Let's take a look over at our friends in New York.
The Good News:
The Knicks are about to get swept out of the playoffs in the first round and set an NBA record for most consecutive playoff losses by a franchise. This isn't really that good news, first of all because it's hard to hate on the Knicks, even for a New York team, them being so pathetic and trying so hard; and second of all, because the most loathsome team in the NBA is the one sweeping them.
Looking back on the Knicks' season, though, it's really a cautionary tale about the need for a point guard. The Knicks have the best defensive center in the league in Chandler, a top-10 scorer in Melo, a dynamic scorer at the 2 in JR Smith, and a few strong defensive assets in Shumpert, Jeffries, etc. These guys have flashed brilliance and the Knicks have looked dangerous. But the Knicks can do nothing -- nothing! -- with Baron Davis and Mike Bibby playing the point. You need that floor general. When Chandler makes a great defensive play, he needs someone to give the ball too right away. Melo, JR, Novak need someone to set them up. Someone needs to quarterback the offense. You just can't do without that guy. Makes you feel all the more grateful for Rondo.
The Bad News:
The Rangers are going to win the Stanley Cup.
It's just going to happen. You can tell watching the playoffs when that one team has that "championship feel" about them -- they play so well together, they're on a mission, they gut out the tough games and they will themselves to win when they need to. The Rangers have that "championship feel" this year. They have all regular season, and they do now. They won't be beaten.
Take a look at the road ahead for them. They Capitals are flat-out not a good enough hockey team to beat them. Then they play one of two inferior division rivals, both of whom they've beaten multiple times during the regular season (Flyers and Devils). And then they find themselves in the Finals, up against a team with a small fan-base like Nashville, St. Louis, Phoenix, or LA (it's hockey). And in that situation you can bet that the 2012 Rangers -- with their dedicated fan base and their "championship feel" -- won't be denied.
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