Five Ways in Which the Current New York Knicks Roster Is Severely Flawed

The 2013 NBA season seems as promising for the New York Knicks as any in recent memory. The roster has been bolstered by the addition of savvy veterans, while the team will spend its first off-season together since Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire joined forces roughly two years ago.

Just don't mistake promise for a guarantee of victory.

The New York Knicks are like any other team in the NBA; strong in certain areas and incredibly weak in others. As for where those weak spots lay, the following slides will offer insight as to what opponents will be able to take advantage of.

Should the Knicks fail to solidify themselves in each category listed, we could see a disastrous season. So what should the Knicks be afraid of?

5. Defense Riding on Effort

The New York Knicks have the talent on their roster to dominate their opponents. Unfortunately, they also have a cast of characters whose motors are  as inconsistent as any in the NBA.

To be frank, no team's chances are not looking good when their success is riding on the defensive effort from J.R. Smith and Carmelo Anthony.

As is life for the New York Knicks, whose second perimeter options include the defensively stout but injured Iman Shumpert and defensively-inept Steve Novak. While Tyson Chandler may be the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, his presence alone will not offset those perimeter defending deficiencies.

With that being said, both 'Melo and Smith proved in 2012 that, when focused, they can dominate an opponent on defense. Anthony is strong enough to handle any opponent while Smith's athleticism enables him to be an elite perimeter defender. As stated, however, the effort just isn't always there.

Optimism suggests it will continue to show up in 2013. Should head coach Mike Woodson fail to work his magic once again, however, the Knicks will be a team who can score big points but defend no one.

A formula that has never led to a title.

4. Key Players Coming off of Injury

Iman Shumpert went down with a season ending knee injury during the 2012 NBA postseason. Amar'e Stoudemire hasn't played a season without either a minor or major injury. While we can assume that both players will recover and be the same, destruction of a human being's body doesn't work that way.

There is a great chance that a player is never the same from both a physical and mental standpoint.

This could lead to an altered style of play, fear of contact and, worst of all, a repeat injury to once again sideline the respective player. Should that happen in the case of Amar'e Stoudemire, that leaves 39-year-old Kurt Thomas as the next name on the depth chart.

For Iman Shumpert, that leaves J.R. Smith all by his lonesome. The injuries are something that the New York Knicks cannot ignore; apparently James Dolan and company didn't get the memo.

3. Aging Legs Don't Function in an Undersized Lineup

One of the most successful rotations that the New York Knicks put forth saw Carmelo Anthony at the 4 and the players at the positions below him shift up. The key to that rotation, however, was the fact that there was a significant degree of athleticism at each surrounding position.

Bringing in a 39-year-old Jason Kidd and 38-year-old Marcus Camby don't offer promise for an attempt to return to that strategy.

While one might go ahead and suggest that the Knicks should just run a conventional lineup, that has yet to work out for them. It's also something that will not be done on a consistent basis considering Amar'e Stoudemire's backup at the 4 is Kurt Thomas.

In an attempt to overcome the athletically gifted Miami Heat, the New York Knicks have added aging legs who cannot always hold their own. Fortunately, Marcus Camby still has some greatness left in him.

The same can't be said for Jason Kidd and Kurt Thomas.

2. We Can't Trust the Point Guards

Forget the names and the history for a second and answer this question honestly: can you really trust the New York Knicks' point guards?

Jason Kidd's name commands respect. The fact that he posted averages of 6.2 points and 5.5 assists on 36.3 percent shooting from the floor in starters minutes during the 2012 season does not. Instead, it suggests that he should have retired after he won a ring in 2011.

It also suggests that the Knicks made a dire mistake in bringing him in.

Raymond Felton, meanwhile, had a career half-year with the Knicks in 2010. The difference between then and now is that the Knicks were built the way they should be; a lead scorer in Amar'e Stoudemire was accompanied by a group of players who all had roles that they played to perfection.

This time around, Raymond Felton has two superstars in Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony that he must provide the ball to or face the consequences. Jeremy Lin and Mike D'Antoni can attest to that.

The unfortunate fact of the matter is this: it has been over a year since Raymond Felton or Jason Kidd were viable options within their respective systems. 

As for Pablo Prigioni, he happens to be the most promising name on this depth chart. Unfortunately, his experience against NBA players in International play does not guarantee success in the NBA. There's just as strong of a chance that he falls on his face as there is he breaks an opponent's ankles.

The most important position in the NBA is the biggest question mark on a team that believes they can win an NBA championship.

1. STAT and 'Melo

The New York Knicks are a team whose talent speaks for itself. They have All-Star caliber players all throughout their lineup, with superstars Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire and reigning Defensive Player of the Year Tyson Chandler.

Unfortunately, Anthony and Stoudemire have yet to discover how to play with each other. A direct result of the fact that both require the ball in their hands for their game to be effective.

While the New York Knicks have the perfect opportunity to develop the necessary chemistry to compete for a title in their first offseason together, that has yet to occur. For that reason, speculation cannot overrule historical fact.

The New York Knicks do not win with both of these players on the floor at the same time. To prove this, respect the fact that the Knicks have a record of 52-61 with both Stoudemire and 'Melo in the lineup. This does not include their 1-7 record as teammates in the postseason.

That's what happens when both men can only thrive with the ball in their hands. That's what will be the downfall of the New York Knicks until they've found the proper balance of Stat and 'Melo.