pre preseason prediction

[dk7th]

guys i'm bored sh*tless with waiting for the season to start, although the yankees and giants will be diverting until then. i also like what little i've seen of sanchez. throws a pretty ball.

anyway i am simply going to state right now that based upon what we saw last year and what my "feelings" are having seen some of gallinari and douglas, i "feel" the knicks are capable of 38-42 wins this coming season. i won't lock in my prediction until i have seen some preseason games.

anyone else want to hazard a guess?

[ReneNYG1]

I can see 45 wins.But your right ,How much do we showcase Curry during preseason and what time table is it when we get rid of Curry and JJ affect this team win total but I hope they show enough in pre season to move them early with Mobley's contract and then we can let our young guys play all year together.

[irish2u2]

I won't predict till we know more. When Lee and Nate re-sign then I will make a prediction that will register shock and awe. At least "awe" as in "Ah Shucks, Bill must be stone nuts!". ; )

[kgooglog]

Dave and Nate are factors, but I do see a 10 game improvement over last year, since I think Donnie Walsh may only make one in-season trade this year, and that probably will be Jared Jeffries. With David Lee, I will add another 2 games to the win total, so I suppose I am with Rene in terms of a 45 win season. That may or may not be enough to get us into the play-offs this year.

So much does ride on having a center who can be a presence. While I am cautiously optimistic that Eddy will have an impact, I am very excited about Darko Milicic, who I personally think will have a great year. This guy is tailor-made for the Knicks system.

I only see upsides with Wilson Chandler as a two guard, and with a healthy Gallo at the 3, and a resigned David Lee, pencil me in for a 45 win season...I'm sticking by my Kinks Komrade on this one!

[kgooglog]

I can just imagine Bill's prediction of 52 wins ; ) C'mon, mate! Say it with gusto!

[pearl]

42 Wins for our Knickerbockers, provided the season is a relatively healthy one for them. I don't believe the Knicks ever get much beyond a 500%, due to a lack of a defined, defensive plan, to learn and follow consistently.

Curry is not the answer for a (5) presence, he will score down low, however I cannot live with his lack of rebounding and lack of help defense. He simply doesn't read the court well enough to play help defense. His lack of desire on the boards and playing defense, will not be instilled in him at this stage of his career.

D'Antoni's offensive- 7 second style, will not win championships with this crew. The Knicks simply don't have the stoppers up front, who make or break games in crunch-time and the playoffs. No lock down defenders and certainly no team smarts, when it comes to help defense. Being as fair and constructively critical as required here, Curry, Nate, Hughes and Harrington are not cerebral players and you need players who are not self-centered to win. Not happening with Curry, Nate, Harrington and Larry Hughes.

I do see potential with Wilson Chandler, who is a smart player and a team players, same of Gallo and David Lee. I believe Douglas is this type of player too, along with Jordan Hill. So, basically, the Knicks have 5 players to build around and a LOT more tooling for the next few years.

Darko will be a nice pick up, however, the Knicks will be batlling Dwight Howard for thhe next 10 years and need a center, who may have to be a (5) out of the D'Antoni trypical 5 mold, one who can bang and foccus 100% on defense and pick up the crumbs on garbage baskets.

Pearl

[greatgates]

Darko will be a nice pick up, however, the Knicks will be batlling Dwight Howard for thhe next 10 years and need a center, who may have to be a (5) out of the D'Antoni trypical 5 mold, one who can bang and foccus 100% on defense and pick up the crumbs on garbage baskets.

Pearl

I would tend to agree but a chris dudley type of center would ruin D'antoni's offense. All five players need to be threats for Dantoni's offense to thrive

[irish2u2]

More or less we now know what we will have for this season. Realizing Hunter, Crawford, Pruitt, Carter and Yue are all players on the cusp the guys who are a lock for the team are:

Centers Eddy Curry, Darko Milicic and Jordan Hill who can also play PF. At forward (since a lot of these guys can play both forward positions) we have David Lee, Al Harrington, Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, and Jared Jefferies. The guards, again a lot of them are interchangeable, are Chris Duhon, Larry Hughes, Nate Robinson, Toney Douglas plus Wilson Chandler and at least one of the three guards fighting it out for a roster spot (Crawford, Pruitt or Yue) and my guess is whoever shoots the best gets the roster spot.

