After years of disappointment, Knicks fans ready for a change

Year after year of disappointing seasons and tiresome off-court drama has left even the most diehard Knicks fans disheartened. But with the team poised Tuesday night to clinch its first division title since 1994 as it goes for its 13 straight win, fans finally have reason to celebrate.

"I've been following the Knicks for as long as I can remember, [and] the last decade wasn't so great," said Phil Joseph, 22, of Washington Heights.

But "this is the best Knicks team I've seen in the last 13 years," he said. They've "given fans and the people of New York a reason to believe in this team once again."

Rob Rivera, 25, of the East Village, agreed.

"They finally have the personnel, chemistry and winning formula that can potentially bring a championship," Rivera said. "I want to see a playoff series win."

The Knicks, who this season have won 50 games for the first time since the 1999-2000 season, take on the Washington Wizards Tuesday night. And after winning just one playoff game last year against the Miami Heat, the team is finally settling into a formation that could carry them far into the postseason, experts said.

"It's a good mix of guys. They have a lot of chemistry, they respond well to the coach and they have an identity," said Seth Rosenthal, manager of Knicks blog PostingandToasting.com.

"They're playing their own game right now," he said, "It's almost like they're a normal organization right now, not the circus they've been in the past."

Tommy Dee, executive editor of TheKnicksBlog.com, said the team is peaking right now at exactly the right moment.

"You always want to be playing best at the right time of the year, and they're doing that right now," he said, adding that the team has "another couple of games" in its streak.

"This is the best team the Knicks have had in a long time, and a lot of fans don't remember good basketball," he said. "So it takes them a little while to be come believers."

Dee added: "But the Garden will be rocking like it did in the '90s."

The Dolan family owns controlling interests in the Knicks, MSG and Cablevision. Cablevision owns amNewYork.