“…We know we have a young team with a new coaching staff and a new culture, but we don’t want to overly rely on those things as crutches,” he said. “At some point, we need to stop talking about those things. We’re all accountable, myself especially.”

Kahn made numerous moves in the offseason, sparing only five players from last season’s roster. Before the season, he consistently maintained that the team would struggle. He asked for patience from fans and projected a “two- to three-year plan” for turning the team around.

Monday’s performance, however, challenged Kahn to remain positive.

“It’s much too early to paint everything with a bad brush,” he said. “When things clicked, we’ve had some very bright moments. There have also been some moments that were abysmal, but that’s part of who we are as a team…”

I could see something brewing here, and I’m not just talking about Rubio. Cardinal is a valuable expiring, maybe if Walsh added Chandler with Jeffries, we can get Cardinal, Oleksiy Pecherov and Minnesota’s lottery protected 1st rounder from the Ty Lawson deal? Minnesota also has Utah’s top 17 protected…

Hmmm…

Talking to players and coaches, it seemed that everyone was on the same page and motivated.

They aren’t.

I’m not dumb, but this team so far has made me feel that way because the energy and effort in practice and the togetherness seemed genuine.

This is not the coach’s fault or management’s. The direction of the franchise is clear and most all of you reading the site were down with the plan. At that point any plan would have done, but they have to protect everything about 2010. Coach D’Antoni has coached defense in practice, and when someone like Chris Broussard of ESPN talks about the league laughing at the Knicks and their coach because defense isn’t stressed. Actually, that joke is on him. Where were you during training camp and early in the season, Chris? Not in the gym that’s for sure. But in fairness, the Knicks are the laughing stock of the league and not one veteran, it seems,  has the pride to want to change that.

What we have here is a team where no one has any interest in leading. Instead they run and hide and pretend to play with passion for the city. Like they care. They are all paid, and need to act like professionals. not professional phonies.

Or else play the young kids, heck if you’re going to lose, get them some experience.

This is about the players, this is about the people who have to execute on the floor. It’s not about the coach yelling or Rudy-esque motivational speeches. We’re way past that, and players don’t need those. Ever see Phil Jackson’s pregame chats? ZZZZzzzz.

It’s unreal how big the basket seems for the other team. I mean Jodie Meeks?  Good college player, but come on. Ridenour? And on and on.

This is the NBA, with REAL NBA players who have the ability to expose and capitalize on confidence. It seems that every team sees the Knicks as a W and the bad teams can’t let those precious opportunities pass this early in the season.

Except the Knicks, of course.

This doesn’t mean, by any stretch, that I’m giving up on the season. I just hope that the players somehow show the fans that they haven’t already.

“In their first season adjusting to a major stylistic change on the
sidelines, the Knicks won 32 games. They lost Quentin Richardson while
adding Darko Milicic and rookies Jordan Hill and Toney Douglas, not to
mention a healthy Danilo Gallinari. So why are people expecting New
York to get worse? To me, this feels like an overreaction to a summer
that could have been ugly had the Knicks not been able to re-sign
David Lee and Nate Robinson. With them in place, there’s plenty of
talent in the Garden and the right coach to mold it.”

To me, the more a team is scrutinized in the offseason, the easier it
is to create negativity. I do understand the concern of many fans that
the players might not have an incentive to win if the focus of the
organization is solely on free agency period of next summer. But, I
think that mindset is outweighed by the competitiveness that Coach
D’Antoni exudes and he simply won’t allow his team to fold. His system
has developed an aura of team chemistry that has been missing from
this organization for too long, and if the positive vibes can
continue, I think this team has a chance to sneak into the postseason.
If a player is out to get his to try and get a contract next season,
he will sit.

I know I will be in the minority on this, but I think there are only
four playoff locks in the Eastern Conference in Boston, Cleveland,
Orlando, and Philadelphia. I think Chicago is the next best in the
batch. I do have doubts of them making up for Ben Gordon‘s scoring
output, but Derrick Rose should be able to carry them into the
postseason.. I think Atlanta has digressed with the acquisition of
Jamal Crawford, and that Washington is very injury-prone, but both
should fight their way to .500. Last year, the Pistons made the
playoffs with a 39-43 record, and I think the Knicks will face a
similar fate this year. Now, you can try to label me as a kool-aid
rah-rah guy, but I predicted 32 wins last season, and I am reasonable
in understanding this team’s limitations. To me, this year’s opening
night roster is more balanced offensively, and better defensively than
last year’s opening night roster— bottom line. I am predicting a
38-44 season in which they sneak into the postseason as an 8 seed. As
negative as us Knicks fans have been programmed to be over the last
few years, I hope that all fans would sign for that right now.

