NBA Playoffs 2012: Knicks' Postseason Woes Product of Soap Opera Season

The New York Knicks' embarrassing showing in the postseason thus far could be seen from a mile away.

The biggest roller coaster ride of the entire NBA went from an underachieving January crew to a Linsanity led resurgence to a pouty ‘Melo return to a fired head coach to the return of isolation ball in the span of 120-something days.

A movie could be written about the Knicks 2011-2012 season. That is not the sort of sequence that leads to championships.

The chemistry issues can be traced back to the underlying tension between Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire. It was Amar'e who first picked the Knicks, and he was a force in the beginning of his NYC tenure.

Then the ‘Melo rumors started and fans became obsessed with landing one of the most prolific scorers in the NBA. Amar'e had already become old news. Then the team gave up four key pieces to get their man, and instantly the run-and-gun system implemented by Mike D'Antoni went out the window.

“Melo ball” consisting of far too much isolation and standing around took over and the numbers of Stoudemire steadily dropped. It became clear to everyone outside of the Knicks organization that the two stars were not a good match.

After making the playoffs for the first time since 2001, the team and its fanbase were excited enough just to be there, despite getting swept out of the first round.

Then the Knicks got off to a sluggish 8-15 start followed by Amar'e and ‘Melo getting hurt. A distraught team decided to insert journeymen Jeremy Lin into the lineup out of desperation and the next month of the season was “Linsanity” as the team went back to .500 in no time. Lin became one of the biggest stars in sports and up-tempo basketball was back at Madison Square Garden.

Then ‘Melo came back and their styles clashed almost as badly as his and Stoudemire’s. ‘Melo pouted, seemed disinterested at times and finally the result was the firing of D’Antoni. It became clear who was calling the shots within the organization.

Lin was the next in line to get hurt and it was back to ‘Melo ball with new coach Mike Woodson. He began to put up 30-plus on a seemingly regular basis and the team entered the playoffs riding some “momentum.”

So if you’re counting at home, the style and identity of this team switched four separate times in the past year-and-a-half, with a coach losing his job in the process. Somewhere amidst the chaos they added one of the biggest chemistry killers in the league in JR Smith, a guy that was openly discussing his next destination DURING last season’s playoffs. A guy that had never met a shot he didn’t love hoisting up with 20 seconds on the shot clock with a man in his face.

This team is not built to be a championship contender as currently constructed. Sure, there are talented parts, and sure on paper this team should be one of the best in the conference, but that’s not how you win titles.

Important playoff traits like chemistry, trust and teamwork aren’t there. ‘Melo has too much power and it has made Amar'e fume on the inside. After the second blowout loss of the playoffs to Miami on Monday, all of the built-up frustration was taken out on the glass protecting a fire extinguisher in the locker room. He hates what has become of the team that used to be his squad. Now Stoudemire may be out for the rest of the playoffs.

‘Melo and Lin have stolen the spotlight and a season’s worth of anger has finally been put on full display for everyone to see.

The Knicks aren’t ready to compete with the big boys and the front office (Isaiah Thomas?) has some serious decisions to make this summer. Will they win their first playoff game since 2001 in the next two games?

Signs (and fire extinguishers) point to no. 

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