New York Knicks: 5 Unexpected Players Who Could Boost Their Chance for a Title

With Carmelo Anthony, Amar'e Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler as the most terrorizing frontcourt trio in the entire NBA, it's easy to see why they've garnered so much attention.

However, it is fairly easy to quantify the kind of impact the three aforementioned players are going to have on the Knicks' chances of winning an NBA championship this upcoming season.

The contributions of players like Iman Shumpert, Josh Harrellson and several others are more of an unknown. If they are able play their games and contribute consistently, they could prove to be the major factors in helping the Knicks win an NBA title for the first time since 1973.

The Garden faithful is thirsting for a chance to win an NBA title and with the help of some scrappy, determined role players, they may finally get their wish.

5. Renaldo Balkman

During Balkman's last stint with the Knicks, he was asked to do way too much, which resulted in him taking jump shots, trying to create his own offense and being put in situations that were outside of his capabilities.

However, the Knicks have an extremely talented team now with the additions of Amar'e Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony, Tyson Chandler, Mike Bibby and several others.

This is a very different looking Knicks squad since Balkman debuted with them in 2006, and he's taking full advantage of the bevy of talent the team has to offer.

With opposing defenses focusing all their energy on containing scoring steamrollers like Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire, Balkman is feeding off of the open space he has to slash his way to the hoop.

As evidenced by the great Michael Jordan with the Chicago Bulls, many role players' games were elevated to another level from playing with such a talented superstar.

Balkman is no different. He has boasted boundless energy and jumping ability in the first couple preseason games and could prove to be a great backdoor and alley-oop option, especially once Baron Davis is healthy.

4. Jerome Jordan

Simply for the fact that Jerome Jordan is the only other seven-footer on the Knicks' roster is reason enough to be excited about his addition the the team.

However, labeling him as a lumbering logjam in the middle would be undermining what he brings to the hardwood for a new and improved Knicks team.

Jordan has plenty of experience to bring to the floor, albeit overseas experience. Jordan set the Conference USA career record for blocked shots while playing at Tulsa. He would later spend parts of the past two seasons playing in Serbia before a buyout of his contract was arranged.

He will bring size to a suddenly formidable frontcourt while also providing the team a unique blend of overseas experience, energy and defense.

3. Josh Harrellson

Josh Harrellson, the player affectionately known as "Jorts" for his love of jeans shorts, is proving a ton of people wrong with the intangibles he brings to the game on the defensive and offensive end.

Although he's certainly not a player who will put up 20 points a night, he has been a pleasant surprise with his three-point range, which is always a welcome skill on a team coached by Mike D'Antoni.

His best assets, however, (as the above picture so accurately depicts) is his ability to do all the dirty work and bring some of the scrappy effort that made David Lee so popular during his time with the Knicks.

Harrellson has been a nice surprise and has proven to be a bullish bruiser who will come off the bench and hopefully make up for the toughness the Knicks lost when Shawne Williams signed with the New Jersey Nets.

2. Baron Davis

Baron Davis' personality has always been unpredictable, but he's now reaching a point in his career where for the first time his statistical production is likely to be an unknown.

The timetable of him being out of action for six to 10 weeks is certainly enough to make him unpredictable, but he is getting to a point where his conditioning is in question (not that this is the first time). He must put those concerns to bed if he expects to sequester the starting point guard job from the gritty Toney Douglas.

Whenever "Boom Dizzle" does decide to make his triumphant return to the court, it is exciting to wonder how well he'll do with offensive weapons Carmelo Anthony, Amar'e Stoudemire and a towering Tyson Chandler to toss alley-oop passes to.

Although he's not going to put up 20 PPG and eight APG, it's fair to assume that if he comes back to the Garden floor in good shape, he still has enough left in the tank to help make the rest of the Knicks' lives easier on the offensive end.

1. Iman Shumpert

Iman Shumpert brings tremendous athleticism, applies himself on defense and plays with a swagger bigger than the city of New York itself.

"Shump Shump," as he refers to himself, is going to be receiving immediate playing time and is likely to make the most of every minute of it.

Look for Shumpert to eventually earn the starting shooting guard spot since he will make a great partner in the backcourt for Baron Davis when he comes back healthy.

He will give Davis a great target to toss alley-oops to since he is capable of a theatrical throwdown as much as he is of a defensive stop.

With the confidence that Shumpert has in his game, not only will he turn out to be the biggest factor in helping the new "Knicks Big Three" win a championship, but he will also prove to be the steal of the 2011 NBA draft.