This season will not be one to cherish for the New York Knicks. They'd rather put it behind them. Being the laughing stock of the Atlantic division in the Eastern conference the organization knew they had to pull some quick strings. Anfernee Hardaway and rookie, Trevor Ariza were traded to the Magic for Steve Francis. The move may give the Knicks a scoring lift, but won't help them escape their 15-38 record. GM Isaiah Thomas made a smart decision in retrieving another top caliber player. At this point in the season there weren't many alternatives available.
A dilemma is posed in playing time and positions for the two stars. How will Marbury and Francis function the best on the court? If they're both in the starting lineup it may cause a clash of egos. One may take a volume of shots compared to the other. Putting Steve Francis at shooting guard would be best since Marbury is a natural play maker and creator for teammates. Larry Brown will have plenty of set plays, utlizing both players' strengths. The question for the Knicks will be defense. They've got the scoring options, over time I believe they can execute well as a team. The young guys like Nate Robinson and Channing Frye need time to grow and develop.
No rewards await the Knicks at the end of the season except for improvement. They should at least be able to slide past the Raptors and finish without their head between their knees. I expect Isaiah Thomas will help turn this team around by recruiting the right mixture of talent and veteran experience. It may be a slow process, though bringing back a tough image since the hay days of Patrick Ewing could have a huge impact. Finding this key ingredient will push them over the hump.
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