franchise player like Lebron or Jordan but more like Bird talent wise. Bird needed talent around him. Bird was a SOB nasty guy who had a strong intense need to win. He also made other players around him better. Melo has Bird like talent but the intangable nastiness that makde him a "winner" In the NBA. On Syracuse he was the best player on the team but a team that had Jerry McNamara playing out of his mind also.

I think Amare actually has a stronger drive. AMare has battled many obsticles in his life. A crack head mother, two major injuries, and a devistating personal loss. He has shown a great deal of character in his young life. He has bounced back a few times in his career. I was impressed when he rested the back, lost the weight and did return quicker.

Don't get me wrong, Melo is a very successful very wealthy young man and not a bad guy at all.

I think dolan could have used his trade assets in other ways that might produce a longer term higher ceiling result. Moving on we can hope the current collection of talent we have succeeds in being healthy for a two yer run, have some luck in terms of matchups, injury, fights, family matters and the chemistry of a group of guys doing something special.

Miami was on a mission the last two years. IT took personal growth and a very strong desire to get it done. They did it in part with BOsh out for nearly two series. Wade played hurt and lebron played like a god.

When Melo mailed it in because he was not down with MDA's scheme that did not enhance his starpower it does not impress me the winning is his priority. Im not saying MDA is a championship caliber coach but his offensive design is valid But for what ever reason Melo pushed back (well discussed topic on the UK).

18-6 was evident he can play at first team all star levels (short sample) but he alone could not counter what Miami threw at us. It was not even close and we did crumble under the weight. Literally our legs gave out! (Baron and Shump)

Melo got his coach. If Lin was not condusive to Melo its not a concern now. He is not back. We have ball distributers at the PG. He has everything he needs to succed.

Like most of you was are interested in this season as it represents the most complete roster in the Melo era and on paper maybe the best front line in the east. A lot is on him. I hope he can carry the load!

52 wins. Not bad when you consider we have Boston, Philly, Brooklyn and Washington in the division.

I fear that Amare and Tyson will spend significant time on IR. If this team remains healthy, look out!

I don't really see the kind of problems we've had in the past creeping up on this team this year. I think they've got some experience together which is key. They've added more depth and experience to the rotation. While the competition in the East has gotten much stiffer, I still think this team has the Stars you need in addition to a really good group of defensive players to put them over the top. Woody and Glen are in sync and the players seem happy as well. When you compare starting last year with TD as the starting PG and practically no one backing him up. It's night and day different this year. I feel the strongest about this team that i've felt in more than a decade.

Knicks play well, but Chicago or Celtics are lower seeds because of Rose or KG missing a bunch of time, come back healthy and Knicks get beat in round one. Melo will put up some good numbers but get outplayed in crunch time by Paul Pierce or somebody else and MrKnickshot blames Amare's 7 rebounds as the reason we lost.

God I hope Im wrong but thats the level of apathy a once passionate Knick fan has for this team.

Just guessing, but I think this team will have great chemistry. I don't believe anyone is going to make a stink about their role this season. Older vets like Kidd, and Prigioni are happy to be in NY, same goes for Camby (who past up the Heat to play in NY) and KT.

Felton is real glad to be back and I don't see him forcing the issue as much this time around. Already working with Novak. JR Smith is a wildcard which can be either good or bad.

VCoug wrote:Between 48 and 50 wins and a loss in the second round of the playoffs. I also predict Amare, Kidd, Camby, and Chandler to miss at least 60 games combined each due to injury and Felton won't come close to the numbers be put up under MDA.

+1, and fixed.