Entering the first game of the new 2012-13 NBA season Friday, the New York Knicks are already dealing with several setbacks.
Superstorm Sandy disrupted their schedule, leading to altered practice schedules and the cancellation of what would have been their first game against the Nets Wednesday.
Amar'e Stoudemire, their often-injured starting power forward and one of the crucial pieces they'll need this season if they want to seriously challenge for the NBA Championship, is out for six to eight weeks after undergoing surgery on his left knee. That delay will further set back developing the chemistry between himself and superstar Carmelo Anthony that the Knicks desperately need to get going if they want to make noise in the playoffs.
Tyson Chandler, another one of the Knicks' key players, is nursing a bone bruise in his left knee, the New York Daily News reports.
And now, the NBA's oldest team faces its first test-rather, a trial by fire-with the regular season kicking off at historic Madison Square Garden in New York City tonight: last year's league MVP LeBron James and the defending NBA Champion Miami Heat.
All in all, things aren't looking great if you're a Knicks fan. However, there are a few key things in the Knicks favor.
Firstly, unlike last year, they have a healthy and capable selection of point guards to choose from. Starting guard Raymond Felton, 28, struggled with Portland last season, averaging only 11.4 points and 6.5 assists. But if he can recapture the form he had as a Knick in 2010-11, when he produced career high averages of 17.1 points and 9.0 assists per game, the Knicks might have the steady point guard presence they were lacking last season before former Knick Jeremy Lin's sudden emergence.
Backing him up will be Jason Kidd. While he might not have the same dynamic presence that made him a 10-time All-Star and one of the league's elite point guards in the last decade, even at age 39 Kidd's wealth of knowledge at the playmaking position gives Felton both a reliable backup and a wise teacher that could even help Felton elevate his game.
Second, while the dominating Anthony might be temporarily without a reliable second scoring with Stoudemire out, this scenario could provide a unique opportunity for Anthony, a small forward, to step up and play at a position he's not completely comfortable in-Stoudemire's 4 spot at power forward.
Newsday reported Thursday that it is likely that Anthony will start at power forward today against the Heat. There have been calls and speculation from several media sources on whether Carmelo can play significant minutes this season as power forward, a position that will require Anthony to set more screens and physically compete with larger, stronger players.
But at 6' 8" and 230 pounds, Anthony is no slouch and is coming off a competitive London Olympic Games which helped him enter training camp in top condition. If playing at power forward until Stoudemire returns can help one of the league's most dynamic scorers evolve his game, it could be exactly what the Knicks need in the long-term, although how that will help them tonight against the Heat-boasting a cadre of talented players at the 3 and 4 spots such as James, Chris Bosh and Shane Battier-remains to be seen.
All in all, Friday's game should be a competitive one, but with several Knicks players out or questionable, it might take more luck than skill to beat the Heat in the season and home opener, starting 8 p.m. at the Garden and televised on ESPN, MSG and Sun networks.