In an attempt to get a better feel for the current state of the Knicks and their fans heading into this first round series with the Celtics, I conducted some Q&A sessions with several of the finest Knicks bloggers around. This allows us to learn about our opponent while also giving us the multiple perspectives that we're always taking in from the Boston media. I'll be posting these throughout the day. The first edition comes to us from Michael Pina over at Buckets Over Broadway .
CHATCELTS: For starters, can you help us get our finger on the pulse of this fanbase right now? Just as soon as the LeBron James summer saga wrapped up, it seemed like the Carmelo Anthony speculation began. Now, you’ve got two bona fide superstars in the big apple, and there’s going to be playoff basketball at MSG for the first time since 2004. What’s the buzz like at the end of what was, I can only imagine, a season unlike any other in recent memory?
Michael Pina: Well, to be honest, it’s the first positive talk I can remember. So much negativity has clouded the franchise for just over a decade now, that any positive signs were going to make a huge impact once they came. And they have. People are hopeful and realistic at the same time. If New York doesn’t advance this year, fans will at least be comforted knowing their basketball team can contend for the foreseeable future.
CHATCELTS: Has the response to the ‘Melo deal been uniformly positive thus far? I haven’t been able to help questioning (and by no means am I calling this a bad deal, just trying to consider all the angles) whether or not giving up 4 guys who play significant minutes was too much, particularly when ‘Melo and Billups don’t seem like a natural fit for D’Antoni’s offense. But, superstars drive this league.
MICHAEL: It’s up an down, much like everything in this city. When the Knicks were on their seven game losing streak people were booing Melo at the Garden. When they strung together seven straight wins at the end of the season and jumped Philly for the six seed, people were ready to crown them champions. Personally, I like the deal and how New York is willing to push all their chips in and fight for something meaningful these next few seasons.
CHATCELTS: Given the changes this team has undergone recently, do you expect to see Mike D’Antoni back in New York next season? He’s made it clear that he wants an extension, so how do you see the Knicks moving ahead?
MICHAEL: I hope he stays. D’Antoni is a quality coach who saw some terrible breaks during the playoffs in Phoenix. No coach can be expected to take an overturned roster midseason and sustain the team’s previous success (see Doc Rivers, Stan Van Gundy). Put the Knicks through a training camp, draft, trade, or sign a younger starting point guard to supplant the aging Billups and appropriately run his system, and see what can happen.
CHATCELTS: These teams have played 3 incredibly exciting games, and the Celtics have survived each time. Believe me when I tell you I was hoping to see the Sixers or Pacers in round 1. Can you give me (and please don’t hold back) your impressions of the Celtics based on those matchups, and why you think things could be different this time around?
MICHAEL: The Celtics are a great team; they have All-Star caliber players at almost every position. But ever since the Perk trade, there’s something funky going on with them mentally. If the Knicks can buckle down on defense through the first three quarters and keep the game close down the stretch, Carmelo Anthony might be able to make some magic happen.
CHATCELTS: As fans, we have a tendency to overrate players when we watch them “come of age” playing for our teams. There’s no question I’ve done that with Kendrick Perkins. I feel like the Celtics have lost part of their identity and one of their key glue guys. Does Perk’s departure affect the way you view this series?
MICHAEL: It affects the way I view Boston’s title chances, but not so much this series. The Knicks have no size whatsoever so I don’t figure they’ll be attacking the paint in any meaningful way with any of their “big guys”. Glen Davis hurts the Knicks much more with his offensive abilities.
CHATCELTS: How do you envision the Paul Pierce/Camelo matchup going down?
MICHAEL: Very interesting. Both can score in about 200 different ways, but it’ll come down to whoever makes one on one defensive stops in crunch time that’ll make the difference. I expect Boston to put Jeff Green on Anthony a little bit later on in tight games as to avoid Pierce foul trouble.
CHATCELTS: If the Knicks are to pull off an upset, who other than Amar’e and Carmelo are we all going to be talking about and why?
MICHAEL: Most would think Chauncey but I’m going to roll with his backup, Toney Douglas. He’s emerged as the team’s X-factor and if he’s capable, can impact the game by containing Rondo and knocking down multiple threes off the dribble.
CHATCELTS: Thanks so much for answering the question, and worst of luck to you in the first round. In closing, can I get a prediction and any parting thoughts that you may have?
MICHAEL: Tough series. Probably not as much blood will be shed as the last time these two faced off, but there’s certainly going to be multiple flagrant and technical fouls. In the end, the Celtics and their chemistry will prevail in six games.
Back to the Boston Celtics Newsfeed