As one Adam Fromal would say: Hahahahaha.
An ESPN system called SCHOENE predicted the New York Knicks to finish 37-45 this season, per the New York Post‘s Marc Berman, which is hysterical. The Knicks went 54-28 last year, meaning they’d have to be 17 games worse in 2013-14. Again, hysterical.
Carmelo Anthony wasn’t laughing, though.
“Sometimes there’s glitches in the computer,’’ Anthony said. “That’s all I can say.’’
In fact, Berman writes that Anthony hates to read record projections of any kind. He won’t place any stock in them, probably because of those technological gremlins or, as he called them, “glitches.”
“I don’t follow that stuff — that’s it,’’ Anthony said.
Knicks head coach Mike Woodson expressed his doubts about the projections as well, noting that his team was also counted out before last season:
Do they play? It’s a computer system. I don’t think computers run up and down the floor. You still have to play the game, guys. I don’t get caught up in that. I don’t have any control over the computers. The only thing I can control is our team and how we play.
…
Nobody thought we had enough last year. It’s the same air going into last season. I don’t listen to that. We have a very competitive team that’s tasted success the last two years. Yes, the East has gotten better, but there’s parity around the league as a whole.
The most trolliest of Knicks trolls have to agree with ‘Melo and Woodson. They just have to. So do I. And so do you. Because 37 wins is absurd. Absolutely, positively bonkers.
Like Woodson says, the Eastern Conference has gotten stronger. But strong enough to hand the Knicks 17 additional losses? When they themselves have gotten better?
SCHOENE apparently factors in the injury-prone natures of Amar’e Stoudemire and Andrea Bargnani, along with the departure of Steve Novak. Okay then.
Bargs wasn’t on the team last season, so for the sake of this computer’s argument, he’s a wash. And you mean to tell me that Stoudemire, who played in just 29 games last season to begin with, and Steve Novak’s absence, are enough to take away 37 wins from what was the second-best team in the Eastern Conference? I’m still trying to wrap my head around this one.
Sure, the Miami Heat, Indiana Pacers, Chicago Bulls and Brooklyn Nets are all arguably stronger (the Nets aren’t), but even if that were the case, that would make the Knicks the East’s fifth-best team. The Detroit Pistons, Washington Wizards, Cleveland Cavaliers, Atlanta Hawks and Toronto Raptors aren’t better than them and have just as many questions to be answered. Worst-case scenario, the Knicks get leapfrogged by one unforeseen juggernaut of the aforementioned group, putting them at sixth. Even that’s difficult to believe.
Unless this computer has inside information we’re not privy to—Anthony getting injured or J.R. Smith averaging 40 shots per game—take its “projection” with a grain of salt and a hammer. The hammer being something you can hit yourself with if you buy into this ridiculous prediction, and the salt something to help cauterize the wound you inflict.
With the increased parity in the Eastern Conference and NBA in general, I’ve got the Knicks at somewhere between 50-53 wins. But I’m a living, breathing person, not a computer. So what do I know?
Dan Favale is a firm believer in the three-pointer as well as the notion that defense doesn’t always win championships. His musings can be found at Bleacherreport.com in addition to TheHoopDoctors.com. Follow @danfavale on Twitter for his latest posts and all things NBA.
