After a long summer of the Knicks staying  with their team from last year, the NBA season is around the corner.  So what can we expect from the Knicks this season? I think with the current team, we can expect improvement from this ball club.  The players already know Mike D’Antoni, and he is already familiar with his team. Here is a breakdown on what to expect from the players in my projected starting lineup.

Chris Duhon

With all the trade talks this summer and the hunt for a Knicks starting point guard I think Duhon will be able to get it done. If anything, with Donnie Walsh going after Ramon Sessions and  working out guys like Jason Williams and Jammal Tinsley, these moves should have been a sign that Duhon needs to get his act together. Chris Duhon started off last season  looking like he could have been the Knicks MVP. However, he ran out of gas faster than a Hummer on a cross country road trip. This year Duhon has help in the backcourt with Nate Robinson returning, and Knicks rookie point guard Toney Douglas who can also play point. The good news is Duhon is playing in contract year so you can expect him to be in shape. If not Toney Douglas and Nate Robinson will be looking to get into the starting lineup.

The Good:

Duhon is a good point guard that knows how to set players up and play the pick and roll. He also can be a good tempo changer and plays for the most part under control. Last year he was able to drop 7 assists and 12 points. Duhon also knows when to look for the shot and when not to. Many guards in this league tend to favor driving to one side of the court, however that is not the case with Chris Duhon. Chris Duhon has the ability to drive hard with left or right hand. He also has good leadership qualities. I think Duhon will try to step it up  this year. 

The Bad:

His defense really needs to step up. Last year his defense was poor. Almost every night he got beat off the dribble. If he can improve his on the ball defense that will be a plus.  Not to mention he needs to be more of a scoring option to make his man work on the defensive end. If Duhon is not going to take it hard to his man, his man will have fresh legs when it is time for him to score. He also needs to be able to be more effective with  plays outside of the pick & roll.

Wilson Chandler

Coming into his 3^rd year as a Knick I think Wilson was really finding himself last year.   Despite last season of Willson Chandler being moved around from position to position with his up and down season, it seems when given a defined role at the shooting guard spot Wilson was ready to show and prove. In the second part of the season Wilson Chandler showed that he could take over games by driving and with his midrange game.  With coming into the season starting I expect him to be one of the key players on this ball club.

The Good:

Chandler is a player that plays both ends of the court. He can post up as well as take his man to the hole  to score with force. He also has nice postup moves to either hit his bank shot or signature spin move. On the defensive end, he can block shots as well as get steals every now and then. Not to mention he can play defense on any position except at the center spot. He is also deadly on the open court and a great finisher.  Whether in the halfcourt or in the uptempo style of play Chandler gets it done.

The Bad:

Chandler needs to work on his left hand. Whenever he seems make a move he favors his right hand. If he addressed working on his handle he would be a force to be reckoned with. Chandler’s main downfall is he just doesn’t know how good he can be and tends to settle too much for his jumpshot instead of driving to the hole.

Al Harrington

Last year was an up and down year for Al Harrington. Al Harrington went from getting no playing time at all with the Warriors to becoming the Knicks #1 scorer with 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 assists a game. Not to mention Al Harrington shot 45% from the field. He’s also supposed to be coming into camp in the best condition of his life.

The Good:

On offense there is nothing really Al Harrington cannot do. He can take his man off the dribble with is crossover or with the jab step.  He also has the ability to drive left and right and finish strong. Not to mention he can hit the midrange shot at will, and knock down the 3 point shot. Al Harrington  is most deadly when he is in the low box posting up on either the left or right side. Plus he draws fouls on his opponents with ease.

The Bad:

His shot selection is poor. For a guy that averaged 20 points a game his assists should be much higher. Getting 1 assist a game is not cutting it.  He also has to understand that when the double team comes he has to give the ball up to the open man or the cutter.

Another weak area of Al Harrington is his poor stamina. If NBA games were 3 quarters Al Harrington would be the best player in the league. Many times because of his poor conditioning Al is often burned out or tired in the 4^th quarter. We need Al Harrington for all 4 quarters if the Knicks are going to be effective this year.

David Lee:

Now that the David Lee situation is taken care of we have David Lee back for another year to show what he is made of. David Lee last year was the most consistent Knicks player. Every night Lee came to show and prove. With David Lee going into another contract year I expect him to play with the same energy and hustle this season. Whether following up big shots or getting second chance opportunities for his teammates.

The Good:

Lee is one of the best players in not just getting rebounds but also double doubles in the league. David Lee has some of the best footwork  in the NBA around the rim. He also knows how to score without having the ball all the time and having high shooting attempts. Lee is also a hustle hard player that dives for loose balls and will not give up on a play. As far as his offensive ability he can score in the post and has a soft hook around that he uses occasionally. He also has improved with his midrange shot. The bottom line is Lee puts in work. Not to mention he moves quick off feet to score driving left.

