The struggling New York Knicks haven’t been in the playoffs for 6 years. The last time they won 50 games was back in 99-00. The Knicks have struggled for many, many seasons, winning an average of only 32 games a season during that 10 year span. Last time they were in the playoffs, they were being coached by the dueling triple coaching of Don Chaney, Lenny Wilkens and even Herb Williams and their star players on the team were “pre-tattoo on head”, Stephon Marbury and sharp shooter, Allan Houston.
The 2011 revamped version of the Knickerbockers includes a lineup of Amare Stoudemire, Ronnie Turiaf (usually, but they don’t seem to know who they want at center either), Carmelo Anthony, Landry Fields, and Chauncey Billups. An interesting lineup, I don’t think the team is at where they would like to be at this point as far as playing better together, but step one accomplished, making the playoffs. Step two, of course, is to win their playoff series. At this point right now, if the season ended today, they would be matched up against the overhauled Miami Heat. Believe it or not, it could be a reasonable matchup for the Knicks; they are 2-2 versus them during the season, losing by an average of 5 points in those games of the season, 98-93. Heat should be careful of this matchup.
Coach Mike D'Antoni has the team moving the ball up and down the court, as expected, and they score points, no question, putting up 106.4/gm. But obviously their defense is utterly dubious, giving up 105.8/gm, which habitually is something you need to win the NBA title. No NBA champions over the last 15 years have given up 100+ ppg to opponents, an astonishing statistic.
The Knicks have a great legacy, with a grand history, with legendary players like Walt Frazier, Bernard King, and Willis Reed to name a few. Although only having 2 NBA championships in 65 years in the NBA, they habitually were a top team to deal with during the season. In the late 60’s to early 70’s they were always in the hunt. In the late 80’s through the 2001 season, they challenged teams every night.
Madison Square Garden makes for great basketball. Watching a game on TV looks a little better, listening to the net snap when a jumper is drained there sounds a little crisper, and I have been lucky enough to sit and watch a few games there, and it truly is an experience to remember. The lighting, the buzz, the crowd, it’s New York.
Big market cities are excellent for professional basketball, they draw big crowds, which in turn make considerable revenue for the teams, and then they can spend more money on players and coaching.
Being led now, by Amare and ‘Melo, it will be attractive to see how far these Knicks can go. Of the teams in the East, at this specific point of the season, I put them in the area of the 5-6th best teams of the East. I don’t think they are a significant threat to really make much noise, but it’s still good for the NBA as a whole.
Even if they are a 1st round out, it will be enjoyable to see the blue and orange playing in meaningful games again in the dimly lit MSG, with the crowd exploding for a breakaway dunk.
Let’s enjoy it; this could be just the foundation of the Knicks being a perpetual contender every year.
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