I think the starting lineup will be Curry, Lee, Gallinari, Chandler and Duhon. Harrington and Nate are the key reserves off the bench. I believe Curry initially starts because he has more familiarity with the team and because we ant to showcase him but ultimately Darko will get more and more PT especially if we are successful in marketing Curry and eventually we do trade him. The rookies get PT depending on trading Curry and also if Nate can handle backup PG duties.

The key differences will be an actual NBA center (either Darko or Eddy) which allows Lee to play PF. A healthy Gallinari allows us to start him at SF where his skills should shine and it also lets us try out Chandler at SG. I like the size of this team with a 6'11, 6'10 and 6'9 front line and a 6'8 guard. It's a decently athletic bunch and we have some punch off the bench with Harrington, Nate and Darko. I expect to see an improved Larry Hughes too.

I like our team. I like the way we are positioned as far as personnel and payroll are concerned. The sad fact is a lot of teams in the East are also improved. In our division we have a healthy Boston team that has added Rasheed Wallace, Sheldon Williams and Marquis Daniels plus kept FA Glen Davis. With Garnett healthy again plus Pierce, Allen and Rondo they are the best team in the East and likely the NBA.

Toronto is vastly improved too adding Hedo Turkuglu, Jarrett Jack, Marco Belinelli and Amir Johnson to Chris Bosh, Andres Bargnani and Jose Calderon. Philly is solid too. Elton Brand is healthy and joins Andre Iguodala, Samuel Dalembert, Willie Green, Louis Williams an improving Mareese Speights and rookie Jrue Holiday. They lost Andre Miller but Williams now gets a lot more PT and Holiday will get his shot too.

Only New Jersey may be worse than last year. Also Washington looks a lot better as well as teams in the West and the teams that were good last year. The bottom line is New York will be improved but so will be most of the NBA especially in our division and the Eastern Conference. That will impact how many games we will win this year.

We were 32-50 last year. We had new players, a new coach, some distractions, injuries and serious issues with size and defense. By and large we were not a bad team last year when healthy. This year the addition of two centers with size helps a lot. This allows us to play Lee at PF where he is less likely to be overmatched night in and night out. His defense should improve. Any kind of effort from Curry on the boards and defensively helps us and Lee.

Darko Milicic is key. This style of play suits him. He has ability and he should get the opportunity. The most important factors are that Darko is a good shooter and passer and a legitimate 7 footer. Jordan Hill will be brought along slowly but he has the ability to be a good center/power forward hybrid player. Darko, Eddy, Hill and Lee all work well at the power positions and moving Chandler to guard gives Gallinari a shot at starting at SF. Initially I think Harrington starts there but ultimately Gallo is a perfect fit as a point forward while Harrington should get plenty of PT as the backup to Lee and Gallo.

Darko is key. Gallo is vital. Together both of them gives us tall shooters who an pass, board and play decent defense.

It looks like Duhon has some help so he won't get burned out. For the most part he played exceptionally well for most of the season. To be honest I was shocked at how well he did play before fatigue set in later in the season. Somebody whether it's Nate, Douglas, Yue or Pruitt should give Duhon a breather and keep him fresh.

Chandler and Hughes at SG turns what has been a negative to a very real positive. Both are good defenders. Both have size. Both can shoot though they are also both streak shooters.

We might struggle some out of the gate considering we have some new guys plus players who did not play a lot last year but I am thinking we have a .500 team. If we mesh quickly maybe even better than .500. It's a heavy burden but how well we do next year is really on the shoulders of Gallinari. If he plays as well as most think he can he allows us to bring Harrington off the bench with Nate, certainly an exceptional 1-2 punch, he gives us an exceptional perimeter threat, together with Lee we would have a brace of forwards well above average as ballhandlers and passers plus both can board.

It's also important that Chandler makes the transition to SG and that we stay relatively healthy.

Our record next year could help us secure a top notch elite level free agent but really the selling points for the Knicks will be Gallinari, Chandler and hopefully keeping some of the other guys together especially Lee.

