After speaking to Phil Jackson following Sunday’s game, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr suggested that the Knicks president may be having a hard time dealing with another sub-.500 season from his club, as Mike Vorkunov of The New York Times details.
“It’s hard,” Kerr said. “It’s hard for anybody. A competitor like Phil — Phil is a fierce competitor — so losing eats competitors up. It’s no fun, but that’s part of it and part of the deal when you’re in this business, for sure.”
Despite making a series of win-now moves in the 2016 offseason, the Knicks remain out of the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference, with a winning percentage only slightly better than last season’s mark. Since Jackson took over as the team’s president of basketball operations, New York is just 75-153 (.329).
As Jackson and the Knicks try to find a way to turn things around for 2017/18, here are a few more notes out of New York:
- Knicks center Joakim Noah underwent a procedure on his knee last week that was expected to keep him out for the rest of the season, but Noah hasn’t given up on the idea of getting back on the court in the coming weeks, writes Al Iannazzone of Newsday. “I want to play,” said Noah, who has begun “light” rehab work. “Right now, I’m just taking it day by day. The next step is getting strength back in my leg and go from there.”
- Knicks fans in favor of tanking down the stretch may not have loved it, but Chasson Randle showed on Monday why the Knicks moved quickly to sign him after releasing Brandon Jennings, says Marc Berman of The New York Post. As Berman observes, Randle had a plus-27 rating in New York’s win in Orlando, compared to a minus-23 mark for starting point guard Derrick Rose. Randle has a non-guaranteed salary for 2017/18, so the Knicks figure to take a longer look at him down the stretch this season to see if he’ll be part of the club’s plans for next season.
- Speaking of Rose, Iannazzone has the details on the point guard’s left eye, which was on the receiving end of an inadvertent elbow from Kristaps Porzingis on Sunday. According to Iannazzone, Rose saw an eye specialist after the game, but was told everything is OK.
Phil drafted really well picking up Porzingis, he will be a superstar very soon. I have no problem bringing Rose back as long as it is not max money, this team needs no roster changes they just need a better defensive coordinator and possibly a new coach, Hornacek is not cutting it and he def does not have Melo’s respect. Dump Hornacek and bring in Avery Johnson, he can coach defense and demands respect.
Respectfully disagree. The issue is not Hornacek and Melo definitely needs a new start somewhere else. He’s a great scorer but his iso play disrupts any kind of rhythm. Not a good defender he would excel is a different system. We need someone like Holiday to run the point.
Melo is not the problem, and no thank you give me Rose over Holiday
I don’t know what you are watching Rose lets people blow by him at will. We need a point that can stop the ball. Giving Rose a big deal might turn out worse then the Noah contract with all his injury concerns.
Holiday is not as good as Rose simple as that, Rose’s defense is not the reason the Knicks are not a playoff team right now. Once Porzingis fully breaks out thats when the Knicks will take off.
Of course Holiday isn’t as good as Rose. But Rose isn’t good either. He’s a slashing point guard who can’t play defense and isn’t a good ball distributor. The Knicks need a whole roster overhaul since there is basically no talent outside of KP, Melo, Lee, and Rose. That’s hardly enough talent to carry a team to the playoffs, even with KP breaking out. They have some decent role players in Baker and Hernangomez but they need a better point guard (maybe one that can actually shoot). Or trade Melo and rebuild around KP.
Im not moving Melo, you compare the guy to former Knicks stars like Ewing,Sprewell, and Houston and he is right up there with them and still has a good 3-4 years in him so no Melo stays. Rose can stay if he takes a reasonable contract, if not he can go.
Melo will never possess the prowess Ewing displayed in his career. Melos a great player, maybe a HOF. But everyone can agree that Ewing is one of the fiercest Centers to ever play, on both ends of the court.
Melo is not the #1 in a big 3. He doesn’t lift guys, isn’t the kind of leader that Lebron, Jordan or even Kobe were. He’d be better off with the clippers or Cleveland, and the knicks would benefit from any compensation we’d get for him. Great scorer but just not a great fit for the kind of team ball they’re trying to incorporate here. Best to unload him while we can still get something of value for him.
I totally agree with you on Melo..it was fun but SEE YA! The game is so dull to watch when he is on the floor. The iso game sucks for the whole team. Not so sure about Holiday though..keep him, but with some time Baker is your man to run the show.
