When we look at the Eastern Conference, it’s the Miami Heat and then everyone else, but seven other teams hope to have something to say about that.

Mar 15, 2013; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Monta Ellis (11) goes for a layup against Miami Heat forward LeBron James (6) at the Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

There aren’t many storylines in the Eastern Conference other than in New York. Can Carmelo Anthony finally lead the New York Knicks out of the first round? Are the Knicks real threats to the Heat?

Those questions and plenty more will answered over the course of the next couple of months.

As the postseason begins gets set to begin this Saturday, here’s a look at everything you need to know about each first round series.

No. 1 Miami Heat vs. No. 8 Milwaukee Bucks

Season Series: Miami 3-1

How they matchup:

Miami- 65-16

Points per game: 102.9 (fifth in NBA)

Rebounds per game: 38.6 (last)

Assists per game: 23.0 (seventh)

Points allowed per game: 95.0 (fifth)

Field goal percentage: 49.6% (first)

Three-point percentage: 39.6% (second)

Free-throw percentage:  75.4% (16^th)

Milwaukee- 38-44

Points per game: 98.9 (12^th)

Rebounds per game: 44.0 (fifth)

Assists per game:  22.9 (ninth)

Points allowed per game:  100.4 (2oth)

Field goal percentage: 43.5% (28^th)

Three-point percentage: 36.0% (13^th)

Free-throw percentage:  73.6% (22^nd)

What to expect: Members of the Bucks said earlier in the year that they hoped to get the Heat in the first round of the playoffs. Be careful what you wish for. You got it.

This is a total mismatch on paper as LeBron James and the Heat should cruise through this series. The Bucks length could give the Heat a little bit of problems, but in the end Miami will make them pay. They are a great shooting and excellent defensive team and Milwaukee is neither.

With the run that LeBron has been on this year, he is out to make a statement and will start by carving up the Bucks.

Prediction: Miami in four

With that being said, it’s time for my 2013 NBA Season Awards predictions, as I hand out some hardware to the best of the best throughout the year.

Apr. 15, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA: Houston Rockets guard James Harden against the Phoenix Suns at the US Airways Center. The Suns defeated the Rockets 119-112. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Throughout the next couple weeks, the NBA will announce who will win their annual awards, but I will end the suspense now as I look at who should win each category.

Let’s not waste any time and hand out our first award.

Most Improved Player- James Harden, Houston Rockets

There were quite a few candidates for this award as guys like Jrue Holiday and Omer Asik certainly have thrown their name in the hat. However Harden has taken the  step from sixth man to franchise player and has done so in a big way by averaging 25.9 points, 5.9 assists, and 4.8 rebounds this season, with a 23.13 PER, all while shooting 44% from the field.

The most impressive part of his season has been Harden’s ability to get to the charity-stripe, exactly what a superstar should do. On the season, Harden has gotten to the free-throw line 10.1 times per game, making 8.6 of those.

He has the fifth-highest scoring average in the league and led a Rockets team that hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2009. The best is yet to come from the bearded one. Harden may have already been a star, but the jump he has made this year wins him the NBA’s Most Improved Player.

Runner’s Up: Holiday, Asik

In the first half, when the Knicks’ threes were falling, New York was able to withstand a fairly sluggish Bulls’ offense. But as the Knicks got progressively colder, their attempts to move within the arc were ill-fated as were their chances at getting new possessions with offensive rebounds. Furthermore, the lack of size almost ensured automatic paint points for the Bulls, and when their deep shots started falling, they were able to spread the Knicks’ defense thin. However, New York still battled after blowing a 17-point lead and falling behind by as many as seven points. A series of quick inside buckets from J.R. Smith and some clutch free throws and big stops brought the Knicks to overtime. However, the Knicks’ short rotation, lack of interior presence, and icy strokes buried them into a bigger hole in overtime, this on inescapable.

While disappointing, the loss doesn’t mean much for the Knicks. They still hold over a game lead on Indiana for second place, the Bulls further solidified their hold on fifth place, and the Knicks have already locked up the Atlantic Division already. The streak was going to stop sometime, and for it to happen on the road, versus a good team, without any big men… it could be worse.

Here’s a look at the individual performances:

Carmelo Anthony – 45 minutes, 36 points, 13-34 FG, 19 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block

Props to ‘Melo for filling in at the five (at times) so admirably and legitimately trying to defend the paint, and actually crashing the boards hard. It’s a shame that a hot start in the first quarter fizzled out so dramatically over the rest of the game. Anthony tried to take the ball to the paint, missed some tough baskets over numerous defenders, got whacked but without any calls, or just flat-out missed bunnies he should’ve had. Like the end of the win streak, it was bound to happen at some point. Missing that game-tying pull-up jumper that he’s usually money on was a heartbreaker.

Final Grade: B

J.R. Smith – 42 minutes, 28 points, 11-27 FG, 14 rebounds, 4 assists

Smith and Anthony’s combined stats look aesthetically pleasing except for that big ole bruise in the middle – 24-61 combined shooting. The efficiency left something to be desired, and some poorly timed launches from downtown and a similar situation as ‘Melo’s at the rim really left a lot of empty possessions on the court. Credit on the boards to J.R. as well, but his inefficient offense and troubled defense on all of Chicago’s guards hurt the Knicks a bit kinda a lot. Also, -32 for the game. As has seemed to the case lately, the Knicks’ hot start cooled down when Woodson checked Smith in way too early for Prigioni.

Final Grade: C

Raymond Felton – 49 minutes, 19 points, 8-17 FG, 5 rebounds, 6 assists

Felton had a good, aggressive game for the most part, but was plagued by an inability to finish over Chicago’s big men (especially without the presence of Chandler or K-Mart to fill in on the roll) and a sensitive referee’s whistle. Felton spent a lot of time complaining to officials – somewhat justifiably – for some tick tacky fouls, and it might’ve taken his head out of the game a little bit. A fall on the opening tip of overtime, in which Felton grasped his knee on the floor, somehow didn’t take Ray out of the game, but it completely diminished his impact. We’ll see what’s said about the injury afterwards.

Final Grade: B

Chris Copeland – 29 minutes, 14 points, 4-14 FG, 3-8 3FG, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks

Copeland’s initial hot start contributed to the Knicks’ early success as Carlos Boozer failed to rotate out on some pick-and-pops early on. However, much like the rest of the team, Cope’s hand was shoved in the freezer by a stauncher Bulls defense. From there, Copeland, who hadn’t a shot at defending Boozer in the post or deterring any drivers, began to launch ill-advised, arrhythmic jumpers. His minutes dwindled with his effectiveness as the game progressed.

Final Grade: C-

Iman Shumpert – 26 minutes, 3-3 FG, 7 points, 1 rebound, 1 steal, 6 PFs

Shumpert’s minutes were fairly quiet in this one. He was efficient on offense, but didn’t get a whole lot of open looks and didn’t create as much off the dribble as we’ve become used to seeing. His best sequence likely came in locking up Nate Robinson in the final 30 seconds of regulation to give the Knicks another shot (resulted in game-tying ‘Melo FTs).

Final Grade: B

Pablo Prigioni – 24 minutes, 7 points, 3-4 FG, 2 assists

Recycle and reuse. Prigioni began the game playing well and deteriorated as it progressed. His open shots stopped falling and he played a part in back-to-back turnovers that led to back-to-back Jimmy Butler dunks that sparked the Bulls’ comeback run. Don’t think we saw Prigs again afterwards.

Final Grade: C+

Jason Kidd – 37 minutes, 0 points, 0-4 FG, 6 rebounds, 2 assists

An almost entirely ineffective Jason Kidd on both ends of the floor probably shouldn’t have been seeing 37 minutes tonight. Not that Prigioni or Shumpert were hugely better options, but Kidd produced very little in terms of staying in front of Chicago’s guards, switching effectively onto big men, or hitting open shots.

Final Grade: D+

Steve Novak – 12 minutes, 0-1 FG

Novak missed his only shot. That’s the only thing I recall him doing.

Final Grade: D

However if they plan on running that streak to 14 games, they will have to do so very short handed.

ESPN’s Ian Begley is reporting that both Tyson Chandler and Kenyon Martin have already been ruled out for that game, while Marcus Camby is listed as doubtful.

#Knicks say Tyson Chandler and Kenyon Martin are out for tomorrow at Chicago. Marcus Camby is listed as doubtful.

— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) April 10, 2013

Apr 9, 2013; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks power forward Kenyon Martin (3) during the third quarter against the Washington Wizards at Madison Square Garden. Knicks won 120-99. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

Martin, who returned to the Knicks lineup on Tuesday after sitting out two games, severely sprained his ankle while seeing questionable fourth quarter minutes with the Knicks already leading the Washington Wizards by 24 points at the time.

Chandler meanwhile will be held out with a bulging disc in his neck. It will mark the second consecutive game the All-Star center has missed and Chandler’s 12th missed game in the past 16.

With Chandler and Martin joining the likes of Camby, Amar’e Stoudemire, Rasheed Wallace and Kurt Thomas on the shelf, the Knicks certainly don’t match up well against the Bulls.

New York is 0-3 on the season against the Bulls, who have had the advantage in the paint so far this season against the Knicks.

Chicago is a team that the Knicks simply don’t match up well against as they are bigger and more physical and will certainly use that to their advantage against what will certainly be a very small Knicks team on Thursday.

With Chris Copeland and Carmelo Anthony the two biggest Knicks going against a very tough Bulls’ frontline, it will take another outstanding shooting game from behind the arc for the streak to reach 14.

However at this point, the streak isn’t nearly as important as getting the Knicks big men healthy for the postseason.

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It’s important to note that certain NBA teams who have clinched playoff spots may be resting players and it’s equally important to recognize which lottery teams will be “showcasing” their young talent as a way to audition them for next season.

