Team's potential vs the East

[GONYK]

Straw man again. No one wants to do it every year. Just 1 time in a loaded draft so that we can set ourselves up for a decade.

How do you tank for 1 year? You wipe the roster clean of talent, draft one 19-21 year old, and then immediately resume winning?

Follow up question, how are the Knicks supposed to do that now?

That's exactly what you do

[RHODEY]

Disclaimer: Bulls fan chiming in.

I would be shocked if Knicks are not in the top 4-5 in the East at least if they are fairly "healthy" for most of the season. I really think Rose is going to have a HUGE year. Last year he was good and got better every month but he was still trying to not get hurt and get by as many games as he could - he was saving it for this year (final year of the contract).

I see multiple reasons why he would have a great year - 1) Contract year, 2) No more Chicago hometown distraction (after 2012-13 season, you could only hear Negatives mostly from all chicago media/fans), 3) Motivation to show Chicago front office that they made a huge mistake by letting him go.

Noah - he played bad for a last 2 years mainly coz he was playing out of position. After getting Gasol, Bulls put him in the PF position and so many times, Noah had to cover for not only his own man but also Gasol's and we all know that there is no other center in the NBA worse than Gasol at defending. Also, freak injuries also never gave any rhythm to Noah. His energy feeds off not only himself but also all other players and the fans in the stadium. He will be also HUGE for Knicks this year.

I really think Knicks players in Melo/KP will fit in so well with Rose and Noah so I don't even see any chemistry issues there. Yes, it might take a month for them to figure out what's best for everyone but once they do, I don't see them looking back.

Anyway, I really think Knicks will be damn good and fun to watch this year and if I have to put my money, I would put them as top 4 in the East.

Good Luck Knicks fans. I will surely be watching many Knicks games this year for sure and rooting for your team right after Bulls.

Solid post my friend, as you said when fairly health we are more than a .500 team . Good luck to you and your Bulls sir!

[FreeSpiritNY]

We have one of the weakest benches in the league. But with that being said its still better than last year and we won 32 games. Along with a horrible coach. So idk. I mean just from a new coach I thin we improve atleast 7 games. It will be interesting year I say we finish 4-8 and we can match up with any one of them. I just think the fact that we are a newly built teams and chemistry might cause a issue at times. So when we are running on all four cylinders we are one of the best if not the best in the east.

[Jeff Van Gully]

Straw man again. No one wants to do it every year. Just 1 time in a loaded draft so that we can set ourselves up for a decade.

How do you tank for 1 year? You wipe the roster clean of talent, draft one 19-21 year old, and then immediately resume winning?

Follow up question, how are the Knicks supposed to do that now?

That's exactly what you do

be a contender already, lose your franchise player for the season, miraculously get the #1 pick and he be the greatest PF of all time?

[Jeff Van Gully]

Disclaimer: Bulls fan chiming in.

I would be shocked if Knicks are not in the top 4-5 in the East at least if they are fairly "healthy" for most of the season. I really think Rose is going to have a HUGE year. Last year he was good and got better every month but he was still trying to not get hurt and get by as many games as he could - he was saving it for this year (final year of the contract).

I see multiple reasons why he would have a great year - 1) Contract year, 2) No more Chicago hometown distraction (after 2012-13 season, you could only hear Negatives mostly from all chicago media/fans), 3) Motivation to show Chicago front office that they made a huge mistake by letting him go.

Noah - he played bad for a last 2 years mainly coz he was playing out of position. After getting Gasol, Bulls put him in the PF position and so many times, Noah had to cover for not only his own man but also Gasol's and we all know that there is no other center in the NBA worse than Gasol at defending. Also, freak injuries also never gave any rhythm to Noah. His energy feeds off not only himself but also all other players and the fans in the stadium. He will be also HUGE for Knicks this year.

I really think Knicks players in Melo/KP will fit in so well with Rose and Noah so I don't even see any chemistry issues there. Yes, it might take a month for them to figure out what's best for everyone but once they do, I don't see them looking back.

Anyway, I really think Knicks will be damn good and fun to watch this year and if I have to put my money, I would put them as top 4 in the East.

Good Luck Knicks fans. I will surely be watching many Knicks games this year for sure and rooting for your team right after Bulls.

Solid post my friend, as you said when fairly health we are more than a .500 team . Good luck to you and your Bulls sir!

should be a very interesting season in chicago. interested to see how the rondo-wade-butler trio works out. i can see them playing with a lot of pride and winning more games than people think. rolo will hold it down. portis playing PF?

[GONYK]

How do you tank for 1 year? You wipe the roster clean of talent, draft one 19-21 year old, and then immediately resume winning?

Follow up question, how are the Knicks supposed to do that now?

That's exactly what you do

be a contender already, lose your franchise player for the season, miraculously get the #1 pick and he be the greatest PF of all time?

Thinking the Spurs tanked their way to Tim Duncan is a perfect example of not knowing the difference between losing and tanking.

[Sark]

That's exactly what you do

be a contender already, lose your franchise player for the season, miraculously get the #1 pick and he be the greatest PF of all time?

Thinking the Spurs tanked their way to Tim Duncan is a perfect example of not knowing the difference between losing and tanking.

