Forget the NBA, perhaps no sports team in recent time resembles the unknown quantity this 2016-17 New York Knicks squad does.
A 50-plus win team who qualifies for the No. 3 or 4 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs? An injury-riddled 36-win squad who turns on each other during the season?
Or how about a magical NBA Championship season that sees everything come together in only a way the basketball gods can conduct?
When looking at the 2016-17 New York Knicks, just about anything is possible.
Thanks to Phil Jackson‘s shaking and moving this past summer, the they are, indeed, a true wildcard. The very nature of the team presents a challenge when looking to analyze. The unknown regarding this assembled squad is plentiful.
It’s quite possible that New York City has never seen a team with such a drastic gap between success and failure. And now, thanks to recent signings that now allows us to count at least 12 to the personnel, we can begin such a discussion.
This part of ESNY will go through the unbelievable high, the very possible low, and the extraordinary medium the Knickerbockers can perform to this upcoming season.
Next: The Highest Of Highs
50-Plus Wins, NBA Finals Appearance
Just think about the squad for a moment. Who has a chance at NBA star status this upcoming season?
Carmelo Anthony certainly has that shot. Derrick Rose is an NBA MVP, something that can never simply be dismissed. Kristaps Porzingis, by most accounts, is already on his way. Joakim Noah is a former NBA Defensive Player of the year.
This Knicks team is loaded.
The issue surrounds their depth. Brandon Jennings will do a lot to offset that. So much so, that some are even discussing the man as an early front-runner for NBA 6th Man of the Year.
Lance Thomas is an excellent wing sub, especially in gritty defensive situations. Kyle O’Quinn, Marshall Plumlee, Willy Hernangomez, and Mindaugas Kuzminskas must provide something off the bench. At least one, hopefully two of those guys will need to emerge should these Knicks have any designs on a deep playoff run.
Offensively, the roster works. Melo has semi-transitioned from an overwhelming volume shooter to a court vision guy. His 18.2 field goals attempts per game a season ago is direct evidence of that. D-Rose, while ball dominant, can drop dimes at a moment’s notice (career 6.2 assists per game). KP and Noah fit with any personnel thanks to each’s versatile and unselfish ways.
Seeing what these guys can do in an uptempo, new-age NBA Jeff Hornacek system is intriguing.
Defensively is where the issue will reside.
Courtney Lee brings a critical perimeter defensive aspect to the starting five which means only Melo and D-Rose lack elite defensive skills from a starting-five perspective.
Make no mistake about it and do not even think about laughing: If these Knicks are hitting on all cylinders, they could be the top contenders to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
With the scary growth potential of Porzingis and bounce back possibility of Rose and Noah, it is, indeed, possible.
Next: The Lowest Of Lows
Less Than 38-Win Injury Riddled Season
The real issue at heart surrounding the 2016-17 New York Knicks comes during this next discussion. The conversation that has the club performing as a bitter disappointment again.
When scouring the roster for potential stars, many can be found. At the same time, many risks are present too.
- Derrick Rose
- Joakim Noah
- Carmelo Anthony
These three guys aren’t just three of the Knicks four best players, they’re the undoubted top three riskiest players on the squad.
An incredible injury fear surrounding this group is the man reason for such an abnormally large gap between potential success and possible failure.
The main concern is, of course, D-Rose.
Rose has played eight seasons in the NBA which equals a possible 656 regular season games. Rose has participated in just 406 games. This is a percentage of 61 percent, a number beyond terrible.
Noah, who was relatively healthy his first few seasons, has also turned into a chronic injury player. He’s played in 572 games of a possible 738 (nine seasons). His play rate is sitting at a very subpar 77 percent.
Melo is the third guy. While he’s appeared in most of the possible games during his career – 902 of 1,066 – at age 32, with bad knees, his condition will always be a concern.
The gap between success and failure is so large solely based on these chronic injury risks. Nobody can predict what’ll happen. It’s tough to rely on such an injury-riddled roster.
Next: An Extraordinary Medium
44-48 Wins, Bottom Half East Seed
While the high is high and the low is low, the medium of what to expect from these Knicks is very extraordinary.
Extraordinary in the sense that they’ll be a much improved team, a playoff team in fact, but won’t be able to contend with the big boys. (A constant theme in The Association.)
This is what most expect from this collection of talent at the moment.
Be careful though. Should Jax find a way to sneak in a few quality depth players and Melo, D-Rose and Noah stay healthy, these Knickerbockers could potentially take their fans on wild ride in the Spring of 2017.
Should those things fall into place with Kristaps Porzingis shocking us to yet another level, an NBA Championship contender conversation could actually commence.
That’s far off from happening though, so for now, enjoy the ride and the relevancy.