Here is my list of players you should be on the lookout for.  As always, all players listed are under 50 percent owned in ESPN and Yahoo! leagues:

Feb 22, 2013; Charlotte, NC, USA; Chicago Bulls small forward Jimmy Butler (21) dunks during the second half against the Charlotte Bobcats at Time Warner Arena . Mandatory Credit: Curtis Wilson-USA TODAY Sports

Brandon Bass- PF, C (Celtics):  After signing a three-year/$19.35 million extension with Boston in the offseason, Bass had failed to produce most of the year.  The man who was acquired in a trade that sent fan-favorite, Big Baby Davis to Orlando, was quickly becoming an afterthought in Coach Doc Rivers’ rotation, but an injury to Kevin Garnett has opened up a new window of opportunity.  Over the last 10 games, Bass has averaged 10.9 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.1 blocks, which is well over his career average of 0.6 blocks per game.  This run was culminated by a season-high 22 points in Wednesday’s win over Cleveland.  With an eye on keeping the C’s healthy for the playoffs, it looks like KG will be rested for a little while longer, and with a four-game schedule coming up next week you need to grab this guy now.  (36.9% owned ESPN, 50% owned Yahoo!)

Jimmy Butler- SG, SF (Bulls):  Like Bass, Butler is another player who has taken advantage of the recent injuries that have plagued his team.  Starting shooting guard Marco Belinelli has missed the past two games with an abdominal strain (and was ineffective for the two games prior) and there are talks of Rip Hamilton shutting it down for the year, so Butler seems poised to continue logging heavy minutes.  He brings a youthful energy to the court and Coach Tom Thibodeau has taken notice, as the Marquette product has played 33.2 minutes per game over his last five contests.  In that span he is averaging 13.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.4 three-pointers and 1.4 steals, while shooting 51 percent from the field.  Maybe the Golden Eagles’ run to the Elite 8 is inspiring him.  The Bulls finish the season with a 4-4-2 weekly schedule.  (2.8% ESPN, 9% Yahoo!)

Jerryd Bayless- PG, SG (Grizzlies):  Bayless was one of the sleepers I touted in the preseason due to the high level of success he’s had as a starter in the NBA, but it took Rudy Gay getting traded to Toronto for this to finally come to fruition.  After this week, the Grizz finish the season on a 4-3-2 weekly game schedule, and because of that Bayless is a guy that needs to be in your lineup.  With Gay gone, Coach Lionel Hollins needs another wing scorer and Bayless has been fitting that mold.  Over his past eight games he’s been lighting up the box scores to the tune of 18.6 points and 2.37 threes.  It’s crazy to me that his ownership is still so sparse, so get him immediately before people come to their senses.  (43.4% ESPN, 25% Yahoo!)

Jonas Valanciunas- C (Raptors):  The Lithuanian-born center has been a project all season long, but he finally seems to be making the best of his recent uptick in playing time.  Many fantasy basketball owners used some late-round picks on him hoping that they’d found a sleeper, but he soon fell out of favor, mostly due to the time he missed while injured as well as his relative ineffectiveness when Andrea Bargnani went down with his own injury.  Amir Johnson has seen his minutes decline lately because of “wobbly” ankles and a leg contusion, and that has only been a boon for Valanciunas, leading to 27.8 minutes over his last 10 games played.  In those games he has averaged 12.8 points and 6.7 rebounds, while shooting an incredible 70 percent from the field and a very impressive 84 percent from the line.  Numbers like that can be scarce on the waiver wire this late in the season, and are especially helpful because they are coming from the center position.  The Raptors are going nowhere and Coach Dwane Casey wants to see what he has in the 20-year old, so those increased minutes and productivity should continue.  Toronto finishes their 2012-13 campaign with weeks of 4, 3 and 2 games each.  (31.1% ESPN, 25% Yahoo!)

For Fantasy Basketball advice, as well as New York Knicks and NBA coverage, you can follow me on Twitter: @SethDaSportsMan

Some trades take some time to truly be evaluated, but when it is all said and done, one team usually makes out like bandits.

With that being said, let’s take a look at the five biggest steals on deadline day of all time.

Honorable Mention: 1989 – Indiana Pacers trade Herb Williams to the Dallas Mavericks for Detlef Schrempf

Schrempf became an instant star for the Pacers, winning a pair of Sixth Man awards in 1990 and 91. In addition, he made three All-Star teams as a member of the Pacers while Williams was nothing more than an average rotation guy in Dallas.

5. 1965 – Philadelphia 76ers trade Connie Dierking, Paul Neumann, Lee Shaffer and cash to the San Francisco Warriors for Wilt Chamberlain

This only comes in at No. 5 because technically there was no trade deadline in 1965, but the deal was made right after the All-Star break so it makes the list. Chamberlain is one of the greatest players of all-time, so this needs little explaining, but from 1965-68 Chamberlain averaged 28.0 points and 23.7 rebounds per game for the Sixers.

4. 1988 – Phoenix Suns trade Larry Nance to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Kevin Johnson, Mark West and a first-round pick (Dan Majerle)

Nance was an All-Star a couple of times with the Cavs, but Johnson and Majerle turned  around a dormant franchise and even got the Suns to the Finals in 1993. Looking back at the Suns history, there are few players more popular in team history than Johnson and Majerle.

 
3. 1994 – Chicago Bulls trade Stacey King to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Luc Longley and Dragan Tarlac

Longley wasn’t the most talented player, but he was a fantastic passing big man and almost the perfect fit for Phil Jackson’s triangle offense. By dealing a role player in King, the Bulls got their starting center on their final three championship teams.

2. 1980 – Denver Nuggets trade George McGinnnis to the Indiana Pacers for Alex English

English was one of the best pure scorers in NBA history and made eight All-Star games as a Nugget and led the team to nine playoff appearances during his time there, while McGinnis, who was a former ABA All-Star, retired two years later.

1. 1994 – Utah Jazz trade Jeff Malone and a draft pick to the Philadelphia 76ers for Jeff Hornacek, Sean Green, and a draft pick

A lot of the success of the Utah Jazz was due to the John Stockton-Karl Malone duo, but don’t underestimate how important Hornacek was. He was an outstanding piece and his three-point shooting allowed the Jazz to stretch the floor. Hornacek was the missing piece and nearly helped the Jazz win a pair of titles, but ultimately they had to run into that Michael Jordan fellow.

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February 6, 2013; Toronto, ON, Canada; Toronto Raptors forward-center Andrea Bargnani (7) passes the ball as Boston Celtics center Jason Collins (98) defends during the first half at the Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

With Derrick Rose coming back soon, the Bulls could be looking to make some moves for the second half of the season.

With the trade deadline only a couple of weeks away, the latest NBA Trade Rumor has the Bulls and Toronto Raptors discussing  deal that would send Carlos Boozer to Toronto in exchange for former No.  1 overall pick Andrea Bargnani.

Marc Stein of ESPN.com of  first reported the rumor and did note that more pieces will need to be added as Boozer makes $5 million more than Bargnani this season.

K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune, says talks were initiated by the Bulls. Talks aren’t currently active, but could be revisited by the Raps and could also expand to include Nate Robinson and John Lucas III.

It would be  big deal for the Bulls, who would finally be able to unload  Boozer’s hefty contract. In addition, Bargnani would give the Bulls the perimeter shooting that they are desperately missing. Bargnani is averaging 15.9 PPG and 4.3 RPG in 22 games this season.

Boozer would give the Raptors, who already made a big move in acquiring Rudy Gay,  a legitimate post presence in their attempt to make a push for the playoffs. He is  averaging 15.7 PPG and 9.6 RPG in 45 games.

The proposed deal makes some sense for both teams, but I can’t see it happening as it makes less sense from the Raptors perspective.

Boozer makes over $15 million this season and is set to make over $16 million next season and that is a contract Toronto just doesn’t need right now.  In addition, adding Boozer would put the Raptors well over the luxury tax line next year.

However adding a post-player such as Boozer could make the up-and-coming Raptors a handful in the Atlantic Division for the Knicks for the next couple of seasons.

However, my gut feeling is that this deal doesn’t happen. It’s just another big name being rumored to change teams. There is just too much financial problems the Raptors could see in the future by making this type of move.

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There’s nothing better to do then hand out the NBA Midseason Awards to recognize the NBA’s best and worst of the first half of the season.

January 21, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors head coach Mark Jackson instructs against the Los Angeles Clippers during the fourth quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Clippers 106-99. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

With that being said let’s hand out our first award.

Coach of the Year: Mark Jackson, Golden State Warriors

This was a close race and there were more than a few deserving coaches, but Jackson gets the nod. The Warriors have exceeded expectations and they have beaten good teams, including the Thunder and Clippers recently in a three-day span. Once Jackson got a healthy team he has gotten everyone to buy in and has the Warriors looking like a legit playoff team. Runners-Up: Tom Thibodeau, Vinny Del Negro, Frank Vogel.

Most Improved Player: Paul George, Indiana Pacers

The Pacers are the best defensive team in the NBA but are 29th in the league in points scored. They wouldn’t be where they are though without George, who has improved more than any player in the NBA, averaging over 17 points per game and his rebounding and assist numbers are up at least one per game as well. George is finally playing to his talent level and has helped the Pacers ease the loss of Danny Granger. Runners-Up: Greivis Vasquez, Jrue Holiday

Least Improved Player of the Year: Jan Vesely, Washington Wizards

When handing this out, I was looking for a player who should have been taking the next step by now, but simply hasn’t. That made the choice easy as Vesely, the No. 5 pick in the 2011 draft, can’t crack a bad Washington lineup. When he does play it is often for 10 minutes or less and rarely produces. Can you say bust?

