[IMGl]http://espn-att.starwave.com/i/teamlogos/nba/sml/trans/nyk.gif[/IMGl] <font size="6"><font color="blue">New York Knicks <font color="orange">04-05</font> Season Preview</font></font> by Knicks Analyst After falling to New Jersey in the first round of the playoffs last season, Isaiah Thomas was determined to make a big change. Well, no huge changes were made. We acquired Jamal Crawford, and we picked up some bums. But, for some reason, Knicks fans have high hopes. Isn?t that strange? <font size="5"><font color="blue">Do you know what?s even stranger?</font> </font> I do too. Players: Stephon Marbury, Point Guard - The team?s workhorse, Stephon Marbury will have an all-star caliber season this year. The new addition of Jamal Crawford will force Starbury to alter his game play, but it will be for the better as Crawford will prove to be a good complimentary player for New York. Marbury should patch up those stupid unforced turnovers this year, after experiencing some of the crowd?s disapproval. Although he doesn?t have support at Center in New York, he will still get his fair share of assists with a healthy Allan Houston coming into the season. Grade: A-/A Allan Houston, Shooting Guard - The loved shooting guard will be healthy at the start of the season according to recent reports. The pressure from newly acquired back-up Jamal Crawford should push Houston to work harder on defense and play with more intensity on offense. Knicks fans never had the privilege of watching Houston drive to the basket consistently, now we may finally get it! His defense should improve as well, as Houston will try to strive to surpass Crawford in a category other than 3-Point shooting. Grade: B+ Tim Thomas, Small Forward - The under-achieving small forward will have another bad year in my book. His usual promises about how he is determined to improve never amount to anything. The man has no real value to the Knicks. Tim Thomas will never be what he could be, he averages less then 5 rebounds per game against guy at small forward who are 4 inches shorter then him. Not to mention his consistent habits of losing the ball. The only thing Tim Thomas can do is run, but every time he gets the ball, he either shoots or makes a worthless pass! However, when Isaiah seems to get on him about his lack of determination, Tim usually has a big game. So, if Isaiah Thomas is named coach at some point, Tim Thomas should improve. Grade: B- Kurt Thomas, Power Forward - Can you believe it? Can you believe we signed Thomas to that big contract and never got out of here? Well, believe it. We?re going to be stuck with Kurt Thomas for at least a little while. Our best shot at losing him for a while will be the deadline. Despite the number of Knicks fans who pop up and say how much they despise Kurt Thomas, I still say that he will have a solid year. Thomas was always a good scorer from mid range, and I think he will improve upon his number last year in a few categories. His game may be boring to watch, but I find it effective. Grade: B/B+ Nazr Mohamed, Center - Yeah, he?s still playing center for the Knicks. The Knick failed to acquire Erick Dampier this year, and it may come back to bite us. Nazr was never much of a center. He?s 100% bench material, there is simply no doubt. When he comes off the bench he plays for a short while, but in that time he plays with great intensity. However, when he starts his game is dull and seemingly ineffective. His determination quickly dissolves after about 8 minutes of game time. He has no good moves in the post and let?s just say he?s ?not much? from outside. Another bad year for Nazt, that?s all I have to say. Grade: C+ 6th Man- Jamal Crawford, 6th Man - The newly acquire PG/SG from Chicago has landed a fat contract in the big apple! Now what? Well, Wilkins and Isaiah have agreed to have Stephon Marbury and Allan Houston work with Crawford to improve his game. I believe that he will be pushed to take fewer shots, especially from the out on the perimeter. His game appeared selfish when he played in Chicago, but expect that to change when he starts playing in Manhattan, the fans will be on him from the start. Most fans are excited about Crawford, but feel he needs to work out all of his problems before he can possibly be marked down to replace Houston. I think it?s only a matter of time until Crawford steps in and makes an impact. I have high expectations for Crawford, but this year he will learn to play team ball. Grade: A- What happened this off-season? None of the players lost were very important to the team, but nevertheless they?re gone. Here they are: Dikembe Mutombo, Othella Harrington, Frank Williams, Cezary Trybanski. The only real loss out of those 4 is Frank Williams, a young and developing point guard who is dripping with potential. The players we gained: Jamal Crawford, Jerome Williams, Vin Baker, Jamison Brewer, Bruno Sundov, Menke Bateer. We re-signed Baker, stole Crawford. Now we?re stuck with these other bums. They will rot on the bench, if they make the team. Why are Knicks fans excited? Well, the answer to this question is short and sweet: We can do it this year. We really can, we can do well this year, I see us advancing into the 2nd round of the playoffs. Maybe even make it to the Eastern Conference finals! Will the Knicks win the division? Of course the Knicks will win the Atlantic! Look who we?re up against: Philadelphia, Toronto, Boston, and New Jersey. The only real ?threat? is Philadelphia. If we don?t win the division, it won?t be because someone else won, it will be because we beat ourselves. A quick prediction: The Knicks will easily win the Atlantic. They?ll get the 4th seed and make it to the 2nd round where they?ll be eliminated. But in 05-06 we will make it to the Eastern Conference finals, so we all have something to look forward to! But, talk is cheap, so just wait for the season to start, it?s almost here.
