Crawford

In Chicago, his teams struggled, and he was often playing with teammates less experienced than he was. In New York, he's the kid, surrounded by veterans who know how to play and how to reel the youngster in when he's jacking up too many threes, as he's wont to do at times.

Furthermore, who is better to tutor a 24-year-old point guard than two of the best guards to ever lace up the sneakers, Lenny Wilkens and Isiah Thomas. Crawford paid his respects to the latter by selecting No. 11, the number worn by Thomas in Detroit.

"I want to learn," Crawford said when introduced in New York. "I'm far from a finished product, and I know that. One of the reasons I wanted to come here so much was that I could be around, and learn from, Hall Of Famers. A Hall of Fame coach -- and a Hall Of Fame President."

Should Crawford respond to his mentors, he may be well worth the lavish contract the Knicks threw his way and could quickly become a Garden favorite.

Marbury

The backcourt includes Stephon Marbury, Allan Houston, Anfernee Hardaway, Moochie Norris and newly-acquired Jamal Crawford, giving Lenny Wilkens the versatility to play big, small, young or old.

Sorry, Chicago, but Crawford, 24, could be on the cusp of a special year. He poured in 50 vs. Toronto in late April, and has substantially increased his scoring average in each of the last three seasons. Last season, he led the Bulls with 17.3 points per game.

Up front, Wilkens can turn to Tim Thomas, Kurt Thomas, Shandon Anderson, Jerome Williams, Michael Sweetney, Nazr Mohammed and Vin Baker. With the exception of Sweetney, last season's first-round pick, all of the above have six years of NBA experience and have contributed to winning teams before.

Stability figures to be the biggest difference between this year's team and a team that encountered major personnel moves (Marbury, Hardaway, T. Thomas, Baker) under Isiah Thomas, not to mention a mid-season coaching change.

Only four players – Houston, Kurt Thomas, Anderson and Sweetney – remain from the 15-man roster in place a year ago. This year's team is younger, deeper, more athletic and more versatile. Their depth makes them more injury-proof than most teams.

There is little question that the Knicks will exceed their 39 wins of a year ago, but it's hard to imagine the Garden rockin' after the first round unless one or two players plays substantially better than the others and leads the Knicks back among the NBA's elite.