From a Knicks fan, as a poster, I'm coming here with respect

[NYK StateOfMind]

Growing up as a New Yorker, I grew up enjoying plenty of good Knicks basketball; including 3 great NBA rivalries during the early 90's to early 2000's.

Guys like Derek Harper, Starks, Mason, Oakley and Ewing during the early 90's. Guys like Charles Smith, Anthony Mason, Oakley, Herb Williams and Ewing really gave us a strong frontcourt down low. Those teams (Can't forget about Hubert Davis, Doc Rivers and Greg Anthony at the guard positions) really went to war against the dynasty Bulls team featuring B.J, Jordan, Pippen, Paxon, Perdue, Horace Grant, Cartright and then later guys like Kukoc, Rodman, Longley, Kerr and Ron Harper all came to Chicago... Man, the Bulls always got the best of us come postseason play, but damn did NY and Chicago have wars on the basketball court.

Then came the Pacers being led by Reggie Miller himself, our drafted PG in Mark Jackson, Smits, McKey, Dale and Antonio Davis etc, etc, NY usually got the best of Indy come playoff time, but damn did Reggie and the Pacers give us all we could handle. Outstanding series against those guys. We truly hated eachother.

Then came the Miami Heat come the last 90's-early 2000's. Ewing and Oakley were shells of what they once were, but still had plenty of heart, toughness and fight left. Damn do I miss those two Center's in Ewing and Zo going head to head. What a rivalry New York and Miami had with eachother. Both teams went for blood during those playoff series. Ewing, Oak, Ward/Childs, Allan H20 Houston, LJ, I know you Miami fans remember goofy Dudley who couldn't hit a free throw, Kurt Thomas of his younger days, Camby, Sprewell etc vs the Miami Heat against guys I remember such as rebounding and defensive machine in Zo, Killer Crossover Hardaway running the offense, Mashburn, Dan Majerle from 3, Anthony Carter from behind the backboard, lock down defender in Bowen!, P.J Brown and Voshon etc, damn were those Miami teams stacked with a deep bench/strong role players. The Knicks and Heat really hated eachother come playoff time.

Damn do I miss the 1990's, but with all that said... Get ready for ANOTHER rivalry between these two franchises, because man is it about to get wild. Throw Chicago into the mix as well, because that team being led by Rose isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

Carmelo vs LeBron. Came out during the same draft class. Two greatr SF's going at it.

Amare vs Bosh. Two of the best PF's in the game today.

Wade with the huge advantage over younger Knick guards such as Douglas, Fields and Shumpert. Dropping 25+ at ease.

But with the Knicks having the big time edge at the Center position with 7'1 Tyson Chandler feasting and dominating down low on the boards. I'll tell you what, the Knicks may have the best NBA frontcourt around in Carmelo, Amare and now Tyson Chandler. On the verge of becoming very tough down low.

An old school perimeter defender in Battier going up against a new school perimeter kid in Fields...

Man, it'll become ugly come playoff basketball between the Knicks, Bulls and Heat! Between the Knicks and Heat? It's gonna come down to which team has the deeper bench and stronger role players. Right now MIA has that edge, but the Knicks could be on the verge of signing Mike Bibby as a backup PG and calling up our 7'0 rookie Center who's been overseas in Jerome Jordan.

To make a long story short, enjoy the season MIA fans and just know, that true Knick fans such as myself... Can never hate a franchise such as MIA when I have too much respect for and memories of what went down during the 90's.

Great addition with Battier as well. He'll help an already very good Miami defense.

[Grumpy Heat Fan]

Why did the Knicks fail at getting CP3?

They seemingly just "forgot" and went after Chandler instead? What happened to the planned Big 3 of CP3/Melo/Amare ?

[RexBoyWonder]

enjoyed your post...let's get this show rolling



so we could cursh your dreams

[NYK StateOfMind]

Why did the Knicks fail at getting CP3?

They seemingly just "forgot" and went after Chandler instead? What happened to the planned Big 3 of CP3/Melo/Amare ?

That was their plan, but never the plan of our front office.

We were just about dead last in both rebounding and defense last year. Tyson Chandler changes that right away. Our defensive and boarding struggles were due to a lack of Center play. We had 3rd stringers in JJ and Shelden at Center. Can't forget about having to start a russian project rookie in Mozgov at the Center position for one too many games. And Turiaf at center? That was a joke.

