5 Things Every Fan Needs to Know About the 2012-13 New York Knicks

With offseason activity all but in the rear-view mirror, we now stand just two months away from the start of the 2012-13 season.

Excitement is building for fans of the New York Knicks, as the offseason has been spent building around their core of star players, with nine new signings in town.

There are still a few question marks and things we aren't too sure about yet, but here are five things every fan should know about the 2012-13 Knicks.

1. Losing Lin Isn't That Big a Deal

The saga of Jeremy Lin has been all the talk in New York over the summer, but despite all the emotion surrounding his departure, losing Lin really isn't that big a deal for the Knicks.

In terms of marketability and the team's image, yes, the Knicks will take a hit, but from a purely basketball perspective, the Knicks are about the same with or without Lin.

Had the Knicks let Lin go and gone with Toney Douglas and Mike Bibby as their point guards, things would be different, but new signings Raymond Felton and Jason Kidd are perfectly capable of giving the Knicks what they need at the position.

Ultimately, the Knicks success comes down to the play of Amar'e Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler—and all this trio needs is for other Knick players to simply fill their roles.

The original plan for the Knicks may not have even included Lin; the focus of the front office was simply to build a solid supporting cast around their three stars, and Glen Grunwald has managed this.

New York had title hopes way before they signed Lin, and they will continue to have them now that he's gone.

2. Amar'e Stoudemire Isn't Finished

Amar'e Stoudemire may be coming off the worst season of his career, but the idea that he's completely finished is just plain wrong.

Stoudemire's poor 2011-12 campaign came down to a lot of factors: injuries and the death of his brother were real and profound problems, as was the lack of a consistent point guard for the majority of the season. The resigniation of head coach Mike D'Antoni—who also coached Stoudemire in Phoenix—also had to be a distraction.

But now that Stoudemire is healthy again, and he knows exactly who his point guard and head coach are going to be, he's all set for a comeback season.

With Raymond Felton—the point guard who helped Amar'e to a career year in 2010-11—back in town, Stoudemire has himself a true pick-and-roll partner once again, and we all know how dangerous he can be in the two-man game.

Stoudemire's work with Hakeem Olajuwon this summer will also go a long way to improving his game, as he looks to finally add the one piece that has always been missing from his offensive game: a set of low-post moves.

3. Melo Is Ready for Something Big

If you're a Knicks fan, then watching the 2012 London Olympics had to be exciting.

Seeing Pablo Prigioni play for the first time after the Knicks had signed him was enlightening, and seeing Tyson Chandler start for Team USA in place of Dwight Howard was great, too.

But most of all, the dominant play of Carmelo Anthony really should have grabbed your attention.

Melo averaged 16.3 points in 17.8 minutes per game off the bench for Team USA, which was his career-high in points in international play. (Melo also took part in the 2004 and 2008 summer Olympics.)

Against Nigeria, Melo even broke Team USA's individual scoring record, as he put up 37 in just 14 minutes, including 10 three-pointers.

Besides the big numbers, what was notable from Anthony's Olympic perfomance is just how well he was able to fit in with an offense when he's playing with players he trusts.

The Knicks roster may not be as talented as that of Team USA, but Raymond Felton and Jason Kidd should be the type of point guards who can earn Anthony's trust, along with some of the other players the Knicks brought in over the summer.

If Melo's international play can translate over to the NBA now that he's settled in New York, he should be set for a career year, and the idea that his time is coming may not be too farfetched.

4. Age Is Not a Concern

Though some will have you believe otherwise, the age of this Knicks roster really isn't as big a problem as it's made out to be.

An average team age of 30, with four players over 35, will ring the alarm, but ultimately the Knicks really aren't asking much of their older players.

There isn't a single player in the starting lineup over 30, and, really, the only two "old" players the Knicks will have in their rotation are Jason Kidd and Marcus Camby.

Both Kidd and Camby were starters on their respective teams last season, and this year they will be asked simply to take bench roles, which will be much easier on their aging bodies.

Despite their age, both are still capable of starting—and they probably would on some other teams in the league—so they should be just fine playing 20-25 minutes off the bench.

5. Training Camp Is Key

If the Knicks are to be successful next season, building chemistry in training camp will be critical.

The 2012 camp will be the team's first full one since signing Carmelo Anthony, and of course, it will be Mike Woodson's first camp as head coach.

Of all the issues the Knicks have had so far in the big-three era, chemistry has been the biggest, but training camp will give the Knicks a chance to finally work things out.

If they don't put in work, though, then the team will squander this opportunity and become the same old incoherent Knicks—a team like that won't be winning a title any time soon.

Putting in so much work in training camp will be a test of the players' desire to win, but hopefully the Knicks have the type of character on this roster that is up to the task.