Carmelo Anthony has spoken. After much debate about which team will reign in New York, the Knicks forward spoke up on how he feels about the Brooklyn Nets and this so called rivalry people have been bringing up all summer long.
"Theres no rivalry between us and Brooklyn right now," Anthony said. "It starts on that first game. We'll see what happens with that first game. But as of right now, we are focused on ourselves. We are not really focused on nobody else."
Both teams made additions during the offseason. In people's eyes, the Brooklyn Nets will be a favorite heading into the 2012 season. Brook Lopez says the team has only one thing in mind and that is the championship.
Brooklyn people feel like they have the team that will challenge the New York Knicks after witnessing the Knicks power their way through the Nets in the past couple of seasons. Not only that, but their players feel they can challenge the Miami Heat for the reign in the Eastern Conference.
The Knicks have a few health issues in their team, which might cause them to struggle early on. Iman Shumpert's defense will be missed and Amar'e Stoudemire will have to bounce back after a lackluster season with below average numbers.
On paper, the Nets' lineup looks stronger: Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, Gerald Wallace, Kris Humphries and Brook Lopez. The Knicks will place Raymond Felton, J.R. Smith, Stat, Melo and Tyson Chandler. The Knicks however, do possess the better defense and bench.
Lopez just came off of an injury, but showed at the end of last season that he can play. Stoudemire has to prove himself in 2012-2013.
Look for tempers to flare and emotions to pour out as both of these teams, whether Melo wants to call it a rivalry or not, will be battling for the top spots in the Eastern Conference.