A flashy PG wouldn't have changed our defense down low or our rebounding ability on the boards. Also, to land Chris Paul during a trade, we would of had to give up Fields (Steal of last years draft), Douglas (Very talented combo guard), Shumpert (By far the most athletically gifted talent coming out of this years draft class and also considered the best overall defender coming out of the draft; can guard the 1-3 position(s) and Jerome Jordan for an elite PG.

The Knicks would of been left with CP3, Melo, Amare along with a bunch of nothing. We would have been left with an awful defense, horrible role players, no young talent what so ever, a laughing stock bench, 3rd string Centers, dead last rebounding ability etc, etc. We would have been 3 stars; with no team.

I'm sorry, but TD23, Fields, Shumpert, Jerome Jordan and Tyson Chandler over CP3 himself and it's not even close. Centers, Big Men, Defense and Rebounding ability is what wins championships. Tyson Chandler is what Dirk needed for many of years in Dallas. He finally landed a legit 7'1 Center in Chandler, and Dallas finally won a ring. Not saying that elite PG's aren't great to have, but Stockton, Nash, CP3, D.Williams, D.Rose etc, etc have yet to win a ring. Big men win rings all the time.

And lets not forget, the Knicks ranked #2 in offensive scoring last year witth a dime a dozen type of PG in Felton, a 2nd year developing PG in Douglas and a Billups who did nothing for us outside of 2 or 3 games. When you have Mike D'Antoni as head coach, with two top 6 NBA scorers in Carmelo and Amare... You'll rank top 5 in scoring each and every season. But now? We have a true Center for the first time since Ewing of his prime years.

Last but not least, if the Knicks really wanna go after CP3, while keeping our young pieces, we'll still be able to if Chris Paul decides to become a FA. It won't be hard trading Chandler to a team who needs a big man for a Championship run. Giving us the cap space to sign CP3 as a FA.

But yeah, no way would we sell the farm for CP3 and a bad defense before landing a true defensive C in Chandler while keeping our team together.

[NYK StateOfMind]

enjoyed your post...let's get this show rolling



so we could cursh your dreams

Thanks. NY, CHI, MIA and BOS will all be tough to compete against. ATL and INDY are two up and coming young teams. The East is alive again. It's gonna be wild. Staying healthy is key for all of the above teams.

[NBAMAN4LIFE]

NYK StateOfMind I dont disagree about aquiring a center like Chandler. Ofcourse he will help the knicks he doesnt require the ball in his hands and is a perfect compliment to Stat and Melo.. But at 14.5 million dollars annually is INSANE. You guys were in position to atleast try to lure CP3, Dwill or D12 this offseason coming up and now those hopes are GONE. It just doesnt make any sense to me why they gave him so much money . IMO that is going to cripple the franchise im not saying you guys will be a lottery team but that Knick teams potential is either first or second round exit man. You have all your cap space taken up on your front court. Lets not forget how some of these centers play for contracts.. The year b4 last he avg 6.5 ppg and 6.3 boards.. Last year he avg 10 ppg and 9 boards.. is that a guy you pay 14.5 million a year to ?

[Dezmondballins3]

Tyson doesn't give you a huge advantage he just good on D and can finish big deal it's not like you have Dwight or Bynum people like that. Knicks don't stand a chance against Miami im not hating just saying what i truly feel.

[DefenseWins]

Nice post

You guys are going to sign Bibby? lol

Well he might actually do good on the Knicks. He was good for the Heat, then our bonehead coach decides to have him not be the PG but be a spot up shooter and he absolutely sucked. I think he might play how he always played if he plays purely PG, which I'm sure he will.

We also have a rookie Center, Dexter Pittman. he lost 100 lbs to get to this point. We don't know if he will play however, but he is a beast.

Chandler will definitely help you guys out. To be honest because of Chandler, I believe it will be Knicks and Heat in the ECF. Bulls are good but their offense is terrible. Unless they get a shooting guard who has a lot of offense, then maybe they will get in the ECF. But I think Knicks will have an edge because their 3 point shooting can become unstoppable. Then again if Boozer steps it up, and Noah, they'll have an edge.

Heat finally have a good bench besides Miller still being injured, but I would agree Heat still have the edge over the Knicks in the bench department. You guys gave up a lot for Carmelo lol. To add to that, getting Chandler also means a player from the Knicks goes to the Mavs but it might not be anyone significant. Heat last year had the worst bench in the league, it was tough when the bench would score like, 5 points and the Big 3 had to do all the work. Carmelo and Amare will have their hands full.