Sixth Man of the Year: Jamal Crawford, Los Angeles Clippers

Sorry Knicks fans. As much as J.R. Smith deserves this honor, Crawford deserves it just a little bit more. The former Knicks is a vital part of the NBA’s best overall bench and is third in the NBA in fourth quarter scoring. Like Smith, Crawford is averaging close to 17 points per game, but is a little less streaky and more efficient. Runners-Up: Smith, Jarrett Jack

Defensive Player of the Year: Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls

This is another tight race and Tyson Chandler is certainly considered, but Noah and the Bulls are a playoff team without Derrick Rose because Noah has anchored their defense and brings it every night. Noah is a spectacular post defender, but he also can get out and mix it up with guards on pick-and-rolls. He is a great rebounder and a huge source of energy for Thibodeau’s squad. Runners-Up: Chandler, Chris Paul, Larry Sanders

Jan 21, 2013; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard (0) drives to the basket against the Washington Wizards at the Rose Garden. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports

Worst Defensive Player of the Year: Steve Nash, Los Angeles Lakers

Nash wasn’t a good defender in his prime. Now he is hands down the worst defender in the NBA. On a nightly basis Nash makes Amar’e Stoudemire look like an All-NBA Defensive team member and that is hard to do.

Rookie of the Year: Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers

Lillard is top 20 in the league in scoring (18.3 ppg), 13th in assists (6.6) and seventh in minutes played. Plus, his play is a big reason behind LaMarcus Aldridge’s consistently great play. The Blazers are even in playoff contention hanging around the .500 mark ad that is saying something. Lillard leads all rookies in scoring, assists and minutes played. Runners-Up: Anthony Davis, Bradley Beal, Andre Drummond

Worst Rookie of the Year: Thomas Robinson, Sacramento Kings

Remember when Robinson was saying that he should be the No. 1 overall pick in last year’s draft? Good thing the Hornets didn’t listen to him. The No. 5 overall pick is barely getting 15 minutes per game on a Sacramento team that is not loaded with frontcourt talent.

MVP: Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder

Tough choice between Durant and LeBron James, but KD is the clear winner here. Durant has improved his scoring numbers from last season, while his rebounding average is down a hair, but assists are up almost a full assist, steals are up and blocks are up. The Thunder traded James harden, but Durant got even better and is a big reason why OKC is the best team in the NBA right now. He is averaging 29.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocks on the season. That’s not even the most impressive part. Durant is shooting 52.1 percent from the floor, 41.3 percent from behind the arc and 91 percent from the free-throw line. No one else in the league can boast those types of numbers. Runners-Up: James, Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony

Least Valuable Player: Dwight Howard, Los Angeles Lakers

The last two years of Howard’s career have been nothing short of train wreck, which is mostly to his own doing. While Howard is not the sole reason for the Lakers’ struggles, he is a central figure in their demise. Howard has earned himself a spotty reputation and now his attitude has at the very least a negative impact on a dysfunctional Lakers group. His numbers aren’t bad, but the way he goes about his daily business certainly is. Runner-Up: Andrew Bynum

Biggest Surprise: Golden State Warriors

Before the season I felt the Warriors would be a playoff team, but they have exceeded expectations and have proven they can play with anyone in the NBA. They are 26-16 and are only two games out of the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference and home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

Biggest Disappointment: Los Angeles Lakers

I don’t think much of an explanation is needed here, but calling the Lakers first half of the season a disappointment is being kind.

Best Offseason Move: Every Move Clippers Made

It’s hard to pinpoint one move that anyone else has made having more impact than anything the Clippers did in the offseason. They went from not having depth a season ago to adding: Crawford, Matt Barnes, Grant Hill, Lamar Odom and others. The Clippers are the deepest team in the NBA and everyone they signed is playing a role in them becoming legitimate championship contenders. Runner-Up: Houston acquiring James Harden

Worst Offseason Move: Sixers Acquiring Andrew Bynum

Hard to find anything worse at this point in the season than dealing Andre Iguodala for a guy that hasn’t played a game yet. The Sixers are a disappointing 17-25 and a lot of that can be attributed to dealing for Bynum, who will be a free agent at the end of the season.

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Dec 6, 2012; Miami FL, USA; Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) is fouled by New York Knicks forward Rasheed Wallace (36) during the second half at American Airlines Arena. Knicks won 112-92. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Who would have thought that injuries to a pair of 38-year-old role players would be a primary cause to slowing down the New York Knicks, who came out of the gate as one of the NBA’s elite? It’s undeniable that the injury to Raymond Felton has had a huge impact as well, but the interior toughness and depth that was vacated when Rasheed Wallace and Marcus Camby were sidelined has yet to be adequately filled in their absence.

Wallace, who didn’t play last season and was a part-time player the previous season, isn’t going to be able to log major minutes and solve everything, but his body inside and threat to shoot while spacing the floor (over one 3PTM per game this year) has been missed.  With the minutes he can hold up with, averaging about 14 over 20 games, he has been a productive rebounder with just over four per game in addition to 0.8 blocks, making a nice complement inside. The return of Amar’e Stoudemire is a big addition, but only nine games in, it remains to be seen how he performs fresh off an injury on a drastically different Knicks team than he remembers playing for last season.

January 5, 2013; Orlando FL, USA; New York Knicks center Marcus Camby (23) defends Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) shot during the second half at Amway Center. New York Knicks defeated the Orlando Magic 114-106. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Camby’s second stint with the Knicks has been a far different one than his first one over 10 years ago, but he still has been a valuable asset, even while only seeing about 10 mpg.  As recently as last season Camby averaged nine boards and 1.4 blocks a game in just over 20 mpg for Portland and Houston. More importantly, Camby is the best shot blocker on the Knicks, averaging 0.8 this season in those limited minutes and 2.4 per game for his career.

Tyson Chandler has proven his defensive value and has last season’s Defensive Player of the Year award to show for it, but his shot blocking ability doesn’t coincide with his defensive reputation and is lacking (1.0 blocks per game in 30+ mpg this year). What was brought to the court by Camby, a former NBA Defensive Player of the Year himself, shouldn’t be overlooked.

The Knicks may be thinking about how they can overcome the Heat in a playoff series, winning just a lone playoff game against them least season, but this lack of interior presence will prove to be a problem against more than just the Heat. Teams like the Bulls with Joakim Noah, Carlos Boozer, and Taj Gibson inside will only get stronger with the return of Derrick Rose and the Knicks are already 0-3 vs. Chicago.

They don’t even need to look further than their own division for proof that they need to get tougher inside, allowing Kevin Garnett to put up 19 and 10 in their last meeting with the Celtics and getting embarrassed on the glass in Monday’s game vs. the Nets as they were outrebounded 52-37.

Between Chandler, Stoudemire, Wallace, and Camby, the Knicks had a good mix of options going for the 4 and 5 position in addition to Carmelo Anthony’s ability to play the 4. All of those players have different dimensions to their game and as a unit, have shown success this year. If they all prove to be healthy, the Knicks could have something that works but with age a factor for Wallace and Camby, that “if” becomes far less likely and it’s harder to rely on them to seamlessly bounce back from injury and slide back into the rotation.

The Knicks are still in the process of getting fully healthy at multiple positions, but as it stands right now, they will need more stability inside to ensure their credibility as a title threat this year and should explore all options for reinforcement before the trade deadline rolls around.

The NBA has changed a lot since then and most say it has become softer. Superstars don’t hate each other; instead they film commercials and take pictures of Instagram together. Kevin Durant and LeBron James train together and are friends off the court. Team USA wasn’t like the Dream Team; no intense competition in practices. It seemed like it was just 12 best friends who happen to be the best basketball players in the world playing on the same team dominating everyone in their path. Some people just won’t hate each other, but there will always be friction with the best teams and cities with decades of rivalry.

I believe when the regular season is done and we head into playoff time, the four teams that will be the most dangerous will be: The Miami Heat, New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, and Chicago Bulls. These four franchises hate each other. They are the four most popular cities on the East Coast and all have superstars in their prime hungry for a title. All these teams’ windows to win are open right now. A fifth team to consider is the Brooklyn Nets, who obviously are in the early stages of a long, long rivalry with the Knicks. The Nets have also butted heads with the Celtics, so a playoff matchup between Brooklyn and Boston would be interesting but without a doubt a Nets-Knicks playoff battle would be one for the ages.

The Nets came into this season thinking they would run the Knicks out of town. After beating them in their first ever matchup, the Knicks knocked them off their pedestal with two straight wins. It’s no secret the Nets came into Brooklyn going after the Knicks fan base. They want bragging rights and want to earn their place in New York. The Nets have been one of the hottest teams in the league and are right behind the Knicks. These teams are three games into their rivalry history but it’s safe to say these two squads aren’t going out to eat on their off days together.

The last week and a half we have seen the Knicks cause -on and off the court- controversy with long-time rivals the Bulls and Celtics. We all know what happened with Carmelo and Kevin Garnett on and off the court. Boston and New York haven’t liked each other since this country was born and nothing will change that. Nothing pisses New Yorker’s off more than Paul Pierce and his 16-year-old boy beard hitting a dagger shot. The man is a Knicks killer. One rivalry that is back is the Celtics and Knicks. It might have never left but the stakes are definitely bigger now.

These aren’t Michael’s Bulls anymore. These aren’t Ewing’s Knicks anymore. The torch has been passed to Anthony and the entire Bulls team because they have been playing great without their MVP Derrick Rose. Anyway, with Nate Robinson and Steve Novak adding a little flavor in their press conferences and on the court, it will be fun to watch the Bulls and Knicks battle it out. On the court, All-Star Luol Deng seems to be Carmelo’s kryptonite and is one of the few players who get him out of his zone. Tyson Chandler and Joakim Noah have had words for each other not meant for all ages. Iman Shumpert has said he respects Derrick Rose but straight out doesn’t like him. The Bulls and Knicks aren’t sending each other Christmas cards every year. They don’t like each other, just as it should be.

The Miami Heat will always be the bad guy. However ESPN and everyone wants to twist it. Two years ago these guys were the most hated team in sports, did we forget that? LeBron might have polished his image from his “Decision” but Knicks fans will always hate him. Yeah of course we wouldn’t be saying this if he came to New York, but he didn’t and now we have the right to hate him with all our heart. Dwyane Wade has always been a Knicks killer meanwhile Chandler and Jason Kidd have been Heat killers. Alonzo Mourning isn’t suiting up for the Heat anytime soon but the Miami Heat will always been on the most hated list for the Knicks.

