The Knicks will definitely have a new look this season, but the question is will the results be different from last season? Eddy Curry is the first real center the Knicks have had since Patrick Ewing left, but we can only hope that the Knicks’ cardiologists are right in letting him play. Antonio Davis will provide toughness up front, but at age 37, how many minutes a night can he contribute? Channing Frye, Nate Robinson and David Lee will bring youthful energy, but youth also means that they will make rookie mistakes.
One thing fans can be sure of is that the Knicks have a great coach. Larry Brown has been successful at every stop he has made in his career and while he usually doesn’t stay for long, he should instill discipline and defense into a team that has lacked both for a while. The big question is whether or not he can work with Stephon Marbury. Marbury has All-Star numbers, but he has never led a team deep into the playoffs. Brown made Allen Iverson better in Philadelphia; can he repeat that success in New York?
Clearly, the Knicks head into the season with a lot of questions and a resurgent Eastern Conference and a schedule that sends them on the road for 13 of their first 19 games won’t help. Gothamist thinks they will improve from last year, but only marginally, 38 wins and another trip to the draft lottery.
