Bleacher Report analyst and former NBA point guard Greg Anthony believes the New York Knicks can reach the 2017 Eastern Conference Finals.
Phil Jackson and the New York Knicks have retooled, reloaded, and rebuilt in just three years. It started with blowing up the roster in 2014-15 and continued with drafting and developing Kristaps Porzingis in 2015-16.
During the summer of 2016, Jackson completed the first stage of New York’s return to prominence.
Jackson has built a postseason-caliber roster with multiple players signed to long-term deals. There are still questions that need answering, but the first stage of rebuilding the Knicks was constructing a team with enough talent to contend.
During a recent interview with Stephen Nelson of Bleacher Report, former Knicks point guard Greg Anthony outlined why he believes New York can go deep in the playoffs.
"You’ve gotta look at what Phil Jackson did with the New York Knicks. Listen, this is a group that’s going to be motivated. They still have a lot of good basketball left in them. Not just the players. I think bringing in Jeff Hornacek as a hire was a brilliant move.Conceptually, this team, defensively, they can create some problems. I don’t think that Carmelo [Anthony] has played with more talent in his tenure with the Knicks."
Anthony believes the Eastern Conference Finals are a realistic goal for the Knicks.
"I think they can get to the Conference Finals. I truly believe that this group can get there. Again, a lot has to go right. But I think the season is long enough, and if they’re healthy enough, they can work through chemistry. They’ve got a lot of guys who are motivated to prove people wrong."
That would be a delightful result.
The Knicks haven’t made the Eastern Conference Finals since 1999-2000. New York hasn’t even made the playoffs since 2012-13, when it won 54 games, conquered the Atlantic Division, and reached the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
For what it’s worth, that season followed Carmelo Anthony helping Team USA win the Olympic gold medal—just as the 2016-17 season will.
In 2016-17, Anthony will be surrounded by four high-caliber starters. Derrick Rose is still a dynamic slasher, Courtney Lee is a 3-and-D specialist, and both Porzingis and Joakim Noah can anchor the defensive interior.
Porzingis is also the complete package as a scorer, while Noah is one of the best passers that the center position has ever seen.
Beyond the starting five, Brandon Jennings is a former full-time starter who will play the role of sixth man. Lance Thomas has glue guy potential, positional versatility, and an efficient jump shot.
If Justin Holiday lives up to his potential, the Knicks will go eight quality players deep.
From there, it’s a matter of receiving consistent energy and effort from the players who are lower in the rotation.
The unfortunate reality in New York is that Rose, Anthony, Noah, and Jennings all have health concerns. All four have suffered a serious injury at some point over the past three seasons.
If the Knicks can remain healthy, however, there’s enough talent in place for Jeff Hornacek to lead New York to a 50-win season.
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Here’s hoping Anthony’s projection for the Knicks comes to fruition.