New York Knicks

[Yogi]

   They got some good players in Tyson Chandler, Baron Davis and they still have their 2.5 million exception to get another player like Arenas.  But I don't like their approach or their culture.  I strongly believe that the Hawks, Sixers and the Pacers have a better team and will finish with a higher seed.  What do you guys think?

[jdz101]

Agree. Silly run and gun coach and not enough good defensive players. Pacers look better this year.

[2short]

Carmelo is an amazing scorer.  However I tend to agree with you in a series I'm not sure the knicks could beat the pacers.  Chandler is a great pickup but the knicks bench and coaching leaves a bit to be desired.  The hawks....dunno they have been lackluster to me unless josh smith turns into the player he should be I can't see them being any better than middle of the road.

[Yogi]

   I think the emergence of Jeff Teague, Josh Smith's new body and the return of Hinrich are good factors.  I also think that T-Mac is a more versatile sixth man than J-Crossover.  If Joe Johnson stays healthy they are looking at 3 all stars with Horford and Smith.

[Who]

I only watched the first half of the Nets-Knicks pre-season game the other day but I liked the lineups that Mike D'Antoni was putting out there.

D'Antoni was going against his preference to go small and out-run the opposition ... instead choosing to go big and pound the opposition. Power lineups. Much more onus on defense and rebounding.

I am becoming more and more optimistic about the Knicks team. I think D'Antoni is going to do a really good job for them. Show that he is adaptable and can coach different systems. That he is not tied to one system.

[Who]

I hope the Knicks keep Relando Balkman in the lineup. He looks a very good backup SF.

Scrappy. Tough defense, great rebounding. Strong cutter. Very intelligent. Gives them a lot of lineup/matchup options in terms of going big or going small.

[PosImpos]

Knicks are going to be a top 4 seed this season.

[dtrader]

The pacers have great potential, but the Knicks are set to go this year.  Chandler is a defensive anchor, amares capable of playing D when motivated, and fields is a great wing defender.  One the other side, what team has a lineup capable of guarding Davis (healthy+motivated), melo, and amare?  Any one of them could drop 25 a night, and if you double, the guys youre leaving open (fields and chandler), can hurt you.  I think theyre pretty balanced.  3 elite scorers and 2 elite defenders.  Before they added Baron, I'd say they were still second tier, but if playing on a good team gets baron on track, theyre trouble.

[Overrated]

Knicks are playoff-bound for sure, but tough to say where they'll finish in the East. They're taking a risk with Baron Davis though - the guy's got a bad back. I'd be shocked if he played more than half the season. Seems like he's always hurt.

[jpk2000]

I live in NY so get Knicks TV(MSG). I get info on the Knicks and honestly their bench is weak right now. Their best player coming off the bench is a rookie named Iman Shumpert, SG with a little talent.

It will be interesting to see how they turn out this season. But I will not try to sensationalize the Knicks because they added Chandler. He might play defense, but others on that team can't. 

[Evantime34]

I think it will be a tooth and nail fight between Boston and NYK for the Atlantic title (unless Dwight goes to NJ in which case it's a three team race). If they are smart they can surround Melo and Stat with Balkman, Shumpert and Chandler (three good defenders) slow the ball down and run half court sets for their stars. They aren't smart though, and D'Antoni will run them ragged and not play any defense.

[jpk2000]

I hope the Knicks keep Relando Balkman in the lineup. He looks a very good backup SF.

Scrappy. Tough defense, great rebounding. Strong cutter. Very intelligent. Gives them a lot of lineup/matchup options in terms of going big or going small.

That guy is not good. I was surprise to see him score casually, but it was a pre-season game and the Knicks were playing the Nets. The Nets are not known for defense at all.

[jpk2000]

I only watched the first half of the Nets-Knicks pre-season game the other day but I liked the lineups that Mike D'Antoni was putting out there.

D'Antoni was going against his preference to go small and out-run the opposition ... instead choosing to go big and pound the opposition. Power lineups. Much more onus on defense and rebounding.

I am becoming more and more optimistic about the Knicks team. I think D'Antoni is going to do a really good job for them. Show that he is adaptable and can coach different systems. That he is not tied to one system.

I hear u, but they were playing the Nets and it was a pre-season game which we can't read too much into.

[Evantime34]

My friend is a Knicks fan and his argument as to why they will finish ahead of us is because of their bench. Thoughts on this?

[Fafnir]

My friend is a Knicks fan and his argument as to why they will finish ahead of us is because of their bench. Thoughts on this?

I don't think their bench is anything special at all.

Jared Jeffries
Mike Bibby
Renaldo Balkman
Toney Douglas (once Baron Davis is in the lineup)

Its the scoring threats of Amar'e/Melo combined with Chandler's defensive presence that makes them a threat to win the division.