New York Basketball: A Knicks-Nets Superteam

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The relocation of the New Jersey Nets to Brooklyn meant New York, often considered the basketball capital of the world, now had two NBA teams.  The title of "New York's basketball team" was put up for grabs between the New York Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets, an award that has not yet been bestowed upon either team.  Both squads are near the top of the standings in the Eastern Conference and having solid seasons; but imagine if the best players from each team could be combined to make a New York Superteam.  The players and talent would be enough to make even LeBron James and the Miami Heat tremble.

Small Forward: Carmelo Anthony

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One of the best players in the NBA, Carmelo Anthony is almost without question the best player in New York.  Most of his statistics as of Jan. 26, including 29.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, provide evidence that he is a superstar.  If you're building a superteam of New York players, Carmelo is a no-brainer for the franchise player, an obvious first choice.

Point Guard: Deron Williams

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The Knicks and Nets are both high-powered offensive teams.  And an offense in the NBA is often only as good as the point guard who runs it (see: Chris Paul and the Clippers).  Deron Williams is another perennial all-star playing in New York.  He has great court vision and is an exceptional scorer at point guard.  He is a solid second pick for this superteam and a player who would help orchestrate the offense.

Power Forward: Brook Lopez

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Brook Lopez, the Nets' leading scorer as of Jan. 26, is having a stellar year and is a main reason for the Nets' success this year.  At 18.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game, Lopez is one of the more complete big men in the NBA.  He is a great presence in the paint on offense, and his defense has greatly improved over the past few years.  He would be a great front-court option for this New York superteam.

Center: Tyson Chandler

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Tyson Chandler initially came to the New York Knicks to provide defense in the paint against other big men in the Eastern Conference.  Not only has Chandler answered that call, he has provided the Knicks with a superb offensive option in the absence of Amar'e Stoudemire in the beginning of the 2012-2013 season.  As of Jan. 26, he was averaging a double-double, at 12.1 points and 10.9 rebounds per game.  With Lopez by his side, Chandler would give this New York superteam one of the league's most intimidating front courts.

Shooting Guard: Joe Johnson

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As if moving to Brooklyn wasn't enough, the Nets also added Joe Johnson in the 2012 offseason to boost their offense.  Johnson started slow but has since returned to form.  He has hit several clutch shots at the ends of games and has his scoring up to 17.3 points per game.  Johnson would be a great swingman in an offense featuring Carmelo Anthony and Deron Williams and would make this team nearly impossible to guard.

Sixth Man: J.R. Smith

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An early candidate for the Sixth Man of the Year Award, J.R. Smith has been a consistent scorer for the Knicks throughout the season.  His uncanny ability to get shots off from anywhere on the court, under even the most stifling of defense, has made him a pivotal part of the Knicks' lineup.  His 16.5 points per game this season are the highest of his career.  Smith is one of the best bench players in the league, and he also would likely thrive in this role on this New York superteam.