Well they didn't start the year off trying to tank, but once the injuries added up, everyone knew they were tanking. Pop fired Bob Hill, who was a 60 win coach for them, and installed himself as coach. No one knew what he would become, but he had 0 head coaching experience. It was seen as throwing in the towel, and everyone knew Duncan was the prize since he was a senior.

[Boarder Patrol]

Ceiling? 4 seed (behind Cleveland, Toronto, Boston in my opinion). 2nd round.

Floor? 11 seed. I think we're safely ahead of Philly, Brooklyn, Miami and Milwaukee. Miss playoffs.

Honest prediction? 6 behind Cleveland, Toronto, Boston, Detroit and Indy. Competitive 1st round bounce from Toronto or Boston.

[GONYK]

be a contender already, lose your franchise player for the season, miraculously get the #1 pick and he be the greatest PF of all time?

Thinking the Spurs tanked their way to Tim Duncan is a perfect example of not knowing the difference between losing and tanking.

Well they didn't start the year off trying to tank, but once the injuries added up, everyone knew they were tanking. Pop fired Bob Hill, who was a 60 win coach for them, and installed himself as coach. No one knew what he would become, but he had 0 head coaching experience. It was seen as throwing in the towel, and everyone knew Duncan was the prize since he was a senior.

I don't think Pop installing himself as coach is tanking. It is giving himself a head start as a coach in a pressure free environment. He didn't make subsequent trades to purposefully make his team worse. He kept the whole team intact and, in fact, signed Dominique Wilkins to try and bolster the scoring. Everything about the Spurs situation is just the stars aligning just right.

Like I said above, I don't think anyone would be that mad if Rose and Noah went down and we only win 28 games.

But...that isn't tanking. That is just losing. That is not purposefully handicapping your team from the onset.

And you never answered, how would the Knicks even realistically "tank" this season outside of injuries?

[reub]

We have one of the weakest benches in the league. But with that being said its still better than last year and we won 32 games. Along with a horrible coach. So idk. I mean just from a new coach I thin we improve atleast 7 games. It will be interesting year I say we finish 4-8 and we can match up with any one of them. I just think the fact that we are a newly built teams and chemistry might cause a issue at times. So when we are running on all four cylinders we are one of the best if not the best in the east.

Our bench is to be determined. Jennings and Holiday plus Lance should be pretty good. O'Quinn, Willy and Kuz could all be helpful. If any of Baker, Randle or NDour come through we'll be in great shape.

[Sark]

Thinking the Spurs tanked their way to Tim Duncan is a perfect example of not knowing the difference between losing and tanking.

Well they didn't start the year off trying to tank, but once the injuries added up, everyone knew they were tanking. Pop fired Bob Hill, who was a 60 win coach for them, and installed himself as coach. No one knew what he would become, but he had 0 head coaching experience. It was seen as throwing in the towel, and everyone knew Duncan was the prize since he was a senior.

And you never answered, how would the Knicks even realistically "tank" this season outside of injuries?

Kept Jose Calderon as starting PG.

[GONYK]

Well they didn't start the year off trying to tank, but once the injuries added up, everyone knew they were tanking. Pop fired Bob Hill, who was a 60 win coach for them, and installed himself as coach. No one knew what he would become, but he had 0 head coaching experience. It was seen as throwing in the towel, and everyone knew Duncan was the prize since he was a senior.

And you never answered, how would the Knicks even realistically "tank" this season outside of injuries?

Kept Jose Calderon as starting PG.

So you're conceding that they can't tank at this point

[M2J]

You guys sleeping on Melo with this type of talent around him.

Enjoy this year Knicks fans. Brand new roster, fits well together. Less traditional triangle, more up and down. Versatility all over the place. Last year's record is meaningless. Different team all together. Last year was Melo and the D league squad, plus a rookie and serviceman center. Last 2 years.

Not worried about Noahs injury, and Rose is healthy. In a situation where he's clearly the 2nd option, and hopefully 3rd with KP developing.

Spark plug 6th man, that's starter quality. Three 3 & D players. This is a contender.

[matchman]

So Bulls fans are more optimistic about Knicks this year than "our own fans", that's quite a news to me.

[Failsafe33]

Kristaps Porzingis is the key. If he is able to take the next step and grow, it will relieve the pressure on the veterans around him.

[AndriPerdhian93]

Nah we try to make a playoff first and if knick fail, its not a big deal cuz we have our 1 round pick.

[Sark]

And you never answered, how would the Knicks even realistically "tank" this season outside of injuries?

Kept Jose Calderon as starting PG.

So you're conceding that they can't tank at this point

Well yea, unless the injury bug hits us, which has a pretty high probability.

[Juggynaut]

It's up to KP to determine if we make the playoffs or not. Can't help but a part of me wish we'll be bad this year.

[Melo2Porzy]

It's up to KP to determine if we make the playoffs or not. Can't help but a part of me wish we'll be bad this year.

Really?

I mean, really?

To wish bad on your favorite team is nigh insanity

[EnWhyKay]

This Squad goes as far as Melo takes us... He is the Alpha and Omega.. As long as everybody else is at least average Melo will be the deciding factor.. Then Rose... Then KP.. If Rose can get the penetration we know him for the knicks will be tough to deal with..