New York Knicks: A House of Cards tumbling down

The New York Knicks start of the 2013 season couldn’t be more different than their 2012 start. The 2012 Knicks were the talk of the league early last season after their 6-0 start of the season, which included wins against both Finals teams, the Miami Heat and the San Antonio Spurs. Hopes were high throughout the entire season heading into the playoffs, until the bubble burst.

Since the Knicks lost to the Indiana Pacers in the second round of the 2013 playoffs, there hasn’t been much good news to come out of their organization. Championship and deep playoff run windows don’t open too often, especially for an old team, and that’s exactly what the Knicks were last season, an old team.

Nov 8, 2013; Charlotte, NC, USA; New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) and Charlotte Bobcats forward Cody Zeller (40) fight for a rebound during the game at Time Warner Cable Arena. Knicks win 101-91. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports

I personally think the “contender” window is not only closed, but slammed shut by teams like the Indiana Pacers and Heat. The Knicks look nowhere close to the top tier team they were last regular season. I honestly feel like the entire Knicks franchise is a house of cards, just waiting to fall down.

It all starts and ends with Carmelo Anthony. His impending free agency is the pink elephant in the room. If he opts to leave, obviously you can say sayonara to any dreams you may have as a Knicks fan. If Carmelo is all about the money and truly wants to win in New York, then you have nothing to worry about. If you think he has a feeling the train is about to crash in New York, he will quickly hop off before it hits rock bottom for the Knicks….again.

The injury to Tyson Chandler is obviously detrimental to the team, but shows the lack of depth the Knicks have. If an All-Star on any team got hurt, it would hurt them all, and it’s not an exception with Chandler.

Another reason why the Knicks house of cards can fall is because of Amar’e Stoudemire and his horrible contract. Listen I love STAT, but his contact is immovable for another year (when it becomes expiring) and has been a house of horrors on the court. He is not the foundation anyone envisioned (besides the Suns) him to be in year four of his contract.

Mike Woodson has done a terrific job in his time with the Knicks, but I had a sense that this will be his last season in New York. Knicks ownership knows this is their team to win now with Anthony and will put the blame on Woodson and he will be the first to go. If and when Woodson is let go, where do the Knicks go from there?

With the uncertainty of Melo, and the lack of players with bright futures, the Knicks will be stuck in no man’s land.

I don’t think the Knicks have a draft pick left this century and their only really young players are Iman Shumpert and Tim Hardaway Jr.

They don’t have a player like Paul George, Kyrie Irving, or Anthony Davis waiting in the wings. The players that are around Carmelo aren’t the most dependable players on the court. Who knows if J.R. Smith will play at the same level as he did last year now that he’s paid? Metta World Peace is pretty much done. Andrea Bargnani isn’t anyone’s Robin; he’s more like Commissioner Gordon’s intern.

What I’m trying to say is that last season was the Knicks chance and they couldn’t come through. They were beat be a better team in the Pacers, who eventually lost to one of the greatest teams we are going to see in the Heat.

Even though teams like the Pacers, Warriors, Rockets, and Bulls lost last season, they had even higher expectations this season. They have a solid foundation and plan going forward.

The Knicks? They are a house of cards, ready to start tumbling down.