Choice-New York Knicks

For my second choice blog this week, I am choosing to write about the New York Knicks, one of my favorite basketball teams, and the expectations that I have for them this coming year. The Knicks season ended in a heart breaking playoff run last year. In the first game of the post season, the Knicks lost Iman Shumpert to an ACL tear. Then after a loss, the Knicks lost Amar’e Stoudamire when he got angry and punched the glass of a fire extinguisher case, ending his season. This left Carmelo with virtually no help having to play the three headed monster team of the Miami Heat.  Tough playoff match up. But this year, the Knicks are back baby.  Carmelo Anthony is in his prime, and may be the best scorer in the entire league. With the sense of urgency for a ring now gone, the Miami Heat will most likely lose a lot of focus and fire power this year. The Chicago Bulls were without Derrick Rose last year, and upon his return from an ACL tear, I just can’t see him being the same player that he was prior to the injury.  This basically leaves the eastern conference open for the taking. And the Knicks are the team to take it. The Knicks had a rather disappointing year in 2011, barley finishing above .500. But the Knicks have done nothing but improve their coaching staff and roster.  The big stars return, and now the Knicks have one of the most powerful front lines in the league in Stoudamire and defensive player of the year; Tyson Chandler. The bench spots in this position are solid as well, including vetrans such as Marcus Camby and Rasheed Wallace, as well as young gun Chris Copeland who has shown a lot of promise in the preseason. The small forward position is solid as well, with Melo being backed up by Steve Novak, who led the NBA in 3 point percentage last year. The shooting guard position contains two of the most athletic guys in the league. The first is sophomore Iman Shumpert, who was a defensive star last year for the Knicks, and has nowhere to go but up this season. He is backed up by a talented scorer in JR Smith; a guy who will slam home a windmill dunk or step back and knock down a 3 depending on what the defense gives him. The point guard position is led by one of the newest members of the team, future hall of famer Jason Kidd. He will be splitting time with Raymond Felton, a talented guard. In conclusion, the New York Knicks are my pick to win the eastern conference this coming NBA season.