Jazzfan1971 and FloppyMoose's Offseason Preview - The Knicks

[jazzfan1971]

New York Knicks

Projected Roster
--------------------

PG - Jose Calderon, Pablo Prigioni, Shane Larkin
SG - Iman Shumpert, JR Smith, Tim Hardaway Jr
SF - Carmelo Anthony, Travis Outlaw, Cleanthony Early, Quincy Acy
PF - Andrea Bargnani, Amare Stoudemire
C - Samuel Dalembert, Jason Smith, Cole Aldridge

Trading Block: I'm sure that the Knicks are looking to move JR Smith before he exercises his player option and screws with their cap room next offseason. For as far as that goes Calderon might be pretty easy to move as well. Not sure there are going to be a lot of takers though. Especially when the Knicks will be demanding expirings back.

Position battle: SG. Nobody knows or can tell me who will be starting at sG for the Knicks. I've got Shumpert here, but, it could just as easily be Smith or Hardaway.

Mystery Man: I'm gonna go with Phil Jackson. It's a mystery to me how he's going to get the group to run the triangle. It might be a thing of beauty. But, it could also resemble a Benny Hill sketch. I'll be very interested to see how JR Smith reacts in that offense.

Floppymusings:
Perhaps the worst rotation of bigs in the nba. Bringing in Calderon was wise. It will be another long year for Knicks fans. When Bargs and Amare are gone and you have another couple of good draft picks, that's when things could start to get interesting. What will Jackson be like as a GM? What will Fisher be like as a coach. Regardless, this is probably not the year you want to judge them by.

Jazzfanramblings:
My beloved Jazz are in the middle of a painful rebuild. After John and Karl retired the Jazz reloaded pretty fast with Boozer and Deron and kept on chugging. But, eventually the wheels fell off that and a complete rebuild was called for. So, they brought in Denis Lindsey to manage the rebuild. And one thing we hear in the media from Lindsey on a regular basis is that the Jazz are not going to be 'skipping any steps.'

It seems to me that the Knicks have been skipping steps for a dozen years or more now. Chasing every player that comes along with little thought given to salary structure, draft picks, or chemistry. Almost like a kid in a candy store with 2 bucks in his pocket, you are sure that kid is going to not set foot out of that store until he's spent every last penny. That's the Knicks of late to me.

In 2014 ESPN ranked all 30 NBA front offices. And the New York Knicks came in dead last. I honestly can't argue with that assessment. Since the turn of the century, 14 years now, the Knicks have averaged a meager 33.9 wins a season. This wouldn't be so damning except that the Knicks are located in a top 2 free agent destination and have some of the deepest pockets to spend on players (2nd in the league last year). They've got every advantage, yet they can't break free of mediocrity or worse.

To be fair, the Knicks may have turned a corner. They've brought in Phil Jackson and Derek Fisher. And they are clearing off a boatload of salary next season. But even then it's not like they will be flush with cap room. Just 3 players: Melo, Calderon, and Smith, could combine to eat up about 35 million in cap space next year. Even if they cut everyone else that's still 8 more cap holds that will push them up in the direction of 40 million. It's not pretty and given the Knicks history of free agent signings it could be worse than it seems.

Outside of Melo that roster looks like a collection of the dregs of the NBA. Guys who don't defend, are one dimensional, don't have their head screwed on straight, or are just too banged up to play. I think it's time for New York to take a step back and rebuild the right way, without skipping steps this time around. Hopefully Phil Jackson is up to the task and can face down Dolan when he decides he wants to spend his last 2 dollars on the next shiny piece of candy he sees.

Projected Record - 32/50

[JaysRule25]

Hey, how come you didn't talk about Godnani?

[AussieBuck]

Disgusting bigs.

[jazzfan1971]

I just want to go on the record. I think Fisher will be the best of the rookie coaches signed this year.

(sorry Snyder)

[jazzfan1971]

Hey, how come you didn't talk about Godnani?

I did see one fan predict he'd go for 30ppg this year. When pressed on it, he said he wasn't joking.

If Bargs goes for 30 a night I think Floppy will be overestimating the win total by a fair amount.

[Eduardo]

Can anybody do these? I'm gonna make my own nba preview threads

[jazzfan1971]

Can anybody do these? I'm gonna make my own nba preview threads

Of COURSE anyone can do them. All it takes is an opinion and a keyboard. (isn't that obvious? )

[Gus Fring]

I can see them making the playoffs, they arn't better than the hornets tho

[Capn'O]

Stat's a mystery man, as well. He played very well toward the end of the season and has not had any setbacks since. It has been a few years now since he's had this kind of good health entering a season, and if he is healthy he will start and play well. But that's always a big, big if with him.

[jazzfan1971]

Wow, if you can get quality backup minutes from Amare I think that's a win. If you press him into more than that you are just asking for an injury.

[ronnymac2]

You think they'll be worse than last season? They have a major upgrade at PG from 31 mpg of the worst starting PG in the NBA to Calderon, and THJ and Shump should be better this season, too.

