FANTASY FURNACE

With less than 2 weeks left in the regular season, and some teams still jockeying for position in the playoffs, two teams that could be dangerous and maybe a bit of a surprise, are the Memphis Grizzlies and the New York Knicks. We’re not saying that they’re locks to go to the finals, but because the momentum is soundly with them, we’re predicting that they’ll make some noise…

N. Y. Knicks:

When start-up G Jeremy Lin when down with a torn meniscus, the Knicks have not had a true-healthy point guard on the floor every night since and still have managed to go 13-4 in their 17 games played under interim coach Mike Woodson. What’s more impressive is that they haven’t lost a home game under Woodson, and are now 9-0 at Madison Square Garden. They have beaten some pretty good teams during that stretch which began with a 42 point blowout of the Portland Trailblazers in Woodson’s first game as head coach back on March 14th. They beat the Pacers (twice), the Magic (twice), the Bucks (twice), and had single wins over the 76ers and the Bulls.

Their top 10 defense, spearheaded by NBA Defensive Player of the Year candidate, Tyson Chandler, has led the way during this stretch of games. Speaking of Chandler, he’s only missed 2 games all season and in those two, both losses, the Knicks gave up 118 and 119 points respectively. When Chandler’s on the floor they give up an average of 94.6 points.

#6 C Tyson Chandler is a leading candidate for NBA Defensive Player Of The Year. Photo: Jim McIsaac/Newsday.com

Come playoff time, the Knicks are expecting Amare Stoudamire to return and Jeremy Lin might join them probably during the first round.. Some key games still remaining in the regular season are ones against the Heat, Celtics and Clippers, all at home, and the Hawks on the road. If the season were to end today, the Knicks currently with the 7th seed, would face the Heat in the first round, a team they  will play on Sunday, who is 4-4 in the month of April.

Memphis Grizzlies:

Not many teams have been as hot as the Grizzlies over the past several weeks. In their last 12 games, they have gone 9-3 but have beaten some of the best of the best in the NBA. They have had wins over the Lakers, Bucks, Thunder, Mavs (twice), Heat, and the Clippers. They are currently 7.5 games behind the first place San Antonio Spurs but have little hope of catching them. Mark Gasol and Rudy Gay have been lighting it up, and with a supporting cast that includes Zach Randolph, Mike Conley and even inconsistent Marreese Speights, they have all the firepower needed to make a deep playoff run. Like the Knicks, the Grizzlies also have a home winning streak going, currently at 7 in a row. They have seven games left this season and four of them are at home.

#33 C Marc Gasol and Rudy Gay have lead the Grizzlies to a 5th seed and a 9-3 record over their last 12. Photo: Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Memphis had two very impressive wins last week. One against the Thunder where they won by 6 followed by a 15 point win over the Heat; both games on the road. Currently the Grizzlies have the 5th seed and if the season were to end today, they would face the L.A. Clippers who they just beat by 9 on Monday. Either of these two teams, the Knicks or the Grizzlies, could certainly win in the first round of the playoffs and possibly beyond.

What teams would you consider ‘dangerous’ to face in the playoffs?