Mike Woodson: Knicks have 'legimate shot to win the title'

The New York Knicks are a perfect 4-0 since Mike Woodson took over for Mike D’Antoni as head coach. But Woodson has much higher aspirations: an NBA title this season. And he believes the Knicks have the ability to win it all.

The Knicks are currently hanging onto the No. 8 and last playoff seed in the Eastern Conference. The New York Post asked Woodson, “If you make the playoffs, what qualities do you want this team to have when the playoffs begin?

Woodson responded, “They have a legitimate shot to win the title. When the playoffs come around, it’s open season. Who’s playing the hardest, the best ... who believes that they can really get it done. Homecourt and all that goes out the door. It’s great to have homecourt, but hey, we (2004 Pistons) didn’t have it in the Eastern Conference Final that year, and we ended up beating the Pacers. We didn’t have it in the Finals that year, and we beat the Lakers ... and if these guys are honest with themselves, and hold each other accountable, their credibility is rollin’ high, man, anything can happen in a playoff series. Anything.”

Woodson said his message to Knicks is “to be patient with us, stay behind us. Stay behind and be positive and help us push this thing through. Because it’s a total team effort, man. Yeah, you win a title, not for yourselves, but for me, it would be great to bring a title here to New York, man. I think if that ever happened, man, it would be the most unbelievable experience. ’Cause you got Manhattan, all the surrounding boroughs, man, that would just go bananas if you win one. That’s all I think about. I don’t think about anything else.”