The experience that Iman Shumpert, J.R Smith, Steve Novak, Carmelo Anthony, Amar'e Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler gained together during our playoff chase last season, will show up on the basketball court come (potential) postseason basketball here in 2012-2013. Veteran leadership from the likes of Jason Kidd, Raymond Felton, Pablo Prigioni, Rasheed Wallace, Kurt Thomas and Marcus Camby are here to help these young men of last season get over that hump.
We even have an in-between type that A.) wasn't here last season B.) isn't a seasoned veteran but C); Is instead a glue type of piece that every championship contending team would be thankful to have in Ronnie Brewer. Defensive minded. The definition of a role playing role player. Bruce Bowen comes to mind in regards to what Brewer stands for; which is a defensive lock down type. Has made an NBA name for himself as being a very strong perimeter defender. Just an overall contributer that Chicago will miss moving forward. Smart. Doesn't turn the ball over. Looks for lanes to cut through. Locks down on defense. Can get up there and finish when close to the rim. The whole 9. Even showing the ability to lock down open lookers.
Pierce needed the help. Both K.G and Allen needed the help alongside of Pierce. Bosh needed the help without question. Wade couldn't do it all himself. Not like this he couldn't. Even LeBron James needed help. But yet, it seems like it's too much for the likes of Iman Shumpert, J.R Smith, Steve Novak, Carmelo Anthony, Amar'e Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler to ask for help.
Don't look now, but our core group has landed us consecutive trips to the plaoffs. Going for a potentially third consecutive run this up coming season. This time, with experience. This time, our core group of players have actual veteran support. A bench that's as deep as ever here in New York. Overal talent that's at an all-time high. Potential that speaks of championship dreams and goals. Critics of our Knicks franchise will mention the fact that we've been eliminated from the playoffs during conseucitve first round exits. They forget and/or refuse to mention that we were beat by two teams in Boston and Miami that were well put together. Now we're finally seeing our finished product. It wouldn't be fair to expect the likes of Orlando, Indy, Toronto, and even Chicago as of right now; to compete with let alone eliminate this Knicks team during the first round of the playoffs. That's with (or without) home court advantage too.
You must first make the first round before advancing to the semi-finals. You must first fight for a top two seed during the regular season in order to avoid one of the top two teams during the second round of the playoffs (the semi's). Then it's simple, you have to escape the semi finals before having a chance at the Eastern Conference Finals. During the semi-finals, you'll more than likely face a 3rd or 4th seed, that's unless a 1/2 seed has already been eliminated. And that's when defensive wins championships. During both the conference and actual Finals. Defense. Mike Woodson, as our head coach moving forward, was (and I believe is) a blessing in disguise; which is a defensive minded coach in whom our players play hard under.