* I wish I could take back the rating for Mohammed and TT. My new grade for Mohhamed: D My new Grade for TT: D+ Ouch. There's SO much I left out. I wish I could re-do the entire thing.
Well part of the reason we are excited is because of trevor ariza and michael sweetney wich u failed to mention. And penny is still a big part of the team
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting BobbyEscobar:</div><div class="quote_post">Well part of the reason we are excited is because of trevor ariza and michael sweetney wich u failed to mention. And penny is still a big part of the team</div> I figured that was a given. Of course, this excitement was generated in the off-season. And I don't think that anyone with any real sense of Knicks basketball thinks that Ariza will be HUGE for us, same with Sweetney. Their importance will come in time. Penny's role is growing smaller, as Ariza will be first off the bench for the SF (that's how it looks). And later on, Crawford/Houton to be first off at the 2. The only real key spot for Penny being the 1, Marbury had the highest MPG last year near the end of the season, thus I didn't stress Penny. Sweetney hasn't shown as much this off-season. There isn't much excitement around him now. Question- Did you watch the pre-season games? Sweetney didn't do much. Are you 'excited'?
Youre right sweetney didnt do much but the games that i saw he got hacked almost every time he got the ball. But Trevor Ariza has gotten me excited. He reminds me of spree
He [Sweets] did get some hits. But he didn't perform at the level most Knicks fans were expecting. Hey, Ariza is my favorite player, ok? I just think that next year it's going to be his turn, not this year. His game is amazing. He played 21 minutes one night (same time as TT). TT grabbed 3 boards in 21 minutes, and ARIZA grabbed 9 boards 6 off. boards. So yeah,I love Ariza. But next year is his year.
Are you serious??? The Knicks making it to the 2nd round this year and the ECF next year?? No offense against the knicks dude but that's a REAL longshot. Well teh 2nd round thing isn't too far a shot but the ECF in 2 years is quite the prediction. Lets say the Knicks win the Atlantic. They'll probably be 3rd place. Now lets say the Cavs are 6th place. Knicks vs. Cavs. Pretty equal game if you ask me. It'll be tough for them to make it out of the 1st round against anyone. If they do, they probably wouldn't make it past there, just putting things in perspective... not hating. And next year, say the Knicks have the same team due to salary reasons. They get 3rd again in the East. Win in the 1st round, and have to play the 2nd place team... which would probably be Miami. Knicks beating Shaq and Wade? Uhh...
We don't KNOW what's going to happen next year. Personally, I think Shaq is going to be injured late in the season next year. So chill out. I think Shaq's toe will hurt him in the long run. Don't start.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Mr.Wade:</div><div class="quote_post">Are you serious??? The Knicks making it to the 2nd round this year and the ECF next year?? No offense against the knicks dude but that's a REAL longshot. Well teh 2nd round thing isn't too far a shot but the ECF in 2 years is quite the prediction. Lets say the Knicks win the Atlantic. They'll probably be 3rd place. Now lets say the Cavs are 6th place. Knicks vs. Cavs. Pretty equal game if you ask me. It'll be tough for them to make it out of the 1st round against anyone. If they do, they probably wouldn't make it past there, just putting things in perspective... not hating. And next year, say the Knicks have the same team due to salary reasons. They get 3rd again in the East. Win in the 1st round, and have to play the 2nd place team... which would probably be Miami. Knicks beating Shaq and Wade? Uhh...</div> Make it out the 1st round? That won't be hard fo them to do. Pretty equal game? The Knicks can easily beat the Cavs imo. The Knicks are loaded with weapons. The real scoring threat they have is James and that's it. Even if we did get swept last season we have a whole different team. The only reason we were swept last season was: 1st game: We were playing the old Knick roster with Eisley and the rest of them. 2nd game: Marbury's first game since coming to NY. Did not even have a practice or anything. 3rd game: Houston was injured and Tim Thomas and Nazr Mohammed just were acquired only a week ago. 4th game: Nobody cared. Once we learned we were playing the Nets we just could care less about the outcome. Even if we have salary problems we can still make trades.
