The Knicks have started the season poorly, currently standing at 1-9 for the year. Their sole win came on opening night against New Orleans and they have now secured their worst start in franchise history.
The team has been in decline since Patrick Ewing left almost a decade ago. However, controversial events over the past few seasons have dominated the headlines. Point guard Stephon Marbury became entangled in an angry dispute with head coach Mike D'Antoni, resulting in him warming the bench and not doing too much to collect his $21.9m salary. This fiasco continued for the majority of last year until March, when he was traded to Boston.
Ugly events behind the scenes have also hit the headlines, with former president Isiah Thomas and Madison Square Garden forced to pay damages to a former executive on sexual harassment charges in 2007.
The current rotation has some top players including Nate Robinson and center David Lee. However, injuries have been a major reason for their awful start. Robinson is one of the most exciting guards in the league but an ankle injury is keeping him out. A player for the future has to be rookie Jordan Hill, a very exciting prospect who is slowly playing more minutes and his talent is obvious to everyone. Coach D'Antoni should think about starting this star in the making.
D'Antoni is considering signing Allen Iverson, who is on the market after being released by the Grizzlies, and I think he should hurry up and get him on board given the current situation in New York. Iverson is a perfect fit for the Knicks and could help propel them out of their sorry situation.
The Knicks have a difficult schedule over the next ten games; they have to face Los Angeles, Boston, and Orlando. New York have a three game road trip on the west coast next week and they could represent some value with the ever growing handicap in their favor. The Knicks play Sacramento on the 27th November and they match up well against this high octane team, which is currently rebuilding and finding life fairly tough.
New York travel to Denver on Friday 29th November in the final game of their three game trip. The Nuggets will be heavily favored in this game by close to double digits but they are a team that has had difficulty putting a winning run together. The Knicks should be at full strength for this road trip and will not be facing the hostile and vocal home crowd of Madison Square Garden.
There could be some hope for New York at the end of the season as the most valuable athlete in the world becomes a free agent; the great LeBron James will be on the market next year. It's a safe NBA bet that the Knicks will move heaven and earth to sign him but it won't be easy since LeBron is desperate to win a championship and will not join a team in a complete shambles. The Knicks have until the end of the season to get their house in order if they are to lure LeBron James.
Who knows, this time next year New York could be sitting at the top of the Eastern Conference with LeBron all settled in. Stranger things have happened that's for sure.
Recommended wagers:
Back New York with advertised handicap 27th November versus Sacramento
Back New York with advertised handicap 29th November versus Denver