The New Look Knicks

The New York Knicks are not the same team they were back in training camp. With a wave of the pen, shake of the hands, and a couple flights in between, the team from MSG now has a couple new faces to add to their dozens of 20 stories build boards.

In fact there was a picture up within 24 hours of the contract signing. After the deal was made, the Knicks flew out half their starters and a couple bench players to the Rockies. In return, the Golden Child of Orange Basketball returns to New York with a friend names Chauncey.

Carmelo Anthony, born and raised in Brooklyn, now plays for the team that’s stationed only 3 miles by hang glider or 20 minutes by the 2 train.

The Knicks are attempting to do what two teams have recently done in the last 5 years. The Celtics and Heat basically went out put 3 all stars together and waited to see what happened. While the Celtics hodgepodge resulted in a quick Championship followed by a recent finals appearance, the Heat are still waiting to see what bubbles from their petri dish. (So far so good from the two Eastern Science Experiments.)

The Knicks are following suit by combining the forces of Stoudemire, Melo, and Billups. Here is where the problem lies. While the Big Three Theory has worked in the past, every team has it's ups and downs. Personally I think it was a miracle that the Celtics were able to put up the numbers and win the game they did in their first year after gutting a team and stringing together another banner year. In the norm of sports, management calls that a rebuilding year. Well that experiment was on steroids, and so could the Heat. 

For the Knicks however, they don't have enough time to get into a comfortable groove. As of today their currently in the playoffs and could make a good run once post season play begins.

However there’s that one special ingredient that New York, along with Miami, are missing from their Big Three, and that’s a fourth to bring it together. The Celtics got very lucky with Rajon Rondo and that’s the type of player these other two teams need. Rondo plays the role of that missing puzzle piece; that much needed wood glue for the bird house; the final brick keeping the house from toppling over… enough analogies for you??

When Rondo gets the ball he’s able to distribute it as he feels necessary. The best part is he has 3 people with All Star caliber to do something with the ball. Meanwhile New York and Miami are limited to rotating between just the three. I know one player doesn’t seem like a lot, but it does when that one player is throwing up 10+ assists a night which can equal to a minimum of 20 points a night. And that’s not even including the points he scores. (That statistical in depth conversation for another time.)

We just have to give the Knicks time. Yes they won their first game, but it was against the Bucks, a team that probably won’t sniff the playoffs. Then they lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers. You know, the team that is guaranteed the most ping pong balls come draft time. Now they’re off to Miami and then they play Boston. It should be an interesting start to the second half.

Of course, I’m not saying the Knicks aren’t fun to watch. Personally I’m glad to see basketball becoming more of a New York sport again. Whatever takes the focus off those Damn Yanks.