First off, I'm a die-hard Knick fan since I was 5 years old. Mark Jackson and Patrick Ewing were on my television 82 games a year growing up. It's been a terrible struggle since the Ewing era ended. We have waited a long time for some excitement.
Earlier in the year, I told my fellow New Yorkers on f-book that we should aim for 45-47 wins and getting past the first round of the playoffs- a pretty decent and achievable goal. I figured we needed a full year to develop as a unit and see if we could win with this squad. I saw this squad as a potential contender next year possibly, depending how Felton worked with everyone and after we weeded out all the old guys we signed as bench players and replaced them after the season (Wallace,Kidd, Camby, Thomas).
This 12 game winning streak (All without Stoudemire who I hate more than any Knick and I'm not surprised they play twice as good without him around) has gotten lots of birds chirping about how far they can go. Can this team make a run at Miami this year????????
The Knicks have had more injuries than just about any NBA team this year. They have played well adjusting with tons of different lineups and rotations this year. JR Smith has been an absolute beast in making it so easy to mix guys around, as he may have been the best 6th man in a season I have ever witnessed. He's basically the only guy on the team who hasn't missed 15-20 games as well.
The Knicks beat the heat 3 out of 4 regular season. Granted, one game the Heat sat Lebron, Wade, and Chalkmers. But the Knicks also beat them at the garden without Melo. I understand the it's just the regular season but regular season actually means something in a matchup like this because any avid basketball fan knows there's just a certain elevation of hype and anxiousness playing in the best arena ever- Madison Square Garden. Guys always seem to amp up and play harder. The atmosphere just automatically sparks good players to perform to the max. You always get their best efforts. And you can tell when Lebron is in the building how he feels that way as well as any other superstar who comes into town.
Let's face it, the Heat are the best team in the NBA. But if anyone can challenge them, aren't the Knicks the most likely to give them a series??
I don't wanna get too excited at the thought for now, as we are a 2 seed and won't play them until the eastern conference finals. The Knicks have to get there first. The Heat will obviously be there waiting. But I must admit, after watching the Knicks all season, and witnessing this current streak they are on, I am starting to pump my expectations up a little higher for this year and ever MORE for next year.
It's probably a better debate for anyone who isn't a Knicks or Heat fan, but I'm definitely hoping we do work early and get a chance to make some noise against these divas, who basically scammed their way to greatness teaming up, taking pay-cuts, etc, etc.
Let's Go Knicks!!!!!!!!!!!