Alice in MeccaLand

Let's make a list of everything that would have to go right for the Knicks this year to make the playoffs.

1. At the point guard position, Duhon will need to play the best basketball he played last year, ALL YEAR. Duhon, while no all-star, *can be* as good as any of the second-tier talent in the league.

But for Duhon to accomplish such a feat, he will need a more than capable back-up. Nate Robinson will need to get serious and Douglas Toney will need to mature quickly to provide quality rest minutes for Duhon.

With all of that being said, the Knicks still need a starting point guard. Should Walsh sign Ramon Sessions, he will be a minor upgrade from Duhon. But the true value in such a signing will be that Duhon, in a back-up role, will be a seamless second-option that few NBA teams enjoy and it frees Nate to be a spark-plug scorer off the bench instead of a cool-headed ball-handler.

As for the speculation that Sessions has potential, doubtful. If Milwaukee is willing to let him walk then they've seen something we're missing. And quite frankly, Rubio remains a prize the Knicks need to pursue as aggressively as the LeBron fantasies.

Ideally, the T-Wolves make a playoff run but need a critical player that the Knicks can provide come Feb. That discussion needs to involve acquiring Rubio's rights.

2.) Larry Hughes *may be* the most under-rated key to a successful Knicks season. Hughes plays 'D' and *can play* inspired basketball. He needs to play consistently great. In a fantasy year, Hughes would have to bring a Duane-Wade-ish season to his career.

If the PG position can be resolved without involving Toney, then Toney may find the best opportunity for playing time behind Hughes and N8 at the two with far less pressure to bring an 'A' game every night.

In D'Antoni's system Chandler is mentioned as a two. But what D'Antoni s really proposing is playing dual small forwards who bring a very different look to the game. It could morph the traditional two spot into a more freakish, physical, athletic, and aggressive presence.

Such an experiment can either succeed or fail spectacularly. Should it succeed, watch out.

3.) Dark City - Eddy Curry (eCity) is losing weight and *looking* more physically fit. The fantasy that Knick fans refuse to speak aloud is that if the weight loss is matched by a return of quickness and skill around the basket, then Curry finally becomes the elite center he has always been projected and expected to be.

Darko Milicic, like eCity, has been a disappointment for years. Like Curry, there's still an unspeakable hope that Darko under D'Antoni's wing can mature into the player he can be. That is, a shot-blocking and junkman scorer under the basket - a complement to Curry.

If both players fulfill the fantasy expectation, D'Antoni will be able to play arguably the most intimidating dual tower twosome since Robinson and Duncan patrolled the basket in San Antonio.

The Dark City fantasy is as extreme as it gets in basketball, yet both players have the unteachable tools. Should the will and desire follow suit, things get interesting.

4.) The final arrival of Gallinari. Should Dani Gallinari and Al Harrington provide a consistent source of scoring from the 3, eCity will have a kick-out option worth exercising and the inside/outside game *can become* deep-playoff worthy.

Gallo has a lot to prove and not everyone believes he'll stick around the NBA long. Does he have what it takes?

5.) Last year, a Celtics commentator discussed Doc Rivers' philosophy for winning. He said Rivers treated EVERY GAME like a necessary win and that early wins when lots of teams are still goofing around provided the easiest wins. Such padding insulated the Celtics from losing too much ground later in the season should they experience a drought. It also made mid season experimentation a little less painful.

The Knicks need to treat every game like a playoff game. WIN. Learn to win. Take no loss as inevitable or acceptable.

The ultimate fantasy - win every game.