NBA: Why the New York Knicks Will Trail the Chicago Bulls for the Next 10 Years

In the midst of a five-game losing streak, Mike D'Antoni and the New York Knicks hit Chicago with trouble on their minds.

The Knicks came out firing, closing out the first quarter on an 8-2 run that gave them a 25-23 lead. They kept the pace in the second, going bucket for bucket with the Bulls until they entered halftime with a 50-48 advantage.

And then it all fell apart.

Carlos Boozer and Derrick Rose combined for 18 points in the third quarter alone, giving the Bulls a 79-78 advantage entering the fourth.

And then the reigning MVP took over.

Rose scored 10 points in the final quarter, utilizing an array of mid-range jump shots, spin-laden layups and a highlight reel dunk. The end result was a 104-99 victory for the Bulls and a sixth consecutive defeat for the Knicks.

While the doubts are certain to increase as fans and analysts ponder the likelihood of the Knicks' playoff aspirations, there is one thing that became perfectly clear: over the next 10 years, the New York Knicks' recipe for disaster will have them looking up at the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference standings.

Here are 10 reasons why.

10. Linsane Expectations

While the players and coaches must be held accountable, the fans and media cannot go without censure.

As Jeremy Lin put together one of the most electrifying strings of games in NBA history, New York fans and writers began to crown Lin and the Knicks as the new favorites to win it all. Just as Carmelo Anthony returned to the starting lineup and the Knicks began to falter, those very supporters chose to coronate the Knicks as failures.

While we as viewers tend to see these athletes as superhuman, the fact is, they read the articles, hear the commentary and go into the 200 restaurants in Manhattan that have Jeremy Lin's name written all over them.

Believe me, non-New Yorkers, I'm not exaggerating.

If the Knicks are ever going to win a title, they'll need the undying support of their "faithful" fans and city.

And some reasonable expectations...

9. Crashing the Boards

In tonight's loss to the Bulls, the New York Knicks were out-rebounded by a count of 56-to-38. That's a count of minus-18, the Knicks' worst mark of the season.

On the offensive end alone, the Knicks were out-rebounded 22-to-9, leading to 20 second-chance points. 

One factor was the fact that every player in the Bulls' starting lineup had at least six rebounds. Another was that Taj Gibson had 13 coming off of the bench.

In case you haven't heard, the team that wins the battle of the boards often wins the game. In fact, seven of the top 10 teams in terms of rebounding differential are safely on pace to make the playoffs.

Not so coincidentally, the Bulls are at the top of the list and the Knicks rank 18th.

Until the Knicks bring in players that attack the boards, rather than err on the side of caution every time an opponent shows equal effort, this will be a major barrier in the Knicks' road to success.

8. Draft History Repeats Itself

For every Iman Shumpert and Landry Fields, there has been a Michael Sweetney and Mardy Collins.

While Donnie Walsh is out and Glen Grunwald is in, you shouldn't let the new beginning mislead you. Just like Walsh, Grunwald has quite the history with botched trades.

From trading All-Star Antonio Davis and leaving the Raptors without a center to passing up on Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash, Grunwald has done the unthinkable. Ironically, that's exactly what he might need to do in New York: break up a talented ball club.

The Bulls on the other hand, have drafted 14 players currently on active NBA rosters since 2000. The Knicks have only drafted eight.

Furthermore, the Knicks gave up two former first-round draft picks, a franchise point guard and a young center for Carmelo Anthony. Of the four other players acquired in the infamous Melo trade, not a single one is on the Knicks' roster just one year later.

The Knicks' losses of a 2014 first-round draft choice and the two second-round picks they acquired in the Warriors David Lee trade just add salt to the wound.

7. Is This New York's Team or Melo's?

At the end of the day, this team belongs to Carmelo Anthony.

No matter how many Lin-to-Steve Novak connections may have brought the Garden to life.

The man the Knicks sacrificed it all to secure has been lackluster in his ninth year in the league, shooting just 40 percent from the field. Nevertheless, he's shooting the ball over 18 times a game and seeing over 34 minutes of playing time.

It's only fitting that all four of his fellow starters are averaging more points per shot attempt.

With that being known, the question must begin to surface: could Carmelo Anthony run his teammates out of town? If his playing style doesn't do it, his salary could.

6. Too Much Money in Too Few Players

So, uh, Glen Grunwald... How do you plan on re-signing Jeremy Lin?

The New York Knicks have roughly $50 million going to Amare Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler in each of the next three seasons.

