The math is simple. The New York Knicks have a different coach, a better lineup and teams that owned the top seeds in the Eastern Conference are out of the race. The Orlando Magic and the Chicago Bulls will no longer be the forces they were in previous years and, because of this, the New York Knicks will capitalize and finish in the better half of the Top 8 at the end of the season.
Let's focus on these Magics and Bulls before we move on. Both teams are without their superstars. The Magic lost Dwight Howard to the Los Angeles Lakers and never regained a true center in the deal. They are stacked with guys who are 6' 10" who are considered forwards and not centers.
The Bulls are without their leader, Derrick Rose for a good portion of the season. Sorry for the cross-sport comparison, but Rose is to the Bulls what Peyton Manning was to the Indianapolis Colts, a great player surrounding by good players, but when Manning was out all of 2011, the team was done.
The Bulls were 18-9 without Rose in the regular season, but were bounced by the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the playoffs.
For the Knicks now, they have a hungry Carmelo Anthony pursuing a championship, though I do not see the Knicks challenging the Miami Heat in the East, Anthony's drive should lift the Knicks throughout the season.
They made additions that will help their defense and their bench is looking strong. If Amar'e Stoudemire is back to form, the team should be a force to contend with on offense. Also, Mike Woodson enters his first full season as the Knicks' head coach after proving worthy of the role as he lead them into the playoffs.
The Brooklyn Nets have a star studded cast, but they will need some time to get things together. The 76ers had a good run last season, but they have to see who they are without Andre Iguodala as their leader on the floor.
The Knicks are no longer a sixth, seventh or eighth place team in the East as the conference has weakened. Because of this and the talents they possess, the Knicks will be better than 3/4 of the Eastern Conference.
