Finally, the NBA has returned, and the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets will each kick off their second half against one another at the Barclays Center.
New York Knicks (23-32)
Brooklyn Nets (14-40)
NBA, Tonight, 7:30 PM ET on YES, MSG
Barclays Center, New York City, New York
By Robby Sabo
Throw the idea of a midseason head coaching change, a tired phenom rookie, and a banged up aging superstar, and the New York Knicks have very little to hang their hat on.
Still, there’s a tiny glimmering ray of hope at the end of the tunnel.
Playing in the Eastern Conference of the NBA, the Knickerbockers are just five games out of a playoff spot. The Charlotte Hornets and Chicago Bulls sit at 27-26, holding down the seventh and eighth seeds respectively.
So, keeping in mind the Knicks still have a chance, here are five good reasons on why they will make the NBA Playoffs:
5. KP Is Rested
Let’s face reality, shall we? Kristaps Porzingis has been running on fumes.
The young Latvian rookie sensation has been noticeably tired in the second half of games. Since KP came down with an upper respiratory infection in December, he started to sport a compressed black undershirt and less impressive basketball.
After shooting .432 from the floor and averaging a monstrous 9.9 rebounds in November, young Porzingis slipped to .418 from the floor and just 6.4 rebounds per contest in December.
Perhaps the much needed week off will do the slim KP good.
4. Rambis’s Opportunity
Yes, believe it or not, Kurt Rambis was that funny looking guy on the Showtime Magic Johnson-led Los Angeles Lakers who seemed to never fit in.
He wore those goofy googles and hustled his brains out while Magic and the boys free-flowed from coast to coast.
Now, he’s the head coach of the New York Knicks, and faces a major opportunity.
With a career coaching record of 56-146, coaching for the Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves, this could be Rambis’s last chance to shine.
3. Melo’s Ankle
On Jan. 12 at Madison Square Garden, Knicks’ superstar Carmelo Anthony rolled his ankle.
The frustrating part about this particular one, though, was that he did it at midcourt while stepping on an official’s foot. That’s right, a referee was the reason Melo got banged up.
It forced the 31-year old NBA All-Star to miss several games since, further forcing a .500 team to plummet to nine-games under .500.
Thank to Adam Silver and the powers that be making the All-Star break unusually long, Melo will most definitely benefit.
2. Reset Was Needed
As previously mentioned, this NBA All-Star break was incredibly long. It wasn’t just a weekend, it forced the fans to go without basketball for a full week.
From KP’s upper respiratory infection to Melo’s ankle, this much needed reset was needed.
The squad could finally take a step back from all of the Derek Fisher nonsense and re-evaluate life for a moment.
Starting tonight in Brooklyn they’ll have the chance to begin this reset.
1. Melo’s Leadership
More than any other campaign in his life, Carmelo Anthony’s leadership has been on full display. And now is not the time to change that.
With a supporting cast including the likes of Kristaps Porzingis, Robin Lopez, Arron Afflalo, Lance Thomas, Langston Galloway, and Derrick Williams, Melo will continue to trust the system and the guys surrounding him.
Are they a championship-caliber team? Of course not. Anthony knows this.
At the same, he also knows what’s on the horizon: cap space to play with during the summer to sign one max player which could turn 2016-17 into a fun ride.
Melo will continue playing team ball first and putting up volume shot number second.