Considering the Knicks have emerging talents in Landry Fields, Iman Shumpert and Jeremy Lin, it's hard to imagine they'll be able to keep the necessary building blocks for long-term success. Just ask the Los Angeles Lakers,

Ten years later, you'll be left wondering what could have been.

5. Tom Thibodeau vs. Mike D'Antoni

Mike D'Antoni and Tom Thibodeau are polar opposites.

D'Antoni preaches fast-paced offense with little-to-no resistance on the defensive end. This is a formula that took the Phoenix Suns to three division titles and two conference finals appearances.

While Jeremy Lin has brought some of that Phoenix flash to the the Knicks, they never seem to have a plan to reach their goals.

Instead of running plays, setting screens and creating easy baskets, the Knicks play a wild and fast-paced game. When they are confined to the half-court, however, it often leads to unnecessary post-ups by Carmelo Anthony.

That's a direct result of the Knicks' offensive game plan, not poor execution.

Because of this approach, the Knicks remain 23rd in the NBA with just 19.8 assists per game. They also turn the ball over more than any team in the NBA.

Thibodeau, on the other hand, preaches hard-nosed defense with no easy buckets allowed.

The offense is designed to lead to easy baskets, exemplified by the Bulls' NBA-best 23.5 assists per game and fourth-best 14.0 turnovers.

That formula has given the Chicago Bulls back to back seasons with the best record in the NBA.

This is the matchup to watch as long as they roam the sideline. This is also the battle to blame when the Knicks go down, as D'Antoni just doesn't have the formula to overcome the Bulls' defensive dominance.

Ten years will feel like an awfully long time in this rivalry...

4. Paper Champions Don't Wear Rings

On paper, the Knicks should win it all. They have two All-Stars, a reigning NBA Champion, a breakout star and an elite scoring option off of the bench.

What they don't have is a sense of direction.

When you evaluate the Knicks' roster, it's hard to understand what they're trying to establish. Between the names and the contracts, it seems more like an owner's dream team than a general manager's calculated assembly.

If the Knicks are to turn things around, it needs to start with the front office taking one fundamental step towards success: developing a plan.

Until then, Isiah Thomas might as well be in the front office because nothing is getting done to build for the future.

3. Defense Wins Championships

You can argue this all you'd like, but the fact is, the Knicks' 96.6 points per game mean nothing when their opponent's 96.3 points per game are right there with them.

Their 119-114 loss at the Milwaukee Bucks, 106-94 defeat against the 76ers and 104-99 failure at the Bulls, compile the necessary evidence. 

The Knicks are now 2-14 in games in which their opponents score 100 points or more. If they want to stand any chance at beating the Bulls this year, next year or any other year, they'll need to get that number down.

Why? Because the Bulls allow just 88.7 points per game and no team has won the NBA championship with a point differential as poor as the Knicks.

2. Don't Believe the Hype...

Because there is no substance.

Entering Monday's showdown, the common belief was that the New York Knicks' high-powered offense would be going toe-to-toe with the Bulls' lockdown D. The fact of the matter is, the Bulls actually score more points than the Knicks on a nightly basis.

Chicago is currently averaging 98.0 points per contest while the Knicks sit at 96.6. The driving force behind the Bulls' production is their slow, "whoever is open" approach.

While reigning MVP Derrick Rose is a dominant scorer and Carlos Boozer is a talented player in his own right, there isn't a single possession that goes by in which the Bulls don't look to spread the ball around. They also don't feel pressured to give it to players based on name value, regardless of the quality of their production.

You know, like how the Knicks do with Carmelo Anthony.

That's the type of offense that anyone can thrive in. An offense that will last.

1. Stars Against System

When a player develops an identity in which he is bigger than his team, it's rare that success can be found. When multiple players develop that identity, it's nearly impossible to do anything but implode.

While many look to Carmelo Anthony as the cause for the Knicks' issues, it's actually the way they put their team together. Rather than signing key role players who fit each individual need, the Knicks went out and acquired some of the most high-profile talents in the NBA.

As they always do.

Consequently, they also acquired their egos and personal issues. Just ask Melo how he felt about the Knicks signing J.R. Smith.

The Bulls, on the other hand, haven't gone for the stars. They've built a team.

For every Derrick Rose, there is a C.J. Watson. For every Carlos Boozer, there is a Taj Gibson. And for every Joakim Noah, there is an Omer Asik.

The succeeding three may not have the name value, but they each play an equally important role in making the system work. Without them, the Bulls would be just another team focused on their superstar players and nothing else.

Now that, Knicks fans, is how you build a dynasty.