I can't wait for the season to start!!!

edit : Uhm, Chandler was getting a lot of rebounds against Bosh in the Finals, he was a problem for the Heat. He would also guard LBJ and help double team and well, LBJ under performed, who knows if Chandler was that much of a factor. Bosh put on more weight but I don't know if it will be enough. And I don't know how well the new Eddy Curry is going to rebound.

[Dezmondballins3]

Okay but when we have advantage at every position except for PF & C then you add our depth the only way the Knicks will win is a miracle.

[heat4life]

The Knicks are better no doubt but I just don't see how Chandler puts them at the same level as Miami and Chicago. Maybe next year they can add more pieces to the puzzle, especially at the perimeter positions and you'll have a case. As of right now, they depend on the growth of Fields (bad 2nd half to the season and playoffs), Douglas (inconsistent) and Shumpert (rookie).

[DefenseWins]

Chandler is a 10-10 guy but he is a defensive power. He puts them on the same level, or above because he is a real inside presence the Heat don't have. Unless Eddy Curry (lol) ends up being a better defensive player than he was a few years ago out of the blue. Why do you think Heat couldn't abuse players like Barea? He was there ready to double team all the time. I watched the videos over and over again, he was more of a factor in the Mavs winning over the Heat than people think. LBJ wouldn't even try to get past him. Though Wade would because he would slither in there.

In the top 5 win shares last year per 48 minutes:

1. LeBron James 0.245
2. Dwight Howard 0.236
3. Chris Paul 0.233
4. Pau Gasol 0.232
5. Tyson Chandler 0.218

That's saying something. Not even Dirk was there, but Chandler was.

[NYK StateOfMind]

The Knicks are on the verge of featurning an outstanding rookie class this season.

Not only Shumpert (who's by far the most athletically gifted rookie talent coming out of this years draft class), but also with Jerome Jordan; a true 7 foot center who we've developed overseas dating back to last year. Very talented 7 footer to backup Tyson Chandler at the Center position. Developing under, and practing with Tyson Chandler can only improve the overall development of our promising young Center.

"7-foot center Jerome Jordan, a 2010 second-round draft pick, will be the next addition to the Knicks' roster as he was involved in heavy contract negotiations late last night to bring him to New York, according to his agent Todd Ramasar. Jordan spent the lockout playing in Slovenia but signed an opt-out clause for when the lockout ended. There was also a small buyout in the Slovenia deal. The Knicks were waiting on inviting Jordan to see if they had the room, pending which free agents they pursued. Jordan's agent had told the Post last week if Jordan was not invited to camp, he would demand a trade for his client. Last season, Jordan played in the Serbian League for Hemofarm. The Knicks originally paid Milwaukee $1 million for his draft rights. After the Carmelo Anthony trade in February got rid of many of the team's taller players, Mike D'Antoni said he hoped Jordan would play for the Knicks next season. Known as a good low-post scorer and potential shotblocker, the Knicks felt it was time to start grooming him and adding even more size to a roster that finished last season as among the smallest teams in the league. Now the Knicks have no shortage of centers on their roster. They're also on the verge of adding 7-1 Tyson Chandler from Dallas".

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_y2pir6CVkI[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bX1OMc3l3N0[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzjPHTgs8P0&feature=relmfu[/youtube]

Not only did our rookie in Shumpert compete and hold his own during the lockout, but he also stood out amongst some of the most talented young NBA stars in the game today.

[EscapoTHB]

I'm not scared of the Knicks. They would have been tricky if they had got CP3. But they have no point guard to break out defense down. They themselves don't defend. And we have the two best players on the floor with Lebron and Wade. And both are career Knick assassins.

We also have Amare stoppers in Haslem and Joel. Melo stoppers in Lebron, and Battier.

Our defense is much better than there's. And that's why in a playoff series, we'd take their lunch money

[heat4life]

The Knicks are on the verge of featurning an outstanding rookie class this season.

Not only Shumpert (who's by far the most athletically gifted rookie talent coming out of this years draft class), but also with Jerome Jordan; a true 7 foot center who we've developed overseas dating back to last year. Very talented 7 footer to backup Tyson Chandler at the Center position. Developing under, and practing with Tyson Chandler can only improve the overall development of our promising young Center.

