NBA Predictions – The New York Knicks – 2007-2008

Recap: (2006-07: 33-49) The New York Knicks were exhausting to watch last season. At times, they seemed unstoppable on offense. Eddy Curry was often unstoppable down low, and Stephon Marbury and Jamal Crawford proved that they can be as unguardable as they want to be. Yet sometimes they Knicks were atrocious on offense, turning over the ball (14.5% of the time), standing around watching Crawford dribble out the shot clock. And their defense was always horrible, ranking 24^th in defensive efficiency.

Off-season: Obviously, the Knicks performed one of the big trades of the NBA Draft and the off-season. Trading Channing Frye and Steve Francis for Dan Dickau, Fred Jones and Zach Randolph was definitely a great trade for the Knicks. Dickau is no longer with the team. They then drafted Wilson Chandler, an athletic swingman, and Demetris Nichols, a shooting 3-man. The Knicks also resigned Randolph Morris and traded for Jared Jordan.

Starters:

C – Eddy Curry: Great low post-scorer. Should provide 20 points per game again.

PF – Zach Randolph: Low-post scorer, with high-post skills Great rebounder.

SF – Quentin Richardson: Athletic forward with a shot and post up skills.

SG – Jamal Crawford: Great scorer. Must be more efficient and productive per trip.

PG – Stephon Marbury: A threat on offense. Should continue defensive progression.

Bench: Nate Robinson, Dan Dickau, Fred Jones, Mardy Collins, Demtrius Nichols, Renaldo Balkman, Jared Jeffries, Wilson Chandler, David Lee, Malik Rose, Randolph Morris, Jerome James

Philosophy: The Knicks should be unstoppable in the paint. Isiah could do any number of things with the rotation. He could play Randolph and Curry together a lot to open up the outside and then bring the ball back in the post. Alternatively, he could just rotate them evenly throughout the first 40 or 43 minutes of the game. What he does with Balkman and Lee off the bench will also be interesting, considering both of them have shown starter’s potential. They could be a part of fast line up that includes Lee at the five and Balkman at the four.

Projection: The Atlantic Division looks pretty good all of a sudden. With the Celtics getting Garnett and Allen, the Nets getting Krystic back, and the continual development of the Toronto Raptors, this could be a tough division to emerge out of. The Knicks certainly have the deepest team of the four, and that should lead them to a decent finish in this competitive division

Prediction: 49-33; Tied for 2^nd in the Atlantic Division