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New York Knicks: 5 reasons NYK should make the playoffs in 2017-18

By Maxwell Ogden

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 25: Tim Hardaway Jr. #3 Kristaps Porzingis #6 and Frank Ntilikina #11 of the New York Knicks poses for a portrait during Media Day on September 25, 2017 at Knicks Practice Facility in Tarrytown, New York. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jennifer Pottheiser/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 25: Tim Hardaway Jr. #3 Kristaps Porzingis #6 and Frank Ntilikina #11 of the New York Knicks poses for a portrait during Media Day on September 25, 2017 at Knicks Practice Facility in Tarrytown, New York. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jennifer Pottheiser/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO, IL – MAY 12: Phil Jackson of the New York Knicks looks on during the NBA Draft Combine Day 2 at the Quest Multisport Center on May 12, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – MAY 12: Phil Jackson of the New York Knicks looks on during the NBA Draft Combine Day 2 at the Quest Multisport Center on May 12, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) /

5. No Distractions

Nothing will help the New York Knicks more in 2017-18 than the fact that there shouldn’t be any non-basketball distractions. That would be a significant change from 2016-17, when the off-court distractions overshadowed any progress made on the hardwood.

With both Carmelo Anthony and Phil Jackson out of New York, the Knicks should be able to lead a season without any significant distractions.

The feud between Anthony and Jackson was an undeniable disturbance during the 2016-17 season. Regardless of whom one blames for the feud, there was no denying the need for a resolution to be found during the offseason.

When Jackson’s public feuds proceeded to include Kristaps Porzingis, the decision was made to part ways with the embattled team president.

Some were optimistic that Anthony would thus stay with the Knicks, but that didn’t prove to be the case. Disappointing as that may be to some, the decision to trade the 10-time All-Star meant avoiding a potential hindrance in the form of incessant trade rumors.

Without the off-court distractions that Knicks fans had come to expect during the Jackson era, the players and coaches can focus exclusively on basketball.

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