New York Knicks: Tim Hardaway Jr. hungry to make the playoffs in 2017-18
New York Knicks players a displaying a hunger for success. Shooting guard Tim Hardaway Jr. set the goal as making the playoffs in 2017-18.
The New York Knicks may have traded the franchise player, but that doesn’t mean the hunger for the postseason has subsided. Players have been reluctant to call the playoffs the goal, but shooting guard Tim Hardaway Jr. recently broke that silence.
Even without Carmelo Anthony on the roster, the Knicks seem to be aware of how much potential this unit possesses under head coach Jeff Hornacek.
New York signed Hardaway to a four-year deal worth $71 million during the summer of 2017. In the months that have since passed, expectations have mounted for the former Knicks draftee to justify the contract with a star-caliber season.
During his appearance at media day, Hardaway spoke at length about the hunger being displayed by the players on the roster, as well as the end goal he’s set for the Knicks: “Push for the playoffs.”
"A lot of guys are hungry. You could see it in open gym, in the weight room. People getting here 7:30, 8:00 in the morning. In here for five hours. Everybody is here on their grind. You can see that mindset building and building each and every day. I know I’m happy, I know we’re all happy and excited to get to work and make this push for the playoffs."
That’s an ambitious goal for a team that just lost its franchise player, but Hardaway is speaking fairly when he sets the postseason as his goal.
New York lost Anthony, Justin Holiday, and Derrick Rose, but it gained a significant measure of talent and depth. That includes the likes of Michael Beasley, Damyean Dotson, Hardaway, Jarrett Jack, Enes Kanter, Doug McDermott, Frank Ntilikina, and Ramon Sessions.
In addition to improving the depth of the rotation, the Knicks should benefit from the continued development of the younger players on the roster.
Kristaps Porzingis, Willy Hernangomez, and Ron Baker are all one year wiser, and should thus perform better—both individually and as teammates—in 2017-18 than they did in 2016-17.
For Porzingis and Hernangomez, the bar has already been set rather high for 22 and 23-year-old players.
Furthermore, the Knicks have eliminated the overwhelming distraction that was the feud between Anthony and Phil Jackson. They’ve also moved on from the triangle offense as the primary method of scoring, and have since embraced a more up-tempo style.
With improved depth, player development, a healthier environment, and a more modern system, it stands to reason that the Knicks should improve.
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Tim Hardaway Jr. is confident that the New York Knicks will compete for a spot in the 2018 NBA Playoffs if they remain hungry and competitive.