There have been a lot of movements that happened in the NBA offseason so far. The draft has added a new crop of talents to the ever-growing circle of elite athletes known as NBA players. The free agency has also transformed teams for better or for worse.
However, we don’t often discuss how these NBA updates change the franchises that add to the ever-growing popularity of the NBA. Some teams have made giant moves in the offseason while a lot of others made their business in relative silence.
The New York Knicks are a superb example of the latter. Despite being one of the most established big-market teams of the association in terms of history and media coverage, the Knickerbockers haven’t been relevant in the NBA landscape for quite some time.
The last time the Knicks reached the Eastern Conference Finals was during the turn of the century and Patrick Ewing was still donning a Knicks jersey. They haven’t made the playoffs since 2013, and their last four seasons have been nothing but disappointing.
However, there’s enough reason to believe that the latest dark age Knicks fans are going through is coming to a halt from the 2018/19 season onwards.
Doubtful of that bold declaration? Let me point out reasons as to why the New York Knicks are a worthy team to follow this season?
A Grizzly Coach Arrives in the Big Apple
The first wind of change comes from the top brass. They have kept Jeff Hornacek to give him a chance to keep his job on the court. However, a 29-53 record over the course of last season was an abysmal performance for many proud Knicks fans, and the former Utah Jazz found himself out of a job.
David Fizdale is given the reigns to turn over the fortunes of a poor team in the hopes of making the team successful again. While his coaching career only comprises of 101 games with the Memphis Grizzlies, he has extensive experience handling the pressure of big-media markets through his long stint with the Miami Heat during their Big Three era.
The new head coach has already made his move during the offseason in order to orient the team in the right direction. He made the long trip to Latvia to talk it out with franchise man Kristaps Porzingis, who has had notable clashes with New York hierarchy.
If he is able to get the Unicorn to buy into his philosophy, then the Knicks and their fans have something to look forward to.
Electrifying Youth to Knock Your Socks Off
The Knicks have lost a lot of their attacking power ever since they let Carmelo Anthony walk from the team in 2017. However, that decision has turned out swimmingly for the franchise: New York’s own son is struggling to find his identity without the ball while the Knicks have an array of young talent ready to blossom. Leading the youth movement of New York are Frank Ntilikina and Kevin Knox.
While Ntilikina didn’t feature in a lot of New York Knicks news, we must remember that young Frenchman was expected to struggle in a volatile environment. Despite the chaos surrounding him, however, he managed to average close to six points, three assists and a steal in the 78 games of his rookie campaign.
Knox will be looked upon to help lessen the offensive burden placed upon the 2017 first-round selection. His superior wingspan and physical tools give him the potential to become a premier offensive and defensive option for the franchise. His 15.6 PPG in his lone season at Kentucky shows great promise for his future.
If there are questions about his mental fitness for the game, you shouldn’t waste your breath: he wasn’t afraid to speak his mind about Melo.
Mario Hezonja, Emmanuel Mudiay, Trey Burke, Enes Kanter and Tim Hardaway Jr. make up the rest of the young core that might become the foundations of the franchise for the next five years.
The Unicorn Rises
Kristaps Porzingis, the leading man of the Knicks, pretty much represents what the city is all about. He is a foreigner. He was rejected by the city at first. He zeroed in, forcing his way into people’s hearts and is now an irreplaceable presence that is now synonymous with the city he represents on his chest.
The Unicorn played half a season in his third year of NBA action, and his production was greatly missed by the slumping Knicks. He made 22.7 points, grabbed 6.6 rebounds, and rejected 2.4 shots in 48 appearances.
Those who watched him play last season might have seen the Latvian star come out of his shell and exude confidence with every game. He will definitely be able to spread his wings amidst a gallery of impressive superstars that SBOBET thinks will replace LeBron as King of the East.
If you are not considering Porzingis or his Knicks to be ready for playoff contention, you might be sleeping on a big winner. After all, hunger can make the tamest animal go feral.
And the lack for postseason action has starved the Knicks just enough.
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