Okay, Magic Johnson isn't quite the expert. He was the best point guard of his generation, arguably of all time, but when it comes to analysis, Johnson has been a bit off. However, Johnson might be right about one thing regarding the New York Knicks, "I think the two teams that they can't beat are still going to be good again next year, and that's Miami and Indiana. And then Derrick Rose comes back for the Bulls."
The Knicks are coming off a big 2012-2013 campaign that saw them finish in second place in the Eastern Conference. They went 54-28, dominating the Atlantic Division as their mixture of youth and mostly veterans provided a dynamic effort throughout the season. However, the Knicks were too banged up to get out of the second round and though they have shown improvement year after year, 2013 was the Knicks' best chance to win in the postseason.
The Indiana Pacers proved that they possess some of the top players in the league. Paul George blossomed before everybody's eyes while Roy Hibbert finally understood that he is the tallest body on the floor, allowing him to be a force on both sides of the court. The Pacers finished in third place this past year, posting a 49-32 record. Imagine what the Pacers will do when they get Danny Granger back and he's in the starting lineup regularly with Lance Stephenson coming off the bench? The Pacers will be a team to reckon with in 2014.
Same goes for the Chicago Bulls. Everybody got their Derrick Rose jokes out of the way. He's expected to wear a uniform and it won't be a suit and tie in 2014. The Bulls proved to be tougher than expected as they eliminated the Brooklyn Nets, and then played very physical ball against the Miami Heat.
The Heat might be in some trouble if they don't win the championship. Talks of a Big 3 break up are roaming the courts of the American Airlines Arena. If this takes place then, the NBA may have to worry about another team, namely the Cleveland Cavaliers. It is rumored that James would opt out of his contract and go back to his hometown, where the Cavs have one of the better point guards in the league and own the first pick in the 2013 NBA Draft.
If the Big 3 stays together, then the Heat will remain the team to beat in the East. They have one of the deepest benches in the leave, and with James anchoring the team, they will remain the favorite.
For the Knicks, well, Carmelo Anthony can't do it alone and they need to add scoring talent. However, they own the 24th pick in the draft and are unable to add impact players because of their saturated payroll. Ideally, the Knicks would dump Amar'e Stoudemire, who's owed over $60 million in the next three seasons. As much as J.R. Smith contributed during the season, he was nowhere to be found in the postseason, when it really matters. Anthony's efforts are dwindled in the playoffs because he has nobody to help him on offense; therefore, he becomes a magnet for defenses. When Anthony doesn't score, then the Knicks are in trouble and even when he scores 40, the Knicks might lose.
The Knicks will have to do some clever shopping if they plan to compete in 2013-2014. The organization doesn't have the adequate talent to give these other teams a run and Anthony needs help scoring.
