What’s Wrong with the New York Knicks?
The New York Knicks are struggling. Like really struggling. They’re 19-25. They’ve lost three of their last seven games. And they’re 11th in the Eastern Conference. Hint: you must be eighth in order to make the playoffs. History tells us that most of the playoffs are decided by mid-season. Now that we’ve reached that mark, the odds seem rather grim for a New York Knicks second-half comeback. Chances are this season is already over for Melo and Crew. So the question is, what’s wrong with this team? What happened? Why are they so… out of sorts?
The offseason acquisitions of Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah were supposed to infuse some life into this team. Instead Rose is averaging 17.9 points, four boards, and 4.4 assists a game. While Noah is averaging 5.6 points and 9.1 rebounds per game. It’s downright sad. Not to mention Rose has been dealing with legal trouble (cough rape allegations cough) throughout the year. He’s been inconsistent. He’s missed 5 games, and he’s averaging 2.5 turnovers a game.
But it’s no surprise really. Rose has been headed down hill for years. Noah too. These were just flash in the pan acquisitions for Phil Jackson. Have they helped with team chemistry? Probably not. So two of the Knicks starters have been lackluster and disappointing where they were supposed to be effective and revitalizing.
Shooting guard Courtney Lee is averaging 9.5 points a game despite getting 30.6 minutes every night. Sixth man Brandon Jennings has been alright, averaging 8.2, 2.7, and 4.9 a game. But even with 23.5 minutes, it’s nothing to gawk over. All the way down the stat line the Knicks have players playing at least 11 minutes a game and doing very little in that span of time.
Perhaps the only silver lining to this whole team is the play of Latvian sophomore power forward Kristaps Porzingis. He’s 21 years old. He’s 7’3. He can run. He can dunk. He can shoot from range (he hits about two threes a night). He’s averaging 19.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, and two blocks a game. Porzingis offers the Knicks a chance to build something. He’s the silver lining for an otherwise uninspiring team. But he’s got no help. Worse yet, he’s been fighting injuries since the new year. Apparently the phrase ‘New Year, New Me’ isn’t necessarily a good thing for Kristaps Porzingis.
Meanwhile, the star of this team Carmelo Anthony is raising more doubts than hopes. The thing about stars is that they’re supposed to elevate the play of everyone around them. But Melo doesn’t do that. Melo is a notorious ball hog. Sure he’s got a great jumper. He can go on a hot streak. But he’s only averaging 22 points a night.
Let’s be real. That’s nothing special. You have to wonder what this team gains in the long run by keeping him around. Statistically speaking he’s playing some pretty mediocre ball compared to earlier in his career. Aside from last year, this one of the worts seasons he’s had with the Knicks. It’s been seven years and he has delivered nothing of value to the Knicks, except a near decade of disappointment. That seems to be a buzzword in this article–disappointment.
So it’s not surprising that rumors have swelled about Melo’s status with the team. Apparently, he met with Knicks President Phil Jackson to discuss his role, and whether or not he’s interested in staying or going.
“There’s a part of me that also would feel like I’m being selfish to the guys that are on the team right now, in the midst of us losing, to just try to figure a way to escape from everything. For me personally, it would be more of something I would really have to think about and consider. Put it all on the table and figure it out.”
These are the words of the New York Knicks apparent star. And if this quote doesn’t summarize how things are going for the boys at Madison Square Garden, I don’t know what will. Supposedly, members of the club are saying it would be best for Melo and the team to part ways. He’s not exactly putting the team on his back. This year, he’s averaging 22.3 points per game, six rebounds, and three assists. But the question is, is he hampering the Knicks progress or helping them? Statistically he’s a vital cog in the New York machine. But then again, the New York machine runs like an old toaster.
This team has so many holes, it would be degrading to Swiss Cheese to draw comparisons. Going forward, it’s hard to imagine anything saving this team from another below-.500 season. Perhaps it might be time for both sides of the Melo-Knicks debacle to settle their losses and part ways. The Knicks are going to need much more than some aging top-tier players to bring home a Championship. They’re going to need a deeper squad from top to bottom. They’re going to need someone to keep up with the best teams in the NBA. And unfortunately for Madison Square Garden, they just don’t.
My prediction? The Knicks finish the season with 36 wins, 46 losses, and a rotten taste in their mouth.
