New York Knicks: Best Team in the NBA?

 

            The New York Knicks have started out the NBA season on a five game win streak; their longest start to a season without a loss in almost two decades. Most experts picked this team to finish in the middle of the pack in the Eastern Conference playoff race. So are the Knicks for real? Or is this an early season fluke? The Knicks added several key additions this year including: Jason Kidd, Rasheed Wallace, Ronnie Brewer, Marcus Camby, and Raymond Felton. Felton and Kidd have played surprisingly well off of each other so far considering they both play the point guard position. The true test to the Knicks’ success will be how they gel together once Amar’e Stoudemire comes back from injury. The Knicks signed Amar’e to a 5 year, $100 million dollar contract before last season but have struggled with him on the floor. The Knicks also traded for superstar Carmelo Anthony last season hoping to match Miami’s star power. However, Anthony and Amar’e have clashed when playing together. The Knicks have looked better and more cohesive when Amar’e has been out. But can the Knicks afford to pay a star player $100 million dollars to sit on the bench because the team is having success without him? More than likely when Amar’e is healthy he will be inserted back into the starting lineup. Until this happens, we won’t know if the Knicks are a serious contender or not. The Knicks have one of the most talented teams in the NBA; but how deep they make it into the playoffs will depend on how their team chemistry develops when they have all their key pieces at full strength.