NO KNICK KNACK
4 straight 50-loss seasons no way to rebuild
The losing is now historic. Four straight seasons of at least 50 losses, something the Knicks haven’t done since the 1960s. And most troubling of all? There is no end in sight. On Tuesday, the Knicks will face the Orlando Magic, another franchise that knows a thing or two about being a perennial loser. The Magic last reached the playoffs in 2012. Orlando has changed coaches, management, including current Knicks GM Scott Perry, and has consistently drafted in the lottery. And yet for the Magic there is no end in sight.
In other words, the Knicks may not have hit rock bottom. Let that sink in for a moment.
There is no secret formula to rebuilding. You need smart people in charge, good coaching and a little bit of luck. But mostly you need great players. That last part is the toughest and one of the main reasons why Jeff Hornacek has the record he has in New York. The Knicks’ roster is devoid of stars, plain and simple.
The Knicks’ best player, Kristaps Porzingis, is recovering from major left knee surgery and may not return until December or January. Even when Porzingis is cleared to play it’s not as if he’ll be ready to log 35-plus minutes a night. He’ll be brought along slowly, therefore it is unfair to count on Porzingis to carry the Knicks out of this by himself.
The same will be true of the player the Knicks presumably will draft in the lottery. By presumably, we’re talking about the possibility of the Knicks trading the pick along with a player to acquire an established player. It’s unlikely, of course, but it’s possible.
With Kawhi Leonard’s future in San Antonio up in the air, the Knicks have to make a call this offseason. The Spurs may hang up but it’s a phone call worth making. Perhaps the Knicks can hit a home run in free agency. But chasing the big name free agent has been an exercise in futility. The Garden, because of the Knicks’ losing, isn’t a preferred destination.
When Perry was hired last summer Garden chairman James Dolan said in a press release that “today marks a culture change for our organization.” Unfortunately, just saying you’re changing your culture doesn’t make it so.
Look at the Spurs. Leonard has appeared in just nine games this season. He’s better than any player on the Knicks. But the Spurs haven’t wilted. Far from it. San Antonio won its 45th game on Sunday and should qualify for the playoffs. n fact, if the Spurs win their final five games they will continue their streak of winning at least 50 games. That run began in 1999-2000, the season after San Antonio defeated the Knicks to win the NBA title. The following season, the Knicks reached the Eastern Conference finals but have won just one playoff series since.
They’ve changed coaches, general managers and players but the losing continues. The culture, despite what Dolan says, hasn’t changed one bit.
To paraphrase a famous New York coach, the Knicks’ record is what the record says they are.
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