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New York Knicks: Are they tanking or just plain bad?

By John Azzato

GREENBURG, NY - JULY 17: New York Knicks team President, Steve Mills and Jeff Hornacek of the New York Knicks introduce General Manager Scott Perry at a pess conference at the at Knicks Practice Center July 17, 2017 in Greenburg, New York. 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 2017 NBAE (Photo by Steven Freeman/NBAE via Getty Images)
GREENBURG, NY - JULY 17: New York Knicks team President, Steve Mills and Jeff Hornacek of the New York Knicks introduce General Manager Scott Perry at a pess conference at the at Knicks Practice Center July 17, 2017 in Greenburg, New York. 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 2017 NBAE (Photo by Steven Freeman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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With the New York Knicks playing terribly lately, we need to find out why. Are they just a bad team? Or could they really be tanking?

Losing 15 of their last 16 games, the New York Knicks have played awful basketball. Is this tanking or just a really bad team without Kristaps Porzingis?

Not So Clear

The answer to what is going on with this New York Knicks team can’t be clearly stated. The starting lineup has been the same as it usually is, despite minor changes due to injuries and personal issues.

When talking about tanking, it’s difficult to pinpoint whether a team is purposely doing it. It’s easy to see in some scenarios, where teams sit important players and call it “rest”. In other scenarios, it’s more difficult to tell.

However, this hasn’t happened often with the Knicks. They’ve played their good players often, with players like Enes Kanter and Tim Hardaway Jr. putting up some solid numbers. These games that they continue to lose aren’t always blowouts, either.

Some games they’re just a basket away can’t get the win.

It also seems that the players haven’t given in just yet. Players like Michael Beasley can be seen talking to the younger individuals on the roster before games to hype them up and try to get a fire started within them.

So the question remains: What is going on?

Talent and Circumstances

At this point in the season, playoff teams are making decisions to rest some players. Teams that aren’t contending for the playoffs, like the Knicks, are burnt out. Before the Porzingis injury, the Knicks barely had enough talent to win ball games.

At this point, a team that lacks talent, is burnt out, and has nothing to play for is losing as one would believe they would.

This shouldn’t be a surprise to any of us. Unfortunately, the team just can’t compete with the rest of the league. Now that we’re in the tumultuous stretch of the season, where players are tired, it starts to get ugly.

Hopefully, against a Dallas Mavericks team that’s even worse than the New York Knicks, they can come out with a win.

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This doesn’t seem to be tanking. Having guys like Luke Kornet in the game is what this team needs to see what those players are made of.

If it helps their draft position, that’s just an added bonus.

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