I agree bring this full squad back minus Melo and if Rose agree to anything other than the max. This team could be looking at a 37-24 record and toov3 in East but they lost over 15 games in the last 30 seconds. Rose defense inefficiencies can be covered up in a good defensive system(Thibs sytle defense). As for his offensive awareness and assist rate can be a great distributor of the ball. He’s done it in all star, olympics, and even college at Memphis. Yes, he a scoring point guard but he can initiate offense as well. But in order to set up easy buckets you need player movement. Especilly when he drive to basket it should be a man following or already down low ready to take advantage once the defense collapsed towards Rose of the Easy layup.Instead on this Knicks first string offense the guys tend to hover around the perimeter. We don’t have any true shooters on this team. We have scorers. Some that’s not consistent and others that take a lot of attempts to get points. You can’t discount Rose ability to get to the tim at ease and also he’s held up fairly well better than expected. I think he will come back even better next season because he’s a competitor and he will work hard on his weak spots this off season. As for his jumper I don’t think he attempt a lot of then because he doesn’t have to when you have Me lo and KP. No need to have 3 guys jacking them up trying to stay got or get hot…
The problem is right there in front of you, Derrick Rose, although a great scorer, he brings poor defense, no assists, no range on his jumper. Plus, I like his offense most of the time, and his upside is unlimited, but Porzingus hurts us a lot on defensive rotations.
Knicks shouldn’t have gave up on Tim hardaway jr to soon
Completely agree. They would’ve been so much better with Hardaway at the 2 this year. Kristaps and him would’ve done well together.
The Knicks should have a new starting PG next year. Whether that’s Chasson Randle or a newly drafted rookie, I don’t care. Porzingis and Willy should be the starting front court. I’d like the Knicks to trade Melo and get a solid SG and draft picks. This way your looking at Cap Space, solid SG, good picks, and Lance Thomas can play starting SF. This is what they should’ve done this year. A Knicks team like that would gel really well together and is as versatile as the Spurs were in Duncan’s early days. Just like Spurs, Knicks should avoid big names like Melo and Rose. Focus on home grown talent such as Kristaps and Hernangomez. Knicks can be great, but they need to start thinking in a non “New York bright lights” way. Build a team like everyone other champion does.
There’s reason why the Knicks are a losing dysfunctional franchise . They don’t make the right move and looking to fix things right away. At first , Randle should have made the roster since training camp. Secondly Sasha should get cut and used that roster spot for a young player.
Chasson Randle is a starter Baker is a rotation player.Randle can breakdown the D make the good pass shoot the 3 and play D and keep his man from penetrating.Makes him better for the team then Rose.K
Agree completely.
The Knicks issues’ begin and end with defense, and they’re about personnel (not coaching). There’s no team defense with a combination of high end individual defenders and other disciplined guys with work ethics on that side of the ball).
Rose is gone and should be. But getting rid of Melo is even more essential. He was, at his best, a mixed blessing. In his current physical and mental state, he (alone) precludes any type of structured scheme on offense or defense. He’s also a poor to horrific individual defender (beyond even horrific at the 4).
Retain Wily (5), KP (4) and Lee (2) as starters, add two other starters (1 and 3) that are higher IQ players and good to very good individual defenders (or young athletic guys that are at least willing to listen to the coach and will give max effort), and, for the bench, retain Kuz and O’Quinn, and look to re-sign Holiday. We’re stuck with Noah and Thomas. The rest are irrelevant and (to my knowledge) not under contract or vested with BRs or EBRs. They have two real assets that should yield starters: the 1st round pick, and cap space in excess of 20 mm (goes up if they can trade Melo taking back contracts well below his base salary).
At that point, a coach has a chance. Until then, it’s silly to even discuss a coaching or system change.
Agree but I like Thomas and hope he stays in the rotation. I don’t feel stuck with him as we are with Noah (its like working with 17 mill less cap then everyone else. We are better when he is not on the floor). Wish we could tear up his contract an make him an assistance coach
They are simply not a team from the top down. They don’t play together, they don’t play defense, and the players don’t want to even attempt to learn the triangle. The Knicks were destined for failure because of Phil and his instance of running his style but his refusal to coach it. As far as Dolan goes need I even say anything……? Donnie Walsh was turning them around and the needed to run him out of town SMH! Lots of people point fingers as to who is to blame, I truly feel it’s everyone!!!!