The Knicks have played their only 2 preseason games (both vs. the Nets) and won both of them. Based on those 2 games and some other factors, here is my season preview for the Knicks and how I think that each player will do this season.#7 - Carmelo Anthony: I expect Melo to really emerge as the leader of the Knicks after playing only the last 27 games of the 2010-2011 season with New York. I can pretty much picture him doing what he's been doing since he came into the league in '03. 2012 Eastern Conference All-Star Starter? I think so.
#1 - Amar'e Stoudemire: What I'm hoping for STAT is that he will play just as good as he was last season. His back is a concern, but he will have a lesser workload in the paint now that Tyson Chandler is on the team. As long as he stays healthy, the Knicks will stay contenders.
#6 - Tyson Chandler: Chandler will be making lots of money this season, probably more than he deserves. That being said, an overpaid Chandler is better than an overpaid Ronny Turiaf and he will fill the Knicks' void at the center spot. If Chandler stays hungry and performs as well as he did last season with the Mavericks, the Knicks should have a successful season.
#2 - Landry Fields: Landry Fields is an "if" right now. He struggled last season after the Melo trade and the Knicks drafted Iman Shumpert in this year's draft. I hope that Fields can adjust, get out of the slump he's in, and contribute.
#85 - Baron Davis: Davis is injured right now, but has a lot of upsides. He took less money to come to New York and chose us over the Lakers and the Heat. When healthy, I will look for him to play like Chauncey Billups played for us last season. Davis is 32 years old and hasn't won a championship yet, so I expect him to step up and lead the team at the point.
#23 - Toney Douglas: Douglas will start at least as long as Baron Davis is injured, but if he plays well early in the season, he could very well start all 66 games. However, I expect him to be the team's 6th man and be a spark off the bench.
#21 - Iman Shumpert: Shumpert has shown flashes of greatness since being drafted by the Knicks in the first round of this year's draft. Because he's a rookie, I expect that consistency might be an issue, but he could be the Knicks' shooting guard for the future.
#55 - Josh Harrellson: I personally like Harrellson's game. He may not look like much, but he helps teams win (He helped Kentucky reach the Final Four earlier this year). He's a rookie, so I'm not sure how much playing time he'll get, but I'm sure he will always play hard and will gradually impress the coaching staff and the fans.
#20 - Mike Bibby: After losing in the Finals last season with the Heat and signing with the Knicks on the vertan's minimum, Bibby is already out with back spasms. He is 33 and obvoiusly wants a ring pretty bad, so I'll expect him to be make the most of his minutes and be a veteran leader (He is the oldest player on the team).
#32 - Renaldo Balkman: Balkman played better than expected in the Knicks' 2 preseason games and I doubt that he will perform that well all season, but if he can keep it up, he could be the x-factor for New York this season.
#9 - Jared Jeffries: I'm not a huge fan of Jeffries. He tries his best, but he doesn't seem to ever play very well. If he wants to help the team, he needs to play defense like he's known for and not do what he did at the end of Game 2 against the Celtics in the playoffs last season.
#5 - Bill Walker: Walker is starting off the season out with a strained left groin and I expect him have trouble making it into the rotation this season. He averaged 11.9 points in 27 games with the Knicks in the 09-10 season, but played less minutes last season.
#? - Steve Novak: Novak is known for his three-point shooting. If he can do that well, he will help the team.
#44 - Jerome Jordan: Jordan didn't see any preseason action, but could be a key reserve for the Knicks. That being said, New York already has Tyson Chander and Josh Harrellson, and if he isn't waived before the season opener, I expect him to be a bench warmer.
Chris Hunter and Devin Green were waived earlier today.
What will the Knicks' record be this season? My guess is 43-23, which might put them in 2nd, 3rd, or 4th place in the Eastern Conference. As of right now, I can picture the Knicks losing to the Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals in 6 games.
Also, there is speculation that the Knicks are interested in Kenyon Martin, who will be able to sign with an NBA team in March. Martin is a former All-Star who could help the Knicks win a title.
The Knicks play their first regular season game vs. the Celtics on Christmas.
Have any thoughts on this season's Knicks squad? Should the Knicks sign Kenyon Martin in March? Sad that Devin Green is gone? Will Tyson Chandler be worth the money? Leave a comment below and tell me what you think.
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