2. Are New York For Real?
The Knicks have found some form at the right time of the year. Theyre cruising into the playoffs in good nick (get it?) and with Carmelo Anthony playing possibly the best basketball of his career. The changes in game style (Lots of Melo playing power forward, lots of threes for everybody else) have worked, and the seemingly bizarre collection of players on the team (Rasheed Wallace?) have gelled well. Along with Anthonys standout year, New York is also somehow getting the best out of J.R. Smith. Whether its Woodsons coaching, Jason Kidds influence, J.R. deciding not to hit the clubs on game nights or some combination of all three, the finished product looks good. Smith has been attacking the rim at all costs, and its paying off. If New York can hit their three-pointers and play even passable defence, theyre always going to be a formidable opponent. Theyll face Boston in the first round, which probably wont be fun exactly, but they should have the offensive firepower to get past the ageing Celtics. New York are the second seed in the East (theyre a mile back from Miami, but so is everybody else), and anything short of a spot in the Conference Finals will probably be deemed a failure. The expectations are high, and they deserve to be. Im not sure the Knicks are capable of beating Miami, but I wouldnt be taking them lightly.