I might have missed Magic vs. Bird. Jordan vs. Ewing. Alonzo vs. LJ. Do I wish I were 20 years old during the 90s? Of course! But I am looking forward to what this year and the future brings for the Knicks’ current rivalries. I’m looking forward to when Carmelo and Kevin Garnett see each other in the paint. When everyone in the building knows Paul Pierce is getting the ball. I want to see Carmelo topple LeBron and the Heat. I want to see Novak hit a three and point to  “Young Nathan.” I want to see a Knicks and Nets playoff go seven games and end in the Garden.

This might not be the 90s but we have all the intensity we need.

Dec 15, 2012; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks small forward Steve Novak (16) takes a free throw during the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden. Knicks won 103-102. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

The Knicks didn’t miss Novak on Wednesday as they beat the Nets by 14, but it is always good to have him ready to come off the bench, especially since he is shooting 43.8 percent from behind the arc.

While it is great news on Novak being back in uniform, the same can’t be said for a pair of Knicks’ big men.

Marcus Camby (plantar fasciitis) targeted Friday to make his comeback and while he did shoot this morning, he won’t play tonight against the Bulls.

The same can be said for Rasheed Wallace (sore left foot).

Wallace is listed as day-to-day and will miss his fourth consecutive game tonight. The Knicks are saying there is no timetable for his return, which is a bit concerning. At his age (38), a foot injury could become a lingering problem for Wallace.

While that could be taken as bad news, it also means a bigger role for Chris Copeland for now, who has been a big spark off the Knicks bench.

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1. Miami Heat
2. Philadelphia 76ers
3. Indiana Pacers
4. New York Knicks
5. Boston Celtics
6. Chicago Bulls
7. Brooklyn Nets
8. Cleveland Cavaliers

1^st Round

1. Miami Heat vs. 8. Cleveland Cavaliers

Oct 17, 2012; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) talks with guard Dion Waiters (3) during the second quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wachovia Center. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-US PRESSWIRE

I’m not sure this will happen as the Cavs have a lot to do to become a playoff team but this will be one of most hyped up first round matchups in recent history. LeBron going back to Cleveland for a playoff matchup would be a great storyline. Kyrie Irving has the talent to lead his team to the playoffs but will it be enough to pull the historic upset over the former King of Cleveland? Would be amazing to see but I can’t see it happening.

Heat over Cavaliers 4-1

2. Philadelphia 76es vs. 7. Brooklyn Nets

This Atlantic Division matchup would create a new rivalry in the NBA. Most New York fans hate Philadelphia with the Eagles, Phillies, and Flyers in town and this would just add more fuel to the fire. I see Philadelphia having a huge year but the Nets have Deron Williams. This would be a great series but I see the Nets pulling the upset in 7.

Nets over 76ers 4-3

3. Indiana Pacers vs. 6. Chicago Bulls

We have another divisional matchup in the first round with Central foes in the Pacers and Bulls. At this point in the season the Bulls will have Derrick Rose back hopefully at full health and no opponent wants to deal with that. I love the Pacers this year but if Derrick Rose is playing all out, I have to give it to the Bulls in a great seven-game series.

Bulls over Pacers 4-3

4. New York Knicks vs. 5. Boston Celtics

Our last divisional first round matchup gives us Boston against New York, a rematch from two years ago. It would be pretty interesting with two New York teams going up against Boston and Philadelphia. The Celtics should never be counted out in the playoffs but I think Carmelo Anthony will be on a mission to prove he is the man in New York. To be the man in New York you have to win in the playoffs, and Melo will do that for the first time in the Big Apple since Clinton was in office.

Knicks over Celtics 4-2

Eastern Conference Semis

Oct 18, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) during the second half against the Detroit Pistons at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE

1. Miami Heat vs. 4. New York Knicks

The Knicks get a shot of revenge and history when they square up against LeBron and the Heat in the second round. The stakes will be higher compared to last year, as Carmelo and the Knicks would be playing with confidence. My heart really wants to pick the Knicks here but the Heat are too good. I hope I’m wrong but it’s hard to predict the Heat losing four games to the Knicks in the playoffs.

Heat over Knicks 4-2

6. Chicago Bulls vs. 7. Brooklyn Nets

If you love elite point guards, this is the perfect playoff matchup for you. Derrick Rose against Deron Williams is a fantastic matchup with both players being two of the league’s best. I think the Bulls have all the momentum and talent on their side here. The Bulls have been here before and know how a close playoff series feels like. No one on the Nets roster has really felt the pressure of a big playoff stage and I think Rose and the Bulls take care of the Nets.

Bulls over Nets 4-1

Eastern Conference Finals

1. Miami Heat vs. 6. Chicago Bulls

The Bulls get their shot to finally make it back to the Finals for the first time since Michael Jordan when they once again go up against LeBron and the Heat. The Bulls getting over the hump with all that Rose has been through would be a Hollywood type story. I would love to see it happen but once again picking against the Heat is hard to do. This series goes seven but the Heat are the better team.

Heat over Bulls 4-3

2013 Eastern Conference Champions – Miami Heat 

The Bulls have been much better than the Knicks for the past several seasons, but how will they match up this year?

Point Guard: Kirk Hinrich/Derrick Rose (after return from injury) vs. Raymond Felton

If we are going to base this match up on the Bulls’ point guard situation after Rose returns from injury than this is a no brainer, but we can’t make it that easy. Derrick Rose had his ACL surgery in May of 2012, and that surgery takes about 8-12 months to heal from (The Bulls have noted that Rose will not return until 100% healed); that would mean that the earliest Rose will return is January. Assuming that the best case scenario works out he will have missed almost 3 whole months of the season.

If we take another look at this match up while excluding Rose then it is a much closer call. Kirk Hinrich is a solid point guard on most teams, but he is much older than Felton (31 opposed to 28) and has had less success as a starting point guard. Felton’s poor previous season aside, he has played well alongside Amar’e, and is committed to a bounce back this coming year.

Edge: Bulls. Even though Rose may miss a large amount of time this season, we are still talking about possibly the best point guard in the league. If he plays from January through April then the Bulls won’t have too much to worry about.

Shooting Guard: Rip Hamilton vs. J.R Smith/Iman Shumpert (after return from injury)

Hamilton, a three-time all-star, is a shell of his former self. He can still score effectively on occasion, but last season showed how poor his durability is. He played in 28 out of 66 games last season with the Bulls. He is 34 years old, and in the twilight of his career.

J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert are the exact opposite of Hamilton. They are both young: 27 and 22 respectively. J.R. is known for being an offensive spark plug, but last year showed that he can attack the passing lanes extremely well. Iman Shumpert made a name for himself early on last season as a defensive juggernaut who could guard the perimeter like few others can do. Sadly, Shumpert tore his ACL in May as well, but his best case scenario is a December return.

Edge: Knicks. Although J.R. has been inconsistent, last year he showed his defensive skills were underrated, and he could have a very big year this year with the larger role.

Small Forward: Luol Deng vs. Carmelo Anthony

Luol Deng is a good player, especially defensively, but this is not a fair comparison.

Carmelo Anthony is one the most versatile scorers in the NBA, and after his unbelievable Olympic outing this summer we should expect nothing but the best ‘Melo there is. He seems committed and focused to win a championship, and I think that this season will be one of his most memorable.

Edge: Knicks.

Power Forward: Carlos Boozer vs. Amar’e Stoudemire

This is by far the toughest call out of all the positions. They both have major pros and cons. Carlos Boozer has never been as good of an athlete or player as STAT during his career. He has been a top 10 power forward for years, and he has a very impressive post game. Defensively he leaves a little to be desired, but so does Stoudemire.

Amar’e is the superior athlete and has a wider range of skills including a superior jumpshot, better ball handling, and he is a better shot blocker. However, STAT has been one of the most injury prone players of the decade. He is coming off a poor season, but has worked hard over the offseason with Hakeem Olajuwon to come back better than ever.

Edge: Knicks. With all of Amar’e's faults he is still the superior player between he and Boozer.

Center: Joakim Noah vs. Tyson Chandler

These are two defensive minded centers, but they have different approaches to how they play. Joakim Noah is a high energy, high toughness player who is going to make it tough for the opponents every chance he gets. Tyson Chandler, on the other hand, is more of a strategic defensive player who is going to effect every shot that is near the basket using purely his defensive awareness and skill level.

They are both excellent rebounders, although Noah is slightly better. Tyson has the advantage in shot blocking and in field goal percentage.

Edge: Tie. Both of these centers serve as the defensive anchors of their teams, and their stats are too similar to choose a front runner.

Bench: Nate Robinson, Marco Bellinelli, Taj Gibson, Nazr Mohammed, Vladimir Radmanovic, and Marquis Teague vs. Ronnie Brewer, Jason Kidd, Marcus Camby, Kurt Thomas, and Steve Novak.

*I chose to exclude Kirk Hinrich and J.R. Smith because they both will most likely start during some games during the season.

The Bulls bench consists of shooters in Bellinelli, Radmanovic, and Robinson. They have a defensive enforcer in Nazr Mohammed. A sixth man in Taj Gibson, and a decent prospect in Marquis Teague. They are not a particularly strong bench, but they have good depth at each position in case of injury.

The Knicks have better shooters in Novak and Kidd, better enforcers in Camby and Thomas, and a defensive stopper in Brewer. Overall, the Knicks have very few holes on their bench, excluding a back up power forward which they are rumored to be shopping for.

Edge: Knicks. They have far better talent sitting on their bench than the Bulls do.

