It’s been a long road for a Knicks Franchise that hasn’t seen much recent success, but with a new coach, the tide has started to turn ever so slightly.
New York Knicks Interim Head Coach, Mike Miller, was impressed with his guys after blowing out the Portland Trailblazers at Madison Square Garden on New Year’s night — All while welcoming back a familiar face and all-time great Knick, Carmelo Anthony. A game the Knicks would’ve found a way to lose three weeks ago.
“Tremendous effort, I can’t probably come up with the right words how pleased we are watching… that was fun to watch… We’ve gotta keep building.”
Said Miller during his post game news conference after New York’s 117-93 win over the Trailblazers.
He’s right, this team has come together winning 6 of their last 10 and looking to extend their 3 game winning streak as they head on their second west coast trip of the season. Mike Miller has almost everything to do with the success of this Knicks team — Defensively, they’ve shut down some really good offensive players and offensively the ball ins’t sticking, that’s been a concerted effort by the coaching staff. It’s shown in recent games with multiple players scoring in double figures, fighting for offensive rebounds, and making the next pass — giving up a good shot to get a great one.
The Knicks are creating new habits, the kind that win games, and that for a change is good to see. But is it good enough to stop Steve MIlls and Scott Perry from gutting this roster at the deadline for draft capital?
It should.
This team needs consistency and in the midst of playing their best basketball of the season, the last thing this Knicks team needs is another change, a move fans are use to seeing. As soon as play is risen to respectability, something goes wrong.
This team is filled with short term deals given to veteran players and young guys still scratching at the surface of their potential. Mike Miller has coached this team well over his first twelve games going 6-6. If this front office can let him finish the season with the same guys, this season could conclude in interesting territory or even the eighth seed of the Eastern Conference Playoff picture, which the Knicks find themselves only 5 games behind the eighth seed, Orlando Magic.
The old Knicks had a habit of making sudden decisions that altered their franchise’s ability to sustain competence and a competitive edge for most of the previous decade, making every decision a questionable one.
These Knicks want to change the narrative and the habits — from losing to winning. The last two weeks they’ve shown flashes. There’s nothing to lose letting this coach lead this group of guys for 48 more games. It will be fun — I’m sure competitive — maybe even inspiring.