'07 New York Knicks Preview
Eddy Curry, Zach Randolph Make for Odd Pair
2007 New York Knicks NBA Season Preview
The New York Knicks are the soap opera of the NBA. The franchise really ought to have a sitcom written about it.
With such an intriguing roster, so full of talent, it's no wonder that fans expect more from the Knicks. Yet, as Knicks fans know all too well, talent does not necessarily equate to wins. While the Knicks are extremely talented on paper, there are many problems with its lineup.
Trading Channing Frye and the over-priced Steve Francis for Zach Randolph was a gutsy move and probably the right thing to do. Francis was doing nothing for the Knicks, and though Randolph may not be the best fit, he will at least be a factor. Frye is an up-and-coming talent, but the extent of his upside is frequently over-exaggerated. He has good length as a seven-footer, and he has a nice jump shot, but he's soft, doesn't rebound well and isn't much of a defender. Moreover, they already have David Lee at power forward.
Still, the Knicks will be awful on defense this season, especially with Eddy Curry and Zach Randolph playing side by side. It should be humorous watching the two try to block shots, as not a single credit would fit underneath their sneakers as they jumped. Moreover, taking care of the ball will be key next season. Between the two of them, Randolph and Curry averaged only 3.0 assists for every 6.8 turnovers they caused last season. It's bound to be another frustrating season for Knicks fans.
On the bright side, Randolph should be able to complement Curry in some ways. After all, he is capable of stepping back and hitting a 15-foot jump shot with some proficiency. Yet, Isiah Thomas will have some issues to hash out with this roster.
Statistics Projections/Depth Chart
- Center: Eddy Curry 15.9 ppg, 6.6 rbpg (back up: Randolph Morris)
- Power Forward: Zach Randolph 17.6 ppg, 8.7 rbpg (back up: David Lee)
- Small Forward: Jared Jeffries 4.6 ppg, 4.4 rbpg (back up: Renaldo Balkmen)
- Point Guard: Stephon Marbury 15.4 ppg, 6.4 apg (back up: Nate Robinson)
- Shooting Guard: Jamal Crawford 14.7 ppg, 3.6 apg (back up: Quentin Richardson)
Key Losses
Losing Channing Frye might upset some fans, but Zach Randolph is definitely an upgrade. Also, the Knicks are glad to be rid of Steve Francis, who was doing nothing to show for his huge contract.
Key Additions
Zach Randolph is the team's biggest addition. Otherwise, drafting forward Wilson Chandler was odd, since they already have numerous athletic forwards.
Team Rumors
No rumors to note, but they still need to fix some problem areas.
Prediction
The Knicks will miss the playoffs again, despite the upgrade in talent at power forward. They finish with a record of 30-52, which is an improvement of three wins. Yet, the Knicks' defense will be its downfall and New York will enjoy another run in the lottery.
Fantasy Spin
The Knicks don't have any players who should warrant too high a pick in fantasy drafts. Zach Randolph will have to share touches with Curry, Marbury still hasn't shown he can be consistent like he used to be, Crawford is returning from significant injury and David Lee is playing behind a former 20-10 guy.
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