Summary: The Knicks are poised to have the better season this year, in my opinion. It would be a different story if Rose was healthy going into the season, but The Bulls would be lucky to get the fifth seed this season. The Knicks are being projected by some to be in the top 4 in the conference, and I see that as a realistic possibility. This may be one of few seasons where Derrick Rose is on the Bulls that the Knicks have the chance to be the better team. They better take advantage of the opportunity.

In a conference call on Monday, free agent point guard Jason Kidd said that, though his preference is to re-sign with the Dallas Mavericks, he also would consider signing with three different teams: the Chicago Bulls, Brooklyn Nets and the Knicks.

Kidd said his willingness to be a Knick is due to how “fun” it would be to play with promising young point guard Jeremy Lin, who the Knicks have made their main priority this off-season to re-sign.

While its nice to hear players wanting to play in the Big Apple, would signing Kidd be a help to the Knicks goal of returning to a constant, winning formula?

In this scenario, I don’t think there is a reason not to give a serious run at Jason Kidd on the open market. Last year in Dallas, he started every one of the 48 games he played last season and was effective, even with a reduced role due to age (he’s 39). He averaged a career-low 5.5 assists in a career-low 28.7 minutes a night.

However, his value would be tremendous in everything he would do off the court and in the training room with Jeremy Lin. He would almost be a player-coach, being able to teach Lin the finer nuances to being a productive NBA point guard. There’s a reason why Kidd has started all but 13 of the 1,315 games over his 19-year career.

There’s also the likeliness that Kidd will play the 2012-13 season for the veteran’s minimum. Its imperative the Knicks find not just cheap, but useful pieces to fill out their bench and built a productive roster. Kidd would go a long way to answering some of the Knicks key off-season questions (back-up point guard, mentor for Lin).

And though he is a shadow of what he used to be offensively, he’s still a great distributor. Kidd’s unique ability to always find the open man in the offensive set is remarkable. He can also hit an open three when he has the opportunity.

So, the only obstacle keeping the Knicks from a full-fledged pursuit of Kidd is his initial desire to re-sign in Dallas. Should the Mavericks move in a different direction and not re-up with the veteran point, the Knicks should absolutely move to the front of the Knicks off-season agenda.

“I wasn’t going to take the job; that’s for sure,” Jackson remarked.

May 8, 2011; Dallas, TX, USA; Los Angeles Lakers head coach Phil Jackson in action on the sidelines in the third quarter of game four against the Dallas Mavericks for the second round of the 2011 NBA playoffs at American Airlines Center. The Mavs beat the Lakers 122-86. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE

Who’s to say the most successful coach in NBA history is wrong? Are the Knicks clumsy? Indeed. They had two different head coaches last year, five different starting point guards, two major winning streaks, and two lengthy losing streaks.

Does Amar’e Stoudemire need to play in an uptempo system, as Jackson claimed? Yes. His best seasons were in Phoenix and under Mike D’Antoni’s high-octane offense.

Does Carmelo Anthony need to move the ball more? You’re preaching to the choir, Phil.

Are Stoudemire and Anthony a bad fit together? That still remains to be seen, in my eyes.

Are we to believe Phil Jackson wouldn’t return to New York with a chance to win the city’s first basketball championship since he donned a Knicks uniform in 1973? With James Dolan’s pockets open to him? I have trouble believing that.

Yet through Jackson’s scathing, yet on-point remarks, there is a certain sound of confession. Jackson commented, “They need to have someone come in that can kind of blend that group together.” So is Phil Jackson not that coach?

Many Knicks fans were upset with the organization’s lack of a coaching search this offseason. When there were options out there, the Knicks played it safe when they should have been more experimental. Mike Woodson is a fine coach who did a solid job in his short time with the team, but when names like Phil Jackson and Jerry Sloan, or even Nate McMillan are out there, the Knicks should have done their research.

However, Phil Jackson’s system would have been a questionable fit as well. For all of the criticism Mike D’Antoni took for not making adjustments in his time with the Knicks (an often unfair criticism), Phil Jackson coaches teams one way: with the Triangle offense. After 11 championships as a head coach, Jackson would not have come into New York and completely changed his ways to suit the team. Jackson’s offenses function with ball movement, post-play, and strong outside shooting. I was too young to watch the 90s Chicago Bulls with a critical eye, but let us look at the Lakers for example.

Kobe Bryant: an all-world wing player, who thrives on mid-range jumpers and in the post; a talented passer when willing, but far more willing to shoot. The Knicks have that in Carmelo Anthony, albeit with less greatness than Kobe Bryant. There were Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum: two offensive-minded players with strong post games, and Gasol with his ability to knock down jumpers. The rest of the team was surrounded with shooters, the most consistent cog being Derek Fisher who played a similar role as Steve Kerr on Jackson’s Bulls teams.

These last two aspects are what the Knicks lack. Amar’e Stoudemire does not post up, instead opting for the pick-and-roll, or scoring on face-ups. Tyson Chandler dunks the ball.

And outside of Steve Novak, the Knicks did not have consistent outside threats. Their five starting point guards this season – Jeremy Lin, Toney Douglas, Mike Bibby, Baron Davis, and Iman Shumpert – averaged a combined 29.6% from 3-point range. Not exactly ideal outside shooting.

So maybe Phil Jackson didn’t want the job; maybe he wasn’t right for it. But to be honest, if Phil Jackson didn’t want the Knicks, then as a fan, I don’t want Phil Jackson.

Mar. 14, 2012; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks celebrate on the bench during the first half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-US PRESSWIRE

However, now it’s a matter of exactly what seed the Knicks will clinch.

Currently, the Knicks are sitting pretty comfortably in the seventh spot, one full game ahead of eight place Philadelphia, and three games behind sixth place Orlando. Ideally, the Knicks would like to catch the Magic for that sixth seed, and it’s not entirely impossible.

Yesterday, it was announced that Dwight Howard will miss the remainder of the season by undergoing back surgery. The Magic are also missing Hedo Turkoglu, so their cupboard is a little bare these days. Furthermore, the Magic have a fairly tough schedule ahead of them. Here’s a comparison of the Knicks’ and Magic’s remaining games.

For New York: Cleveland Cavaliers, Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers, Charlotee Bobcats.

For Orlando: Utah Jazz, Denver Nuggets, Charlotte Bobcats, Memphis Grizzlies.

However, the Knicks may need some help from old Lady Luck in order to snag that sixth seed. Orlando will either have to lose three of four or all four games, while the Knicks win all four of their games. With the Hawks and Clippers on the horizon, that may not be an easy feat. If that series of events does take place, though, it would send the Knicks and Magic into a tie, but since New York owns the tie-breaker (they won the season series 2-1), the Knicks would take the sixth seed.

All of this is, of course, to try and avoid the Miami Heat or Chicago Bulls in the first round – teams largely considered the top dogs in the Eastern Conference. With all due respect to the Indiana Pacers (who have had a scorching April), the Knicks feel that they would have a better chance to advance in the playoffs if they could face Indiana in the first round. Besides the obvious bonuses of advancing a round in the playoffs, it also would supposedly bring a healthy Jeremy Lin back to the team, which would fruther help the Knicks’ chances of making a deep playoff run.

But all of the above may be wishful thinking. If the Knicks’ dream scenario of the Magic tanking and the Knicks prevailing doesn’t come true, then in almost all likelihood, the Knicks may begin the playoffs facing either the Bulls or Heat. Some people prefer to see the Bulls with a rusty Derrick Rose, especially considering three of the four matchups with the Bulls were tight games (the Knicks winning one of them). Others would prefer to play the Heat, hoping for a redux of lockout luck.

Either way, whether the Knicks win out for the rest of the season, or find themselves playing the conquerers of the East in the opening round of the playoffs, the road won’t be easy.

Do the Heat make the most sense for the Knicks in the playoffs?

Throughout this roller-coaster of a regular season, the New York Knicks have gone through multiple identities. There was the “Trade ‘Melo” movement, Lin-sanity, the Woodson Era, and I’m sure I’m missing three or four other periods of play.

All we know is, with 10 games remaining, the team is tied for seventh in the Eastern Conference and are two games clear in the loss column ahead of the Milwaukee Bucks, who the Knicks face tomorrow after a rematch with the Chicago Bulls tonight.

With all things considered, the Knicks best-case scenario for the playoffs is outplaying the Philadelphia 76ers over the next 10 games and capturing the 7th seed in the East. Either way, the Knicks will be facing one of the two juggernauts in the first round: the Bulls or the Miami Heat.

I’m here to tell you that, in a perfect world, the Knicks want to face the Heat in the first round.

Wait…what!?!?

I know what you’re thinking, and I ask you to hear me out. The knee-jerk reaction to my statement isn’t unjustified considering the the two times the Knicks and Heat have played this year, it hasn’t been close. The Heat have beat the Knicks by a total of 24 points in two games, while the Knicks have always played the Bulls tight, winning one of three, but never losing by more five points.

Yet, I still like the Heat as a match-up and there are three reasons why.

The first, the Heat have not faced this specific, Mike Woodson-led Knicks. The last time these two teams met was at the height of the Lin-sanity, and the Heat locked down Jeremy Lin and dominated the action from start to finish. However, this version of the Knicks plays with an emphasis on the defensive end and have begun playing a more complete basketball game. Woodson has handed the keys to the Knicks offense to Carmelo Anthony, who has finally taken the leap to the “this is my house, this is my team” attitude fans have been waiting for since he came over from Denver. ’Melo would be licking his chops if he got a chance to match-up with LeBron James, in New York, in the playoffs, with a chance to re-establish himself as a superstar.

Also, guard Iman Shumpert has taken the next step in his development under the guidance of Mike Woodson. Sunday’s game was his coming-out party to the nation: 15 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assist, 4 steals. His defense would be the X-factor in any playoff series, but especially against the Heat and having the ability to man-up against Dwayne Wade. And there’s always Tyson Chandler, who last year proved to be the inside kryptonite to LeBron James for the Dallas Mavericks. That has to be in James’ head moving forward.

