Well, Well, Well, now that we are into the second round of the NBA Playoffs I wanted to take some time to reflect back on the drama and hype that surrounded the 2011 NBA season from training camp to the end of the regular season…The Carmelo Anthony Trade Saga. After it was all said and done you now have the over-hyped New York Knicks who are sitting home after a first round playoff flame-out where they could not even win one game. Carmelo’s former team, the Denver Nuggets, played like a top 4 NBA team since the trade, finishing the season with a 17-7 record, climbing to the 5th seed in the West, compared to the Knicks 14-14 record since the trade. Since the famed and drawn-out Carmelo Anthony Trade Saga, all I have to say in regards to the Knicks being back is…”we don’t believe you, you need more people” – (Jay-Z).
In terms of Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Amare Stoudemire, and D’Antoni’s system being the savior that would get them a title; I am quite skeptical. I personally think that the Knicks are just a high-scoring, no defense playing “Phoenix Suns of the East” who can’t win meaningful, grind-it-out games in the playoffs. I have been saying for the past three months that I expect this move to end badly with the Knicks getting bounced from the first round of the playoffs 3 years in a row, but at this rate, D’Antoni may only have a half of a season to prove himself in 2011-12. Before the trade, the Knicks were 28-26, and since the trade they are 14-14. The good thing is they have some years to get it together as an organization. The thinking is they will go after Chris Paul or Deron Williams next summer, but even with those additions, they will win more regular season games but I doubt D’Antoni’s run and gun + no defense system will get them an NBA Championship. I wonder how long it will be before GM Donnie Walsh, coach D’Antoni, Melo, and Amare want out of NY and Isaiah Thomas is back running the Knicks with a starting lineup that features Stephon Marbury, Quentin Richardson, Jared Jeffries, Renaldo Balkman, and Eddy Curry?
Aquil “Quil” Bayyan of The War Room, for War Room Sports
