New York Knicks: What We Learned From The Loss To Cleveland

1. It’s A Work In Progress

The New York Knicks were awful against the Cleveland Cavaliers and there’s no excuse for that. There’s a reality to this situation that simply cannot be ignored, however, even if this loss was bad: the Knicks are a newly formed team that’s still finding its identity.

During an appearance on CBS Sports Network, team president Phil Jackson provided an accurate evaluation of the Knicks (h/t Ian Begley of ESPN New York).

"“We’re kind of a team that’s learning who we are,” Jackson said in the interview with CBS Sports Network, which aired before the club’s win over the Heat. “… We’re just starting to get a groove into who we are.”"

There are no excuses to be made and no lies to be told; the Knicks are simply a work in progress.

New York has a new head coach, Jeff Hornacek, which is reason enough to believe there will be inconsistencies in 2016-17. New York also has three new starters and 10 new players overall, including sixth man Brandon Jennings.

With minimal continuity and one of the five returning players entering just his second NBA season, New York will be prone to the occasional poor showing.

The key for the Knicks moving forward will be getting to a point where energy and effort are no longer an issue. Shots may not always fall, but New York needs to close out on shooters, communicate with one another, and crash the boards.

If the Knicks can bounce back from this loss to the Cavaliers by playing well on the upcoming five-game road trip, this game won’t matter much in the long run.

Must Read: Phil Jackson offers a brutally honest evaluation of the Triangle Offense

The Knicks are 12-10 and still in control of their own destiny entering the second quarter of the 2016-17 NBA regular season.