The second reason why the Knicks want to play the Heat: this team will struggle against elite point guards. What gets lost in the excitement of the Knicks win over the Bulls on Sunday was the 21-point lead the team blew against a resurgent Derrick Rose. As much as I love the defense Shumpert provides, he is yet to prove that he can match the quickness of an elite point guard, someone at the level of Rose, Chris Paul, Deron Williams or even Brandon Jennings.

With the Heat, if Mario Chalmers or Norris Cole is going to beat the Knicks, then they have more problems than originally thought. Neither of the two point guards for the Heat, regardless of how well they’ve played in spurts this season, play at a level superior to any of the potential points for the Knicks. If anything, a healthy (if that’s even possible) Baron Davis would have a slight advantage over the Heat. This team needs to avoid the dynamic point guards that populate rosters in the East, and the Heat are one team that doesn’t present a strong option at the lead guard.

The final reason why Knicks fans should want the Heat in Round 1: this is New York, baby! LeBron James needs to prove to the world that he won’t fold under the immense pressure of the playoffs. All eyes would be on James come late-April, early-May, fair or unfair.

There is no basketball environment quite like Madison Square Garden when the Knicks are playing at an elite level. We all saw what that place is like in a playoff-like atmosphere on Sunday. Carmelo embraced it, Shumpert embraced it, and it seemed to crack Derrick Rose ever so slightly.

Historically speaking, LeBron has owned the Garden. However, the last few times he has come to the Garden, he has been the show. The crowd wanted to see what LeBron could do against the Knicks, not what the Knicks can do to stop him. Now, everything has changed. This fan base is out for blood. Nobody has forgiven LeBron for choosing the Heat over the Knicks in the Summer of 2010. With Carmelo firmly entrenched as the Alpha Dog, there is a growing level of hatred for the Heat this city hasn’t seen since Jeff Van Gundy was glued to the ankles of Alonzo Mourning. We want to be the fans that officially break LeBron. We want to haunt his career. We want him running off our court with his tail between his legs. I don’t know one Knicks fan that doesn’t want to be, in some small way, personally responsible for another Heat collapse.

Look, I understand that priority #1 is just getting to the playoffs. The Knicks last 10 games are incredibly difficult with match-ups with the Bulls, Bucks, Heat, Celtics, Hawks and Clippers ahead of them.

But, there is a new feeling for Knicks fans. We saw something Sunday that makes us all want to believe. Carmelo Anthony is here, officially. Tyson Chandler and Iman Shumpert are stepping up at the right time. And Steve Novak makes everybody want to believe whenever he heaves up a three.

This team is as exciting as it has ever been all year. Now, bring on the Heat.

Landry Fields and the Other Knicks starters will need to put in a big effort against the Bulls tonight. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-US PRESSWIRE

Tonight marks the first matchup between what was originally believed to be two of the top contenders in the Eastern Conference. That was the belief prior to the season anyway; since the season started however, as Knicks fans are tragically aware, it hasn’t quite panned out that way on the Knicks side of things.

The Bulls are currently seated atop the Eastern Conference, the Knicks, on the other hand, have not been so fortunate; currently sitting in the 10 spot the Knicks are on the outside of the playoff picture, looking in.

Despite the space between these two teams in the current standings, New York may have a chance tonight to steal a game against the aforementioned best team in the Eastern Conference. The Bulls will enter play tonight without two of their key pieces; both Luol Deng and Richard Hamilton have been ruled out of tonight’s game with injuries.  Based on what we saw last night against the Sixers, the Bulls are a very beatable team without their starting wings in place.

In order to come away with the win, the Knicks are going to have to get a similar effort out of their starters as they did against the Pistons on Tuesday.  The Knicks got an effecicent, balanced attack out of their starting five; highlighted by the play of Carmelo Anthony, who shot 9-14 from the floor, netting him a game high 25 points, and Landry Fields who also was impressive, finishing with 17 points on 7-10 shooting.

Sharing the ball was also key to their win against Detroit; the Knicks’s 25 assists was one of the highest totals of the season, and something that Knick fans have been waiting all season to see.

Defensively the goal for the Knicks has to be to try and contain Derrick Rose.  The obvious truth is that you are never going to stop a guy with the talent of Derrick Rose, but if you can limit his ability to get others involved, the Knickerbockers may be able to stunt the Bulls offensive attack just enough to steal a much needed win. (more…)

Our team had trouble stopping Derrick Rose, but overall it was the Bulls who couldn't stop the Knicks. (Source: Yardbarker.com)

The Knicks defeated the Bulls last night, and two potential Bucket writers had things to say about it.  Show them some love.  This post is written by Stanley Chin:

Take that Chicago…

Ok, I admit I’d have liked to say that back when Jordan and Pippen were playing more often… but I’ll take the W thank you very much.

There was a lot to like about this game and a lot to be concerned about.

Lets start with the positives…

(more…)

More sky-is-falling sign-of-the-apocalypse news: a Mike D'Antoni team is better at defense than offense. (Source: Yardbarker.com)

Tonight we go to Chicago to play the Bulls, but somehow the stats tell us that we’re arriving looking like a defensive juggernaut that doesn’t know how to play offense.  Huh?  The blog By The Horns brought up these truly backwards stats:

how weird is this:

The Knicks — a presumably defenseless team that relies on Mike D’Antoni’s wacky offensive system to outscore their opponents — currently rank 24th in Offensive Rating (101.1) and 8th in Defensive Rating (102.4). Seriously.

As for the Bulls, they’re 15th in Offensive Rating (106.4) and 9th in Defensive Rating (102.6). So…Tom Thibodeau’s team is worse at playing defense than Mike D’Antoni’s squad, but better at putting points on the board?

In related news: Dogs are now living with cats. Mass hysteria!

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Kobe bites his shirt! Does that mean he's worried the Lakers won't be on top this year? Nah, probably he just forgot to eat dinner. (Source: Yardbarker.com)

With the season beginning tonight, it’s time to rank how strong all the teams are at this point.  This isn’t who will be strongest at the end of the season or who will have the best regular season.  This measures how strong each team is right NOW.  If a team engaged in a seven game series today with any of the teams listed below them, I’m saying they’d win.  So yeah, injuries count big time.  And chemistry.  And like, how good they are.  It’s basically a highly complex formula that you mere mortals wouldn’t understand.  Either that or it’s all based on pure opinion.

1. Los Angeles Lakers — Even with the recovering Kobe shooting 28% this pre-season they’d still beat everyone.  Hell, he only shot 24% in Game 7 of Finals.

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With the Cavs having lost the unstoppable Delonte West (plus I think some other guy?), how bad will they be? You might be surprised by our take. (Source: Yardbarker.com)

We already examined how much teams improved/regressed during the off-season, but now we’ll talk about how they stack up against each other.  Meaning, we gave Orlando a zero for their summer and the Wizards a +2, but now we’re here to tell you that yes, of course Orlando is still gonna be far better.  For those who haven’t seen those posts on off-season grades, click the following links to see what we had to say about the Northwest, Atlantic, Central, Southeast, Pacific and Southwest Divisions.  Also, we’re only gonna be talking about the regular season here.  So even though we don’t think the Celts will be a top two team record-wise, it doesn’t mean we think they’re incapable of making it through the gauntlet again.  Lastly, some teams will be put in clusters ‘cuz they’ll likely end up with similar records and what does a victory or two here and there matter?

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1. Rather than a standard A through F grade or going for a scale of 1-10, we shall use a system that my friend Noriko loves: -5 through +5.  It helps differentiate things a bit more, ‘cuz like if a team gets a C-, it’s better than an F, but is it good?  With this scale, you can instead give the team a +1, which shows that they improved the team, but only marginally.  Or maybe they get a zero ‘cuz they didn’t hurt the team or help it.

2. These grades are not, I repeat, NOT, about how good teams will be.  It’s purely about how good their summer moves were.  For instance, the Sacramento Kings may get a higher grade than say the Orlando Magic, but that doesn’t mean I’m insane and think the Kings will be better than the Magic.  It simply means I like the Kings’ draft of DeMarcus Cousins more than the Magic’s signings of Quentin Richardson and Chris Duhon (although I haven’t fully examined those teams yet, so I dunno what grades they’ll get).

3. The grades are not just based on how good the players are, but also their contracts.  Joe Johnson is definitely a top 30 player, but with Atlanta giving him $120 million/6 yrs, the largest contract of anyone this summer, his signing turns into a negative.

4. Grades will be scaled based on what each team could have done.  Meaning the Lakers, a team over the salary cap, get major kudos for snagging Steve Blake, Matt Barnes, Theo Ratliff and bringing back Shannon Brown with their limited financial flexibility, but if say the Knicks, with all their cap space, had only made those moves, I’d pan ‘em.

5. Fit matters.  I like Kirk Hinrich a ton, and had he gone to the Pacers (a team that desperately need a point guard before yesterday’s Collison trade), I would’ve raved about the move.  However, Washington acquiring him is a bit odd considering they already have PGs in John Wall and Gilbert Arenas.

And now…

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Credit: Yahoo Sports

According to Portland Trail Blazers blog Rip City Project a deal that would send Rudy Fernandez to Chicago could be done by Monday.

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Both Tracy McGrady and Shaquille O’Neal are struggling to find work, but for different reasons. McGrady is struggling to get a non-guaranteed contract and Shaq wants too much money. Both were top players at one time in this league, but both have fallen and fallen hard at that.

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What's that sound Boozer hears? Is it the roar of Chicago fans cheering him? (Source: Yardbarker.com)

Carlos Boozer just agreed to a 5-year/$80 million contract with the Chicago Bulls, which could possibly bring them back into the LeBron sweepstakes. I wrote earlier today that it was hard to imagine LBJ leaving Cleveland to go to a team where he wasn’t assured to play with a big man, and now that no longer applies to Chi-Town. Will it make a difference? Has LeBron already made up his mind? Can this get him to change his mind? No one frickin’ knows.

