TheDavinciCHODE wrote:The Knicks swapped Jose Calderon and Sasha Vujacic for Derrick Rose and Courtney Lee + have Brandon Jennings coming off the bench, who, if he averages something around 10 pts a game, would be better than anyone we had normally come off of the bench last year(although AA was benched toward the end of the season.).
I don't understand where the Melo doubting is coming from..he got 22/7.7/4 last season, and that was with almost no consistent offensive help and coming off an injury, including a freak injury that caused him to lose his rhythm and struggle for many games. The guy is a still a great player.
His numbers last season, a down season, were still in another league than players like Gordon Hayward and Dwyane Wade, players who were lauded for their performances, and were on par with Paul George, who he outperformed in rebounding and assists, and was only 1ppg behind in scoring.
He put up more points and 3 more boards per game then Jimmy Butler, and was only .6ast behind.
This isn't 2010 Carmelo Anthony that we're talking about here, but he's still putting up star-level numbers. 22/7.7 is still beast mode. He lead the team in all major categories, and the Knicks were lacking in both top-end talent, bench depth, and players that could play any wing defense.
The Knicks should be majorily improved this season. The bench isn't stellar, but it isn't bad either. Jennings is a very capable player, and had a down year coming off of an injury. He should see improvement with better health, stability, and being in a contract year.
Jennings/Thomas/Quinn/Hernangomez/Holiday is definitely not a great bench, but it's better than last years. And the starting lineup is in another stratosphere than last year's, considering our improvement at guard.
Noah is a more mobile, better passing, more fluid-offensively Center, and if he can provide stout defense, then our frontcourt defense will be good with KP helping out. We got massacred on the perimeter game in and game out, and our offense was a one-trick pony. Plus nobody understood the triangle and it didn't help our young players develop.
Rose obviously has health issues, but he put up 16ppg last season, that's still really solid, especially for a guy coming off injury. Any reason to think he won't average that or better this season?
Improve perimeter D
Penetrating guards
Guards that can get theirs
Step forward from KP
Better depth
No reason to think the Knicks won't be in the playoffs. top 3 seed? That's probaly a stretch unless everyone stays healthy and outplays expectations. This team should be around 46. Hell, the team won 32 games last year with peanuts, and lost 17 games by 5 points or less(if I remember correctly from a post I made earlier this season on the Knicks board). I expect a big step forward on offense, and a step forward on defense.
If KP takes a big step forward, then things are looking up.
Homer prediction: 47-35
The points you made were like picking each knick fans brain. Thank you.