The New York Knicks suffered through one of the worst seasons in the franchise history last season, but team president Phil Jackson is strating to put his imprint on the team and has put some potential building blocks in place. Here are three reasons why Knicks fans should be optimistic about their team's chances this season:
Logical start to building a contender
"Looking back on his measured, deliberate rebuilding of the team over the past few weeks, the Zen Master (Phil Jackson) calls to mind not a disinterested codger, but another famous New York City boss: Goodfellas' Paulie Cicero, who "might've moved slow, but it was only because [he] didn't have to move for anybody,"' Vice Sports' Joseph Flynn wrote in a recent article. "Once he finally got around to building the team he'd so thoroughly demolished, Jackson somehow got fans buzzing over strange old-man terms like "patience" and "financial prudence."
The additions of pieces such as former Blazers big man Robin Lopez and swingman Arron Afflalo may not qualify as sexy per se, but the long-term gambit that Phil Jackson and the front office has thrown down is reason enough for major optimism for those used to the James Dolan "throw darts wearing a blindfold" method.
Carmelo will be BACK
The Knicks will obviously be better next season with the return of their best player, but Carmelo will also give New York and the experience and scoring they so desperately lacked last year. Anthony has received more than his share of criticism and blame for the Knicks downfall, but the bottom line is that they'll be terrible again without him. While he may not be a superstar anymore, he's still one of the best offensive players in the league and can carry New York on that end of the floor while their young players develop.
Promising young rookies
Those young rookies, Kristaps Porzingis and Jerian Grant, both have the potential to be superstars in this league, and this year will be our first chance to see exactly what they will bring to the table. New York won't compete for a title this year, but the production of these two guys will give fans a ton of hope for the future.
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