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New York Knicks: Keys to Making the 2016 NBA Playoffs

By Maxwell Ogden

Feb 2, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) and forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) against the Boston Celtics during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 2, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) and forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) against the Boston Celtics during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /
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The New York Knicks are 23-32 exiting the All-Star Break. What must New York do to right the ship and reach the 2016 NBA Playoffs?

Feb 2, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) and forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) against the Boston Celtics during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 2, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) and forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) against the Boston Celtics during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /

The New York Knicks are in an unenviable position. At 23-32 in a vastly improved Eastern Conference, the postseason is slipping out of the Knicks’ reach with an uneventful NBA Trade Deadline and an interim head coach influencing every second of play.

The question is, what must the Knicks do to right the ship before it’s too late?

Former head coach Derek Fisher told reporters that it doesn’t matter if New York makes the playoffs in 2016. He was wrong.

The Knicks have nothing to play for but the future, and the only way to adequately develop this group is to give them a taste of the playoffs. For what it’s worth, the supporting core of Langston Galloway, Jerian Grant, Kyle O’Quinn, Kristaps Porzingis, and Lance Thomas have played a combined zero career postseason minutes.

Porzingis has been a breakout star as a rookie, but postseason basketball is very different from the regular season.

Carmelo Anthony is 31 years old with a question mark of a medical report and a window that’s, debatably, closing. Every season spent outside of the postseason adds another one onto when Porzingis will be ready to help Anthony compete for a title.

This is desperation mode, folks. Here’s how New York can do the improbable.

Next: If All Else Fails

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