After the debacle of falling to (38-44) a season ago and missing the playoffs for the first time in the Melo era with the Knicks you would have thought things would be a bit better in Gotham. Just two years removed from a (54) win season, obtaining an Atlantic division crown for the first time in almost 20 years and advancing past the first round of the playoffs in over a decade you had to believe better days were coming. Those days were not last season and seems they won't arrive this year either. This years Knicks team has started a franchise worst (4-17) and to the displeasure of MSG ticket holders and New York fans alike embarrassing play at the place that was once the Mecca of hoops. This place reminds us more of a construction sight with all the bricks New York accumulates each and every game. A 20,000 seat circus Madison Square Garden has turned to with this product on the court has been laughable this season. While the true definition of a triangle can be scripted better by a kindergarten class than this group of men.
THE GOOD: Let's start with this since their is not much. The Knicks at least have (4) wins this season. That definitely doesn't say much but it's better than (0) wins. A two game win streak is the longest the Knicks own this year and this came within the first week of the season. Besides several games the Knicks have been competitive for the most part in games. With 12 of their 17 losses coming by (7) points or less while 5 games New York has loss by (3) points or less. In their lone (4) wins New York's field goal percentage is above (50%) while assist have been a common theme averaging at least (20) per game and has been the most consistent stat thus far. Respect is given for their hustle and resilience in most games played although morale victories aren't enough to see postseason action.
THE BAD: New York is only (3) games above the woeful Sixers who just won their first game this week after losing (16) straight. The Knicks have dropped (7) straight including 9 of 10 games and have not seen a (W) on the schedule since November 22nd against that same horrific Philadelphia team. Yes they have been in most games but have dropped (5) games by double-digits including games against a less than average Brooklyn and Minnesota. The Garden has not felt like home this year as the Knicks post a (3-8) record to begin the season however; the Knicks have not won a road matchup since stealing a win at Cleveland in Lebron James emotional return home. That was October 30th, that's been (37) days without a road victory. Bad shooting nights in their losses, a total of (43%) shooting in those (17) games a drop off of (8%) from their wins. Turnovers continue to plague New York on a nightly basis. Enough blame can go around for inconsistent play on both ends of the court no matter the statistic as the finger can be pointed at each member of this New York Knicks team, as a drastic overall improvement will be necessary moving forward.
THE UGLY: This is the part that will last probably the entire season. New York is in a rebuilding stage, basically a (5) year process that the team and fans will have to be patient about. This year is a trial and error year to really evaluate what pieces you will be moving forward with and who won't be on the roster come next season. This season we have seen the Knicks look well early in games and blow it late or being embarrassed from tip to rallying comebacks that were to deep to come out of. First year head coach Derek Fisher is experiencing the growing pains early in his young coaching career and quite often. Insult to injury was three games ago versus Brooklyn as the Knicks battled back against the Nets, Fisher was asking for a timeout at the end of the game to obviously get ignored by the referee as New York once again loss a close game to their foes across the bridge. Utah won with a buzzer beater and game winning baskets in consecutive nights by Cleveland and Charlotte; the Knicks have failed to win (6) games with ten seconds or less left in regulation. The Knicks just can't win close games, they can't win any games. It's hard to execute the triangle when they don't know how to run the triangle. The defense must step up giving up (100) or more points in nine games. Staying healthy is impossible with this group of players. While Derek Fisher still scrambles to find the right rotation in his starting lineup. As I have mentioned before patience will be key for the whole organization, patience, because July 2, 2015 is still 196 days away.
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