This is the Knicks A team.
Now onto the players.
Projected Starting Lineup
C Zach Randolph
PF David Lee
SF Q Rich(although Wilson Chandler should probably start over him)
SG Jamal Crawford
PG Duhon
Bench
Wilson Chandler
Mardy Collins(should be cut cant shoot, dribble, or pass tough to play in this offense if you cant do any of that)
Eddy Curry
Stephon Marbury
Pat Ewing Jr. (hopefully he can play some D and is very athletic)
Nate Robinson
Danilo Gallinari
Malik Rose
Who will do good in D'Antoni's offense:
Z-Bo
Lee
Q Rich
Crawford
Chandler
Nate
Who should be cut or traded:
Curry
Marbury
Collins
This team will put up some points. They are an althetic bunch who can shoot, dribble, and drive.
David Lee is gonna put up huge numbers in this system. Mark my words. He's gonna be a 20-15 guy. D'Antoni has already raved about Nate and by the looks of the first preseason game he will also thrive in this system. Crawford loves to play the street game with his shooting and dribbling abilities. Z-Bo just loves to shoot. Q-Rich has already had his best year on a D'Antoni coached team and Chandler is the kind of slasher this team needs for it to suceed in this offense.
Best all around player- David Lee- He hustles, rebounds, plays D, is athletic, and is white. If he can hit the 15 footer he will become a star.
Worst player- Mardy Collins- despicable he has a spot on this team.
Best defender- Duhon- has a reputation as a guy who plays tough D.
Worst defender- Z-Bo/Crawford- both cannot keep a guy in front of them.
Best Scorer- Nate/Crawford- both are explosive and can shoot,drive,and are lightning fast.
Can this team suceed and contend for the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference?
Well, considering winning about 38 games would be contending in the East Yes they can. If Lee, Chandler, and Nate can take their games to the next level and Duhon can distribute the ball around evenly, they might even get in. The wild card in this equation is Gallinari, if he can come off the bench and spark the team for 6 or 7 minute stints it might give the team and Knick fans a boost. Q Rich has also lost 15-20 LBs in the offseason so he is ready to run and shoot some threes as well. He is a shut down defender and usually guards the best man on the other team so he is an absolute key. If he can score 10 a game while playing great D he will quite possibly be the most valuable Knick and the reason they suceed, because if the Knicks play any kind of D this year they really have a shot at making the playoffs.
Here are teams you KNOW will make the playoffs:
Boston
Detroit
Cleveland
Here are teams that will most likely make it if things dont go terribly wrong:
Orlando
Toronto
Philly
That leaves two spots in the East with teams like Indiana, Chicago, Miami, Washington, Atlanta, and the Knicks fighting for that spot. I think Miami will get in this year with the D-Wade-Martrix-Beasley combination. And with Washington having all the injuries I think it will finally get to them and they will have a bad year. No one comes to watch the Pacers anymore so that could hurt them and any playoff dreams they had. Atlanta and Chiacgo are both solid teams but if the Knicks do what I said they need to do to win I think they'll have better records then both.
So here's my playoff seeding prediction:
1. Boston
2.Cleveland
3.Detroit
4.Orlando
5.Philly
6.Toronto
7.Miami
8.New York Knickerbockers
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