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Wade will lift Bosh up so Chris can finally get past the first round. (source: Yardbarker.com)

Chris Bosh has agreed to join Dwayne Wade on the Miami Heat. Toronto has said they’re not interested in doing a sign-and-trade with Miami, although they might yet change their mind. Bosh has said even if the Raptors won’t play ball, he’s still going (meaning he’d get $30 million less and a 5-year contract rather than 6 years).

As we wait for tomorrow’s one-hour LeBron Special Announcement Insanity, this might help us narrow down his possibilities. Since he’s scheduled a time to declare this, we can assume he’s now finally already decided where he wants to go. As I see it (and yes, this is pure speculation), which of these teams are still in the horse race:

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Could It Work?

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo the Knicks have all but eliminated themselves from the LeBron sweepstakes.

“Sources say one team that all but eliminated itself with James in the presentation process was the New York Knicks. James met with the organization on Friday and his inner-circle has described New York’s presentation as lacking preparedness and organization. James’ camp also found it to be redundant to much of the New Jersey Nets’ far sharper, edgier presentation on James’ earning power.”

Even though it’s just a rumor, this is very disappointing.

This could be the last time you see Dwayne Wade by himself. (source: Yardbarker.com)

Knicks’ fans beware, the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls have positioned themselves to outdo us in their free agency pitch to LeBron James, Chris Bosh and the rest.  Yes, yes, I hear there’s some draft tonight that might turn around the fates of some franchises, but we Knick fans know our real chance for change comes July 1st, the start of the free agency wooing period.  While we didn’t have the best roster, we did have the space for two max players, something only New Jersey and Miami could match.  Unfortunately, in the last 36 hours Miami has created even more cap room, while Chicago seems ready to join the group too.  Before reading any further, I’d recommend you step back from any steep ledges ‘cuz by the end you might feel compelled to throw yourself off ‘em.

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Uh oh, LeBron can't even open his eyes to look at Jay-Z here. Is that a poor omen for NJ? You tell us. (Source: Yardbarker.com)

Yes, just a few weeks ago we had a poll asking what you thought our chances were of landing LeBron, but now we’ve got a broader question where we allow you to >gasp< think about other possible cities he might end up in. Plus, c’mon, if you said a 60% chance in that poll, it’s not like you’ll ever know if you were right, regardless of where he goes. So no more being wishy-washy. Pick a side. No one argues with their friends whether there’s a 21% shot or 74% shot the Lakers will win Game 6; we just make the call, Lakers or Celtics in 6 or 7 games, and fight over why.

No one (possibly even LeBron) knows where the King’s gonna go.  Now’s your shot to permanently make your prediction for bragging rights.  Don’t mess up.

New Bulls' coach Tom Thibodeau got his defensive chops from one of the best coaches in the game: Jeff Van Gundy. Unfortunately, it seems he also co-opted Jeff's same clothing/grooming style. (source: Yardbarker.com)

There has been confirmation that both the New Jersey Nets and the Chicago Bulls have hired new coaches.  The Bulls have hired Celtic’s assistant coach Tom Thibodeau, widely acclaimed for his defensive schemes.  Many have argued that his addition was equally as key to turning the Celts into defensive juggernauts in 2008 as getting Kevin Garnett.  The Bulls were great stoppers just a few years ago under former coach Scott Skiles (who this year turned the Milwaukee Bucks from matador defenders into, um, what’s the opposite, brick wall defenders?).  While the Bulls’ whirl-a-gig center, Joakim Noah, has kept the team from slacking too much, the arrival of Thibodeu should catapult the team back to a spot as one of the top defensive squads.

Meanwhile, the Nets, after a 12-win season where the only thing they stopped was your team from playing a quality opponent, is already being brought back to life by their new 6’5″ Russian katrillionaire, Mikhail “Don’t Call Him Mikey P” Prokhorov.  It’s a nice coup for him to snag Avery Johnson, the coach with the highest winning percentage in NBA history.  He turned the Mavericks from the offense-only laughingstock 200s posse which included the Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns, into a solid defensive ball club.  And that was with a star player, Dirk Nowitizki, who due to his complete lack of D, almost legally changed his name to “Irk.”

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Clipper fans held a rally to convince LeBron to come to LA. If they really wanna convince him, they'd be better off with a coup d'etat and beheading Donald Sterling. (Source: Yardbarker.com)

ESPN reported that music mogul David Geffen is interested in buying a controlling interest of the Los Angeles Clippers.  It would be a brilliant move by Geffen because unlike say Michael Jordan’s recent purchase of the Charlotte Bobcats or the impending sale of The Washington Wizards, this is a franchise that could have a huge financial turnaround under the right owner.  Or rather simply just a new owner.

The Clippers are the NBA’s laughingstock not simply because of their godawful history, but more because of their even worse, notoriously cheap owner, Donald T. Sterling.  All franchises (except it seems the Lakers) go through tough times.  Not long ago, the Portland Trailblazers were nicknamed the Jailblazers, had the league’s highest payroll, and seemed to be going nowhere.  Now with Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge (and perhaps Greg Oden if he can ever remain healthy), they have a relatively promising future.  By contrast, the Clippers may have a nice core too, but few prognosticators would feel 100% confident predicting a better tomorrow for them.  This is almost solely due to Sterling’s reluctance to open his wallet.

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Shhh, LeBron and Wade are on their way to the mythical Superstar Free Agency Summit. There's even a secret handshake to get in the door. (source: Yardbarker.com)

With LeBron-frenzy-ation reaching new heights as we approach hunting seasonfree agency’s opening day, lots of incorrect info is being bandied about.  And I won’t stand for poor bandying.  Thus I sit here writing about what’s a Myth or Irrelevant.

1. Bosh’s List Of 5 Teams – Myth

Yes, yes, I know even I reported it, but it turns out it’s bogus.  The claim was that his agent submitted the list of the 5 teams Bosh was interested in playing for next season.  Now it’s come out that his agent has debunked this story.  Which makes sense.  Would someone really wanna limit their options like that this early on?  Shouldn’t you wait and hear what offers you get?  Maybe say Orlando pops out of the woodwork, with the ability to do a sign-and-trade involving Rashard Lewis?  Bosh and Dwight Howard are supposedly somewhat close, and after playing with the defensively inept Bargnani, it’s gotta look pretty appealing to team-up with Superman.  I mean, yes, I completely made this up, but the point is it’s just good business to wait and see what options are out there before you start closing any doors.

2. Free-Agent Powerhouse Summit With Dwayne Wade, LeBron, Bosh, Joe Johnson, A’m'a’r'e, and Matt Barnes – Myth

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Boozer's hands-off defense assures he'll never be confused for MJ. For LeBron, it's a different story... (source: Yardbarker.com)

On ESPNChicago there was a post today reporting Carlos Boozer stated that he

doesn’t believe his fellow free agents will view playing in Chicago — under the shadow of Michael Jordan‘s legacy — as a negative.

Initially this post was going to be titled “Boozer Wrong To Say MJ’S Legacy Not A Negative,” but after looking at it more closely, I realized that in his actual quote he said it wouldn’t be a negative for most free agents, not all.  It was ESPN, in the post’s title and the above opening line, who incorrectly turned it into a blanket statement about all free agents.  Let’s look more fully at what Booze actually said before I heap anymore abuse on him than I have in the past:

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Will LeBron join D'Antoni? And is that even a championship combo? (Source: Yardbarker.com)

The following comes from my friend Shai:

Since Alex generously allowed me to post my ramblings about college basketball players on this Knicks site, I asked him if he would consider posting the following honestly-curious question to Knicks fans:

What exactly are you expecting to happen?

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Jordan, Kobe, Lebron..?

Phil Jackson is on the verge of winning his 11th NBA title, 5 with the Lakers, and currently married to Jerry Buss’s daughter, but the possibility of him leaving L.A. actually makes a lot of sense in my mind and maybe even the Zen masters.

There are only two other locations that I could see tempting Jackson enough to bite for and those two are Chicago and Cleveland.

Now, Chicago has already reached out for Jackson, but don’t be surprised if this is just a way to generate more media coverage for this summer’s free agency class. The only way I see Jackson going back to Chicago is if LeBron bolts from Cleveland to Chicago. However, for this to happen Lebron would have to first sign with Chicago, not vice versa.

My gut is still telling me, however, that Lebron is staying put in Cleveland with the recent departure of the absolutely horrible coach in Mike Brown. Ferry is going to do everything in his power to keep Lebron in his hometown.

Phil Jackson has coached perhaps the two greatest players to ever play the game, and if the chance for him to coach the next best thing, why would Phil want to pass that up?

Granted, seeing Lebron in the triangle offense would be odd, but the opportunity to coach the best player in the game today may be too much for Phil to pass up, which is why I think now wherever Phil lands just might be where Lebron lands.

Yeah, Dirk is annoyed about losing, but that has nothing to do with why he's opting-out of his contract (source: Yardbarker.com)

ESPN reported that Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki is likely to opt-out of his contract, ostensibly add his name to the free agency pool, and as an unrestricted free agent at that.  What does that mean for Knick fans?  Quite possibly not a damn thing.  Even if he 100% wants to return to the Mavs, he’d still do this for contractual reasons, so it doesn’t imply he’s contemplating leaving in the slightest.   What’re the contractual reasons?

Opting out to sign a new deal, for starters, would lock in terms based on the NBA’s current collective bargaining agreement through the life of the next contract. Under the league’s current system, Nowitzki is eligible for a four-year maximum contract from Dallas worth $96.2 million once he opts out. The most he could receive from another team is a four-year deal worth $93.1 million.

Signing a three-year extension to the last remaining season on his current contract, by contrast, would expose Nowitzki to potential after-the-fact reductions to his annual wage if league owners are successful in their attempts to lower the value of maximum salaries in the next collective bargaining agreement.

[...] Another motivation for Nowitzki to opt out as opposed to signing an extension is the ability to secure a no-trade clause.

