Thompson: Knicks will win Atlantic, reach Conference finals

[Knick Swisher]

I thought is was Mychel Thompson saying this at first lol

same. I was about to say he's making some bold predictions for someone who might not (probably won't) make the team.

[moocow007]

It's going to be an uphill climb and barring an injury to James I don't think any EC team will be able to beat Miami but the important thing is that if they are going to go out they need to go out fighting. Missing the playoffs would obviously be a unmitigated disaster and should result in several heads rolling. A 1st round bounce also would be a big dose of fail and will get the trolls (who are waiting in the wings for exactly this) to come out of the woodworks with their "I told you so's" (though obviously if the Knicks do well you won't hear **** from them..."fans" they call themselves). A 2nd round bounce? Would be hard to stomach unless it's against the Heat AND they go out fighting. Best case I think is a date with Miami in the ECF. But to do that they will need to pretty much have to have the 2nd or 3rd best record in the EC...which is not going to be an easy task and for which they need to come out quick and be consistent the entire 82 game schedule.

I question Wade's and Ray Allen's ability to stay healthy come crunch time. I know I shouldn't factor that in but what else can I hold onto against the artificially contrived powerhouse known is the Heat?

We have many questions coming into the season, but I already see some positive signs:

Melo is as prime as he ever was
Prigs looks like he can adjust to the NBA speed and will only get more comfortable he can (I think will) be key in making life really easy for our gunners
Felton looks prime and that chip on his shoulder aint going nowhere.
Novak has expanded his game...

We'll see about Amare.... but IMO the best case scenario is a team better than anyone could have realistically envisioned , it's currently impossible quantify how "good" that team could be - I'll stay tuned.

The thing that separates the teams that win championships and teams that are very good but never seem to be able to get over the hump is a killer instinct IMO. You didn't see it with Lebron in Cleveland. You didn't see it his first year in Miami. But last year you saw it. You see it in how Boston plays with KG leading the charge. You see it in how San Antonio plays. The Bulls of Jordan. The great Lakers and Celtics teams. The Pistons of the Bad Boys days. A lot of teams have talent but you need the team to bond and focus and have the cold hearted willingness to basically do whatever it takes to win games. The ability to smell blood and take a team out completely...never relenting, never easing your foot off the pedal, stab them through the heart every chance you get. Boston's been doing that for quite some time (the physicality, the anger, the intimidation). Miami picked it up (notice how they try to take you out mentally quickly at the start of the bell?). It's what the Knicks need to find. They have the talent. Question is do they have the resolve. I think they are aware of this which is why they are bringing in guys that know how to play that way and win (and why they avoided guys like Blatche even though on paper he may seem to have more potential for individual accomplishment)...which is a great start. But in the end it's going to come down to Anthony and Stoudemire cause the role players (everyone else basically) can only get you so far. For them to win a championship they are going to need Anthony and Stoudemire to be at their best both individually and together and show the type of focused fire and resolve that each may not have shown in their respective pasts..at least not to the degree that they'll need to show it. Every game is a must win game. No letting up. They thrown a punch you throw it back harder.