By Eddie Castro
Through two weeks of the NBA season, both the Knicks and Nets have had inauspicious starts with both teams posting a record of 2-4. Both New York teams are projected to make the playoffs this year, however, they have not looked like playoff-caliber teams so far. Even though it is only a few weeks into the NBA season, the troubles that both teams are facing can go from a minor problem to a big problem in terms of seeding the way the Eastern Conference is stacked up with powerhouse teams like the Miami Heat and the Indiana Pacers, who are currently the NBA’s only undefeated team.
For the Brooklyn Nets, it’s pretty much a patient situation. Although it has been said by many sources that the teams’ starting lineup of Brook Lopez, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Joe Johnson and Deron Williams is indeed the best starting five in the league, these players still have to learn how to mesh with one another. No one should expect this current team to get it going right from the start. An example of that is the current results the Miami Heat went through. When LeBron James and Chris Bosh joined forces with Dwyane Wade three years ago, it was said by many people that that current team would never lose two straight games in the season and they will win more games than the 1998 Chicago Bulls team did (’98 Bulls went 72-12).What happened? That team started the first sixteen games at 8-8. So right now, Brooklyn fans, be patient! Deron Williams is only going to get better as the year progresses and so will the rest of the team’s chemistry.
As far as the Knicks go, well there in a little bit of trouble after suffering the loss of Tyson Chandler to a leg injury. Chandler is a former Defensive Player of the Year and is pretty much the anchor of what the Knicks are able to do on defense. Coach Mike Woodson is still looking for a replacement for Chandler but with Amar’e Stoudemire struggling coming off another injury and Andrea Bargnani still getting comfortable in New York, you really can’t turn to a player like Kenyon Martin who is 35 years of age. For now in terms of defense, Woodson must find a way to mix and match his lineup, especially after a 31-point beatdown by the San Antonio Spurs this past Sunday. It has reported that Woodson is considering inserting Metta World Peace or J.R. Smith into the lineup. Whatever coach Woodson plans to do, it looks like they may have to react to it fast and weather the storm until Chandler arrives.
Sports Notes: (Baseball) According to sources, Curtis Granderson, Hiroki Kuroda and Robinson Cano have turned down qualifying offers by the Yankees. We can only hope during free agency this doesn’t become a sign of things to come for the ball club. It is no surprise that the Yankees’ first priority is to re-sign Cano. Cano is reportedly seeking a 10-year deal worth $300 million. Yankee management has said they will not do a decade-long deal and would offer Cano a 7- or 8-year deal worth $200 million. (Football) The Giants have won three in a row! They look to keep their playoff hopes alive when they welcome in the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. Geno Smith and the Jets may get some good news fresh off their bye week as it has been reported that Santonio Holmes (missed 5 straight games with hamstring injury) and Kellen Winslow (suspension) will make their return this Sunday in Buffalo to play the Bills. (Basketball) Jeremy Lin makes his return to Madison Square Garden, along with his new friends in James Harden and Dwight Howard as the Rockets play the Knicks tonight. The Nets continue their West Coast trip as the team heads to Phoenix to play the Suns.