New York Knicks Stay Put In NBA Power Rankings
The New York Knicks stayed in their spot in Marc Stein’s NBA Power Rankings over at ESPN.
The New York Knicks are one of the bigger unknowns heading into the NBA regular season. On paper they have a strong team, but there are a lot of question marks surrounding the team. Health is at the top of the list, as many of their integral players have been sidelined a lot in the past few seasons.
The injuries for Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Carmelo Anthony, and Brandon Jennings have been well documented. It is what can really make or break the Knicks season and is something to keep an eye on as the season goes on.
Injuries and off-court issues alread have impacted the Knicks. Rose had to go to Los Angeles for a civil suit as he and two friends were accused of raping an ex-girlfriend, while Noah battled a hamstring injury.
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As a result, the Knicks starting five played zero minutes together during the preseason. There is little practice time once training camp is over, so the Knicks are starting behind the eight-ball and it was evident on opening night.
The Knicks were blown out by the defending NBA Champion Cleveland Cavaliers; not the team you want to face when you are out of sorts. But the Knicks had some extra practice time leading up to their next game against the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Knicks looked to put that extra time to good use, as they handled the Grizzlies during their home opener, 111-104. It was a Jekyll and Hyde performance for the Knicks, who looked like two totally different teams in the games.
It is partly why the Knicks didn’t move in this week’s NBA Power Rankings provided by Marc Stein on ESPN. The Knicks came into the season ranked 21st and remained there for week two. Here is what Stein had to say about the Knicks this upcoming week.
"In January 2002, Michael Jordan had 16 points and 12 rebounds in his first game in Chicago as a Washington Wizard. Two years earlier, Scottie Pippen had 11 points and six assists for Portland in his return to the United Center. Friday marks Derrick Rose’s homecoming, when the Chicago native plays his first game in the Windy City as a visitor. What kind of numbers can we expect from D-Rose? Isn’t it too soon on the schedule for such an emotional encounter? Answers forthcoming."
The homecoming for Rose and Noah this week is a big storyline; the Knicks visit to the Bulls is a nationally televised game Friday night. In addition to traveling to Chicago, the Knicks first game of the week will be on the road against the Detroit Pistons tonight.
Alternating with those two games are two more games this week at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks will welcome former head coach Mike D’Antoni, James Harden, and the Houston Rockets to town Wednesday night. Saturday night they will host the Utah Jazz.
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It is a good chance for the Knicks to gauge where they are at. All four teams are playoff contenders, just as the Knicks hope to be. If they want to make it into the postseason, they are going to have to beat some good teams; might as well start now in defeating them.