FanPost

With a healthy Melo, the Knicks can win 35 games

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As the 2015-2016 season opener approach us, the Knicks look to bounce back from their atrocious season last year.
Tormented with injuries, trades, and a new basketball system the Knicks finished with a horrible record of 17-65. Their 65 loses was a franchise record, and their 17 wins was a disgrace. Now that the past is in the past, the Knicks look to start a clean slate, and redeem themselves by winning more than 17 games. Many basketball analysts, writers, and media sportscasters have the Knicks winning around 27-28 games on the year. 10-11 more games than they did last season. The Knicks can exceed expectation and win around 35 games if they handle their business on both ends of the court and stay healthy through out the regular season.

This franchise revolves around Carmelo Anthony. He is their superstar and their $124 million dollar man. The road to winning starts with him. Coming off season ending knee surgery last season, Melo is back on the court and looking like Melo, the prolific scorer he is. We all know Melo is going to get his shots off and average a high amount of points, but he needs to show up big time during the regular season and get his teammates involve. Melo and his team could ill-afford for him to take bad shots. If Melo can pass the ball, get his teammates going, and make the players around him better, the Knicks can be a successful team this year.

The Knicks have acquired great players this off season, not just on the offensive end, but on the defensive end as well. The Knicks picked up perimeter defender Aaron Afflalo. Afflalo is known for his great defense and can shoot the 3 ball. The Knicks also picked up Robin Lopez in free agency this past summer. Lopez is an outstanding rim protector and can knock down shots from 15 feet out. 2011 second round pick Derrick Williams was also a great pick up this summer. Williams is athletic, can spread the floor with his 3 ball range, and could attack the basket.

We all have yet to see what the Knicks 2015 draft picks Kristaps Prozingis, and Jerian Grant are capable of doing in the National Basketball Association. They both are talented and have promising futures. The Knicks may rely on the two down the stretch if Melo or their free agency pick ups cant get it going.

With the season opener for the Knicks just 4 days away, the Knicks have their work cut out for them to surpass 17 wins. While everybody is laughing at the Knicks prediction of winning 27 games this season, Melo doesn't find this a laughing matter. "If people are predicting 27 wins, I laugh at that, we use that as kind of motivation. It’s a good thing to kind of be under the radar. I know what type of team we have. It’s just a matter of going out there and putting it together..I think we’ll be better than people predict" Carmelo Anthony said one day after practice. With everybody involved, healthy, and communicating on both ends of the court the New York Knicks can win at least 35 games this season. The Knicks needs to prove to the city of New York that they are a winning team and could make a push for the 7th or 8th seed in playoffs.