3. Focus
Losing Lin, who set the basketball world ablaze last season before cashing in on his first long-term contract, could turn out to be a blessing in disguise. Lin never has played 82 games, and the Knicks are planning on playing into May and June. If Lin were to struggle – not an unlikely scenario – all eyes would be on Anthony and Woodson to right the ship.
That sort of pressure and scrutiny spreads like wildfire under the world’s biggest media microscope. Again, it’s hard to defend not keeping Lin, and the decision to let him go could end up ultimately ruining the franchise. But without him, there are no excuses and supreme focus.
4. Mentors For Amar’e
With Rasheed Wallace about to enter the fold, that adds another veteran power forward – and one with a championship pedigree – to support the frontcourt along with Thomas and Camby. If Stoudemire is to play at a high level and extend his career moving forward, he needs to develop a more well-rounded game.
Add to that his summer spent working with the great Hakeem Olajuwon on honing his low-post moves, and the Knicks are hoping Stoudemire takes the next step, bounces back from a poor all-around 2011-12 campaign and returns to the All-Star form he flashed in his first season in New York.
5. Old School Knicks Brand
These aren’t necessarily the “no-layup” Knicks of the 1990s, a brand and identity that Knicks fans carry like a badge of honor. But this group has the chance to be a very strong defensive team. After replacing Mike D’Antoni last season, Woodson’s biggest influence was getting the roster to buy into playing consistent defense, a prerequisite for any team with championship aspirations.
It is anchored by Chandler, who unseated Dwight Howard as Defensive Player of the Year. The offseason additions of Camby, Thomas, Kidd and even Ronnie Brewer reveal a deeper commitment to the defensive end of the floor. The hopeful return of Iman Shumpert after January should give the Knicks a second-half boost and bring another level of energy to Madison Square Garden for home games.
The main difference between the 1990s teams and this one is that the current Knicks are a better offensive unit. If the Knicks can come out strong early in the season, stay together and play as a unit, this is a team that the championship-starved fans in New York will really get behind as they push to the top of the Eastern Conference.
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Tommy Dee is the founder of The Knicks Blog, editor of CHARGED Magazine and a regional scout for Marty Blake and Associates. If you like what you read here, feel free to follow his other thoughts on Twitter.