The new bridges Garden fans will see Wednesday dissecting the arena are symbolic of the 2013-14 Knicks’ season that opens against the lowly Bucks.
Because Wednesday’s season opener is either the bridge to a revamped future or the final crossing to the promised land owner James Dolan envisioned five years ago — in November 2008. That is when the movement to sink well under the salary cap began.
This season will make all the dizzying amount of transactions pay off or deem the Melo-Amar’e Era a bust. Not too much pressure for coach Mike Woodson, who will lose his job if he doesn’t at the very least carry the Knicks to the second round.
“I truly want to build on what we did last year,’’ Woodson said Tuesday after the Knicks’ final preseason practice. “Last year was last year. But it was a good season for our ballcub and our fans. The ultimate goal is to win a title. I think we’re solid enough to compete for one. Absolutely. Until someone dethrones the Miami Heat, everybody’s still in the hunt. I like to think we’re one of the teams that are in the hunt.’’
Seven new faces grace this Knicks roster to make an astounding 82 players who have been on the roster since the 2008-2009 season started. Amar’e Stoudemire is the longest-tenured Knick.
Those first two seasons were spent breaking down the roster to gear up for 2010 free agency. The last three seasons have netted playoff berths, but blasé first-round, first-round and second-round KOs.
Most prognosticators now view the Knicks as no better than the fifth seed in the East — which would mean no home-court advantage in the first round.
Carmelo Anthony seems to alternate between being pumped about the team’s chances to confusion about whether the roster is suitably stacked to compete against the souped-up East, headed by Miami, Chicago, Indiana and Brooklyn.
Earlier in the preseason, Anthony said the roster was “better’’ than last season because of younger depth. But after a 2-6 preseason in which key newcomer Andrea Bargnani, underwhelmed, Anthony tempered his words.
On Monday, Melo wondered aloud if the club had enough pieces. But a day later, he seemed a little more in the spirit of hyping up its chances.
“It’s hard to say, I believe we have what it takes,’’ Anthony said. “We believe we have what it takes. But we have to go out and show it and prove it. It’s hard to do. We have take on that challenge.’’
Then he added in glowing terms, “I’m very excited about this season. I think it will be a great season. I think we have a helluva chance to do something this year.’’
If they take a major step back, Anthony probably will seriously contemplate leaving the Knicks as a free agent, even if it means taking $33 million less on a shorter deal than he could get if he stays.
Woodson’s future is cloudier, despite getting his contract option exercised before training camp. New president/general manager Steve Mills removed his lame-duck status, making it easier to swallow the sudden dismissal of his former college teammate, Glen Grunwald, reassigned as an advisor but who has completely fallen off planet Earth.
Perhaps the only way Woodson survives another second-round exit is if they get there by beating the reputed juggernaut Nets in the first round.
“I don’t think there’s pressure,’’ Woodson said. “For me, the last few years have been good years for me and the organization. I’m just trying to do better than the year before. That’s the direction I’m trying to push these guys.’’
Just the notion Woodson, on the eve of the opener, was on the verge of changing his starting lineup and benching Bargnani shows the fragility of a squad that went 54-28 last season. The new lineup likely will be Raymond Felton, Iman Shumpert, Metta World Peace, Anthony and Tyson Chandler. However, J.R. Smith is probably slated as starting shooting guard soon after he returns from a five-game marijuana suspension.
“It’s a little sticky,’’ Woodson admitted of the flux.
A little sticky and a lot of pressure on this squad. Mills isn’t linked to one player on the roster as the final judgement will be rendered on whether the six-year plan was a success or failure.