Check it out.

“…The Yankees are in the World Series, but the NBA season starts this week, and as much as we love baseball, it’s hoops that we’re most passionate about here at Westcheddar.  I rounded up my top basketball analysts to give us a breakdown of what’s going on in the NBA, NCAA, and even with the local High Schools too.  Tommy Dee writes and does commentary for The Knicks Blog, has appeared all over the TV dial from SNY to CNN, and coaches with Stepinac High School in White Plains.  Johnny Halas writes for The Jockosphere, and this season is transitioning from playing pro ball with the Rochester Razorsharks to coaching at Amherst College.  And Brian Duignan co-hosts The Yellow Brick Road, a New York Knicks online radio talk show, and also coaches the modified boys team in Mamaroneck.

These are local guys who live and breathe basketball.  I roomed with Tommy and Brian down at University of Maryland, where Brian managed the Terps for four years, and it was like living with Digger Phelps and Al Trautwig.  And Johnny, well I remember when I used to rock his world in One on One back in the day living next door to him on Ogden Avenue, and now I probably wouldn’t be able to get a shot off.  He’s gearing up to be the next Bill Walton.  Let’s hear what these guys have to say…

IP: Ok boys, let’s start with The Knicks.  Will they make the playoffs this year?  Who’s our “go to” guy?

TD: I think, based on what I’ve seen in the pre-season from a defensive standpoint, that the team is going to be improved.  They won 32 games last year and with a little better effort defensively, I can see them getting a few more W’s against the average NBA teams.  That should translate to 36-40 wins and a year-long battle for a playoff spot.  I think they sneak in.

JH:  The Knicks may sneak in at 8, but I don’t see it happening.  I’m hoping that Wilson Chandler steps up as the “go to”, but I think they’re still gonna defer to Al Harrington, who’s an amazing talent, but can’t seem to put it all together.

BD:  No.  ”Go to” is tough, the Knicks don’t really have one.  I plan to enjoy Nate Robinson for one last season & wait for LeBron.

IP:  How about the rest of league?  Is it the Cavs?  Can the Lakers win it again?  Celtics?

TD:  I’m not sold at all with what some of the teams at the top of the Eastern Conference did.   Shaquille O’Neal will not mesh well in Cleveland, but Anthony Parker and Jamario Moon will.  I’m not sold on Vince Carter in Orlando either.  I think Rasheed Wallace helps the Celtics as much as any addition and with a healthy KG the Celtics will represent the East.  And yes, Ron Artest makes the Lakers better, which is hard to imagine, if he keeps taking his meds.

BD:  Have to root for Shaq.  I used to like Garnett until he went to Boston and started losing his mind.  How annoying was he when the Celts won the championship a year ago?  The worst was when MJ made the Hall Of Fame, and the NBA interviewed some prominent NBA players to hear their thoughts.  A’mare Stoudamire said “he’s the best player I’ve ever seen”, which I agree with.  Then Garnett inhales through his nose, takes a dramatic pause, and says “he’s the gatekeeper”.  What is this, Dungeons & Dragons?

JH:  Adding Shaq is an interesting move, I didn’t agree with it.  I think getting a guy who can really coach would’ve been a better decision for the Cavs, but it’s tough to fire the reigning coach of the year.  The Lakers can definitely win it again, if Andrew Bynum stays healthy.  They also need Jordan Farmar to elevate his game and give them better minutes.  I don’t see the Celtics doing much this year.  Pierce, Garnett, and Allen are all a year older, that doesn’t help them.  Rondo is too much of a wildcard at the point to be taken seriously in a 7 game series…” More.

“It is a mistake to look too far ahead.  The chain of destiny can only be grasped one link at a time.”  ~ Sir Winston Churchill

Another start to a season, and another quote to start my preview.  While this season is not as dramatic as what Churchill was discussing, the same principle applies.  It is foolish to look beyond this season and focus on July 1, 2010.  There is a full season of Knicks basketball to be played first.  If the Knicks are to reach championship status in the next few years, this team has to continue to grow and develop an identity this season.

