Can the Knicks Beat the Heat in the Playoffs?

It's a realistic question. The Knicks have the best record in the East and are currently drubbing the Lakers at home. Carmelo might be the frontrunner for MVP, playing the best ball of his career. No one is saying that they will beat Miami or should even be favored, but right now it really looks like these two teams will meet in the Eastern Conference Finals. 

It Starts With Melo

This might be the first time that Carmelo has really grabbed hold of the reins for a team. On that very good 2009 Nuggets team, Melo starred, but the leader was Chauncey Billups. Four years later, he's coming off another Olympics and playing out of his mind. Since coming back from that lacerated finger, Melo has averaged 40 points a game. He's just taking over when it matters and even Kobe said that he's the toughest player to guard in the NBA. Remember that Melo was taken in the same draft with LeBron, Wade and Bosh at number three overall. Playing the Heat has to be personal for him. Against the Heat, Melo will go one-on-one with LeBron late in games. Could you ask for a more entertaining head-to-head battle? 

Downtown

No, I'm not giving directions to MSG, just saying that the Knicks are the best three point shooting team in the league. They make the most and attempt the most 3's in the league, and are third in percentage. Around Anthony and Chandler, the Knicks have the right guys to hit open treys. Steve Novak is on his way to leading the league in three-point percentage for the second straight year. J.R. Smith is a complete gamer who can go unconscious from three when hot. Raymond Felton has played very well lately, leading the Knicks to that big upset in Miami when he hit six 3's. And let's not forget Jason Kidd. He has completely turned himself into a great three-point shooter who can be counted on in the clutch (ask the Nets). Miami's defense is aggressive, but great three-point shooting is as effective an offense as any against them. 

They're Old 

The Knicks are the oldest team in NBA history. You may think this is a bad thing, but think again. Jason Kidd is 39 and a starting point guard. 38-year-old Rasheed Wallace signed during the season and is averaging 7.2 PPG. Kurt Thomas and Marcus Camby don't play as much, but they're both 39. They also have a 35-year-old rookie! The youngest guy in their rotation, Ronnie Brewer, is 27!  This veteran presence will prove to be helpful. Even though Carmelo is 28 himself, the championship pedigrees of Chandler, Kidd and Wallace won't hurt come playoff time.  

No playoff matchups can be set in stone in mid-December, but anyone who watches basketball can see that Miami and New York are the best two teams in the East. As these teams weather the regular season, it will become clear that it will take a seven-game series to decide East supremacy.