Yet another year in which the Knicks got off to a decent start to make us believe that perhaps this team is capable of something. Then all of a sudden it's Christmas and the Knicks forget how to win. Losing 9 of the next ten, the Knicks were never able to bounce back and the season was all but lost. At least there's a silver lining, we have our own first round pick... so let's go mess that up.
At this point in time both generals are leading their armies, General Melo is in a battle against General Zen. Melo and his NTC guarantees that it's up to him whether he stays or goes. General Zen has the backing of Dolan, who will live up to his end of the deal. In this bloody battle, there are no victories, only victims. Phil has done every thing he can do to alienate Melo, but also the fans in this. How could anyone in their right mind support this? How could anyone support the triangle in this day and age? Phil has his spies and minions all over the place, there's not a chance this could be successful. Then there's Melo, it was always about the money. He wanted his money when he came here, we obliged in sacrificing the chips. We proceeded to squander all opportunities to build a team around him, the entire Billups fiasco really cost us. He wanted his money when he resigned with us, but hey he wanted to be here. It's just obvious it wasn't Phil who wanted him here. Both sides are to blame for this, Melo's shortsightedness and the ineptitude of the Knicks.
Hell I still can't believe that Thibs allegedly wanted to be here, we don't even consider him and then proceed to trade for Rose and sign Noah. Hell even Melo respected Thibs, but hey lets go with Hornacek. Then again he never had a chance to succeed here, once Rambis and Sasha were still on this team you knew that Phil was going to be interjecting at every chance he could get. Running the triangle extensively next year? What's the point of Hornacek even traveling with the team, just have Phil skype all the games. Hornacek has been castrated to the point that him resigning the head coaching position seems plausible.
This ugly season has served as a brutal reminder to all of us. The end of the bench players, this is their job, their livelihood and they got families to support, dreams to chase and this is their chance at it. Having to root against the likes of Baker, Ndour, Randle and Plumlee honestly annoys me. Their trying to prove that they belong in this league and all it's doing is hurting the long term outlook of this team. We complete the sweep against the Bulls who were fighting for the playoffs, we beat the Pistons and we beat the Heat who were fighting for the playoffs. In what world does this even make sense? Last but not least we beat the 76ers to allow us to be in a coin toss for the sixth pick.
The development of young players was indeed present this year, however to most fans it wasn't the one we wanted. Porzingis improved his numbers across the board, FG%, 3P%, Assists, Blocks and points. However he didn't blossom into a superstar in his second season and some have even soured on him! I mean I don't know about you, but the potential is still there for him and he's going to only get better. Hernangomez really impressed this year when given playing time, as a starter he averaged 12 points, 9 rebounds and 2 assists. He shown some real flashes, some slick passing, shooting and defense. He proved that he is going to be a real good player in the near future, definitely a nice steal by Phil on that one. Baker didn't always get a lot of time this year, but proved that he deserves a spot on the team.
Looking into the offseason, the Knicks yet again seemed poised for a rebuild, so that means we will doing another patch job. Similar to the roads in NY during winter, the maintenance crews do some piss poor patch jobs on the potholes, they'll only open up again in a few weeks time. That's been the Knicks for years now, retooling instead of rebuilding. It all begins with Melo, I have to believe that he sees the writing on the wall and that writing is screaming accept a trade. I cringe at the thought of how little Phil will accept in exchange for Melo, but for the sake of the future of this team it has to be done. Unless we get the help of the Gods, Old or New, we are screwed because Hank Moody said it best, God Hates us All. Gone are the days of Fultz, Ball and Jackson but now the debate will rage over the likes of Fox, Monk, Smith and Ntilikina. I would like to think we can't add another big man... could we? The Knicks will still be able to add a nice young piece to the team, but a possible franchise changer has eluded us.
Noah remains an albatross of a contract, virtually untradable and is facing suspension and recovering from injury. The trifecta! Lee is the perfect player to get traded, solid contract and has probably already asked to be traded. I can't envision a world in which he stays on this team next year. Then there's Derrick Rose. The man who went AWOL on us, the team and is clearly looking to cash in on a season in which he proved he can still get to the basket and still relatively healthy. At this point of his career he's suited to be a sixth man, but his pride probably won't allow him to come off the bench. I sincerely hope we don't even entertain the idea of bringing him back, ESPECIALLY since we will be running the triangle next year.
The Knicks will have some cap space to play around with this offseason, but man... stop. This team isn't in position nor should even entertain signing anyone. Hey if we can sign a Durant, Curry, Paul, Hayward or Griffin then go for it, but then you wake up and realize this isn't 2K. I really hope we don't hand a max contract out to the likes of Jrue, Otto, Lowry, KCP, Noel or the Milsaps of the world. Let the kids develop, the future of this team is KP, Willy and the draft pick. They need to grow their own identities, not playing sidekicks to a team heading nowhere.
It's been a long season and one in which I'm super glad that it's over. This was one of the worst Knick seasons I've ever lived through and I hope we never have to suffer like this again.
