The New York Knicks are hoping their offseason moves are enough to vault them to the top of the Eastern Conference.
Joakim Noah, who signed with New York in free agency, has his sights set on dethroning a longtime rival in LeBron James and his reigning NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers.
"That's definitely the goal," he told reporters Wednesday at training camp.
"It's definitely not an easy task but that's gotta be the mindset. We all know what it is and right now it all goes through (James), it goes through that guy. And for us to get to where we want to get to, we gotta beat that guy."
Noah knows better than most people how tough that task is. He's never defeated a LeBron-led team in the playoffs, losing in the first round in 2010, conference finals in 2011, as well as the semis in both 2013 and 2015 as a member of the Chicago Bulls.
In their only postseason crack at James - who's finished atop the East for six consecutive years - New York fell to the Miami Heat in the opening round in 2012.
Carmelo Anthony, who experienced that firsthand, thinks the former Defensive Player of the Year brings something the club's been lacking.
"(Noah) brings a different dynamic to the court," he said. "Mentally, he forces you to compete at a high level every time out there on the basketball court. ... He pushes you to go out there and compete every play, every time.
"If not, you're going to hear about it. I think that's something that we've been missing. We need it, this organization needs it. And I like it, we like it."
Melo is excited to see the revamped roster come together, and insists it will be ready come Oct. 25 when his squad takes on the defending champs to tip off the 2016-17 campaign.
"I think the NBA try to give us a light setup on that one but we'll be ready for that," he said. "I think it's a major test for us to see where we are at as a team. I know it's only one game opening night, but it will be a good night for us."
The Knicks will try to set the tone that night for the season, and if Noah has it his way, the postseason, as well.
