It’s not always easy to keep perspective. Like when the 410 lb. orca whale purchasing $30-worth of Burger King for himself double-checks with the cashier that the soda he was served is Diet. But we here at Razzball know how difficult maintaining perspective can be, especially when you’re drunk and trying to sketch moving objects. So from now until the start of the season, we’re bringing you the 2010 Fantasy Team Previews, which will focus on each NBA team in hopes of painting a clearer fantasy picture. Who’s starting over whom? Who might surprise you and who might make you want to hurl yourself off a bridge in a few months. Enjoy! Next up – The New York Knicks
Gained – Amar’e Stoudemire, Raymond Felton, Anthony Randolph, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony
Lost – David Lee, Al Harrington, Chris Duhon, Eddie House, Jordan Hill
Probable position depth –
PG – Raymond Felton, Toney Douglas, Andy Rautins
SG – Landry Fields, Wilson Chandler, Bill Walker, Roger Mason, Kelenna Azubuike
SF – Danilio Gallinari, Shawne Williams
PF – Amar’e Stoudemire, Anthony Randolph
C – Ronny Turiaf, Timofey Mozgov, Eddy Curry
3 Concerns Heading Into the Season –
1. Will anyone other than Stoudemire, Felton and Galiari play more than 30 minutes this season?
Yeah, but no one will know who until several weeks from now. Smart money says Wilson Chandler is your best bet. Despite the glut of SGs on the Knicks, Chandler is the most experienced and is willing to rebound the basketball, a skill particular necessary on a team with a SF that never gets within 15 feet of the basket, centers who get winded easily and an All-Star PF who can jump out of the gym but has never averaged a 10 rpg season.
2. Why exactly is Stoudemire expected to have the best season of his career this year?
Because he’s playing for fun ‘n’ gun D’Antoni again! In a system that isn’t run by Steve Nash. Because he’s the leader of this team. This suggests anyone was against Stoudemire being the leader of the Suns, which isn’t true. Because the East is weaker than the West! Really? Because New York is going to have to play the Celtics, Bulls, Magic and Heat a total of 16 times and the 2010 Knicks are a much worse team than the 2009 Suns. Because it’s New York, bro! Yup. And let’s see how STAT deals with the media residing in New York, when he goes a few games without a block or pulls down seven rebounds against a weak team.
3. Despite never having done much at the NBA level before, this is the year Anthony Randolph does something at the NBA level, right?
Not any time soon. Mike D’Antoni reminds me of the husband that spent the last six months preparing to divorce his wife only to have her die on him before he could serve her the papers. I don’t doubt that D’Antoni was relieved not to have to figure out what to do with Randolph on top of everything else still being developed with this squad.
Fantasy Disappointment in ’10 – Danilo Gallinari. Gallinari was being drafted in the fifth round of most drafts, which would be great for a healthy shooter, but this Rooster came into the season with a busted wing and when your biggest strength is the fluidity and accuracy with which your wrist snaps the ball toward the basket, you really can’t afford to play with anything less than a healthy wrist.
Biggest Fantasy Contributor in ’10 – Amar’e Stoudemire. Even the Knicks won’t mess this one up.
Deep Sleeper – Ronny Turiaf. If Randolph never pans out and Stoudemire never plays center and Timofey remains as irrelevant as Anfernee, Turiaf could step in to average 24-30 minutes per game. He’s averaged 6.5 boards and 2.4 blocks in 30 minutes over his career. That’s deep league gold
