New York Knicks: What the Knicks are still getting wrong

The New York Knicks have entered a rebuilding phase, but to successfully tank and build for the future, changes must be made.

The objective is clear. In a season devoid of hope, the plot to lose as much as possible is clearly the best plan for future success. Yet, despite the New York Knicks clearly embracing the losing identity, dropping 12 of their last 13 contests, the tank job isn’t being executed as effectively as it could be.

The practice of “tanking,” as it has recently been defined, is not one in which players intentionally shoot three-pointers from beyond half court in order to lose to every team not named Orlando. The players are still competing for their next contract, or at the very least, their dignity.

They will not forfeit their chance at a future payday so their team can earn a higher draft selection.

The idea of a tank, or at least a hypothetically effective one, is the job of management and coaching to put players on the floor that will likely be outmatched by their opponents. That much has been achieved by management this season.

Yet, an equally important piece in NBA tanking is the team’s willingness to insert former high-potential lottery picks into minutes they would not receive on a competitive team.

While the Knicks have taken a solid first step in their youth movement, replacing Jarrett Jack’s minutes with more floor time for young guards Emmanuel Mudiay and Frank Ntilikina, they still have work to do in order to prepare other young players.

What Needs To Be Changed

The clear lack of reasoning may be due to the coaching of the team. While Jeff Hornacek has been blamed for much of this season’s downward trajectory, the losing culture is not why he stands in the way.

Coach Hornacek, like many experienced coaches throughout the NBA, has a winning mentality, crucial for anybody who has played at the NBA level. Yet his conventional thinking and dedication to playing veterans who he feels give him a better chance in specific matchups are not compatible with a tanking squad.

Knicks management must understand that the modern day tank is not something that can be done with a seasoned coach. While Hornacek is not completely to blame for the situation that has developed this season, the Knicks must recognize that they are in a rebuilding phase and Hornacek is no longer the man to coach the team.

A Plan For Success

The Knicks are in desperate need of a young coach; one who can embrace a tank while still developing a winning culture through hard work and player development. They need to be willing to stick raw talent, such as Damyean Dotson and Luke Kornet, on the court and let them learn from rookie mistakes.

The team needs to be reasonable with their payroll and patient with their assets, even if the fans won’t be.

The culture of instant gratification within the organization and fan base has become a cycle of depressing repetition. Clearly, this cycle has not produced positive results, and a change in culture starts with those at the top.

Now Mr. Dolan, if you happen to be reading this, I heard the baseball business is pretty neat. Realistically, the “platinum-selling” artist sitting atop the Knicks throne is far from defending against a civilian rebellion.

Yet changes below his level are both plausible and necessary. While the perfect young coach may not be available midseason, the team must look for unconventional candidates they feel can fit the parameters necessary to head a long-term project.

The values of the team contradict losing intentionally, yet the recent losing seems to imply they have intentions to change their ways. The team needs to stop standing in the shallow end and fully commit to entering the pool that is their rebuild.

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While at first cold and uncomfortable, after the New York Knicks get used to the water, they’ll begin to understand why they got in in the first place.