NBA Power Rankings – Ranking the top ten teams for the next NBA season (Part 2)
8. New York Knicks
Carmelo Anthony, Amare’ Stoudemire, Tyson Chandler and some more. You have one look at this roster and can bet your money that this team will go on to at least make the Conference Finals. As it turns out however, this is not looking
likely and it has more to with the players themselves.
Despite all the talent, the Knicks have a deep rooted problem of team chemistry. Anthony loves to have his own way, which pretty much leave Amare’ Stoudemire cold on offense, and that is off course when the power forward is not
injured. As for Tyson Chandler, he might be a brilliant defender, but can only be rated as average on offense.
Mike Woodson, their new head coach, has tried hard to inculcate a team philosophy this off season and the arrival of two quality point guards in Jason Kidd and Raymond Felton is pretty much part of that thinking, but the Knicks
will need time to gel together. This puts their chances of matching well settled giants of the East in jeopardy and also lowers their stake in the league overall. Their problems will most probably remain this season and are thus lying at the number 8 spot
in this list.
7. Memphis Grizzlies
This was the team which nobody wanted to play last season. With the exception of O.J. Mayo, who left for the Dallas Mavericks, the Grizzlies have remained unchanged this summer and still have the pedigree to topple some of the
very best in the league.
Rudy g*y is quickly establishing himself as one of the best small forwards in the league while the front court duo of Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph is second only to that of Lakers, featuring Dwight Howard and the elder Gasol. What
the Lakers do not have though is a reserve big like Marreese Speights.
After the departure of Mayo, Tony Allen will not have a reliable backup and the Grizzlies a reliable shooter, but they still have enough resources to continue on with their highly physical style of play and turn a few more necks
next season.
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