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New York Knicks: Carmelo Anthony Has Enough Help To Win

By Maxwell Ogden

Mar 28, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) reacts against the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half of a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Knicks 99-91. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 28, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) reacts against the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half of a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Knicks 99-91. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 17, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Phoenix Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek in the first quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 17, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Phoenix Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek in the first quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /

The Coach

The New York Knicks had an opportunity to hire two of the most respected coaches in the NBA: Tom Thibodeau and Frank Vogel. With Thibodeau joining the Minnesota Timberwolves and Vogel the Orlando Magic, however, that dream never came to fruition.

The coach whom team president Phil Jackson had his eyes set on from the start just so happens to be the perfect coach for Carmelo Anthony: Jeff Hornacek.

Hornacek made an immediate splash as a head coach when he led the Phoenix Suns to 48 wins in 2013-14. For perspective, the Suns won 25 games the previous season with a relatively similar roster.

Arguably the biggest offseason acquisition between 2012-13 and 2013-14, Eric Bledsoe, missed 39 games—a hurdle that Hornacek readily overcame.

Hornacek also had Phoenix above .500 before it traded both Goran Dragic and Isaiah Thomas at the 2015 All-Star Break.

The runner-up to Gregg Popovich for Coach of the Year in 2013-14, Hornacek is the perfect coach to help Anthony succeed. He runs a motion offense that gives all five players a role and scorers more efficient opportunities to fill it up.

Hornacek will also hold his players accountable defensively, which is what matters most in this instance: he coaches both ends of the floor.

Next: The Offensive Firepower

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