Knicks Schedule 2012: 8 Bold Predictions for Upcoming Matchups

Following the All-Star break, things get a little bit tougher for the New York Knicks.

Eight of the Knicks' next 10 games are against teams currently over .500, and the two teams under the .500 mark (Cleveland and Boston) have already beaten New York once on the season.

This stretch very well could make or break the Knicks' season.

Here's a look at some bold predictions for the New York Knicks following this weekend's All-Star break.

The Atlantic Division Will Now Be a 2-Team Race

When the next 10-game stretch is over, the Knicks will find themselves right on the heels of division leader Philadelphia.

Currently, the Knicks sit three games back, but by winning seven of their next 10, New York likely could pull as close as one game behind the Sixers.

Philadelphia's next 10 looks easier on paper than New York's, but it's not out of possibility that they only split the next 10, opening up the door for the Knicks to make a charge.

Jeremy Lin's Minutes Will Decrease

Relax.

It's not a bad thing to decrease the workload of Lin.

Baron Davis' six assists against Atlanta on Wednesday night was a positive sign that he can keep the ball moving when Lin is on the bench.

Davis should be able to cut into some of Lin's minutes and help keep Lin fresh for a while considering the Knicks have three back-to-back situations in the first 10 games after the break.

Ideally, it would be nice for Mike D'Antoni to cut Lin down to around 30 minutes per night as long as Davis can be productive.

Toney Douglas Will Be Moved

The trade deadline will have come and gone before the Knicks' next 10-game stretch and don't plan on seeing the Knicks do an entire lot.

The J.R. Smith signing was likely their last major acquisition, but they could make a deal with a team looking for backcourt depth by sending guard Toney Douglas packing for a draft pick.

Douglas is now buried deeply on the Knicks bench, but could still have value for some team.

Either way, he's not likely to be seen very often on the court for the Knicks.

Carmelo Anthony Will Fit in Nicely

Anthony is going to struggle offensively, but I don't mean in the flow of the Knicks offense.

He will adjust to his new role and fit in nicely by the time the Knicks finish their upcoming tough stretch.

But for those expecting him to score 25-30 points per game, you may end up very disappointed.

Anthony is still going to get his shots, but there aren't going to be many 30-35 shot games in the future for him going forward.

He likely will average around 18-22 points per game while the ball continues to move and other people get their shots.

In the meantime, expect his assist numbers to climb a little bit.

As long as Melo is comfortable not taking as many shots, the Knicks have a chance to thrive offensively as a team.

Tyson Chandler Will Get Suspended

Knicks center Tyson Chandler has had the knack of getting tee'd up in some costly moments so far this season.

Chandler's picked up eight techs already this season, and while I love the fact that he's an emotional player, he's going to have to reel it in or the Knicks will end up losing him for a game.

Seven more, and Chandler gets suspended for a game, and that's something the Knicks can't afford.

J.R. Smith Will Force His Way into Major Minutes

It's tough to make a case where Smith should be in the starting lineup. The Knicks need the scoring potential off the bench, and with Davis, Smith and Steve Novak coming off the pine, New York is suddenly pretty deep.

However, if Smith can continue to average in double figures, and more importantly, do a solid job on the defensive end of the floor, he could eat into Landry Fields' minutes before long.

Bill Walker Will Be out of the Rotation

There are only so many minutes to go around, and unfortunately, Walker can't bring to the table what Novak has brought from an offensive standpoint.

Walker is the better defensive player, but with a guard that can get in the paint and kick the ball out, you have to have a guy that can knock down open shots.

That guy is Novak and not Walker.

He's had the opportunity and hasn't been able to perform on a consistent basis. Now, it will be tough for D'Antoni to warrant giving him regular minutes over anyone else.

Amar'e Stoudemire Will Continue to Frustrate Knicks Fans

Stoudemire's up-and-down season will continue to be an enigma.

He's been the perfect pick-and-roll big man in the past, but for some reason, the Knicks rarely run the pick-and-roll through him.

If they would, you would see the numbers of Anthony, Smith and the rest of the Knicks go up as well.

The good news is that 14 of the 17 times that Lin has assisted on a Stoudemire basket, the shot has come at the rim, either a dunk or a layup.

The bad news is that a season ago, 63 percent of Stoudemire's shots came from paint. That number is down to 56 percent this season.

It would be nice to see the Knicks offense run through Stoudemire instead of him turning himself into a jump shooter.

New York now has the weapons to be an effective inside-out team, but Stoudemire's shot selection at times leaves you scratching your head.