And these three veteran BIG's are Kurt Thomas, Rasheed Wallace and Marcus Camby. And it's a pretty damn good feeling too. Eventually (hopefully) Sheed will become our backup PF behind Stoudemire while Camby backups Tyson Chandler at the 5. We could then use Kurt Thomas at both the PF/C position(s). As a junk yard dog who's ready to protect the paint while fouling hard against any opposing BIG.
Heading into our game against Milwaukee we're featuring 12 players in Felton, Pablo, Kidd, Shumpert, J.R and Brewer. Novak, Copeland, Melo and James White. Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler. All in whom are (finally) ready to perform against the Bucks when called upon. This only leaves Kurt Thomas, Rasheed Wallace and Marcus Camby waiting in the wings. Woodson has player after player in which he'll be able to throw into the game. Almost at his disposal if that makes any sense. This is how deep of a team we are and/or are becoming.
Now that Jason Kidd's returning against the Bucks, our guards are complete. Ball movement should be back better than ever. But the more I think about it, the more I believe that (one of) Woodson's main focus is to have our veteran big men healthy come postseason play. When I mention our big men I'm talking about the likes of Kurt Thomas, Rasheed Wallace, Amar'e Stoudemire, Tyson Chandler and Marcus Camby. I don't consider Melo as being a natural big, although Melo himself has proven that he's able to play bully ball against the best of em.
Why are our veteran big men so important to our potential championship dreams? Because in my opinion, a team such as Miami truthfully has no chance against our BIG's of 2012-2013. Not come postseason play they don't. Not down low they don't. Not if we're healthy they don't. Chris Bosh would pretty much become outnumbered by the count of 5-1. When you think about it, there's a reason why Miami has Bosh playing out of position as a natural PF who's now being asked to man down the paint as a starting NBA Center. Say hello to Tyson Chandler. There's also an actual reason why Miami gave Curry a try for many of months last season. The answer is simple. It's because Miami, as a team, lacks overall big man talent. Which is and could become a serious problem and/or key weakness for Miami come postseason play.
Chris Bosh: 33.9 minutes, 17.2 points, 7.4 boards and 1.32 blocks per game. Excellent player.
Udonis Haslem: 19.4 minutes, 3.6 points, 5.5 boards and 0.18 blocks per game.
Rashard Lewis: 13.9 minutes, 5.3 points, 1.8 boards and 0.13 blocks per game.
Joel Anthony: 10.5 minutes, 1.5 points, 2.0 boards and 0.76 blocks per game.
Chris Andersen: 6.5 minutes, 2.5 points, 3.5 boards and 0.50 blocks per game. Just signed 2 games ago.
Josh Harrellson: 5.2 minutes, 1.7 points, 1.2 boards and 0.17 blocks per game.
Dexter Pittman: 3.0 minutes, 1.5 points, 1.8 boards and 0.00 blocks per game. Has only played 4 games.
I don't believe for one second that the likes of Chris Andersen, Joel Anthony, Rashard Lewis, Udonis Haslem and Chris Bosh can compete against the likes of Kurt Thomas, Rasheed Wallace, Marcus Camby, Amar'e Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler during an entire 7 game series. I just can't see it. Focus on and/or swarm after Bosh while using both Tyson Chandler and Amar'e Stoudemire along with our veteran BIG's to beat up, bully and bang against Bosh during an entire series. And I can not picture Miami competing with us down low and/or on the boards.
I'm pretty amped for tomorrow's game because regardless of who starts at 2G, SF and PF; we're only three veteran BIG's away from being 100% complete as a team. Despite all of our team injuries and/or obstacles that we've had to overcome as a team, you mean to tell me that we're first place of our Atlantic Division while competing against the Miami Heat for the number one seed of the entire Eastern Conference, 43 games into the season at that? This is what we dreamed about during the offseason. Waiting for Shumpert and Stoudemire's return is something in which we talked up during the entire offseason. Lots of us believed that Felton replacing Lin saved our Knicks season before it even started. We landed a leader at the PG position when we traded for Raymond Felton. We dreamed of Melo leading a group of men. We're now featuring two All-Stars in Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler. Two Gold Medalist Olympians in Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler. A championship winning starting NBA Center in Tyson Chandler in which helped destroy Miami down low during the Mavs elimination of Miami. A top 3 shooter from beyond the arc in Steve Novak. One of the most complete 6th Man of the Year contenders in J.R Smith. Amar'e Stoudemire starting to come full circle. Veteran guards such as Kidd and Pablo. Defensive minded guards in Iman Shumpert and Ronnie Brewer. Talk about perimeter defense. Then we have the likes of veteran big men in Kurt, Sheed and Camby who can really bring us over the top as veteran ring chasers.
Now that we're only three veteran BIG's away from being 100% complete as a team? I don't believe that our fan base has seen anything yet. The energy level will be here with our Knicks come postseason play. It's a different jungle. Like never before too. Our potential postseason intensity is something in which I can't imagine come playoff basketball. Felton, Prigioni, Jason Kidd, Shumpert, J.R Smith, Melo, Stoudemire, Kurt Thomas, Rasheed Wallace and Tyson Chandler... Which one of these players don't play with energy, heart and intensity? Even Novak shows intensity while doing his discount triple check. God forbid Brewer turns up his defensive pressure come postseason basketball, and it's scary just thinking about how great our Knicks can become moving forward.
In closing, we're a team that hasn't even had time to fully gel yet. But yet we're only 1.5 games back of Miami for the number one seed of the entire Eastern Conference. N.Y.K critics often seem to forget and/or ignore the fact(s) that Shumpert, J.R, Novak, Melo, Stoudemire and Chandler were the only current Knicks in whom were on our roster last season. It's rarely talked about that players such as Felton, Kidd, Pablo, Brewer, James White, Copeland, Kurt Thomas, Rasheed and Camby weren't even on our team's roster last season ala haven't even had a chance to get their feet wet as Knicks.
Now we're only three veteran role players in Kurt, Sheed and Camby from being 100% complete as a team? Sounds like an Eastern Conference Contender in whom has Miami right where they want them. In reach.
