The Disappointing Brooklyn Nets and the Disgraceful New York Knicks.

Image Credit: EliteDaily.com

By: Kai Jones

Edited by: Dana P. (E.I.C.) 

New York City, the city of big lights, big dreams, and big expensive underperforming basketball teams. Anyone that follows basketball knows that the New York Knicks are in the words of Charles Barkley, “TURRIBLE!” The Brooklyn Nets aren’t quite as bad as the Knicks, because they are in the Eastern Conference. They are still one game under .500. Brooklyn is currently in the 8th spot of the eastern conference. Let’s not get into the despair of the Eastern Conference, where one win the Philadelphia 76ers are 7 games back of the 8th spot! Can either team get back to the near top of the Eastern conference,  where both of them were just 2 seasons ago?

Can the New York Knicks? Probably not. Willis Reed is not walking through those doors. On the brighter side, if the Knicks start to understand the Triangle offense and are able to get healthy, they could make the playoffs. 

Experienced veterans JR Smith, Samuel Dalembert, and Jose Calderon have not played up to their career averages. Calderon is especially surprising as he’s been a great point guard wherever he has been. 

Carmelo Anthony has been performing well. The Knicks do have young talent, but if they are going to make the playoffs, Derek Fisher needs to find the right lineups ASAP! 

The Nets are a little closer to the top considering they’re in the playoffs as of right now. This is a team of overpaid, aging veterans. Jarrett Jack and Kevin Garnett have not played up to their contracts. While Deron Williams and Joe Johnson have played well, they are going to have to continue their winning ways of the past few days when they beat the defending champs. 

It sure is sad to be a New York sports fan lately. The Jets and Giants are eliminated from the playoffs, the Mets and Yankees aren’t splashing in free agency, the Knicks can't win, but there is potential hope with the Nets. Brooklyn, we go hard!

For The East Coast; NBA Atlantic Division Preview

Image Credit: NotSportsCenter.com

by: Josh Henderson

Twitter: @verybadwrong

In the NBA, the teams in what is now the Atlantic Division used to be champions. The Celtics, the Knicks. They were contenders every year. Lately though, the Atlantic Division is, and has been for a while now, bad. 

Last year, the Atlantic produced two playoff teams: Toronto (48-34) and Brooklyn (44-38). This year, well, there isn't much reason to hope for improvement, though we can be fairly sure someone will win the division.

Over the off-season, Toronto did exactly what they need to do. They re-signed Kyle Lowry, bucking the trend they've set for letting budding stars go in exchange for nothing. Lowry and Demar DeRozan, an all-star last year, form a solid backcourt. Along with their draft and re-signing Patrick Patterson, a solid all around 4, they added depth while maintaining their core. With good shooting big men and all-star guards, they'll win the Atlantic again, easily.

The Nets... They made some off-season moves themselves. Jason Kidd learned the hard way he wasn't quite as in charge as he thought. He asked for more control, and ended up in Milwaukee. The Nets brought in Lionel Hollins, who used to coach in Milwaukee, to be their head coach. Hollins has said he'd like to run a faster offense. He may as well play himself. The Nets are too old, too slow, and lack anyone to space the floor. Joe Johnson will continue to shoulder the load, while big men Kevin Garnett - yes, that Kevin Garnett - and Brooks Lopez will try to keep up. Deron Williams is a solid 1, but overall, the Nets will take a step backwards. 

Image Credit: ESPN.go.com

A step backwards into... The New York Knicks. The Knicks have made a lot of noise this off-season. Some more than others. They hired a guy by the name of Phil Jackson to captain the ship. Not to coach, though. They re-signed their star, Carmelo Anthony. They brought in Jose Calderon and Samuel Dalembert. Calderon is a capable point guard you may have never heard of. That's okay. We all know the Knicks' season depends on Melo. He thinks the triangle offense will help him. The triangle offense depends on movement and specifically ball movement, not historically Melo's strengths. Melo has to decide if he's willing to play along. JR Smith and Calderon can both space the floor like Steve Kerr or BJ Armstrong did with the Bulls and Jordan. We'll learn if it's going to work early on. I expect the Knicks to pass the Nets and, yes, take a playoff spot. But that's it.

The Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers bear mentioning, but only because they're in the division. The Celtics drafted Marcus Smart, who has the skill set, especially defensively, to become a good NBA point guard. And Danny Ainge made some clever moves involved with the Lebron to Cleveland three team trade, picking up Tyler Zeller and a draft pick. They won't make much noise this year. 

Neither will the 76ers, who are playing to be a great team in the early 2020's. They were absolutely awful last year, and they'll be absolutely awful until a couple years after they manage to finally win the draft lottery. They drafted Joel Embiid, Dario Sacic, and five other players you've never heard of - and likely won't hear of again. Embiid is an entertaining Twitter follow, but recent history of injury prone high draft picks doesn't suggest he'll have a long or productive career. 

To summarize:

2014/15 NBA Atlantic Division predictions:

Toronto Raptors
New York Knicks
Brooklyn Nets
Boston Celtics
Philadelphia 76ers

The Raptors and Knicks should make the playoffs, barring significant injuries, but not advance. There's always next year. Or 2020, for the 76ers.

Paul Pierce signs with The Washington Wizards.

Paul Pierce has once again, signed to another team this season. After spending 15 seasons playing for the Boston Celtics, he signed with the Brooklyn Nets, for the 2014 season. This past weekend, Pierce and the Washington Wizards came to an agreement, as he has signed a two year contract with the Wizards. That contract will be worth $10.8 million.

Pierce, who is now 36, will be playing for a young, talented team, that made an appearance in the playoffs last season. His championship experience could be something he provides, to the upstart team.

With the performance of the Wizards last season, "Double P" could be a great asset, to provide a lot more strength for this team, to make the playoffs in 2014, in a conference that's not as competitive as the west.

By: Rayle King

edited by: Dana P.

Knicks end their 8 game winning streak, sign Phil Jackson, inching the playoffs, Brooklyn Nets streak(s), and more.

On March 12th, 2014, the New York Knicks signed former NBA coach Phil Jackson, as their new president. Jackson will earn 12 million per year.

The Knicks were back to looking a little sloppy, ending their 8 game win streak, by losing 2 in a row. Following an EXTREMELY tough loss to the Lakers, Jackson told the New York Times, "It was awful, huh." Last night after defeating Sacramento, the Knicks are back to being just 2 games behind Atlanta for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Without too much time left to get their act together and pull through, the Knicks couldn't have found a better time to scoop up Jackson, as he is VERY much needed. 

A lot of fans have been unhappy with Mike Woodson lately, but is he to blame 100%? I certainly wasn't expecting this team to shape up after their horrific performance the past few months.

Melo scored 36 points last night, and JR Smith tied a franchise record with NINE 3 pointers! After last nights win, New York is 30-42, facing the Phoenix Suns tomorrow night. 

Just wrapping up a road trip with 10 regular season games left, the Knicks are set to return home to face the Brooklyn Nets, whose 4 game win streak, was broken in New Orleans on March 24th. 

The Nets have won their last 10 home games, with their last 3 games on the road, ending in overtime. Brooklyn is currently 37-33, losing their last 2 games.

By:: Dana Pelotta (Blog Owner/Editor in Chief)