^ Regular season wins don't always translate to playoffs success. Look at what happened to the Lebron-led cavs few years ago. They had the best record and sure looked like a team to beat the whole season, but what happened in the playoffs?
I'm not saying the Knicks has no chance to win it all, but just take into account that it won't be easy come playoff time.
I agree with you 100%. Regular season wins don't mean anything in the playoffs. It's a new season. But to say the Knicks aren't a threat and they also happen to be the 2nd seed right now in the east is disrespect for an entire conference and giving the Heat too much credit. They're only a half game ahead of NY
That's why I mentioned Chicago. They're really the only team that scares me (as a Knicks fan). I'm very level headed and rational. Chicago matches up VERY well against the Knicks. They have answers for everything we do well. They have perimeter defenders to put pressure on our guards. They have bigs to match up against Chandler, they're help defense is amazing to stop penetration while playing zone defense and they rebound very well. Now, if STAT comes back and contributes 14-17 points off the bench or whatever role he has come playoff time--I wouldn't worry too much. But for now, Chicago is a legitimate threat for the Knicks.
Knicks are this year, what I thought they could be last year.... That's a possible threat to the Heat..
I think the Heat would pull it out, but if the Knicks play excellent ball like they have, they got a shot at going to the Finals.
But they can't have very many mistakes come playoff time.
That's another thing about the Knicks and it's been a problem for awhile now. Once things don't go their way and the ref's make "questionable" calls against them--they lose their composure and let the game get away from them. They lead the league in technical fouls collectively as a team and I think Melo leads the league individually.They go away from the gameplan and start to play ISO ball. It happened a couple times this year, against Memphis and the last time we play Chicago.
EDIT: I wanted to really talk about the game today, instead of the Knicks. After all, I am in the Lakers season thread. Just got sidetracked with foolish statements.
I think the Lakers will find a way to win today, honestly. Lakers are the best rebounding team in the league and the Knicks just don't rebound the ball. That's the BIGGEST issue with the Knicks and it will come back to haunt us. Also, I think with Nash back, D'Antoni will want to run a faster offense. Knicks don't play well in that kind of pace. Houston blew us out both times we played them, and all our other losses had one statistical category that stayed consistent--Fast break points differential in favor of the other team. It was significant. Knicks really prefer a half-court, grind it out game.
Plus, it's a marquee game on a national holiday on national TV. Lakers will win this one out. I see an LA upside coming now. Just gotta figure out what you're gonna do with Gasol. Dude does NOT fit in D'Antoni's system. I'm sure you guys discussed this before in great detail--he's not a long term solution.
Also, the defense is a HUGE issue. D'Antoni does not preach defense. This is coming from a Knicks fan who had to bare witness 4 years of this man's coaching philosophies transpire onto a basketball court. The man can score and score in bunches, but he does not preach defense. It's like what someone said weeks ago. His style of offense prompts more possessions for the other team, which translates into more chances to score. That's not a winning brand of basketball in the post-season.
