Lottery seeding on the line in Knicks’ finale vs. Sixers
Who says the Knicks haven’t played a meaningful game in April since Phil Jackson started making changes after the 2013-14 season?
A Knicks victory at the Garden over the Sixers in their season finale Wednesday could turn into a nightmare and have a negative impact on their lottery seeding. The likeliest scenario, though, is the Knicks stick at No. 6 in the lottery seedings — win or lose.
However, in a worst-case scenario, a Knicks victory could drop them to seventh. That means in the actual draft, they could pick as low as 10th. Teams can’t fall more than three spots in the May 16th lottery.
The Knicks (30-51) have already lost their shot at getting the fifth seed as the Sixers already have 53 losses. After Tuesday’s action, the team to watch instead is Minnesota. If Minnesota (31-50) loses its final game in Houston on Wednesday and the Knicks beat Philly, the Wolves and Knicks finish tied for the sixth-worst record at 31-51.
The NBA would then hold a drawing Tuesday — three envelopes put in a hat — to break the tie and determine the sixth and seventh seeds.
At No. 6, the Knicks would have a 6.3 percent chance of winning the lottery and a 21.5 percent chance at a top-3 pick in a draft rich in point guards. At No. 8, the percentages drop to 3.5 and 12.3.
The good news is Carmelo Anthony, Kristaps Porzingis and Derrick Rose should each be out. Anthony is the only possibility, as the Knicks have listed him as questionable, giving him wiggle room despite Jeff Hornacek saying he expects him to rest for the finale.
With further insult to injury, Knicks center Joakim Noah is “contemplating” another surgery — this one to repair a torn rotator cuff in his left shoulder, an NBA source confirmed. The source said it is a wear-and-tear injury and not from one incident.
The Vertical reported the suspended Noah will need surgery and four to six months to rehab. Noah had shoulder surgery last year that cut his season to 29 games.
Noah hasn’t played since Feb. 4 with a hamstring strain and then a loose bone in his left knee requiring surgery Feb. 24.