Knicks Preview: Reeling or Dealing?

The Knicks will soon begin training camp in Charleston, SC, with what is expected to be an improved roster.  

However, closer analysis shows that Knicks fans may be in for another disappointing season. 

The team is still a turnover machine with no defensive stoppers.  Stephon Marbury eats the PG minutes but can't run the offense effectively. 

Unfortunately, not many available players would fit well on the Knicks' unbalanced roster. 

Andrei Kirilenko of the Utah Jazz is asking for a trade, but he wants to play power forward and get shots down low. Sorry, but Zach Randolph and Eddy Curry will be clogging the lane in New York. 

Ron Artest wants to be a franchise player, but that can't happen with the Knicks as long as Isiah Thomas insists on making Curry his centerpiece. 

Jared Jordan plays like John Stockton—the 43-year-old John Stockton, maybe, but that's still not bad. His perceived defensive inadequacies could be fixed with shot blockers behind him, but the Knicks don't have them...and probably couldn't pry Jordan from the PG-challenged Clippers anyway. 

And journeyman PG Carlos Arroyo? He could be a match, but maybe there's a reason he hasn't been able to keep a starting spot in an NBA lineup. 

As it stands, then, the Knicks will enter training camp with a perplexing combination of talent, attitude problems, and poor decision-makers...

Starting Five

PG: Stephon Marbury 

Marbury either knows his skills are diminishing and doesn't care, or still thinks he's a superstar. 

Both are a problem for the Knicks. 

"I'm working hard and sticking with my program that I've used the last seven or eight years," Marbury said when asked about his offseason preparation.

Has Stephon noticed that his stats have declined the last seven or eight years? A look at baketball-reference.com reveals that more than just his fantasy stats have diminished.  He had the lowest PER of his career at 15, well below his career average of 19.  Chauncey Billups, by comparison, maintained a PER of over 21 even though he is five months older than Marbury. 

Marbury admits that he's played a lot of basketball and his body is wearing down, so why won't he change his training regimen?  Instead of working harder, he's selling shoes, going to court, and embarrassing himself in front of the media.

SG: Jamal Crawford

Crawford will once again be a streaky player with absolutely no concept of shot selection.  He's the Knick most likely to score 40 points in any game...and then follow it with two points the next night. 

The media claimed his defense improved under Larry Brown, but he still can't be considered a good defender.  He runs two plays: 1) dump inside to Curry, and 2) dribble around and launch a wild shot.

SF: Quentin Richardson

Richardson once again enters the season expected to be the Knicks' long-range shooter.

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