Coming off a 32 win season, the Knicks clearly have a lot to prove.  There is no denying that.  Without dwelling too heavily on last season, it is fair to say that the team was one of the worst defensive teams in the league.  But that was last season (we hope).

Instead, let’s take a look at some of the statistics from the pre-season.  In seven games, the Knicks went 5-2.  As a team, the Knicks shot a woeful 39% from the field and only 28% from beyond the arc.  As Mike D’Antoni has noted, field goal percentage is a very important statistic.  The Knicks are not going to be in the top five in the league in that category simply because of the high volume of shots taken and the pace at which the team plays.  With the amount of shots this team is capable of putting up in a game, being in the top five in field goal percentage would translate to a 50+ win season.  However, the Knicks were near the bottom in the league in that category last season.  Translation… a 32 win season.  The Knicks will take a ton of outside shots and will live and die with the 3 point ball.  If the team is going to be successful, players must nail their outside jumpers.  Simple, but true.

On the other side of the ball, the Knicks showed a marked improvement defensively.  In the pre-season, the Knicks averaged close to 11 steals per game and 4 blocks per game, allowing opponents to score an average of 95 points per contest.  Darko Milicic’s presence has helped, but the improvement stretches far beyond the long reach of Milicic’s left arm.  This team has developed a new found aggressiveness on the defensive end.  This team now attempts to block shots.  They fight over screens (especially Douglas).  They swipe at the basketball.  They try and get into the passing lanes.  Mike D’Antoni has this team pushing to create turnovers.  When Milicic is not in the game, the Knicks are incredibly weak with their interior defense, so it is imperative for the Knicks to keep the ball out of the paint as much as possible.  Offensively, the Knicks employ the aggressive 7 seconds or less theory.  Based upon stretches that I saw this pre-season, it appears that the team has a similar aggressive approach on the defensive end.  Creating turnovers quickly and often is the name of their defensive game.  This can be risky, but both the Knicks’ length and quickness at all five positions allow them to take chances.

To start the season, I expect to see a starting lineup of Chris Duhon, Wilson Chandler, Al Harrington, David Lee and Jared Jeffries.  This coaching staff loves Jeffries, and will love him even more if he can continue to nail over 30% of his 3 pointers.  Jeffries perhaps has shown the most improvement since last season.  While I am not trying to anoint Jeffries the next Reggie Miller, his jumper has come a long way.  With teams willing to give him shots, Jeffries has to continue to knock some of them down.  Once Jeffries keeps opponents honest, he will then be able to drive past defenders and take the ball to the rim.  Jeffries is a good enough ball handler and passer to be able to beat his man off the dribble and kick it to open teammates on the perimeter.  I expect a good year from Jeffries.

I do not expect Jordan Hill to make an impact for a while.  He has too many players in front of him and he has too much to learn about his game.  Also, I do not expect much out of Eddy Curry, if he can ever actually get on the court that is.  When his injury was first reported and it was believed that he would miss 3-5 days, I predicted that it would be opening night and he would be questionable.  It turns out I was wrong.  He is not questionable… he appears to be out indefinitely.

On a positive note, this team will not have as much upheaval as it did last season.  Walsh will look to trade both Jeffries and Curry, but likely will not be able to dump Curry.  As much as the coaching staff and teammates might like Jeffries, Walsh has his plan in place and Jeffries is not a special enough player to be an exception to that plan.

I expect big seasons out of Lee, Nate, Harrington, and Chandler, with Gallo showing a promising improvement as well.  Further, Toney Douglas is a player to keep a close eye on throughout the year.  When he is on the floor, he shows heart defensively, a trait that can be contagious.  I would like to see Toney develop his point guard skills more, but I still expect him to play a major role on this team.

