By Jordan Long
The New York Knicks finished the season with a record of 31-51, missing the playoffs by 10 games. It marks the 4th year in a row in the Carmelo Antony era that postseason basketball was not played in Madison Square Garden. According to NYtimes.com, New York Knicks President Phil Jackson said, “We’ve not been able to win with him on the court at this time. I think the direction with our team is that he is a player that would be better off somewhere else and using his talents somewhere he can win, or chase that championship.”
Carmelo Anthony is not the problem with the New York Knicks. Ever since he was traded to the Knicks on February 21st, 2011 from the Denver Nuggets, Anthony has been able to put points on the scoreboard every night, averaging 24.7 points per game.
The trouble with the Knicks is Phil Jackson. Jackson took over as the Knicks’ President after the 2014 season. Since then the Knicks have gone a combined 80-166. During that stretch, the Knicks hired three different head coaches, Derek Fisher, Kurt Rambis, and Jeff Hornacek. The longest tenured coach was Derek Fisher who lasted 136 games guiding the Knicks to a subpar record of 40-96. He was fired 54 games into the 2016 season. Rambis took over to end the year but the Knicks went 9-19 under him. Hornacek just finished his first year in New York.
Phil Jackson tried to create a superstar team this season in hopes of becoming a playoff team. He lured in center Joakim Noah to a 5 year, $72.590 million contract this past summer. Noah lasted only 46 games before a shoulder injury shut him down. Jackson also brought in point guard Derrick Rose in a trade from the Bulls. Rose lasted 64 games before tearing his meniscus in his left knee. These moves didn’t pan out.
The New York Knicks owner James Dolan must take a long hard look at his franchise. The players are not the reason why the Knicks are not a playoff team. If anyone must go it is Phil Jackson. He has failed to turn this team into a winner with draft picks and free agents.
Where do you think the problem is with the New York Knicks?
Leave a Reply