It's not melodramatic to say next year may be one of the most important seasons in the history of the Knicks franchise. Just imagine Gallo, Lee, Darko, Chandler, Duhon, Hill, Douglas and hopefully either Al or Nate with LeBron James. It kinda takes your breath away, doesn't it?

[kgooglog]

As an aside, I pick the Lakers to whip anyone out of the East. Adding Ron Artest makes LA an all-star team, IMHO. I cannot see Boston, even with their addition of 'Weed Wallace, standing a chance against a healthy Bynum, Gasol, Bryant, Artest, Lamar Odom, and Jack Nicholson spearheading them on with a cigarette in his beak. It pisses me off to no end that LA never seem to have a bad squad, no matter who they lose as a superstar.

I am mostly positive when it comes to NY. Larry Hughes, as much as he looks like a player who plays with the passion of a snail, is still a formidable player on both ends of the court. Hughes was acquired after a protracted lay-off last year, got off to a slow start, then got injured. I think we are very, very good a the two guard position, especially if Nate is in the mix.

Our front-court is intriguing in a good way. I am, admittedly, somewhat excited to see what Eddy Curry will bring to this team, and as I've said before, Darko Milicic will have a terrific year, IMO. Toss in Jordan Hill and, if David Lee is a Knick which I will put dollars to donuts on him being signed this week, Mike D has a potential center system of 4 players. Plus, Gallo, if he so chooses.

On paper and in discussion, I think we are strong enough to show a 12-13 game improvement over last season. One thing I love about the players we have, is that the majority of them can play more than one position. Our bench is deeper and has more offense, if we look at Al Harrington and Nate Robinson being the primary reserves. We have two-position players at almost every position, so I do not think D'Antoni will be having too much difficulty in seeing who plays best, where.

I think that if Nate is resigned for this year, we will be okay at the PG. Chris Duhon made a promise to the fans last year to be in better condition. He had a hell of a first half and than broke down last season. While Toney Douglas is a rookie, he appears to have the leadership and PG skills we want in a first year player. I also see Nate, again, if he is resigned, playing much more 1 this season than last year.

I like this Knicks team, albeit without a major superstar. Yet. Gallo will show us this and I think Wilson Chandler will be a massive player for us as well.

[irish2u2]

Ken

I see Ron Artest as a distraction for the Lakers. Ariza was content doing his thing and fitting in while Artest may not "fit" so well with Kobe. The Celtics have added frontcourt insurance with Sheed and Sheldon Williams (a very underrated player IMHO) and certainly their frontcourt of Garnett, Pierce, Sheed, Williams, Davis and Perkins more than matches up with Lakers even with Artest and a healthy Bynum. While Kobe is an advantage over Ray Allen the real difference maker is Rondo.

To me another essential component is Marquis Daniels, another tall athletic guy you can throw at Kobe. Take him and perhaps see some further development in Bill Walker, an insanely talented player who has had some injury issues, and again I believe the Celtics are the best team. But as usual comes the caveat I have been wrong before and I might be wrong again. Let me also add a heavy dose of irony that I am debating the merit of my two most hated teams in the NBA, the Lakers (#1 enemy in my heart) and the Celtics. ; )

[kgooglog]

Bill...

You make an excellent point about Artest possibly being a distraction. However, let us discuss a player who was coached by Phil Jackson, who was possibly the hugest distraction in NBA history, one Dennis Rodman. Jackson and Rodman won many titles together in Chicago, and if Rodman wasn't coloring his hair purple, his cast of associates, his absences from games as well as practices, and his fetish for Madonna (One which I still have), brought unnecessary news to the Bulls.

As much as I hate the Lakers and the Celtics as opponents, I respect both teams and in my heart of hearts, I believe Boston would have won the NBA title last year if KG was healthy. Here is where I differ about these two teams. LA is stacked with somewhat younger players, with only Bynum having injury problems during the playoffs last season and LA still won. With Andrew healthy, the addition of a more mature Artest, Gasol's consistent all-star caliber play, and Kobe Bryant's all around Hall Of Fame skills, we are talking about a superstar starting line-up. Having Odom off the bench as well as LA's other experienced reserves, I just cannot see an aging Boston team beating them in a 7 game series.

