New York Knicks and the NBA Title: A far cry from reality – Still: NBA Feature
Last summer saw the New York Knicks enjoying centre stage in terms of being the talk of the NBA. If Amare Stoudemire’s introduction to the Knicks was not enough, along came the Carmelo Anthony saga, which eventually saw him landing
in the ‘Big Apple’ earlier this year.
After Stoudemire and Anthony joined forces, it was expected that the Knicks were going to transform into one of the better teams in the league and might be finally ready to compete for an NBA title. However, due to the current
lockout, no one seems to be concerned with the Knicks’ chances next time around, because there might not even be an NBA season.
But the question still remains: Do the Knicks have what it takes to compete with the likes of Miami Heat and the Dallas Mavericks? There is no denying that Stoudemire and Anthony are as good a team upfront as any other in the NBA,
both famous for their scoring frenzies; however, if they cannot play as a team and complement each other, their talents will go to waste.
Although it is too early to say whether Stoudemire and Anthony will click as a pair or not, the picture is not too healthy at present. This is because Carmelo Anthony has not yet been able to live up to the hype which preceded
his move.
The short time that Anthony spent with the Knicks last season, saw New York amass a below average 7-10 record. The end of the season saw the Knicks earn a 42-40 record, not much different than the previous years.
But it is too early to reach any conclusions as of now, because the Knicks were under construction last year. The 2011-2012 season is the only gauge that might help shed a better light on the team’s prospects.
A flashback of last season does indicate that Amare Stoudemire carried the team rather well along with Landry Fields. However, when Anthony joined the bandwagon, things seemed to roll downhill, even though Carmelo averaged 26 points
and a 47% shooting accuracy per game.
This has raised serious questions regarding the need for a new coach in place of D’Antoni. Last year was his third season with the Knicks and his coaching statistics (103-143) are not something, he would like to display on his
job resume.
In short, not only do the Knicks need a new coach, the current roster needs some refurbishing as well. Holes in the point guard and centre position need urgent attention. The point guard position requires someone who is consistent
and Chauncey Billups is probably too old now to offer his services for that role. The Madison Square Garden franchise has to look for somebody young in this position, a player, they can groom under Billups.
Then there is the case of a big. The Knicks have reportedly been trying to get their hands on Chicago Bulls Kurt Thomas, who has been a Knick and a very good one at that. However, he is the oldest player in the league and it is
going to very difficult for him to carry the workload, even if the Knicks do get him.
Overall, the Knicks have a long way to go before they can be taken seriously in the Championship race. Where new players need time to gel together, it might take a new coach several seasons to get his flow going.
The positive aspect of all this, however, is that the Knicks have at least started moving in the right direction. Every great team goes through a process of baby steps before they can mingle with the big boys.
Disclaimer: The ideas expressed in the article and the ratings assigned are the writer’s own personal views and has nothing to do with bettor.com’s editorial policy.
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