Knicks executive Allan Houston believes the team's offseason overhaul has left it in a good position to make the playoffs in 2010.

"Yeah I think so, I really do," Houston told ESPNNewYork.com on Thursday night when asked if the team could make the postseason. "If you look at last year, we lost a lot of games [due to] a lack of winning experience.

"Now you have multiple positions that can defend. Our defense will be better because of Amare [Stoudemire] and Raymond Felton. With Gallo [Danilo Gallinari] and Wilson [Chandler] growing, the familiarity will be better. I'm looking forward to it."

The Knicks haven't made the playoffs since 2003 and last won a playoff series in 2000, when Houston was still in uniform. They finished 29-53 last season (12 games outside of the eighth and final playoff spot) and allowed opponents to score an average of 105.9 points per game, the third-highest total in the NBA.

But Houston believes Stoudemire, whom the Knicks signed to a five-year, $100 million contract, will provide leadership for a young team. The Knicks also added former Bobcats point guard Felton via free agency and acquired Ronny Turiaf, Anthony Randolph and Kelenna Azubuike when they sent David Lee to Golden State in a sign-and-trade deal.

"I think the moves we've made have helped us," Houston said during halftime of the Liberty-Fever game at the Garden on Thursday night. "We've stayed young, got some experience and got some leadership. And we stayed flexible. We feel like if these guys grow, [we can] get in the playoffs. And that's what you want."