New York Knicks Are Legitimate Eastern Conference Contenders
Will the New York Knicks still be contending in 2017-18? It’s hard to say. In 2016-17, however, the Knicks will contend for the Eastern Conference crown.
The New York Knicks are going all-in on the final years of Carmelo Anthony’s prime. It’s comforting that his game projects to translate well to his elderly seasons, but Phil Jackson seems to believe Anthony can lead New York to victory in the short-term.
Though the critics are circling the Knicks like vultures, there’s reason to believe New York can be a legitimate Eastern Conference contender in 2016-17.
Jackson has built a roster that’s as promising as it is concerning. There are injury risks and off-the-court issues, but New York has a core that’s of a high enough caliber to compete against any team in the Eastern Conference.
According to Ian Begley of ESPN New York, Jackson understands that chances have been taken, but he believes they’ll be worth it.
"“In our situation, [it’s] definitely worth the risk,” Jackson said Friday. “We have had two seasons that have not been successful, and we need to move forward and win.”"
It’s hard to argue with the latter half of that statement.
The Knicks finished the 2014-15 regular season with the worst record in franchise history at 17-65. It was a tanking job by the front office, which resulted in New York selecting Kristaps Porzingis at No. 4 overall in the 2015 NBA Draft.
Unfortunately, Porzingis’ sensational rookie season wasn’t enough to get the Knicks back to the playoffs.
After finishing the 2015-16 season at 32-50, it became abundantly clear that New York needed to make significant changes. That’s exactly what Jackson did, as Anthony and Porzingis are the only remaining starters from a season ago.
Even the head coach, Derek Fisher, and sixth man, Langston Galloway, were replaced by Jeff Hornacek and Brandon Jennings.
The question is: have the Knicks done enough to become contenders in the Eastern Conference? The answer is: yes.