The On Deck Circle

This article has been submitted by the man in the Raiders jacket, Stu Wilkinson.

Normally I’m a pretty reserved guy. I stay on an even keel for the most part, like a version of Tim Duncan that’s only a few inches shorter but not as good at basketball. Rarely do I explode with joy or sorrow at hearing some life-changing news. But today, all that calmness goes out the window because of one thing – the Knicks are only 7 games out of the playoffs!

Usually I don’t get very excited about teams that are fighting to get back into the playoff picture. If being a Pittsburgh Pirates fan has taught me anything, it’s that getting excited about a team being 7 out of the playoffs is pretty much pointless. This time though, the situation is different. While the Pirates sport a small payroll, play in a small market, and could be considered a plucky underdog, the Knicks are loaded with money and talent, meaning that they have the resources and ability to pull off a run to the Big Show.

Now when I say that the Knicks are loaded with talent, you might say to yourself, “This guy’s crazy, the most talented player on the Knicks, Stephon ‘Starbury’ Marbury, is injured for the rest of the season.” That may be, but even with Steph out, the Knicks are loaded. I’m talking about Zach Randolph, Eddy Curry, Nate Robinson, David Lee, and Jamal Crawford, a solid nucleus that perfectly balances scoring and energy. If Isiah Thomas, who as a two-time world champion on the Pistons knows what it takes to get to the playoffs, can get this group playing with confidence and passion, anything can happen.

Zach and Eddy can score down low, everyone knows that. Crawford and Quentin Richardson can light it up from the outside if they want. Defensively, guys like Renaldo Balkman and David Lee can provide the energy to keep the team’s big guns focused on the game at both the defensive and offensive ends of the floor. Now, I’d be lying if I said that these elements have come together to form one cohesive unit that wins basketball games. The thing that is so tantalizing about this Knicks team is that they’ve been failing miserably with all of this talent, but they’re still only 7 games out of the playoffs. If Isiah can get everyone working together, they could make a run!

Sure, it won’t be as simple as just telling these guys to go out there and play hard. When your team is playing on one of the biggest stages in the world, there are going to be distractions. Lawsuits, off-color dogfighting remarks, marijuana cigarettes, and attractive women are all bound to cross the path of one or more members of the Knicks organization. This team will have to rely on the character of its players to shut out the many distractions they face on a daily basis and stay focused on the task at hand – winning basketball games and making the playoffs.

Obviously making this turnaround will be tougher without the team’s heart and soul, Marbury. However, Marbury’s many incidents away from the basketball court may have been one of the many diversions that kept this team from realizing its potential. If the Knicks can shut out the distractions, and if they can put together their talented pieces to become a talented whole, this is a team that can make a run at the playoffs, and be a tough out to boot.

This article has been submitted by the man in the Raiders jacket, Stu Wilkinson.