New York Knicks: 4 Keys for a Winning Season in 2012-13

The New York Knicks secured a winning season and the No. 7 seed in the East in 2011.

A major key to that success—at least in the early goings—was the point guard play of Jeremy Lin. He brought stability to the Knicks when Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire missed action at various times.

He provided one of those rare sparks that inspire a fundamental change in the team’s identity, a change absolutely for the better. A more quantifiable aspect of that spark were high assists and high point totals, highlighted by a streak of seven-straight Knicks victories in February.

Now that the Knicks allowed him to sign with the Houston Rockets, the focus returns to Stoudemire and Melo as the team’s primary stars.

They, along with a shift in the Eastern power structure, are some of the notable factors playing into a successful campaign this year.

So, let’s not delay any further and identify the four keys for a New York Knicks’ winning season in 2012-13.

A Physically and Mentally Healthy Stoudemire

Stoudemire missed 19 games last year due to a recurring bulging disk in his back.

This new injury compounded a preexisting history of having suspect knees.

In addition to injuries of the more natural variety, Stoudemire went berserk in the locker room after a postseason game last season. He struck a glass case holding a fire extinguisher, which amounted to a self-inflicted injury that caused him to miss extended time.

The Knicks need a healthy Stoudemire—physically and mentally—in order to contend in 2012. They need him to ease back on the weight training, and express his frustrations in a more productive manner.

He can only function as that dynamic and explosive player out of the power forward position when he’s properly healthy and motivated.

Amare also needs to crash the boards more often and capitalize on second-chance points. His team is predicated somewhat on perimeter shooting with the likes of Steve Novak, J.R. Smith and Jason Kidd.

New York would prefer at the very least that he suit up for as many games as he had between 2009 and 2011. A nightly total of 21-plus points a game would be a welcome sight.

Coexisting with Carmelo Anthony

Anthony is one of the more polarizing players in the NBA.

On the one hand, he has the skills of a top-five scorer (sixth officially) and possesses a killer instinct akin to Kobe Bryant.

On the other hand, he requires a particular game plan that allows him to isolate and run the entire offense through himself. Or, put another way, he tends to alienate players and create resentment with teammates.

The Knicks supporting cast needs to develop cohesion and a way to coexist with Melo. As Nate Taylor of the New York Times reports, Stoudemire in particular needs to prove that he can play alongside Melo in order to maximize his contributions to the Knicks (via Rotoworld).

There isn’t any denying that Anthony is the top dog on this team; that was certainly a reason leading to the departure of Jeremy Lin (since they had trouble coexisting).

Once his teammates fully acknowledge his status, guys like Smith, Stoudemire, Novak and Raymond Felton can get acclimated to shooting fewer, but more effective shots.

This will help the Knicks thrive on the offensive end of the floor.

Team Defense

Organized team defense was absolutely out of the question under coach Mike D’Antoni.

Now with Mike Woodson officially at the helm, New York has a leader who instills a defensive mindset on every possession.

It doesn’t actually have the requisite personnel for this style of play. That said, Tyson Chandler and Marcus Camby are superior defenders (the latter less so in his advancing age). They can clog the paint, block shots, grab rebounds and set the tone for the rest of the team.

Even the defensively obstinate Stoudemire vowed to become a superior force on defense when interviewed by the New York Post back in August (via Rotoworld).

One should remain skeptical at this point. But if the Knicks commit on this end of the floor, they can be a significant contender in the East.

Capitalize on Weaker Conference

Fans will witness a weaker Eastern Conference in 2012-13.

The Knicks must take every bit of advantage of the faltering teams and rise up the rankings.

Miami is the clear chalk, while Chicago will hang around in the top three until Derrick Rose returns to form. The retooled Celtics and ever-rising Pacers will round out the top four.

Orlando is an absolute shell of itself after the Dwight Howard trade. Atlanta, meanwhile, will drop down in the standings after trading Joe Johnson.

So, that leaves the Knicks and new-look 76ers with Andrew Bynum as the teams vying for the final spot in the top five. Philadelphia is deep at nearly all positions, especially with Bynum solidifying the center spot and matching up well against Chandler.

On second thought, one cannot discount the rebranded Brooklyn Nets either. With Brook Lopez in the middle, Joe Johnson on the outside, Gerald Wallace providing his all-around presence and Deron Williams being a top-flight point guard, this will be a dangerous team.

New York, though, is fully capable of securing that fifth position. If they do, they’ll have a much more favorable postseason matchup in 2012-2013.

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