The Bad:

His defense is nowhere to be found.  Lee at times becomes a liability on the defensive end. Even though he has made improvements with his jumpshot he needs to knock it down more consistently. This year do not be surprised if he has a more consistent midrange game. The area I am still worried about is his defense.

Jared Jeffries

Jared Jeffries had a decent year last year. Contract aside, he is  a player that can play at 5 positions on the court. He also can play in the halfcourt and up tempo style of play. Jeffries is also good at cutting to the basket and giving good screens for his teammates that love to shoot off screens. Not to mention he is a good ball handler for a guy his size. That being said, Jared Jeffries offensive game really has to step up. Too many times I have seen him miss an open shot or even a layup. I think Jeffries main priority should be working on his jumpshot. If David Lee, can make improvements shooting I don’t see why Jeffries can not do the same. Many things Jefferies does will not show up in a stat sheet. The best attribute of his game might be that he can play defense. Last season we saw him play defense on every position on the court.

Overall, Jared Jeffries could be useful this season if Curry and Darko do not have it together playing the center spot. We already know that Mike D’Antoni wants the Knicks to be one of the top teams in the defensive area. So you better believe if the other players on this team are not getting it done, Jared Jeffries will get the call. Word is that he now has a jumpshot. If this is true he might start the season as a starter.

 The Bench

Eddy Curry

I felt that Curry would be a starter to start the season, but because of Curry's injury I think he will start the season coming off the bench.We all know that Curry is coming off his worst season as an NBA player. Whether it’s his off the court problems or not being physically in shape to play in a Mike D’Antoni system.  That being said, Curry can only get better. Especially the way things hit rock bottom last year.  The good news is he did workout this summer on his conditioning which hopefully will carry into this season.  Sounds like you heard this story before right? However this year is a little different. For one, Eddy’s trainer Tommy Weatherspoon is no joke. The man is all about business. So if Eddy was suppose to come into camp in shape then he is in shape. The questions is can he maintain it for a whole season. I personally think he can because has had some good years in the NBA. So nothing is impossible.

The Good:

An in shape Curry can not be stopped in the post.  His postup game is one of the best in the game. Not mention for a guy his size he move rather quick with the ball. Curry also can take his man off the dribble. He can be a go to guy that the Knicks are looking for. He is also very athletic. In the past he was also the league leader in field goal percentage. On defense, he can play decent defense on his man. Having a player like Curry can be a plus.

The Bad:

He does not rebound well for a guy his size and holds the ball too long that can lead to turnovers.  Curry also is poor at passing out of the double team. Most of all, his conditioning in the past has been so poor it leads him to play poor defense on the defensive end. Curry’s help defense is probably one of the worst in the NBA. I still think many of Curry’s flaws have to do with his condition.  If Curry is as good as his trainer Tommy Weatherspoon thinks he can be watch out for Eddy Curry this year.

After giving my assessment of the anticipated starting lineup, here is my overview of the bench players.  Let’s just say with this Knicks team the bench could be just as valuable as the starting lineup. Especially with an 82 game season you can expect players to go through slumps and injuries.

Here is my overview of the Knicks bench:

 Nate Robinson

After coming off a great season with the Knicks, Nate will be returning this year wearing a new number on his jersey. Hopefully with a new jersey comes  a  new attitude by being more serious and being less playful. That being said, Nate is coming off his best season as a Knick averaging 17 points, 4.1 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.3 steals a game. I think Nate Robinson will have another good year. If Nate cuts out his clowning around on the bench, the more I think he and Mike D’Antoni will be able to see each other eye to eye.

The Good:

Nate Robinson is one of the  most athletic players in the NBA.  Not only can dunk the ball, but Nate has the ability to take any player in the league off the dribble and score. He  has a handle that mesmerizes his opponents making it easy for him to penetrate to the hole. Besides driving, Nate can shoot the midrange shot as well as the 3 point shot when needed in big games.  Another good aspect of Nate’s game is he comes to play every night. Whether he’s trying to get steals or  diving for loose balls, Nate gets it done. Nate Robinson also has the ability to take over games and can drop anywhere from 20 to 30 points a game if needed.  He is a solid player at playing the passing lanes and getting steals from his opponents. Let me not forget to mention that Nate Robinson rarely turns the ball over. He is a high energy player that is very supportive of his teammates. Say what you want but Nate plays with heart which is missing from many players in the league.

The Bad:

Nate has all the talent in the world, however he needs to step it up when playing the point guard position. Too many times we see Nate forcing the issue when he could  have just made the easy pass.  Another area that Nate can step up is his man-to-man defense. Nate also tends to clown too much when on the bench. This is not helpful, especially when the Knicks go through losing slumps.

Overall expect him to have another good year and show more leadership skills when he is on the court.

Danilo Galliari

Danilo has come to show and prove to fans what he can do. Last year, Danilo Gallinari proved he can play in the NBA, however due to injuries he did not get a chance to finish the season strong. This year Danilo is said to be 100 percent and fully healed from his back surgery and ready to play. If  Danilo is able to play healthy for a whole season don’t be surprised if he finishes the season in the starting lineup as well as being a key player in the Knicks  success.  Mike D’Antoni has already stated that Danilo Galllinari is the best shooter he has ever seen. For Mike D’Antoni to make a statement like that to the media you know Danilo  must be able to shoot  the lights out from all over the court.

