Miami may have won a championship last season, but that doesn't change the fact that here in 2012-2013, we're just a much better (overall) basketball
team when compared to Miami. Two twenty point victories is no fluke and/or coincidence. We've built a better basketball team over the years and we're finally seeing our finished product here in 2012-2013.
We watched this Knicks team put up a 104-84 victory during our first game of the season against Miami. Some blamed it on hurricane Sandy, but when in reality? These Knick players also lived through hurricane Sandy. Being able to put a natural disaster aside before murdering Miami just goes to show that we're featuring lots of mental toughness.
Not only that, but we just went into Miami, on the road, without our leader in Carmelo Anthony, during the second night of a back to back road trip; and walked away with a victory. Not only did we walk away with a victory, but we absolutely dominated Miami by the score of 59-39 during the second half. Beat these guys by twenty points yet again. Those naysaying critics will point to "it's only been 18 games" but this 14-4 start is one of the greatest starts our franchise has ever seen. We not only gave Miami their first home loss of the season (8-1) but we also gave Miami their worst home loss since they've formed their trio of Wade, LeBron and Bosh. None of this is a coincidence. We've built a better basketball team. A stronger one moving forward.
Miami may have LeBron, Wade, Bosh and a shell of what he once was in Ray Allen, but as a basketball team? We're featuring too much talent (from top to bottom) for Miami to compete with. We have too much veteran leadership for Miami to deal with. Our bench will murder these guys each and every time out. Our role players are so much stronger when compared to Miami's role players. You can go on and on. We've built something special.
I couldn't imagine Miami going into New York without LeBron James and Chris Bosh while the Knicks have both Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire. We're talking about a potential 30-40 point victory during that hypothetical situation. If Miami ever faces us at full health? They'll have zero chance come postseason basketball. They'll stand no chance of eliminating this Knicks squad at full health. I've been around the game of basketball for well over 20 years. Have never once seen us feature a Knicks team as talented/deep as this one.
Once Shumpert and Stoudemire return, I believe they'll have to earn their playing time and/or role. It won't be given to them. We shouldn't change a thing starting roster wise.
C: Tyson Chandler.
PF: Carmelo Anthony.
SF: Ronnie Brewer.
2G: Jason Kidd.
PG: Raymond Felton.
C: Rasheed Wallace.
PF: Amar'e Stoudemire.
SF: Steve Novak.
2G: J.R Smith.
PG: Pablo Prigioni.
C: Marcus Camby.
PF: Kurt Thomas.
2G: Iman Shumpert.
As a fan base, we haven't seen anything (yet) in regards to our max potential/ability. Just wait until both Shumpert and Stoudemire replace the likes of Chris Copeland and James White within our 13 man rotation.
Come postseason basketball, Wade will have to deal with the likes of Shumpert, J.R Smith and Brewer for 4 quarters strong. Good luck to Wade, because he won't be getting any easy buckets. He'll have to work for each and every shot attempt. LeBron will have to deal with the likes of Brewer and Melo. We can ware these guys down with our defensive talent/ability.
Miami not having true PG's who can compete with the likes of Felton, Kidd and Pablo will become their down fall. Miami not having a true Center who can compete with Tyson Chandler will become their achilles heel. Miami's bench being destroyed by ours will bury them during a 7 game series.
You could see it in LeBron's eyes tonight during the 2nd half, he wanted nothing to do with our Knicks team. And that was without Melo, Stoudemire, Camby and Shumpert.