With J.R. surgery put off to July and hearing Amar'e Stoudemire could be limited in back-to-backs, sense a trend

developing here. Smith may or may not be ready for the start of the regular season but there seems a shift in focus. Woodson had put so much emphasis on winning the Atlantic Division last season that he burnt out his team by playoff time. Wallace, Thomas didn't make it to postseason and Kidd and Smith were shells. Seems #Knicks philosophy now is get through the regular season San Antonio-style and be right and ready for playoffs. If that means Stoudemire plays just 65 games, so be it. If that means J.R. misses the first week of the regular season, who cares, as long as he's good for the playoffs. Popovich has made an art form of resting guys and Smith should have been shut down for the final two weeks of the regular season - even if it cost them the second seed. Again, the title isn't won in preseason and November

I love the crop of young players we're looking at this year. Adding THJ and CJ and perhaps Tyler, Murry and Jennings coming to camp among others. It's going to be a much different situation from last year. we've got a good amount of vets and what looks like a few more talented young players who might make the team.