Knick of hope

Hey fellow Knicknews users, the new season is here, and if you need information from a person that has contact with the Knicks beat writer, I'm your guy. I will have news and information about The Knicks, after Newsday has it of course, both are owned by James Dolan, and Cablevision (Stock ticker (CVC), I'm covering all bases right now).

The Knicks will take on the Nets tomorow, 2pm, in Albany.It will give all of us, the first glance at the team that will take on this "hump year", one that is sure to leave the fans excited and in a frenzy. If the team makes the playoffs, free agency doesn't feel as bad, but if they miss it, then all the attention turns to attracting, two of the best players in the NBA, to their organization. Bringing back some MSG magic.

I think the team will be able to sneak in the back door of the playoffs this season and probably, take out a team like the Pistons. I'll write down how i think the East will shake out.

 East-      1) Clevland 3) Orlando 5) Atlanta 7) Detroit 

             2) Boston 4) Wizards 6) Miami8) New York

WEST- 1) Lakers  3) Dallas     5)Portland       7) New Orleans

           2) Denver  4)San Antonio  6) Uthah  8) Phoneix

 I think the Knicks can make it happen this year. I know that Detroit is not going play dead, but they did not get better with the loss of Rasheed Wallace, and the addition of Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanuvea, they are the same team essentially, or a tad better. Ben Gordon is a more team efficient Allen Iverson, and Villanueva, is a less defensive minded, 'Sheed. So, i think they might miss the playoffs, and take a ping pong ball in Draft '2010. Charlotte has a second year under Larry Brown, and they are also not better than their team of last year. Tyson Chandler can never stay on the court, and Eddy Curry might work best with Larry Brown, and I think Larry Brown might get productivity from him also. His and Tyson Chandler's salaries match up, but it doesn't help the cap-flexibility of either team any, so I don't think it would be that specific move. Chicago will try to ride the shoulder of Derrick Rose but I envision a scenario, where they fall short, and insert the Knicks. I know Charlotte wants that spot.

Indiana wants to get better, the Bucks and Toronto too. All having better records than the Knicks last year, but I'm accentuating the positives. Injuries always derail at least one team, and the list may require some adjusting, but back to the Knicks, and why that 8th spot is theirs to lose.

The team is tired of being the place where other teams get their hidden gems from, in the form of traded draft picks, and hopefully this is the end of it for a while. The Utah Jazz will be hoping that Larry Miller, is trying to put a celestial hex on the Knicks, from heaven, trying to make sure the Knicks season goes down in flames. Donnie Walsh and Mike D'Antoni, have worked overtime to make sure the team is composed of willing scrappers that want to fight their way in the playoff rounds. The team should play with a purpose and everyone will be focused. How do I know this? Of course I don't but if you read Alan Hahn's blog, who writes for Newsday, who is owned by Cablevision, that also owns The Knicks, he'll tell you that he saw the team play with "intensity". The Knicks played "hard, entertaining, and encouraging". I interpret that as, they will play inspired all season.

This year the offense does not need to be a focus point for the coaches, most of the roster is fully acclimated with the D'Antoni system. They focused on defense, and that is the difference between making an 8th seed berth. Their players will be fighting for a contract, and that should translate into fighting for wins. We never want to assume that players play better when they are getting ready to negotiate a new contract, but its occurrence is too frequent to be coincidental. I believe that is why the organization thinks they can sneak up on the league, because many of these players want to prove they deserve a raise, and it's their play that determines whether or not they get it.

6 players are contractual obligated back to the team after this season, and two have a player option, that are most certain to be exercised by them. Leaves 7 open spots. (Technically, they have two spots that are their option to pick up, two that are Qualifying Offers, but we've seen team not even offer players an Qualifying Offer this past summer, and two that are under contract past this summer. The Knicks have great flexibility). Players like Al Harrington, David Lee, and Nate Robinson, want to be here past this season. Chris Duhon and Larry Hughes strike me as players that will try and strike the proverbial hot iron, and make a pay-day out of this season, a season that could be a potentially good one. There will be few guys that will be happy just riding the bench. Darko Milicic will want good court time. Jared Jefferies has a little chip on his shoulders, he's tired of being an offensive joke, and has stretched his range into the 3point line.

I expect this season, which starts tomorrow at 2, in Albany, to include a lot of wild games, a lot of high scoring, and some impressive victories. It's time to cheer for the Knicks, like they are underdogs. It's time for The Knicsks, to show that they bleed the Orange & Blue, like the fans do. 

The Jets are good, The Giants are good, The Yankees are good, the Ranger and Islanders, are always trying, and if not they bring in good young talent the fans can love. The Nets are making big changes and The Mets need to too. The Knicks are very flexible, and loaded with players that may very well, be in another uniform next year. Al Harrington may want to go to a team and be a vocal player, that leads by humble play. He can contribute on a playoff team that needs a modern day Glen Rice, who's a few steps in their prime. He'll be 30 on Feb. 17th, and that's game 53 in the season. The Knicks will be relevant, and he should be in the midst of his regular numbers. 20ppg and 6rebs. But, the big difference will be on defense. They will play a better brand of defense and stop teams like Portland and Clippers, in the final seconds. I look forward to seeing a better team, with less distractions, more focus, and more continuity. (Eddy Curry, is the last of the distractions, of Isiah Thomas, and may be the Jerome James of the team, or could  be the Zach Randolph of the team, either way, I'd be shocked to see him playing meaningful minutes). Visiting players will still come to NY and try to put on a show, it' NY. The bright lights, Jay-Z and Alicia Keys, talk about in their song, "Empire State Of Mind", is so seductive and players crave the attention Madison Square Garden and NY'ers give em. All in all, I think we will have a better team to watch, and they, a pleasant surprise for the League, a quiet revival of The Knicks. Them being included as one of the relevant team in the NBA again, and in a good way. Especially, next summer.  Thanks for reading, and I will keep them coming, ask me  or the Knicks any question and I will try and get it answered by Alan Hahn. He and I talk from time to time.