The frontcourt situation is bad, but I think they'll still be better than last season based on the improvement in the backcourt and at Head Coach (I think Fisher will be pretty good at maximizing talent). I expect much more effort this season, too. If they stay healthy, I can see 40-42 wins in the East. Maybe get to the second round.

[Capn'O]

Wow, if you can get quality backup minutes from Amare I think that's a win. If you press him into more than that you are just asking for an injury.

Towards the end last season he was starting but only playing 25-30 minutes per game and sitting back to backs. That corresponded with the brief period that the Knicks were rolling toward the end though other factors (such as JR finally playing well) played in. The minutes is what is key. Yes - 25+ is likely the trouble zone though freak stuff can happen with him. Untimely battles with inanimate objects and such.

[Ahmed1212]

You think they'll be worse than last season? They have a major upgrade at PG from 31 mpg of the worst starting PG in the NBA to Calderon, and THJ and Shump should be better this season, too.

The frontcourt situation is bad, but I think they'll still be better than last season based on the improvement in the backcourt and at Head Coach (I think Fisher will be pretty good at maximizing talent). I expect much more effort this season, too. If they stay healthy, I can see 40-42 wins in the East. Maybe get to the second round.

Minor upgrade.

[SmoothKobra]

32 wins is pretty accurate. Phil's probably going to tell Fish who to sub in and out during the games via iPad or something. Coaching via proxy.

[ronnymac2]

You think they'll be worse than last season? They have a major upgrade at PG from 31 mpg of the worst starting PG in the NBA to Calderon, and THJ and Shump should be better this season, too.

The frontcourt situation is bad, but I think they'll still be better than last season based on the improvement in the backcourt and at Head Coach (I think Fisher will be pretty good at maximizing talent). I expect much more effort this season, too. If they stay healthy, I can see 40-42 wins in the East. Maybe get to the second round.

Minor upgrade.

You have no idea how terrible Felton was on both sides of the ball. At least Calderon tries, isn't a fat knucklehead, and is smart and efficient on offense.

[Ignitowsky]

"In 2014 ESPN ranked all 30 NBA front offices. And the New York Knicks came in dead last. I honestly can't argue with that assessment. Since the turn of the century, 14 years now, the Knicks have averaged a meager 33.9 wins a season. This wouldn't be so damning except that the Knicks are located in a top 2 free agent destination and have some of the deepest pockets to spend on players (2nd in the league last year). They've got every advantage, yet they can't break free of mediocrity or worse."

They have one of the best basketball minds on the planet running their front office yet this is what you choose to focus on?

While they have question marks in the front court they will at least have a system that might bring the best out in guys like Bargnani and Amar'e 2.0. Dalembert is not a serious downgrade from last year's version of Tyson Chandler, and replacing Fatton with Jose is worth 5 wins.They've improved team chemistry, brought in some nice young players, have a boat load of guys that are going to be playing hard because they're playing for a contract (8 if I'm not mistaken) and are in a terrible division. I guess you guys have no faith in Jackson or Fisher.

I'll take the over on 32 wins. I think they could easily be somewhere between 41 and 46

[Mamba4Goat]

I'd say the mystery man is Shumpert. I feel like he's going to get more of an opportunity in the triangle and finally have a breakout season. He showed flashes of being a very solid player before he tore his ACL, and I liked a lot of what I saw when I watched Knicks games last year from him. Don't be surprised if he's a MIP candidate. As for Stat, I also liked what I saw from him coming off the bench. He could be a very useful six man.

This team has tons of x-factors (Smith's play, Stat's health, defensive ability, Bargs, and so on) but they could very well be a 50 win team if things click.

[Hero]

Projected Record - 32/50

Good prediction. I see them finishing close to this as well and would be surprised if they are even close to the playoff hunt at any point in this season.

[Capn'O]

I'd say the mystery man is Shumpert. I feel like he's going to get more of an opportunity in the triangle and finally have a breakout season. He showed flashes of being a very solid player before he tore his ACL, and I liked a lot of what I saw when I watched Knicks games last year from him. Don't be surprised if he's a MIP candidate. As for Stat, I also liked what I saw from him coming off the bench. He could be a very useful six man.

This team has tons of x-factors (Smith's play, Stat's health, defensive ability, Bargs, and so on) but they could very well be a 50 win team if things click.

Outside of Melo and Calderon the whole team is shrouded in mystery. A lot of young players and guys coming off career down seasons. I don't think outsiders realize the extent of the implosion last season. Guys were at each others throats and some just quit. Shumpert was blindsided by trade rumors and kinda sulked for awhile. And, of course, some of the worst ego management I've ever seen from Woodson. It was like he tried to sandbag. Nobody was really on the same page until the PMFJB rumors started. The same way that everything went right the year before, everything went wrong.

Once PMFJB showed up it was night and day. Like a group of second graders that had been taught by a crappy fill in teacher all year. All of a sudden a real teacher walks in and everyone's on their best behavior.

As a Laker fan, you probably get that. Even as team prez, I expect that aura of accountability and focus to carry over. Learning the triangle should be tough but the group should be humming by mid-season. 45 wins give or take is my bet.

[RSCD3_]

I don't see how they get worse

They'll actually be running an offense




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