Earl Monroe: Knicks could easily make playoffs

The Pearl is a New York Knicks fan for life, and like most fans in The Big Apple, Earl Monroe has high hopes for his former team.

Monroe, along with fellow Knicks legend Clyde Frazier, expects to watch some postseason games at Madison Square Garden next spring.

"They could very easily be a playoff team," Monroe said, according to Brian Heyman of Newsday. " ... All of a sudden, this is not the same typical New York team that we've had before. This is one that has a little brains to it, a little smartness."

Frazier, who provides color commentary for Knicks games, echoed Monroe's optimism. The two-time champion even added that the MSG faithful could boost their chances once the postseason begins.

"Once a New York team gets in the playoffs, anything can happen," Frazier said. "The crowd can really catapult them. And it's going to be a very exciting team. They've got a lot of quickness, a lot of razzle-dazzle out there."

New York only won 32 games last season, but there's reason for optimism after a whirlwind summer. President Phil Jackson rolled the dice by bringing in Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, and a new head coach to go along with Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis. The Knicks are definitely more talented than they have been in recent seasons.

However, it remains to be seen if all the pieces can mesh together, and more importantly, two of the Knicks' core four are coming off significant season-ending surgery. That's not even including Rose's spotty injury history.

But for the first time since 2013, there's genuine cause for optimism in New York.