Knicks · Berman on suila...essesntially Knicks will emphasize health in playoffs over regular season accomplishments (page 1)

With J.R. surgery put off to July and hearing Amar'e Stoudemire could be limited in back-to-backs, sense a trend

developing here. Smith may or may not be ready for the start of the regular season but there seems a shift in focus. Woodson had put so much emphasis on winning the Atlantic Division last season that he burnt out his team by playoff time. Wallace, Thomas didn't make it to postseason and Kidd and Smith were shells. Seems #Knicks philosophy now is get through the regular season San Antonio-style and be right and ready for playoffs. If that means Stoudemire plays just 65 games, so be it. If that means J.R. misses the first week of the regular season, who cares, as long as he's good for the playoffs. Popovich has made an art form of resting guys and Smith should have been shut down for the final two weeks of the regular season - even if it cost them the second seed. Again, the title isn't won in preseason and November

http://sulia.com/channel/new-york-knicks...

Didn't we say we were putting health in the playoffs first last season?

Just setting up excuses. Knicks very good at it.

It's obvious that the Knicks learned a lot from last year and perhaps they will take a different approach to the regular season and the playoffs. I think this team is going to be younger and stronger than last year and that should allow Woody the opportunity to use his bench to limit minutes for his top players. There's no excuse this year for Woody to wear out his players and that's a good thing.

I love the crop of young players we're looking at this year. Adding THJ and CJ and perhaps Tyler, Murry and Jennings coming to camp among others. It's going to be a much different situation from last year. we've got a good amount of vets and what looks like a few more talented young players who might make the team.

Sounds good as if we assume we clearly comfortable and not fighting to get into playoffs.

sounds like its pandering to fans:

Last season was about keeping infront of Nets and reduce the splash they make. This year nets are and Knicks thinking they can't keep up with that anyway, so at the least be respectable in the playoffs. Also, if we meet the Nets in the playoffs knicks can't be embarassed by them. Dolan might be a little shyt but he is a proud little shyt.

Is this also about pandering to Melo? If he can't go into ECF's is there fear he bolts?

Or is this all just good common sense and the best way to go deeper in the playoffs.

Fans are getting restless with playoff failures due to wearing down. Last year was a good year and it was fun.

Berman is writing this because team wants this message out?

Might be because they're sensitive to the accusation that Woodson ran some players into the ground and want to put out there that this won't be the case next season.

The spurs were swept out of the playoffs the prior 2 season up until this season using the same mentality. Not sure that's always the best way because there's always the possibility that they'll be rusty..

Then there's always a case were injuries plays a part in having to work other players more (like we did with kidd) not to mention falling out of the race for home court advantage..

No way we want to face Miami in semifinal round