2005 New York Knicks Preview

At the time of publish the NBA regular season is around the corner. What better way to get you locked and loaded for a winning season than a free season preview from Maddux Sports. We remind you that MadduxSports.com is an expert NBA handicapper and offers NBA Picks against the point spread. For more information on this years basketball package click here. Onto the individual team preview for this years New York Knicks.

2005 New York Knicks Team Preview

Coach Larry brown is a winner. In 23 NBA seasons his coaching record is 987-741 and his playoff wins and loses stand at 103-92. He was brought to New York to make them a winner too. Can he do it in his first year at the helm of a franchise that missed the playoffs last season and has been in a funk for years?

Here’s what will happen under coach Brown. There will be discipline and strong leadership from a coach that players will instantly respect. Brown is a winner and players tend to admire that. He’s also open to trading anyone who is unwilling to accept his style and system. Brown is not afraid to confront players—it’s his way of the highway.

The Brown system will include a new emphasis on defense, taking smart shots, and cutting down on the need for the Knicks to make quick transitions from offense to defense. Brown, who is passionate and loud about playing disciplined basketball and winning, will require his guards to pass and to get the ball down court quickly. The ultimate goal being to find the open, high-percentage shot.

As far as players go, Brown will look to utilize as many as he can. But the main men he’ll focus on to set the style and tempo for the team are starters Stephon Marbury, Quentin Richardson, and Eddie Curry. Marbury, the Knicks star guard, will probably handle the ball and shoot less under Brown. Although the explosively emotional Marbury claims this won’t bother him, the fact is whenever there’s friction and Marbury is in the general vicinity chances are he’s the cause. This talented player has gone from team to team, making each club he’s touched a loser. Can Brown turn this phenomenon around? He has to in order for New York to win.

Quentin Richardson is known for making a lot of three-point attempts and also for missing a lot of them. Richardson threw up the most three-pointers in the league last year, yet he didn’t make it into the top 50 for 3-point shooting percentage. Along with losing points at one end of the court, Richardson’s penchant for lobbing the ball from far away created havoc in the transition game. Brown will insist he play more structured and disciplined ball.

Newly acquired Eddie Curry, late of the Bulls, has the potential to be a scoring machine. But last year as he was finally hitting his stride the four-year vet started to experience an irregular heartbeat. He didn’t play at all from April through the playoffs. Numerous doctors have cleared him, but Curry’s health is still a concern.

While coaching the Knicks Brown will earn his 1000th victory sometime this season. If he can secure his 1032nd victory this year, he and the Knicks will definitely be in the playoffs. That goal has been a long time coming for this team.

For more information on the 2005 New York Knicks Team, click here to visit their official team website.