That said, I do see the Celtics advancing to the Finals. I only see them as second best, though, when compared to an LA squad that Phil has been blessed with. LA has proven they can win championships WITHOUT Shaq or even a healthy Andrew Bynum. One thing LA has is the best player in the NBA next to LeBron James, and even that correlation can be argued. Put aside your dislike of the Lakers, and you have to fear this team more than fearing what Boston can and will throw at you.

Rondo is a superb young player, yet Boston now has a 33 or 34 year old Ray Allen, a 32 year old KG, who is starting to have serious injuries, and I think they rely way too much on Pierce. Rasheed is elderly and not the player he once was. Boston may have a better bench than LA, but the Laker players are in their prime. I think Boston's big three are a bit too old, and their big 4th, Wallace, while a definite positive addition to their squad, also has his short-comings in terms of on-court behavior, although he has improved dramatically in this area.

Boston does have the Irish luck, however, and their core has been play-off tested as a unit sans Wallace, who will fit in, IMO. I just think LA has way too much fire-power, and I cannot underscore how good Ron Artest is on both ends of the court--that is, if he is "right". I see the match-ups diring the season being the best in the NBA, but I have to give the edge to the Lakers as well as their head coach, who I cannot stand.

To think the Knicks just tossed in Trevor Ariza in that horrible trade for Penny Hardaway--perhaps the worst player move in Knick history besides trading Patrick Ewing for useless players, who had gargantuan contracts. I wish we had Ariza, but he still is not Ron Artest, which may be a good thing in terms of personality, but skill-wise?

[neilverson]

Ariza was a throw in for the Steve Francis trade. Imagine if Orlando kept him.

So Ariza in turn helped us net Zach Randolph...who scored up Tim Thomas(cap relief) and Mobley(80% contract)...which hopefully helps us dump Jeffries and land the King.

[ironman95]

Now that Lee is signed and Robinson's signing seems imminent, I still see problems for the Knicks and some of their closest rivals are better, although the Nets seem worse. I would still like to see what the starting lineup will be, mainly I think the center position is still up for grabs. With Curry the starter, I think 40 wins is about the limit. If Darko can beat out Curry, and the reason is because he proves he really has something then I am willing to up my prediction to 42-44 wins. If somehow Jordan Hill beats them both out, maybe even more, but I see him as a power forward. I think he will be more productive there on offense, although defensively he may prove his worth at center. The Knicks need a shot-blocker at center. Eddy is to big a blob and can't jump, so I hope Darko can be the imtimidator that the Knicks need to improve everyone else's defense on the team. If not then Hill has to be plan B. I still would like to see Lee, Hill and Gallinari on the floor together with Duhon and whoever proves to be our best wing player. Gallinari center on offense, Hill center on defense.

[greatgates]

Ken and Bill. you both make good points but i see Boston as the team to beat. i can't stand Kendrick Perkins but he is a beast. Their power rotation matches La at the 4 @5. Artest is still a very good defender as long as his opponent isn't too quick and could give Pierce trouble OR he could get into quick foul trouble as Pierce is very adept at getting calls against contact ( and Artest is the king of defensive contact. Kobe is all that but i can't see him or any of those slugs at PG handling Rondo. BTW dont sleep the spurs. If healthy they can win it all.

[kgooglog]

Sept 25, 2009 11:16:13 GMT -5 neilverson said:

Ariza was a throw in for the Steve Francis trade. Imagine if Orlando kept him.

So Ariza in turn helped us net Zach Randolph...who scored up Tim Thomas(cap relief) and Mobley(80% contract)...which hopefully helps us dump Jeffries and land the King.

Thanks for correcting my gaffe on who we tossed Ariza out for. I suppose it can be debated on who was the most ineffective Knick, Penny or Stevie, but both were complete horror shows.

I feel a bit better knowing the trail to Ariza may end up making LeBron the King of NY, though.

Orlando must really be scratching their collective heads on Trevor. You're right. If the Magic retained this player, Orlando would be in the discussion of the team to beat for the Championship...