Many avid basketball fans in New York have been subjected to sub par basketball for nearly a decade now. The promises of James Dolan to bring a winner to New York were to start with the acquisitions of two of the top free agents in the 2010 off season. No one could have predicted what was to happen in Miami, and still Knicks fans across New york were upset. Well, 24 games into the '10-'11 season, Knicks fans have a reason to hope for the first time since 2000. Here's a look at the Knicks from a die hard:
Two and a half weeks ago the New York Knickerbockers were off to a 3-8 start and it was looking like another long basketball season in the cellar for Knicks fan. Today as I type, the Knickerbockers stake claim to a 15-9 record which is good enough for a 6th seed if the playoffs began today (5th overall best record in the conference), and are considered the hottest team in the NBA. Now, I understand the Knicks have had what some might call a cupcake schedule as of late, and while the real test begins next week with a brutal month stretch of basketball games, Knickerbocker fans should feel that their team is in a great position. Better position in fact then they've been in over a decade. Some may ask why the Knicks are playing so well. Other than the 100 millon, or should I say 97.5 millon dollar man Amar'e Stoudemire, no one else on this team is a house hold name known by the average fan. So what does make the Knickerbockers so much improved from years past? I will attempt to answer that question:
1) Amar'e Stoudemire
Amar'e Stoudemire or STAT for short has been worth all 97.5 million dollars he was paid this summer. STAT has led the Knicks in scoring and rebounding with averages of 25.6 and 9.1. He has also been averaging close to 2 blocks a game and seems to get them at the most vital points of the game. STAT has recently gone on a scoring rampage, scoring over 30 points per game in his last 7 games. He tied a franchise record tonight in our nation's capital held by Willie Naulls. He has been named NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week twice in as many weeks. STAT has shown that hes is more than just a power dunker by exhibiting a mid range jumper that few men in the NBA taller than 6'10 possess. He has also shown that he is able to be the number 1 guy playing under the bright lights of MSG. There were questions this past July about STAT's ability to lead a team on his own, but has since exceeded expectations in that area, which leads me to my next reason:
2) Leadership
Leadership has something the Knicks have lacked since Larry Johnson retired due to back injury in 2001. Guys like Stephon Marbury and Steve Francis were brought into lead but failed. David Lee tried hard to lead, but it was obvious he didn't demand the respect like Amar'e Stoudemire does on this year's team. Another player who has shown to have excellent leadership skills has been Raymond Felton. Felton, who comes from a winning backgroung at UNC was brought in this year to act as a stop gap point guard until players such as Deron Williams and Chris Paul become free agents in 2012. Since that 3-8 start, Felton has been on a tear, averaging close to 50% field goal percentage, while scoring 18 points a game, and dishing out 8 dimes as well. The main reason the team saw improved play was not only due to Stoudemire and Felton's new found chemistry executing the pick and roll, but because when the team hit a season low 5 games under .500, both players insisted that the team continue to play hard and not let the recent losing streak affect their effort for the next night's game. Through example on the court, both players led the Knicks out of their losing streak and the team has been on quite a roll, winning 11 of their past 12 games. Both co-captains have the Knicks and their fans not only believing that they'll be competing for the 8th seed in the playoffs but possibly exceeding expectations and winning, dare I say, 45-50 games this year. With the team believing they can win against any team now, who knows what the possibilities are?
3) Landry Fields
Fields has become an integral part of this Knickerbocker team since being drafted over hometown Lincoln star Lance Stephenson with the 39th pick in this year's draft. Since that day, Fields not only has a spot in a rotation but starts at SG, while Stephenson was arrested for pushing his girlfriend down the stairs, and has yet to play this season. Fields has been such a pleasant surprise this year leading all guards in rebounds at close to 8 a game while averaging 10 points a game and shooting over 50% from the field. He is a highly intellgient basketball player graduating from Stanford, and never fails to execute the simple aspects in basketball such as solid D, and the ability to almost always get open on the court due to his constant cutting. Fields recently won Rookie of the Month in the Eastern Conference over the number 1 pick in the draft, John Wall. He has even been compared to a poor man's Grant Hill. What makes this unlikely success even better is the fact the the Knicks projected starting SG, Kelenna Azubuike, has been recovering from a patella injury and his return is still unknown. It looks like talent CAN be found in the second round, and the Knicks have dug up a gem worthy to be considered an important piece moving forward in an even more important year for the Knicks to show the NBA that they're back from the cellar and they're here to stay.
Article written by Justin Mrwik
Introduction written by Tom Curry
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