The most infamous NBA franchise are where they used to belong but the might of the Celtics stand in their way
On Sunday the New York Knicks will play the Boston Celtics in the first round of the NBA playoffs ? New York's first appearance in the post-season since 2004. On the court for the Knickerbockers will be two bona fide NBA superstars, Amar'e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony, in the prime of their careers, a scenario that was the stuff of fantasy a year ago. For these Knicks, this post-season series is their signature on a season that marks their return to relevance in New York and the NBA.
Ten years ago the Toronto Raptors bounced the Knicks from the opening round of the playoffs, and fans consoling themselves inside Madison Square Garden, known here as the World's Most Famous Arena, sensed that the times were indeed a-changing. Still, those diehards couldn't have possibly known what was about to hit them ? over the next decade, the building on 34th street would house the most infamous franchise the NBA had to offer.
In a league where oligarchs can't write blank checks at will, and where payrolls are kept in line with revenues via a salary cap, missteps by men in suits managing those spending restrictions can cripple a team's ability to rebuild for years. Until this season, this has been the long-running theme of pro basketball in New York City.
The problems with the Knicks and the salary cap management pre-dated Isaiah Thomas, the former general manager, probably one of the most disliked characters in Knicks history. The team owner, James Dolan, hired Thomas in December of 2003, and almost immediately upon his arrival, the Hall of Fame point guard exacerbated the Knicks already difficult salary cap situation.
New York slipped further and further into NBA purgatory as Thomas dealt for high priced, low return players such as Stephon Marbury and Eddie Curry. Unable to dig out from the mountain of bad contracts, the Knicks couldn't dream of bidding for top free agent talent, and New York, wearing skintight salary cap shackles, had sadly become irrelevant ? unthinkable in a city known for passionate support of its basketball team.
Thomas became head coach for two seasons, and in 2008 was let go. Donnie Walsh, a Bronx boy in exile, who had managed the Indiana Pacers to 16 post-seasons, was brought in to shake up the team. The mission ? forget about winning for the time being, and dump the salary duds in time to make cap space to compete for the free agent class of 2010, a group that included the best player in the world, LeBron James. In two short years, Walsh was able to accomplish what no Knick executive had done, clear the deck.
The dream of landing James was just that, as he nixed New York to join his buddies in Miami. The consolation prize was Stoudemire, a player viewed with suspicion by Knicks fans, but who, early in 2010, proved that New York had their first true franchise player since Patrick Ewing. Young and athletic talent surrounded Stoudemire, making the most of the head coach Mike D'Antoni's high-octane offensive style, lifting the toxic clouds off of the Garden.
In late February came the fruition of a long-rumoured deal in the form of a three-way exchange with Denver and Minnesota, bringing Anthony, without a doubt, one of the top five players in the NBA, to New York along with proven point guard Chauncey Billups. The Knicks got a second franchise player in their bid to keep up with the Joneses in Miami, but relinquished several talented players in a trade that some believed was unnecessary ? Anthony, a player with strong links to NYC could have come to the Knicks as a free agent after the season without New York dealing any of their young guns.
New York has struggled since the trade, having to come together as a team quickly with a rebuilt roster, just in time for the playoffs. The trade for Anthony is seen as part of a long-term plan, but questions linger about chemistry between Stoudemire and Anthony, and whether the Knicks can acquire the missing pieces to propel New York to their first title since 1973. For now, the Knicks will have at least two post-season games in New York, and that long-sought opportunity to breathe playoff life back into the Garden.
EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFF PREVIEW
Boston Celtics v New York Knicks
Boston come into these playoffs knowing their window of opportunity for a second championship in four seasons is closing ? the dynamic core of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen are slightly vulnerable in their old age. Plus, their center Kendrick Perkins was controversially dealt away at the trade deadline, upsetting the head coach, Doc Rivers, some former team-mates, and the applecart. There are other issues with Boston, such as the health of Shaquille O'Neal. Still, they should crush the undersized Knicks whose time is yet to arrive. Celts in five.
Chicago Bulls v Indiana Pacers
Derrick Rose will be the NBA's Most Valuable Player, and if that doesn't give you confidence in Chicago, the Bulls owner, Jerry Reinsdorf, will. He said in early March that his team can win four championships. Not one, four. Chicago does play smothering defense, which should keep the Pacers best player, Danny Granger, in check. Bulls sweep.
Miami Heat v Philadelphia 76ers
When is a 58-win season considered to be a disappointment? How about when you have three of the NBA's top 15 players, LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh on the same team. Can the Sixers pull off the upset? Well, they have a better head coach in Doug Collins, an excellent point guard in Jrue Holiday, and a nice big juicy target to shoot at. Miami's out in a shocker. Sixers in seven.
Orlando Magic v Atlanta Hawks
Orlando's Dwight Howard is awesome and Atlanta is a dump. I really don't like it there, so I'm taking it out on the Hawks. Seriously folks, Atlanta will double team Howard, and the big man will kick it out to multiple Magic men to drain three's all night long. Magic in five.
WESTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFF PREVIEW
San Antonio Spurs v Memphis Grizzlies
If you would have told me before the seasons that the Spurs would win 61 games I would have said to go have another puff on ye old pipe. The clock is ticking on San Antonio but if they do go out, it ain't going to be against Memphis. For the Grizzlies, there's history to be made here ? Memphis have never won a post-season game. Spurs in five.
Los Angeles Lakers v New Orleans Hornets
Can someone tell me why Kobe Bryant hasn't been suspended for muttering anti-gay slurs at a referee? A $100K fine? Big deal ? that's like taking a buck 75 off me. You can't allow that sort of thing to go on in the NBA or anywhere. Let me see, if I go into work today and scream that at someone, I wonder what would happen? The Lakers legend Jerry West criticised the team earlier in the season saying: "The reason you 'can't play defense' is because you can't", and even the coach, Phil Jackson, agreed. It will catch up with them, but not yet. Lakers in five.
Dallas Mavericks v Portland Trailblazers
It's easy to chalk up an easy series win for Dallas. Not so. Portland has a lot of kitchen sink to throw at Dirk Nowitzki in Marcus Camby, Gerald Wallace and LaMarcus Aldridge, and this will be no walk in the Pacific Northwest for these Texans. Blazers in seven.
Oklahoma City Thunder v Denver Nuggets
Good series, a lot of fun. Contrary to expectations, the Nuggets have been excellent since Anthony was traded for half of the Knicks, and there's been lots of jabs at him from the Rockies. One question for Denver ? who will take the big shots down the stretch? Oklahoma has an easy answer ? Kevin Durant won the NBA scoring title. I like Denver here, with a bit of bias coming me from here in NY. Nuggets in seven.
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