Overall, I expect this team to win around 37-38 games this season.  The team collapsed during the final month of last season, and still won 32 games.  Before that collapse, the team lost a bunch of games that should have been victories. So my prediction is 37-45 overall.  If the Knicks can continue to create turnovers defensively and can shoot at a higher percentage from the field, then this team can win closer to 42 games.  As of right now, it looks as though the Knicks will fall short of the playoffs, but will be in contention until the final two weeks of the season.  I am just not sure if they will outlast teams like Chicago, Miami, Detroit, and perhaps even Charlotte.  Boston, Orlando, Cleveland, Atlanta, Toronto, and Washington (if Arenas stays healthy) are my top 6 teams to start the season.  Grabbing one of the other two spots will be tough for the Knicks.

But that is why they play the games, right?  I have faith this team can go out and shock the league.  Let’s Go Knicks!

Now to all mighty salary cap issue. The salary cap has shrunk minimally over the past few days with the Knicks picking up the options on Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallinari. To me this was a no-brainer. Both players will play a crucial role in the future of this team. Gallinari’s ball handing and shooting capabilities for a 6-11 player reminds me of a young Dirk Nowitzki. Once he fills out the sky is the limit for this kid. As far as Wilson Chandler is concerned, it has been quite a while since the Knicks have had someone so young (22 years old) who is such a freak of an athlete. I have nothing but praise for both players attitudes and potential… kudos to Donnie Walsh on these moves. The two players which pose the biggest threat to the sacred salary cap are Jared Jeffries and Eddy Curry. Jared Jeffries player option for the 2010-2011 season is $6,883,400. Eddy Curry’s similar player option is a staggering $11,276,863. Combined that is an $18,160,263 chunk out of the 2010-2011 salary cap reserved for our two most precious players (insert chuckle here). I have been at each of the Knicks home preseason games and Jared Jeffries has actually looked impressive compared to his dismal last season. Due to this fact I believe the Knicks actually have a great chance at moving Jeffries to a team that isn’t going to be a major player in next years free agency bonanza. Regarding Eddy Curry what is there to say? It seems like he has been surrounded by nothing but problems throughout his Knick career (another great Isiah move). Most people likely believe it would be impossible to shed his contract but then again the Chicago Bulls did take Jerome James off of our hands. Excluding the two player options mentioned above the only players on the books for next season are Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, Jordan Hill and Toney Douglas. Clearly there will be tons of movement between now and next season but this is a nice core of young players going forward.

Lastly, I can’t overstate how shrewd Donnie Walsh is to play the contract year to his advantage. Instead of throwing long term deals at both Nate Robinson and David Lee, which would have hurt our chances to sign a big name free agent, he is forcing them to prove themselves and have the seasons of their lives. Whether it be Al Harrington, David Lee or Nate Robinson each player has everything to gain and a lot of money to loose if their performance this season isn’t beyond the norm. Being a season ticket holder I have a unique inside perspective to the New York Knicks on daily basis. I look forward to providing all TBK followers with positive news throughout the season.

But previews are as meaningful, to me, as VIP passes to a high school game.

As expected, the team is ready to prove its doubters wrong and that journey begins down in South Beach against one of the game’s best, who has a habit of destroying the Knicks.

“They got the message, they know what to do,” Coach D’Antoni said from practice today. “I think we have some added elements to the team, little bit more speed and a little bit more length and a little more focus that the players are putting in on the defensive end and I think that we’ll be pretty good.”

As we’ve noted countless times this preseason, the Knicks have improved defensively, but that won’t translate unless the team can make sure they match the regular season energy of opponents.

Miami isn’t Cleveland or the Lakers, one of the big reasons Wade is “keeping his options open,” but, like the Knicks, they are in good shape from a cap standpoint and many consider them to be the Knicks biggest rival in the 2010 sweepstakes.

One of the players who is considered one of the cornerstones, Michael Beasley, apparently is still struggling with demons and Jermaine O’Neal is a venerable shell of his former self.

What it comes down to, as it will on most all nights, is can the team make shots and get stops. Can they find a way to control a superstar opponent and walk away with a W?

Can D’Antoni make sure that the right mix of players is on the court down the stretch who can consistently make shots in the half court, and take shots away on the other end.

David Lee, who got the chance to play virtually every game last year at the five, feels that whatever match up he draws defensively will have their hands full against him on the other end. But if Lee has to be forced to guard guys on the block at the end of games, the team may struggle to close out games.

“I did it over 8 games last year so it was something I got used to,” Lee said. “I don’t have a fear of any center in the league. I’m just trying to go out there and play hard as I can, play within our system and compete on every play.”