Daily Knicks
Fansided

New York Knicks: Jeff Hornacek puts it on coaches to increase effort

By Maxwell Ogden

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 6: Coach Kurt Rambis and Coach Jeff Hornacek look on as the New York Knicks take on the Milwaukee Bucks on February 6, 2018 at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 6: Coach Kurt Rambis and Coach Jeff Hornacek look on as the New York Knicks take on the Milwaukee Bucks on February 6, 2018 at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

New York Knicks head coach Jeff Hornacek has been demanding increased effort from his players. He knows the coaches need to help the players understand what’s required of them.

In an era during which even the most underutilized of players are making millions of dollars, NBA fans often have a hard time processing why effort isn’t a given. New York Knicks fans have endured that puzzling reality for far too long, as effort has been a constant question mark since Jeff Van Gundy’s departure in 2001.

In the midst of a season during which the Knicks have attempted to change the culture, no one has been more critical of that inconsistency than head coach Jeff Hornacek.

Hornacek is a former All-Star turned head coach, which gives him a unique perspective on what it takes to succeed in the NBA. Throughout the 2017-18 NBA regular season, however, his team has failed to play with a consistent level of energy on the defensive end of the floor.

According to Marc Berman of The New York Post, Hornacek put the onus on himself and the coaching staff to make the players understand the different levels of effort.

"“I think we just got to get them to know difference between playing hard and … they all feel they’re playing hard. We have to keep pushing them to go play a little harder, get after it a little bit more. Not be afraid of giving fouls.”“It’s a feeling they don’t want to give up layups or dunks,’’ Hornacek said. “If you get into foul trouble, so be it. A lot of guys don’t want to get in foul trouble and come out of the game. Don’t even worry about that. If a guy has advantage going to the basket, make him earn it.’’"

In other words: Be less like the Knicks of the 2000s and 2010s, and more like the Knicks of the 1990s and every decade that preceded them.

New York has undoubtedly made progress during the 2017-18 regular season. Kristaps Porzingis became an All-Star, and every one of Tim Hardaway Jr., Enes Kanter, and Courtney Lee have put together career-years.

Porzingis is the franchise player, Hardaway is in the first year of a lucrative four-year deal, Lee is signed through 2019-20, and Kanter is expected to re-sign this summer.

New York has also created a healthy competition at the point guard position between three players who were drafted in the top 10: Trey Burke, Emmanuel Mudiay, and Frank Ntilikina.

Unfortunately, the Knicks’ postseason dreams were being crushed well before Porzingis suffered a season-ending injury. New York consistently coasted for three quarters before attempting to dominate opponents in the fourth.

It thoroughly outplayed a number of quality opponents during the fourth quarter, but it ultimately succumbed to the unfavorable nature of its uphill battle.

Must Read: 2018 NBA Draft: Top 5 power forwards

The question is: Can Jeff Hornacek and the New York Knicks teach their players the difference between basic effort and postseason-caliber intensity?

Home/Knicks News