The Good:

Danilo can shoot from anywhere on the court as well as create his own shot. Not to mention his passing ability and court vision make him an easy choice to run the point at times when the Knicks need an extra ball handler on the court. Gallinari is a player that can rack up points quickly by shooting from the outside and drawing easy fouls. His dribble is really good. He already has moves to make it easy to drive or pull up for the midrange or bank shot. Another good thing I can say about Danilo Gallinari is, he has the mentality of a person that will not give up until he feels he is the best player on the court. Not only that, he wants to play within the team concept. Last year we saw him score as well as pass the ball to teammates to get them involved.  As far as offense he has all the right tools for a guy just going into his second year in the league except a go to move.

The Bad:

He has to stay healthy. That’s the bottom line. If he can stay healthy I don’t doubt that he can be successful. Another aspect that I think he is weak in is strength. If he wants to be a go to guy in this league he has to get stronger. The stronger he gets, the easier it will be for him to take contact from his opponents. Another area in Danilo’s  game that he is lacking is a go to move.  This is his second year, however getting a good go to move will not hurt his game. It also would not hurt Danilo to lower his dribble. I feel he tends to dribble too high. All that being said, if he works on these areas I feel he will be a solid player in this league for years to come. Daniol Gallinari also needs to work on his defense even though it is not as bad as fans thought it would be.

Overall, I love his attitude about winning and wanting to be a star in this league. He has that Jay-z attitude of “I will not lose.” In other words, he wants to get better and be the best.

Larrry Hughes

Larry Hughes is a shooting guard that can help bring up the ball. He can shoot from the 3 point range but he has work to do on his midrange game. If Hughes is on his game he can drive to the lane and provide offense. Hughes is also a good defensive player. He is probably one of the best in the league at playing the passing lane to get steals. He also can play great one-on-one defense which is a plus in the backcourt with Chris Duhon. The main knock on Hughes is his shot selection. He has developed a reputation from playing on the Bulls that he does not like to pass the ball. However, I remember him to be a good player on the Wizards, and the Goldenstate Warriors. The fact that he can bring up the ball will take pressure off Chris Duhon and allow Duhon to rest instead of playing large minutes. Hughes can also rebound which can lead to easy fastbreak points. Hopefully the Knicks get the Larry Hughes that played on the Wizards and Golden State and not the Larry Hughes that played bad on the Bulls. Hughes has had some good games last season and played under controlled.

Darko Milicic 

Darko might go down in history as one of the worst picks over a maybe a future Hall-of-Famer in Carmelo Anthony depending on how Carmelo finishes up his career. For most of his career Darko has been labeled a bust because he has not lived up to expectations. Not to mention he has the reputation of being lazy. That being said, that does not mean he can not be successful on this Knicks roster.  Especially, with a coach that has a system that favors Darko. If Curry does not play well in preseason Darko might be the Knicks starting center  on opening night.

The Good:

Darko can play solid defense and can have a defensive presence that he Knicks are looking for in the middle. Darko has the ability to block shots as well as play good man-to-man defensive. He also can shoot and be successful in any type of offense. One thing that is good about Darko is the Knicks finally have a center that can block shots.

The Bad:

Lack of motivation. Sometimes it looks like Darko does not really care about basketball. He also gets in foul trouble.

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The Rookies

I will give a full overview of the rookies at a later date. However, I will say with the return of Nate Robinson and David Lee, I do not think the rookies will get much playing time this year. There are just  not enough minutes to go around. It will be a long period before I think Toney Douglas hits the floor because the Knicks are stacked in the backcourt. If Larry Hughes is not productive don’t be surprised if you see Toney Douglas get his minutes.

However, in Jordan Hill’s case, if there is an injury to Curry or Darko or if they look out of place, I do not think Mike D’Antoni would hesitate to inject Jordan Hill into the lineup. Hill already has go to moves as well as a nice postup game. His midrange shot is good from what I saw of him in college. He also is a player that plays solid halfcourt style of play as well as his ability run in the open court. His main weakness is, his man-to-man defense.  Hill’s season will be determined on how well the players play ahead of him in the regular rotation. We will see what Hill brings to the table because he still is a working project.

Overall, I like the attitude of the team going into this season. I think with Wilson Chandler having a defined role as well as Danilo Gallinari being healthy this team will make improvements and there will be some excitement from this team. Al Harrington also can be a key to this team if  plays with in the team concept.

Another point that should not be ignored is the players know the coach and the coach knows the players. I expect the Knicks to win about 38 games. Can Knicks make the playoffs? We’ll have to wait and see because there might be trades and injuries during the season  to get ready for summer of 2010.  That being said, sit back and enjoy the ride folks. The NBA has arrived.