NBA Post Season: Knicks clinch playoff berth

According to Forbes the Knicks are valued as the #1 franchise in the NBA ($655 million). Thus Knicks fans, NBA fans, and especially David Stern should be jumping for joy that the New York Knicks, for the first time since 2004, are back in the NBA post season. Seven years ago Jason Kidd and the New Jersey Nets swiftly took care of Stephon Marbury's Knicks in the 1st round of the NBA playoffs with a 4-0 sweep and since then New York City has been deprived of meaningful NBA basketball. The goal at the beginning of this season: MAKE THE PLAYOFFS. Mission accomplished. The Knicks were automatically improved when then free agent Amar'e Stoudemire inked a five-year, $100 million dollar contract in this past off season. "The Knicks are back!" proclaimed Stoudemire, and as a sports fan who has seen many talk the talk and not back it up it is refreshing to see those words backed up coming from a team that I'm a fan of. Through their ups and downs (the Knicks currently stand at .500 with a 38-38 record) and major changes in personal (acquiring superstar Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups in a 12-player trade) the Knickerbockers have found a way to clinch a playoff berth.

Finally The Most Famous Arena In The World is set to host a playoff game, but the question is which Knicks team will show up to the playoffs? Will it be the team who has only been consistent in NOT playing consistent defense? Or will it be the team that took down the Miami Heat 91-86 on the 27th of February shortly after the acquisition of Carmelo Anthony? As it presently stands the Knicks are most likely to face either the Miami Heat or the Boston Celtics in the 1st round of the 2011 NBA Playoffs. As a Knicks fan I know who I want. I want the man who proclaimed he was "taking his talents to South Beach". I want the man who boasted about winning "6, 7, 8 NBA Championships" before he even hit the practice floor with his team. I want the Miami Heat. No NBA fan could forget the Knicks-Heat rivalry of the late 90's and every NBA fan would love to see it return starting this post season.

However, today is not a day of speculation on what will happen when the Knicks play their first post season game since 2004, but a day of celebration for Knicks fans everywhere...a day of relief for those who had to live through the Isiah Thomas era...a day of salvation for those who had to listen to Larry Brown and Stephon Marbury mince words directed at each other though the New York media, and a day of pure bliss for those who had to accept being a fan of the franchise who was the laughing stock of the NBA. The Knicks are back NBA fans, and with Carmelo Anthony, Amar'e Stoudemire, and hopefully defensive and role player additions in the off season...the sky is the limit.

-NY.K
MSU '13

Kiss those days goodbye...