I’d love to come out to NYC.

How long has it been since New York hosted the All-Star game?

“This does seem a little different from Hoff’s usual writing.”

What’s that supposed to mean?

Lol. I’m just playin’.

Good to see you Train.

X is doing a phenomenal job with his previews.

And his format, surprisingly enough, is identical to the previews he wrote last season:

http://community.foxsports.com/blogs/xphoenix87/2007/11/11/NBA_Season_Preview_New_York_Knicks

I agree with you on everything, man. We’re in agreement that we’re looking at the same piece of crap. LOL.

Wilson Chandler, man. He looked like a baller in the summer league. He’s big, can run, but most importantly, doesn’t seem to care who he’s up against. I think this kid would take it right at LeBron without even flinching. That kind of mentality is EXACTLY what this team needs (think Trevor Ariza with more bulk and a better jumper). Jeffries is hurt, Curry is reportedly totally out of shape… Chandler might play some four and just run.

Good write up… look forward to reading the rest.

I’m insulted Train. Didn’t you recognize the format from when I did this last year?

I understand Crawford isn’t going to bully anyone around out there, but there’s no reason why a guy with his combination of size and quickness should be taking nearly 90% of his shots from outside the paint. He has to become more comfortable taking the ball to the rack.

Like I said, Lee isn’t ever going to be your leading scorer. He’s not ever going to be an all-star. But, he’s a heck of a role player, and you need guys like that to win. He makes a tremendous impact on the boards, and you never have to run a play for him, he’s going to find points on garbage baskets. If I were going to trade for anybody on the Kicks, Lee and maybe Crawford are the only players I’d want.

I’m with you on Curry, but honestly this team is going absolutely nowhere. How much of an X-Factor can there be? I picked Curry because if some how, some way the light ever came on, he has tons of talent.

Great write-up, Hoff. The only thing I disagree with is that the Knicks will be worse than the Nets–The Nets are going to be terrible (how many losses into the season before Vince quits?). Yi is absolute garbage, Harris is talented but not a difference-maker, their big man situation is easily the worst in the whole league, etc.–just a bad team that’s obviously waiting for the move to Brooklyn.

The Knicks are awful too, but, unlike the Nets, have more flexibility to make a trade that COULD make a difference in the win-loss column. What if the Knicks dealt Randolph and pieces for a legit difference-maker of a player? It could happen (I expect a fire sale in Denver this year). Forget talent; with the right personnel and system any mediocre team can win in the modern NBA. I expect Walsh to be active in trying to get D’Antoni the right people (Duhon was a good start).

Crawford would be 6th Man of the Year material on just about every team in the league. He’s a decent player, but as you pointed out, not a #1, or even a #2 option. As for your comment about him going to the hole more, well, you have to remember he’s pencil-thin; it’s not like he can take the contact. He is what he is, an opportunistic scorer with a shaky jumper (balls of steel in the clutch though).

As for Lee, I’m not crazy about him. I think he has a very low ceiling; what you get from him now is what you’ll always get from him. I do like his energy and enthusiasm but that can only take you so far. Knicks fans are crazy about him because (a) he plays hard, and (b) he’s white (The Knicks haven’t had a white player worth getting excited about in a very, very, very, very long time). But truth be told, he’s nothing special. And you have to remember that the success he’s had has been in a “afterthought” type of role. Teams didn’t come to play the Knicks with David Lee’s name written on the chalkboard. If and when Lee starts taking that next step, teams are going to start targeting him. And let’s be honest, what power forward or center is Lee going to slow down? Brand, Bosh, Granger, O’Neal, Rasheed, etc. At best, we’re talking about Lee being, what, the 25th best big man in the East?

I think the Eddy Curry ship has sailed. He’s done. He’s fat, out of shape, stupid, uncommitted to giving his all, etc. I think the X-Factor is going to be Wilson Chandler. If he can make any kind of impact, it would huge.