Born and raised in a New York State of Mind, the Knicks were the only basketball team to follow. And this season is no different as they are second in the Eastern Conference behind only the defending champion, Miami Heat.

The Knicks are playing some of the best basketball to date under head Coach Mike Woodson, since the height of former All-Star center Patrick Ewing‘s career in the 90’s. Ewing, led the Knicks to the Eastern Conference Finals in 1994 and 1999, and while the new look Knicks have gotten bounced in the playoffs in the first round the previous two seasons they look to be back in contention.

Knicks Forward Carmelo Anthony has been nothing short of amazing for the team in including a recent game against the Atlante Hawks. Anthony tied a Knicks record for 3-pointers in a game with 9. Those alone accounted for 27 of the 42 points that scored in the game including the go ahead bucket with seconds left.

While Anthony put up one of his best performances of the season, the game put together by Amar’e Stoudemire off the bench can’t go unnoticed. Coming off surgery on his left knee in October, Stoudemire put up arguably his best performance of the season so far since returning to the team. With 18 points and 8 rebounds in 29 minutes, he was very productive shooting the ball, going 6 of 9 from the field.

Stoudemire is a key component to any Championship run the Knicks are hoping to put together this season. Whether it is coming  off the bench or eventually being moved back into the starting line-up, he will need to continue his productive play. While Stoudemire seems to be making the most out of the minutes he gets off the bench, one must wonder what him playing in the starting line-up would do for the team.

With the way the team is operating under Coach Woodson, us as fans can only watch as he continues to make the right moves. These are the moves that has the Knicks sitting amongst the best East and in good title contention, despite their age.

The Knicks are the oldest team in the history of the NBA. However, if they can get healthier and stay that way towards the end of the season, come playoff time they will be poised for a run in the East.