Rotation/production prediction 2013/2014

[Boarder Patrol]

But that could just as easily mean competition to get starting spots/rotation minutes, which would elevate a lot of guys games.

Look - there is no question in my mine that the Pacers are at the worst second most likely to win the East, and likely favorites.

I just think the Knicks will contine to perform well in the regular season as they have the past year and a half.

[EuroPacer]

To be fair, I hope you are right, a strong Knicks is good for the league, a strong East is good for all the contenders there. Competition is good but I still don't quite see how a Knicks rotation would work out whilst keeping all the pieces happy.

Let's give this a go:

Felton, Udrih, Prigioni
Shumpert, Prigioni, Hardaway
Melo, MWP, *
Amare, Bargs, Melo
Chandler, Amare, Barron?

Two seasons ago we learned that Melo/Amare doesn't work as a starting combo at which point you almost have to put Bargs as starter - cue trouble with Amare. Chandler gets injured: Put Amare at Center as starter, cue trouble, the 12 or so minutes Melo plays at 4 and Amare at 5 - trouble. I know it is easy to point to the last season and say that trouble isn't real - I think the failed play-offs made it real again, hence Bargnani coming in as potential starter - that is a hell of a lot of faith in a guy who comes of an injury and really hasn't been all that impressive.

I don't even think it is the lack of chemistry between the two, it is simply that without Chandler there is no defensive big on the court at any time. Also not convinced about PGs guarding bigger SGs, so each time Prigioni plays the two there are issues unless Jr. manages to break through proper (like everybody hopes he will) and pushes Prigioni to the back.

Then there is the 3 spot - MWP was a starter in LA, he is going to see a big drop in minutes, how is he going to cope with that? Also, he wasn't exactly at the top of his game anymore last season, are you going to be able to get more out of him at 33/34 years old?

And, finally, I just don't like the potential for defense on this team, the same issue you had last year seems only to have become bigger with the addition of Bargnani - starting melo and Bargnani? Opponent forwards are going to have a field-day rotating the strongest guys to Bargnani.

If ALL these things are resolved by Woodson, you are capable of running this league this year, but it is a massive IF.