NBA Playoffs: Ranking the New York Knicks and Other NBA Darkhorse Contenders

The NBA trade deadline is over!  As we move toward the playoffs, there are several dark horse contenders who could make real noise in the playoffs.

Everyone knows the big names: The Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, and Oklahoma City Thunder.  Some say the Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks, and Los Angeles Clippers fall into that category.

But who are the talented, strong teams no one is talking about as real contenders?  

No. 1: Indiana Pacers

The Indiana Pacers are very, very dangerous.  

Don't look now, but the Pacers have the right mix of youth, young stars, defense, intensity, and belief to surprise everyone and win the NBA title.

Indiana goes deep at all five positions.  Darren Collison is a developing young point, and now they have both George Hill and Leandro Barbosa to back him up.  Paul George has the best upside of any young two guard in basketball. Danny Granger is the team's star small forward, and power forward David West is an All-Star caliber player; Tyler Hansbrough could be the sixth man of the year, and Roy Hibbert is becoming one of the NBA's better centers.

No franchise wants to face a team that deep and talented in the playoffs.  

No. 2: Memphis Grizzlies

Want to know how good the Memphis Grizzlies can be this year?  Consider: they have excelled all season without their best player: Zach Randolph.

When Randolph comes back for the playoffs, the Grizzlies will have the leagues' toughest, most bruising front line.  They will also have the gifted scorer they were missing last year, Rudy Gay, plus Tony Allen and Mike Conley.

Considering they almost knocked off Oklahoma City without Gay last year, this is not a team you should sleep on during this year's playoffs.  

No. 3: Orlando Magic

The Orlando Magic have played outstanding basketball this year.  Everyone assumed that run would come to an abrupt end at the deadline, but the Magic held on to Dwight Howard.

How far can they go in the playoffs now?

Its still hard to buy the Magic as a contender.  They have Howard, young star power forward Ryan Anderson, and little else.  But, if they play well, they could give a contender fits in the second round.  

No. 4: New York KNicks

The Knicks are now super dangerous.

They ended their recent 2-8 fiasco by firing coach Mike D'Antoni.  Now, Mike Woodson, the former Atlanta Hawks coach, is taking over and returning to a star-oriented offense.

The results could be very interesting.  Even after their skid, the Knicks are likely to slip into the playoffs as a low seed.  With Carmelo Anthony, Jeremy Lin, Amare Stoudemire, Tyson Chandler, and a host of supporting players, the Knicks have the talent to run with anyone.

The question is: can they get their system together and coalesce as a team? If they can, there is a top seed in line for a very tough opening playoff series!