a number of stories have suggested that the knicks might contend this year as a result of the addition of tyson chandler, giving a previously weak d some much needed spine (and basket protection). how many times will we have to hear how the knicks have the best frontline in basketball? so what? while getting chandler is a big step forward, it seemed to me that they didn’t have a prayer against top teams because of the lack of speed and skill at the guard positions. ask the lakers, who had one of the best players in the league at the 2, along with a great frontline but regularly got torched by the top point guards in the league, how that works out. ask miami how much they think mike bibby will be a difference-maker for the knicks (not).
but it turns out, the knicks are going to be better than i thought. you always have to be careful about judging too much from a single performance, but watching the knicks play the nets in their first preseason game, iman shumpert looks like he’s going to be a stud, the difference maker at the guard that the knicks need. the kid has moxie. he’s a tough, quick, aggressive defender, confident shooter, and good decision-maker. check back at the end of the season, but it says here that shumpert could very well be a key to a better-than-expected knicks season.
