New York Knicks: Five Reasons For Optimism Following 2016-17

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Apr 2, 2017; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks head coach Jeff Hornacek (L) talks to New York Knicks shooting guard Ron Baker (31) during the second quarter against the Boston Celtics at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Continuity

The 2016-17 NBA regular season may not have gone according to plan, but the New York Knicks will have something rare in 2017-18: continuity. That’s not exactly a guarantee of future success, but it’s an intriguing and valuable opportunity.

If the Knicks are going to turn things around, then they must stop hitting the reset button after every passing regular season.

Four of New York’s full-time starters—Carmelo Anthony, Courtney Lee, Joakim Noah, and Kristaps Porzingis—are set to return in 2017-18. Willy Hernangomez, who has started 21 games, will also be back for 2017-18 after his strong rookie season.

Throw in the likes of Mindaugas Kuzminskas, Kyle O’Quinn, and Lance Thomas, and New York will have an offseason to build off of the small measures of success it experienced.

Perhaps most importantly, New York projects to enter 2017-18 with the same head coach it had in 2016-17: Jeff Hornacek. Hornacek has provided zero off-court distractions and should have an easier time coaching now that he’s spent a year with his core players.

The Knicks aren’t exactly thriving, but having the same head coach and core group of players should create a healthy and productive offseason.

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