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NY Knicks: 3 positive takeaways from the 2021-22 season

By Kramer Smith

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 15: RJ Barrett #9, Obi Toppin #1, Quentin Grimes #6 and Derrick Rose #4 of the New York Knicks looks on during a preseason game against the Washington Wizards at Madison Square Garden on October 15, 2021 in New York City. 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. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 15: RJ Barrett #9, Obi Toppin #1, Quentin Grimes #6 and Derrick Rose #4 of the New York Knicks looks on during a preseason game against the Washington Wizards at Madison Square Garden on October 15, 2021 in New York City. 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. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images) /
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The ’21-’22 NBA season was one filled with disarray and disaster for the New York Knicks. Following notable successes for a rebuilding team the season prior, the franchise made moves last offseason to improve the roster and solidify themselves as a genuine playoff threat for years to come.

There was much to be optimistic about ahead of this year’s campaign, and Knicks fans embraced the fact that their team was finally back after years of lackluster play.

New York’s season came to an end last Sunday night against the Toronto Raptors, with a 105-94 win. The game was an anomaly for the season, though, as this year’s Knicks greatly underachieved in the standings.

They officially finished 37-45, ranking them 11th in the Eastern Conference and inevitability resulting in them missing this year’s playoffs, even in the new expanded play-in format.

With so many question marks ahead of this upcoming offseason, there’s plenty of room for the team to make adjustments. At the same time though, there were plenty of positives to take away from this year and plenty of things to be optimistic about in New York this summer.

3 positive takeaways from the New York Knicks’ 2021-22 season

First and foremost, it was the eccentric play of the Knicks’ young brass, most notably to end the year. I believe that RJ Barrett deserves a slide of his own, so I’m going to focus on the pieces around him.

The past decade has been filled with prospective New York draft picks, dating back to Landry Fields and coming all the way up through Phil Jackson’s parting gift, Frank Ntilikina.

It’s fair to say that it’s been a series of misses for the Knicks, and the beginning of this season was ultimately looking to prove things hadn’t changed in New York.

To make matters worse, even as the year dwindled to an end, the Knicks still weren’t making adjustments to play their youth. It seemed this was all the proof fans needed to believe their players still weren’t ready.

Then, an injury to Julius Randle gave reason for the kids to break through, and they did so with emphasis.

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