New York Knicks: Trust, The Triangle, And Finding Greatness In Consistency

Mar 11, 2017; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 11, 2017; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Knicks are struggling in the present day, but that doesn’t mean that some of the current players won’t become great.


Phil Jackson was once quoted as saying, “Good teams become great teams when the members trust each other enough to surrender the Me for the We.” Maybe this was something Mr. Jackson left out of the 30-minute practice session last week that was in large an effort to give the team a more in-depth understanding of how to run the triangle scheme.

In a season as confusing as one could imagine—one that has been more of an effort to watch rather than a pleasure—there are still reasons for optimism. Even now, there are genuine opportunities to find greatness on this team.

Being a fan of a New York franchise is about as risky business as it gets. Most are quick to throw in the towel due to a feeling of being underwhelmed by short-term results.

It seems to also be a fashionable trend to take part in grandstanding. Many are trying to witch hunt star player Carmelo Anthony’s’ tenure as every reason for the Knicks’ failures in the past.

Allow me to explain and direct you to the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel.

Small Triangle Success, Little Consistency

A win is a win, and a loss is a loss, just as numbers are only numbers and a stat line will not always reflect how those numbers come to fruition on the court. The summer of 2016 was one of high hopes and even higher expectations as what seemed to be a flood of talent pouring over the Knicks’ roster.

Did Christmas come early? Maybe not. Maybe April Fools and Christmas interchanged days? No, that can’t be so either. It started out as a great December, as New York won five of its first six games, only to win two of their next nine games.

The real tale of Madison Square Garden was the incessant nature of trade rumors about the star player. Regardless of the Knicks’ performance the night prior, the talk was that the Knicks should trade Carmelo Anthony and get him out of New York—and fast.

All the while, Anthony played his game night after night, exhibiting true loyalty to the city he loves, and class while the crowd clamored in boos at any misstep in his game.

That begs the question: where’s the trust?

Who Is To Blame?  

On bad nights, no single player is to blame. Nearly the entire squad plays poor defense. Playing a great defensive game for four quarters hasn’t exactly been in the repertoire.

As strange as it might sound, this is the best time to watch the Knicks. They’re in the early stages of their development. In what might look dark times, it allows us to see what may be the next generation of Knicks basketball, with hybrid talent in positions we haven’t quite seen before.

Early Struggles For Young Stars Destined For Greatness

Look only as far back as Sunday evening’s game against the Brooklyn Nets. Brooklyn was hitting the three ball with ease, and who was at the head of this event? Their center: Brook Lopez.

Fortunately, the Knicks have a unicorn of their own in Kristaps Porzingis.

Porzingis was answering right back, scoring from downtown and also showing off valuable assets in his special ball-movement at 7’3″. That included a turnaround jumper off the glass that he’s been able to convert throughout his second season.

It’s an exciting time to watch this kind of athlete and believe in the reasonable possibility that he’ll be sticking around in New York.

Paired with Willy Hernangomez, who has worked his way into the starting lineup as of late, New York has an interior duo worth watching. While they’re developing, it’s relieving to witness Carmelo Anthony make clutch shots look easy on occasion.

He’s still around to get it done in a group of mostly new players to this system, if not the league. And it’s because he’s trusted with that shot that it succeeds.

The Knicks look comfortable passing the ball most nights, but what seems apparent is that nobody seems comfortable with taking the open shot. Sometimes, the Knicks pass too much and don’t even have time to make a last-second shot to possibly win the game.

See: January 19th against the Washington Wizards.

This is veterans and young players. We have recently seen Anthony’s shot attempts drop while his minutes have stayed about the same.

Porzingis has oftentimes looked rushed when shooting from beyond the arc, although it’s hard to tell if the pesky Achilles injury has been the cause. Throw in Derrick Rose missing a few games, Joakim Noah getting injured, and waiving Brandon Jennings, and that disrupts any and all chemistry that was present and start back from zero.

Trust And Optimism For The Future

In fact, there’s not anything left to lose at this point besides any trust that’s left in the locker room. The matter at hand is Knicks fans need to really keep an eye on these younger players—win or lost—for the last 14 games this season. No matter how ugly it gets, “tanking” shouldn’t be on any of these players’ minds if they wish to have a career in New York.

Ron Baker and Mindaugas Kuzminskas still remains an interesting prospect, as well Chasson Randle. Justin Holiday has hit clutch shots all year to keep the Knicks in games. Courtney Lee and Kyle O’Quinn heat up every so often, but not nearly as consistently as they should.

On paper, this team should make the casual basketball fan interested in the unique roster itself. They have a tendency of making games way too close and cringeworthy, however, like the quadruple-overtime loss at Atlanta.

With the playoffs likely out of reach, this is a tough 30-win season for the Knicks. Once more bringing us to a lack of success, trust, and chemistry. That’s why right now, this team, at best, is just good.

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That doesn’t mean that some players the New York Knicks have right now won’t become great.