NBA Playoffs 2012: Knicks Lack of Expectations vs. Heat Makes Them Dangerous

The New York Knicks are back in the playoffs again and this time around have the task off knocking off the Miami Heat—something no analyst or basketball fan will pick them to do.

And that can only work to the Knickerbockers' advantage.

With their win over the Charlotte Bobcats, the Knicks secured the seventh seed and a showdown with the Heat. These two franchises are no strangers to each other after a decade-long rivalry in the 1990s that spilled into the new millennium.

But these are two new teams, full of new players and clearly, Miami's starting five has more than the edge in that department over New York, while the Knicks' bench will be their strength over the Heat.

Rightfully so, analysts and NBA fans alike all agree—the Knicks have no shot at winning this series.

In fact, the lack of expectation has varied from Magic Johnson giving the Knicks a shot to push this series to seven games, while Charles Barkley has flat out said that the Knicks "stink" (via New York Post).

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“The Knicks still stink, dude,” Barkley said. “They’re not going anywhere (in the playoffs), they’re gonna be one-and-done.”

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I never put much stock into what Barkley says, especially after that dumb commercial that had him dressing up like a woman.

But I digress.

Bottom line: there's no pressure on this team moving forward.

Sure, they have the expectations of their fans, but that would be the case no matter where the Knicks were. Quite simply, nobody can hold it against the Knicks (not even their fans) if they suffer a first-round exit from these playoffs.

In turn, the amount of pressure this team feels shouldn't be anymore than the normal pressure brought by the NBA's postseason. The same doesn't apply to LeBron James and the Heat, who have expectations of championship or bust.

Easier said than done, but New York should be loose and, as long as they leave it all on the floor, nobody will have a gripe with the outcome.

In reality, no matter what the talking heads say, the Knicks know what they're capable of and, if they play their best game, they can not only take this series to seven games, but could win it as well.

Forget the fact the Knicks has a load of talent on their roster. It's the lack of expectations that leaves New York with nothing to lose.

That's what truly makes this Knicks team dangerous.