Jerry West says Knicks will surprise many in National Basketball Association this season

To paraphrase Barkley, the Knicks have real National Basketball Association players now.

The Knicks open the season against the Bucks and then have their home opener on Thursday against the Atlanta Hawks. For what it's worth, the rookie doesn't have any statistical goals in mind. Anthony looked fine-and at times, very good-during preseason, but he is still working his way back from his first major surgery in February.

Anthony is the face of the Knicks franchise. Carmelo Anthony will be a key player to this outcome as he is very aware of his final prime years of National Basketball Association career commitment to the team and its meaning to everyone. He also has to do a better job of getting closer to and finishing near the basket.

The alternative-when he or other guards play up too far-is problematic, too, because it gets big men like Porzingis and Kevin Seraphin, who are still learning how to defend without using their hands as much, into foul trouble.

There were a couple noteworthy strategic developments from Fisher in training camp and preseason: the coach pledged to speak less in practice to maintain his players' attention, and the Knicks played at a quicker pace while tweaking the halfcourt triangle offense. Arron Afflalo has served in that type of role before, but a year ago saw a sharp decline in his offensive production, not to mention the hamstring injury that will keep him sidelined the first two weeks of the season.

Porzingis will start alongside Jose Calderon, Sasha Vujacic, Carmelo Anthony and Robin Lopez in the Knicks' opener Wednesday night against the Milwaukee Bucks. The three young pieces with the physical talent to break out are Porzingis, Grant and Derrick Williams. It's not a bunch of guys running pick-and-rolls, or one guy dominating the ball all the time, it's about movement.

Looking ahead, Fisher has a long season to go through. And that's what the triangle offense is. Fisher would also be wise to find a rotation and stick with it, something he couldn't do past year due to injury and ineffectiveness. Barring any more guest starring roles on "Basketball Wives, The Matt Barnes Edition", Fisher seems to be on the right track. As it turned out, Phil Jackson was able to persuade Fisher to accept the coaching gig in New York. The backup center, who signed a one-year deal with the Knicks in the summer, has been bothered by a knee injury since early in preseason. The Knicks are still in a fragile place, and a bad start could send them back spiraling into a bad place. I like where we are mentally as a team, " Anthony said.

The Knicks will be watchable. "They won the game".

"When you start feeling good about yourself", West said of the Knicks, "it creates an environment that's a lot more wholesome than going to an arena at night feeling you have no chance to win, that's for sure".