"7-foot center Jerome Jordan, a 2010 second-round draft pick, will be the next addition to the Knicks' roster as he was involved in heavy contract negotiations late last night to bring him to New York, according to his agent Todd Ramasar. Jordan spent the lockout playing in Slovenia but signed an opt-out clause for when the lockout ended. There was also a small buyout in the Slovenia deal. The Knicks were waiting on inviting Jordan to see if they had the room, pending which free agents they pursued. Jordan's agent had told the Post last week if Jordan was not invited to camp, he would demand a trade for his client. Last season, Jordan played in the Serbian League for Hemofarm. The Knicks originally paid Milwaukee $1 million for his draft rights. After the Carmelo Anthony trade in February got rid of many of the team's taller players, Mike D'Antoni said he hoped Jordan would play for the Knicks next season. Known as a good low-post scorer and potential shotblocker, the Knicks felt it was time to start grooming him and adding even more size to a roster that finished last season as among the smallest teams in the league. Now the Knicks have no shortage of centers on their roster. They're also on the verge of adding 7-1 Tyson Chandler from Dallas".

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_y2pir6CVkI[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bX1OMc3l3N0[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzjPHTgs8P0&feature=relmfu[/youtube]

Not only did our rookie in Shumpert compete and hold his own during the lockout, but he also stood out amongst some of the most talented young NBA stars in the game today.

I can appreciate your positive outlook on the "potential" of your young players but you can't expect to be considered at Miami and Chicago's level when you are counting on young players that have yet to play in this league and another one who had a bad second half to the season last year. That would be like me saying we are a notch above everyone because we have a big in Pittman who can dominate and quick PG in Cole who can run circles around defenders. What?

I think NY is very good because of Melo, Amare and Chandler, not because of their rookies and young players.

[heat4life]

The Knicks are on the verge of featurning an outstanding rookie class this season.

Not only Shumpert (who's by far the most athletically gifted rookie talent coming out of this years draft class), but also with Jerome Jordan; a true 7 foot center who we've developed overseas dating back to last year. Very talented 7 footer to backup Tyson Chandler at the Center position. Developing under, and practing with Tyson Chandler can only improve the overall development of our promising young Center.

"7-foot center Jerome Jordan, a 2010 second-round draft pick, will be the next addition to the Knicks' roster as he was involved in heavy contract negotiations late last night to bring him to New York, according to his agent Todd Ramasar. Jordan spent the lockout playing in Slovenia but signed an opt-out clause for when the lockout ended. There was also a small buyout in the Slovenia deal. The Knicks were waiting on inviting Jordan to see if they had the room, pending which free agents they pursued. Jordan's agent had told the Post last week if Jordan was not invited to camp, he would demand a trade for his client. Last season, Jordan played in the Serbian League for Hemofarm. The Knicks originally paid Milwaukee $1 million for his draft rights. After the Carmelo Anthony trade in February got rid of many of the team's taller players, Mike D'Antoni said he hoped Jordan would play for the Knicks next season. Known as a good low-post scorer and potential shotblocker, the Knicks felt it was time to start grooming him and adding even more size to a roster that finished last season as among the smallest teams in the league. Now the Knicks have no shortage of centers on their roster. They're also on the verge of adding 7-1 Tyson Chandler from Dallas".

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_y2pir6CVkI[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bX1OMc3l3N0[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzjPHTgs8P0&feature=relmfu[/youtube]

Not only did our rookie in Shumpert compete and hold his own during the lockout, but he also stood out amongst some of the most talented young NBA stars in the game today.

I can appreciate your positive outlook on the "potential" of your young players but you can't expect to be considered at Miami and Chicago's level when you are counting on young players that have yet to play in this league and another one who had a bad second half to the season last year. That would be like me saying we are a notch above everyone because we have a big in Pittman who can dominate and quick PG in Cole who can run circles around defenders. What?

I think NY is very good because of Melo, Amare and Chandler, not because of their rookies and young players.

[DefenseWins]

I would give a list and vids of all the rookies Heat have but they end up going over seas or something... but too lazy.

Just look for Norris Cole this season, if he is given the opportunity to play lol.

[ninjabelly]

not to be mean, i think shumpert is way overrated on realgm though, he's definitely talented though; and as a heat fan i'm not sure if i'd rather you guys have paul or chandler.

[NYKBaller]

april 15 i'll be at the garden when we square off, woulda been better opening night to see it but cant help that anymore

[Nupe_1911]

I follow both the Knick's and the Heat very closely. I am a fan of both (odd, I know).

Chandler helps the Knick's where they needed it the most (defense, rebounding, shot blocking). The Knick's, like the Heat, do not need a C that scores or that requires "tocuhes" on the offensive end. Both teams simply need a C that clogs the paint and plays d.

As for which team is better, it is hard to say. They are arguably the top two teams in the east now. I am really looking forward to this basketball season.

[MiaFLSurf]

As for which team is better?!??!

LOL.

The Heat.... by A LOT.