Knicks Preview

New York, NY (WFAN)  -- I wish I was arriving with better news Knicks fans, but I'm not going to sit here and lie to you. There isn't a whole lot to get excited about this year.

The Knicks are basically coming back with the same roster that closed out last season. Only Darko Milicic, Marcus Landry and draft picks Jordan Hill and Toney Douglas are new.

Even worse, the player Knicks fans should be excited about, their top draft pick Jordan Hill, has been so underwhelming that he won't even be in the rotation. The quotes about Hill have been "like a deer in the headlights" and "has a long way to go." Those are not things a team should be saying about the 8th overall pick in the draft that's coming out after his junior season at a major university. The fact he is still fairly new to organized basketball is not at all comforting. This Knicks team is so mediocre and so small, it's scary to think how unprepared for the NBA a 6-11 athlete with a big wingspan must be to not get any playing time on a regular basis. That's the case with Hill.

Douglas and Milicic will be the 8th and 9th guys in the rotation, and both should contribute most on the defensive end. Douglas's offense will get better, (he scored 20+ a game at FSU) but his defense is NBA ready. Milicic can't score (anyone who says he has a good touch didn't watch him in the preseason), but he pass the ball and can block shots, something the Knicks haven't had for a long time.

The defensive end is what Knicks fans need to watch the most this year. This is the place the Knicks can make the most improvement, and therefore increase their win total. It really seemed like Mike D'Antoni and the team was more focused on defense in the preseason. They don't need to be a reincarnation of the 90's Knicks, but they have to at least be competent. Give up 102 instead of 112. Getting stops at the ends of games will be the true test. Even the defenseless-wonder himself, David Lee, has shown the willingness to put his hands up and force a miss.

If those things don't excite you, maybe watching the continued improvement of Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler will. The Knicks need both guys to get better to the point that free agents this offseason see them as a legitimate foundation of a winning team. Gallinari is healthy, but his preseason was a disappointment. He wasn't aggressive on offense, and didn't shoot the ball well. But he showed himself to be an underrated defender, and a good passer. The shot will come back. He's too good of a shooter for it not to. He needs to get stronger, which hopefully will lead to him being more explosive off the dribble. If Gallinari can drive it with force, he could be a serious offensive player.

Chandler, on the other hand, needs to improve his basketball IQ. He's already a good defensive player, and has all the athletic ability he'll ever need to succeed at the NBA level. Unfortunately, he doesn't have a great feel for the game, and doesn't seem to know when it's right to pass and shoot. Therefore, his shot selection is shaky at best. He also settles for the three-pointer way too much. Due to his offseason ankle surgery, his shot didn't make the progress over the summer the Knicks would have liked.

The bottom line is this: This year is still about 2010. 40 wins and a playoff bid would be great, so the Knicks are more attractive for 2010 free agents. If the Knicks can trade Jared Jeffries and Eddy Curry to free up more cap space for 2010, they will. So no, there isn't a whole lot to get excited about this season. But there's a lot to watch for, and the always frustrating life of rooting for the New York Knicks.

And now finally…

THE PREDICTIONS

The Knicks best player this year will be… Al Harrington. He arrived at camp in the best shape of his career. He also claims a willingness to ***gasp*** pass. He is also the Knicks best all-around player if he dedicates himself to defense more, like he did in the preseason. Expect about 20 points, and 7 rebounds a game. He'll get a big payday for his work this season, just not from the Knicks.

The Knicks will make a trade this year… only if they can move Jeffries or Curry for cap room. A Curry trade seems as unlikely as ever so Jeffries is the better bet. He played well in the preseason and actually improved his jumper a little. He no longer has the worst jumper in the league, though he's still in the bottom 5 percent. But D'Antoni loves him as a player and won't want to trade him if the team is in the playoff mix.

The Knicks most improved player will be… Danilo Gallinari. This is almost by default. I didn't see any progress from Wilson Chandler in his preseason work, and if Gallo can play 82 games his natural ability will take over and flourish. Expect more progress from him in the 2nd half of the season once he has his legs underneath him.

The biggest surprise this season will be… Toney Douglas. This kid can play and will be an important part of the rotation. I've seen him improve over the course of the preseason, and that should continue during the year as well. He reminds me a lot of Chris Childs. Douglas will be far better this year than the Knicks higher, more highly touted draft pick.

The biggest disappointment this season will be… Jordan Hill. He will be glued to the bench most of the season. Can he become good someday? Maybe. Just not this year.

The Knicks will… win 39 games, and squeeze in as the 8th seed. They will proceed to get obliterated by the Celtics in the 1st round of the playoffs. The best news from the standings will be the Cavaliers, who will have had a disappointing season after the Shaq experiment flops. As the 3 seed, they will be challenged every step of the way in the postseason, perhaps making a certain someone a little annoyed come free agency.

NBA PREDICTIONS

Eastern Conference Champ: Celtics - they go last year if Garnett doesn't get hurt.

Western Conference Champ: Spurs - love the additions of McDyess, Jefferson, and Blair.

NBA Champion: Celtics - a true 7 game grinder - great fundamental basketball.

MVP: Dwayne Wade - Heat take a big step this year and Wade dominates. Plus I can't stand Kobe, and a Lebron MVP hurts his chances of leaving Cleveland.

Rookie of the Year: James Harden - I know, not Blake Griffin? I'll be different.

Most Improved Player: Andrew Bynum - the big man finally blossoms in LA.

Defensive Player of the Year: Kevin Garnett - will anchor the best defense in basketball.

6th Man of the Year: Rasheed Wallace

First Head Coach Fired: Don Nelson (at least he should be)

What will happen first: Marbury says something crazy, or Isiah gets involved in another controversy: Marbury says something crazy.

Enjoy the season everyone!

And of course, Knicks fans can follow my torture of fandom on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/Schmeelk