New York Knicks Grade Report

Now the best players of the National Basketball Association are on a race to secure and lock in their team's seeding for a playoff berth.

The New York Knicks haven't had the same luck and look they had in the beginning of the season. The excitement is gone. The defensive efforts and stops are gone. The raining three pointers are gone.

Mike Woodson's Knicks, who capped off the season with an impressive starting record including having a 2-1 record against LeBron James and the Miami Heat, have one game left between the two rivalries this season. The Knicks now have a 37-22 record, which is good in a weak Eastern conference for their #2 seed in comparison to the West, they would've be fighting for the #6 seed.

Although the Knicks are second in the East, they're only one game above a dangerous and talented Indiana Pacers team led by All-Star Paul George with a little over 20 games left to play. They've lost Rasheed Wallace to a foot injury. Marcus Camby has only played in 16 games this season due to his age and injuries.

They've traded Ronnie Brewer who turned out to be a bust rather than the promising addition of a defensive player their team desperately need. They did however signed former Clippers, Kenyon Martin to his second 10-day contract and most likely will have him signed for the remainder of the season and playoffs. The former Marquette sharpshooter, Steve Novak who was shooting a NBA best 47% from the three point line hasn't seen his range as of late. Just seems like everything is going wrong for the Knickerbockers. The Knicks and their fans are all hoping that $100 million dollar man Amar'e Stoudemire will return back to his explosive scoring ways as he was with the Phoenix Suns and when he first signed with the team back in 2010. If that's possible Stoudemire can help Anthony and Chandler to be the Big 3 for New York. Superstar forward Carmelo Anthony and defensive player of the year, center Tyson Chandler are still doing what they're known to do. And JR Smith who's been hot as of late coming off the bench is neck to neck with Jamal Crawford of the LA Clippers this season for the 6^th Man award.

The Knicks however will need to get their mediocre defense and rebounding turned around immediately to give New York that chance to compete for the Larry O'Brien trophy in June. Something they haven't been close to seeing since a 4-1 lost in the 1999 NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs.

Grade for the New York Knicks: C+