The New York Knicks Are Off to a Strong Start: Are They for Real?

The New York Knicks started the 2012-2013 NBA season with a 7-1 record in their first eight games. It's the team's best start in well over a decade. During the offseason, many basketball pundits couldn't have seen the Knicks as anything other than a mid-level playoff team at the best, following a number of controversial moves, including allowing popular star Jeremy Lin to walk away and sign with Houston.

The Knicks also made some fans scratch their heads after signing aged, past-their-prime veterans in former NBA Champions Jason Kidd and Rasheed Wallace. On top of all that, the team promoted Mike Woodson from interim to head coach and while he did a very good job following Mike D'Antoni's exit last season, his previous tenure with the Atlanta Hawks left a lot to be desired.

However, it's been "so far, so good" for the Knicks, who have scored a ton of points in their wins and have displayed a great defensive game, which they weren't always known for. Even top star Carmelo Anthony is getting better on the defensive end and that's always been his biggest weakness. The Knicks may not be at the very top of the Eastern Conference come the spring, but fans have to be encouraged by what they see — especially in the absence of Amar'e Stoudemire.