New York Knicks: Are They the Best Team in the Eastern Conference?

It feels good to have the NBA season once again, especially if you're a Knicks fan.  With the acquisitions of Tyson Chandler and Baron Davis, as well as the additions of rookies Iman Shumpert and Josh Harrellson, the Knicks look poised to make a deep run into the playoffs this year.

With these new players, New York has shored up its defense and rebounding, while also adding depth and skill at the point guard.  However, one question still remains: Exactly how good are the Knicks?

That is a very difficult question to answer, with many variables factoring into the equation.  To make things a little bit easier, I'm just going to assume that all players will remain healthy for the rest of the year for all teams in the Eastern Conference.

Read the full article: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/999687-new-york-knicks-are-they-the-best-team-in-the-eastern-conference

LeBron James: Ranking the Top Teams That He Could've Signed With

I've said it since "The Decision" aired: LeBron James made the wrong choice in going to Miami. His style of play clashes with Dwyane Wade's since they play so similarly. Also, their propensity to hold the ball for almost the entire shot clock has made Chris Bosh, formerly in the conversation for best power forward in the NBA, simply a spot up shooter. Lastly, with the huge contracts of the "Big Three" and the rumors of a hard cap in the new CBA, Miami might not have any room to add better role players.

They cannot and will not win a championship with a team constructed like this. Three guys can't carry the load for an entire team, and looking back, it seems like there were much better options for LeBron than Miami. Let's turn back the clock and rank each team, seeing what they would've looked like had LeBron signed with them.

Read the full article: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/734942-lebron-james-ranking-the-top-teams-that-he-couldve-signed-with

Patrick Ewing: Will the New York Knicks Take a Chance on Him

Well, it's that time of year again.

With the off season here, speculation has begun to run wild. Important phone calls need to be made, decisions thought through, and, most importantly, contracts signed.

Speaking of contracts, Mike D'Antoni, the current Knicks coach, only has one year left to prove his worth. While his offensive system is second to none, he places absolutely no emphasis on defense, with some of his former players even saying that he never coached during practice. Not once. This is a recipe for disaster for a team with championship aspirations like the Knicks.

This defense, or lack thereof, that has been put out has left much to be desired to say the least, and so it is natural that Knick fans are clamoring for a coaching change. There are multiple candidates out there: Jeff Van Gundy, Phil Jackson, Lawrence Frank, Jerry Sloan, and Rick Adelman. However, there is one candidate in particular that strikes a cord in the hearts of Knick fans everywhere. That man is Patrick Ewing.

Read the full article: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/728378-patrick-ewing-will-the-new-york-knicks-take-a-chance-on-him

NBA Draft 2011: Top 5 Prospects for the Knicks

The 2010-11 season proved to be a very exciting one for the Knicks. Beginning with the acquisitions of Amar'e Stoudemire and Raymond Felton, the Knicks began to climb back into relevancy. These two new faces, along with the emergence of Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, and Toney Douglas, brought the excitement back the excitement that used to surround New York basketball.

Then, the team was turned on its head. On February 21, just three days before the trade deadline, the New York Knicks acquired Carmelo Anthony from the Denver Nuggets. This gave the Knicks two stars to build upon for years to come and brought talks of a championship to the Big Apple, but their work is far from over. They are missing key players both at the center spot and off the bench. These additions would help the Knicks greatly, and these are the top five ways that the Knicks can do it through the draft.

Read the full article: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/711780-nba-draft-2011-top-5-prospects-for-the-knicks

LeBron James: Will the King Ever Get a Ring?

Think back to July 2010. All eyes were on one of the greatest free agent classes of all time including Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Amar'e Stoudemire, Rudy Gay, and, most famously (or perhaps infamously), LeBron James. Speculation was rampant.

First it was thought that Wade and James would stay put, with Bosh heading to one of their teams as a second option. However, people began to fantasize, and the rumors soon changed to Bosh and James going to the bright lights of New York City, with Wade heading to Chicago to form a devastating backcourt with Derrick Rose.

Read the full article: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/728419-lebron-james-will-the-king-ever-get-a-ring

Scott Brooks: Should He Have Won Coach of the Year in 2010?

Scott Brooks burst onto the scene last season along with his young, upstart Thunder squad. They went from an abysmal season, to racking up 50 wins in a tough Western Conference. All of this contributed to Scott Brooks winning Coach of the Year that season, which seemed to be solidified by the Thunder pushing the soon-to-be-champion Lakers to six games.

This season, the Thunder further improved, reaching 55 wins and rising from the eight seed last year all the way up to the fourth seed this year. Again, many attributed this not only to the great talent found on the Thunder, but also to Scott Brooks' superb coaching. However, after watching the Thunder every game throughout these playoffs, I can say with certainty that none of this success should be attributed to Scott Brooks.

Read the full article here: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/708748-scott-brooks-should-he-have-won-coach-of-the-year-in-2010

NBA Draft 2011: Why the Knicks Have No Business Drafting Jimmer Fredette

A star rose out of nowhere on the college scene this year. He led the nation in scoring at an unbelievable 28.9 points per game clip, and brought BYU into the spotlight. This player is none other than Jimmer Fredette.

Fredette had a tremendous year for BYU, and quickly made himself a household name, as the phrase "a Jimmer Fredette shot" is now used by many to describe a shot taken from several feet behind the three point line. His success did not go unnoticed, as many scouts and fans alike speculated that he could become a lottery pick.

Read the full article: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/708061-nba-draft-2011-why-the-knicks-have-no-business-drafting-jimmer-fredette