Frank Sinatra once sang:
"I'll make a brand new start of it - in ol' New York
If I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere
It's up to you - New York, New York"

He also famously crooned the lyrics:
"Luck be a lady tonight
Luck if you've been a lady to begin with
Luck be a lady tonight

Luck let a gentleman see
Just how nice a dame you can be
I know the way you've treated other guys you've been with
Luck be a lady with me"

*****

This evening, New Yorkers from the Bronx to Brooklyn will have their fingers crossed hoping tonight is the night jumpstarting the Knicks' reconstruction.  Knicks fans will be praying to the ghosts of Frank Sinatra and Dave DeBusschere, and anybody else they hope might help the ping-pong balls bounce the right way.

For on this day, Knicks fans actually have hope.  For a fan base bereft of faith and tortured for the better part of decade, they are hoping for some desperately needed good fortune.

Knicks fans are familiar with how important a role luck can play in turning around a franchise.  During the 1984-1985 season, the Knickerbockers went 24-58.  Basketball junkies in New York City were downtrodden and their beloved franchise was in need of a revival.  And that is exactly what they got, in the form of Patrick Ewing, whom the Knicks won the rights to during the drafty lottery of 1985.  Ewing would become the face of the franchise and the cornerstone of team that would qualify for the playoffs in 14 straight seasons. 

While there does not appear to be any sure-fire "Patrick Ewing-type" franchise players available in this draft class, there are two extremely intriguing options for the organizations landing the top two picks: Michael Beasley out of Kansas State and Memphis' Derrick Rose.

For the Knicks, who have plenty of big bodies up front, the choice would be Rose.  Ever since New Yorkers got an up-close look at Rose during Memphis' run to the Final Four in March, Knicks fans have been dreaming about this pure PG running the show at MSG.  Then when Donnie Walsh hired Mike D'Antoni, the enthusiasm heightened.  Rose would be a perfect fit to spearhead D'Antoni's uptempo offensive attack. 

Thus, the Knicks faithful, who have been disheartened and discouraged, are allowing themselves to fantasize their luck may finally be turning around.  New York has a 7.4% chance of winning the lottery on Tuesday night.  They also have a 16% chance of sliding up into the top two.   

The odds aren't in their favor, but luck is an unpredictable dame…

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