New York Knicks: 5 Reasons NY Will Make The Playoffs

1. The Sense Of Urgency

The New York Knicks aren’t going to make it easy on opponents. That’s not a statement that’s supported by the statistics, but instead an evaluation of the identity of the team that Phil Jackson has pieced together.

That hunger for success—the dog mentality, as many players have described it—is what will make the Knicks a postseason team in 2017.

Anthony, Noah, and Rose have all been to the Conference Finals, but never returned after their respective first appearances. Lee reached the NBA Finals as a rookie, and has been a postseason mainstay in recent seasons, but never got back.

Thus, four of the Knicks’ five starters enter the season with a hunger for a championship and an understanding of how their window isn’t quite as open as it used to be.

Furthermore, Brandon Jennings needs to prove he can remain healthy and Lance Thomas has to prove he was the right forward to bring back between he and Derrick Williams. Coupled with Kristaps Porzingis attempting to prove he’s not a flash in the pan, the Knicks are hungry.

This may not be quantifiable, but teams that play their hearts out from buzzer to buzzer tend to fare well.

must read: How Derrick Rose can help the Knicks contend

As a skilled, relatively deep, and downright hungry team, the Knicks have the tools to make the 2017 NBA Playoffs. to become a true contender.