2014-2015 NBA Season Preview: New York Knicks

Coming into the 2013-14 season, when the New York Knicks went 37-45, the team is looking forward to a relatively more successful campaign this new season. Phil Jackson has taken over Knicks and brought in some fresh new faces and retained Carmelo Anthony, who is expected to carry the heavy load for the Big Apple team once again.

With the Knicks' improved health and change in coaching by having the first-year head coach Derek Fisher, the team is expected to bounce back from the disappointing previous season. But then again, the New York Knicks is not expected to be a great team by any measure.

Roster: Quincy Acy, Cole Aldrich, Carmelo Anthony, Andrea Bargnani, Jose Calderon, Samuel Dalembert, Cleanthony Early, Langston Galloway, Tim Hardaway Jr., Shane Larkin, Travis Outlaw, Pablo Prigioni, Orlando Sanchez, Iman Shumpert, J.R. Smith, Jason Smith, Amar'e Stoudemire and Travis Wear.

Key Additions (previous teams): Jose Calderon, Samuel Dalembert, Cleanthony Early, Shane Larkin, Jason Smith

Key Losses: Tyson Chandler, Raymond Felton

Losing Chandler, even the aging version hurts the team. As such, Dalembert should give a similarly positive defence impact and Calderon should be a slight upgrade over Felton.

Projected Starters: Jose Calderon (PG), Iman Shumpert (SG), Carmelo Anthony (SF), Amar'e Stoudemire (PF) and Samuel Dalembert (C)

Season Outlook

Best Case Scenario

The New York Knicks' attack will now center on Fisher's triangle offense owing to the new coach's experience with it in time with the Los Angeles Lakers. Phil Jackson was successful in the same system with the Lakes and Chicago Bulls and the team is hoping that they'd be able to adjust early on to the new system. New York's offense was respectable last year, if they can improve on their team defense and get timely offensive contributions from Bargnani, Calderon and Dalembert, they'd at least battle for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference in the upcoming season.

The Knicks might be able to flip Amar'e Stoudemire and his huge expiring contract for young prospects and future assets as well.

Worst Case Scenario

Th worst case for the Knicks is if Anthony begins to decline given that he doesn't have enough help on the offensive end and his age starts to show. Anthony signed a long-term deal with the Knicks in the recent offseason and needs him to play like a true superstar for the team to have a chance at a succesful campaign. Even with Fisher, New York's defense is still their main weakness and if Calderon, Bargnani, Dalembert and other key rotation players fail to contribute on D, it's going to be a long season for the Knicks this year.

In a nutshell, offense-- with the likes of Smith, Hardaway Jr., Calderon and Anthony-- will not be a problem even in the new triangle offense but they need good effort on the other end if they want to be competitive in the previously weak but improving Eastern Conference.