If Dirk played for anyone else besides Mark Cuban, I’d say this also was a good maneuver to put pressure on management to improve the team, but Cuban’s already made public his plans to go after LeBron.

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Evaluating players before the draft is not easy, but at least you know who you are talking about. Predicting who is going to get picked when is harder. Everyone has their own ranking system, but the big question is whether a team is going to pick the best player available or pick the player who best addresses the team’s needs.

The other question is, what on earth was that GM thinking? The most recent “what was he thinking” award goes to the Minnesota Timberwolves, for using the 5th and 6th draft picks on point guards (Jonny Flynn and Ricky Rubio), followed by having one of them (Rubio) make noises that he would never play for the Wolves, and creating a situation where the other, Flynn, felt unsure of the team’s commitment to him, and for good reason.

So for me to say who will make which pick is guesswork, because every year there are inexplicable decisions made, and there are players drafted in the top 20 whose name you hear when he is selected, but then never again. Comparing mock drafts, I have seen players’ names move twenty spots or more.

Mostly, I’m seeing mocks that describe players, not why they will be picked or what the team is thinking. I already wrote about the players likely to be drafted in the first round, so instead, lets’ discuss what the team should do, not what they will do, because many teams have a weird tendency to pick the same type of player over and over regardless of the results. (Lakers trying to find a point guard, Bulls drafting post players, Houston drafting 3’s, Warriors drafting skilled bigs, etc.) Redundancy makes sense for some teams, but for others it’s stupid. I’ll take those case by case.
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Where is LeBron going? No, no, not in the picture, in free agency. (Source: Yardbarker.com)

Even President Obama is getting in on the action:

“He doesn’t want to tamper,” senior adviser to the president — and former Bulls season-ticket holder — David Axelrod said. “But as a Chicago fan, the president thinks LeBron would look great in a Bulls uniform.”

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Despite my post disagreeing with Bill Simmons‘ diminished assessment of LeBron, he does bring up some interesting points about free agency.  Actually, one point which he brings up as something that won’t bring a title, I think is the opposite and is the way that Cleveland can get LeBron to stay:
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Could this be LeBron's final press conference in Cleveland? (Source: Yardbarker.com)

LeBron James coming to New York has always been a slim possibility.  Well, unless the Yankees are playing, then he’ll come.  But joining the Knicks?  Probably not.  For me, the most compelling reason for him to come, as I discussed in an older post, is that legacy-wise, for some inexplicable reason, winning championships in a major market carries more caché.  To me, because of his otherworldly abilities, I assumed his free agency thought process would really be more about “Where would I like to get some rings?” rather than “Where can I get enough help to win a championship?”  If he loses now, in just the second round, would that change his mental approach to the latter question?

There are still games to play, and I wouldn’t be surprised if LeBron willed the Cavs to victory yet.  And if he does go out now, it might not even effect his mindset at all.  However, since idle (or idol) speculation is all we’ve got left in New York right now, let’s look at possible ways that the King’s summer free agency could be effected by this surprise turn of events:

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Big summer franchise movies are assembled much like a NBA franchise team. You’ve got the executives who care more about the bottom line (“Let’s sign Allen Iverson — he’ll put butts in the seat” or “Let’s hire Scarlett Johansson — she’ll add sex appeal!”) rather than whether they create a high quality product. They hire the actors, or ball players. The thing is, it’s then up to the coach, or director, to make something out of this collection they were force fed, with their name being on the line. When a movie sucks, how often do you hear, “Man, that studio executive did an awful job?” And days after the Chicago Bulls were eliminated from the playoffs by the Cleveland Cavaliers, it was coach Vinny Del Negro who got the axe, not GM John Paxson.

For the rest, click here.

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Would YOU want to live in Cleveland? (Source: Yardbarker.com)

1. Okay, everyone knows about this quote ‘cuz the Chicago Bulls’ Joakim Noah has been relentless in his digs at Cleveland. When given a chance to recant after Game #2, he offered this nugget (amongst others):

“I never heard anybody say I’m going to Cleveland on vacation.”

For the other two quotes, check out the end of the article here.

It doesn't matter if you hate Chicago's Derrick Rose. As a Knicks' fan you should root for him to expose Cleveland's Mo Williams so that a certain King will get frustrated and wanna leave the Cavs. (Source: Yardbarker.com)

It’s Fan Appreciation 101 to root for your team to win, but as anyone who’s taken higher classes in Team Supportation knows, that’s just the tip o’ the iceberg.  Sometimes you gotta see the larger picture, which may require you to hope your team actually loses for say a better draft position.  The Indiana Pacers finished the season playing some of their best ball, but that annoyed many true-blooded Indy fans since it destroyed their lottery chances.  Other times, you may root for your team to lose so that the owner finally wises up and sees it has to fire that crappy coach or GM (or both — hello Isiah Thomas and Mike Dunleavy Sr.).

Frequently, as a member of the faithful, you may even have to root for outcomes in games featuring other teams.  Say you’re battling for the 8th seed in the playoffs, then you gotta watch the games involving the other teams in the battle so you can root against them.  Or maybe you’re assured of being in the playoffs, but you know you match up against one team better than another.  Now you gotta cheer for the right teams to win and the wrong ones to lose all so that everything falls perfectly for your one true team.

However, with the Knicks’ eliminated from the playoffs long-ago, what’s a Knick fan to root for?  Things that will help us out in free agency.  I spent the last month of the regular season caring less about the Knicks’ wins/loss total than about the outcome of the Raptors/Bulls’ battle for the final playoff spot.  I figured that if the Raptors don’t make the playoffs, then surely Chris Bosh’s chances of remaining in Toronto drop rapidly.  Does this mean he’s a sure-fire Knick, or even that he’s my top choice?  No, but I like to improve my odds as much as possible.  Had the Pacers finished with the fifth worst record instead of the tenth, they still might not have won the lottery, but it wouldn’t have hurt.

Thus, for a true Knick fan, here are the things for which we should be rooting in order to increase our chances during the free agency period:

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You may not be able to tell from the looks on the Raptors' bench, but Toronto won the game. (source: Yardbarker.com)

Toronto annihilated the Knicks last night 131-113 (if we were playing Mastermind we’d say at least the Knicks’ score got all the same correct #s as Toronto, but just in the wrong order).  In the first half, the Raptors shot 70%.  No, not from the free-throw line, but from the field where you’re supposedly allowed to play defense.  The Canadian fans were excited, so why the depressed looks on the bench?  While Toronto needed this final win to get into the playoffs as the eighth seed, they also needed something else: the Chicago Bulls to lose their simultaneous game against the Charlotte Bobcats.  The Bulls didn’t play their part, instead winning and thus hanging onto their last-minute theft of that final playoff spot.

More depressing to the people of Toronto is that perhaps this helped further the death knell of Raptors’ all-time-scoring-and-rebounding-leader Chris Bosh’s stay north of the border.  The man is on record as having said he wants to be surrounded by enough talent to make his team a contender.  It’s pretty clear that Toronto ain’t nowhere near that.

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The Knicks' gave the Garden Faithful something to cheer about as they left their final home game. (Source: Yardbarker.com)

Last night, the final home game of the season, the Knicks gave the crowd something to cheer for on Fan Appreciation Night.  Losing wouldn’t help our lottery chances, winning wouldn’t help our playoff chances.  We were going up against an equally sucky team in the Washington Wizards, a team without even an exciting superstar.  And yet if you listened to the amazing crowd at Madison Square Garden last night, you’d've thought it was Game 7 of the Finals.

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Wade's coming in for a landing. A free agent landing. (source: Yardbarker.com)

After ESPN’s focus on LeBron James’ free agency last week, this week they turn to Wade:

Henry Abbott, TrueHoop: Wade has complained openly about wanting to play with better teammates. The Heat have schemed blatantly to get major cap room. They are required to sign about a dozen more players. And there are tons of free agents on the market. It’s a lock the Heat will add lots of new talent. It’s not at all a lock, however, that one of those new players will be LeBron James or Chris Bosh. James, I think, will be in Cleveland, and deep-pocketed front offices in Chicago and New York will be pushing hard to add top-shelf talent. Most likely is that the Heat convince Wade to stay with a revamped roster in which he’s the only superstar … unless New York or Chicago can talk Wade into leaving.

First, let’s make it clear it’s less that Wade’s complained and more that he’s made it clear he wants to win.  ”Complaining” makes it sound like he’s some spoiled kid, but he’s said what any star should say: he wants a chance to play for the title during his prime.  While his buddy LeBron has been rather nebulous in his desires, Wade’s been pretty clear and forthright: he wants to stay in Miami as long as they’re competitive.  So while I think it’s extremely unlikely Wade will leave Miami, I gotta disagree with Abbott on his conclusion that Wade will remain there even if he’s the only star.

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(source: Yardbarker.com) Like a little girl in puppy love, New York hopes we're the one LeBron's eyeing.

Seems ESPN has launched ESPN NewYork.com today and decided to promote it by rehashing the ol’ Will LeBron James Go To New York story.  There’s a surprisingly large amount of Nothing New, mixed in with Shameless Sensationalizing, Idiotic Conclusions Based On Personal Feelings, and just Awful Math.  That said, there were maybe a couple of Intriguing Bits to me, but it might all feel redundant to y’all.  Without further ado:

Idiotic Conclusions:

The worst part was where the sportswriters speculated the percent chance of LeBron going to one team or another.  Let’s start with Mark Stein saying there’s a 10% chance that LeBron will go to Dallas.  10%???  10% means 1 in 10!  You’re going out tonight and your choosing between your ten favorite restaurants — that gives each one a really good shot at being chosen.  Thankfully, of the four other Dallas writers, they all only gave it a 1-3% chance.  I like Stein’s writing a bunch, but his thesis his based on this you-can-substitute-LeBron’s-name-with-anyone statement:

I firmly believe LeBron likes the thought of playing with Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd, trusts Mark Cuban to be an owner who will always spend whatever it takes to contend and loves the city of Dallas and Cowboys football

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