SDH's 2014/2015 NBA End of Season Worst to First Countdown: 29. New York Knicks

2014/2015 Projection: 42-40, second place Atlantic Division, eighth place Eastern Conference Actual Finish: 17-65, fifth place Atlantic Division, fifteenth place Eastern Conference	Projected 2012/2013 Finish 16	Actual 2014/2015 Finish 29
Team Statistics and League Rank Points Scored: 91.9 (30th) Points Allowed: 101.2 (22nd) Team FG%: .428 (28th) Opponent’s FG%: .460 (27th) Team FT%: .769 (8th) Team Three Point FG%: .347 (15th) Rebounds per game: 40.4 (29th) Opponents rebounds per game: 43.5(16th) Turnovers per game: 13.8 (17th) Opponents turnovers per game: 13.4 (17th)	Individual Statistical Leaders Scoring (ppg): Carmelo Anthony (24.1) Rebounds per game:  Carmelo Anthony (6.6) Minutes per game:  Carmelo Anthony (35.7) Assists per game:  Jose Calderon (4.7) Field Goal Percentage:  Cole Aldrich (.478) Free Throw Percentage: Jose Calderon (.910) Three Point FG Percentage: Jose Calderon (.415) Steals per game:  Shane Larkin (1.2) Blocked Shots per game:  Samuel Dalembert (1.3)
SDH’s Hero to Honor: +Andrea Bargnani  Soon the drama which is Andrea Bargnarni will come to an end: the story of a wayward Italian boy selected first overall in the 2006 NBA Draft and the tumultuous years that would come thereafter.  He never made the All Star team, but was certainly paid like one, and despite his best efforts, never got much, if any, as a player; however, this time he deserves the spotlight as he was the only Knick that was worth talking about this season.  Although he spent the bulk of it on the the sidelines, he spent the final 29 games of the season carrying the team offensively averaging a rather efficient 16 points per game in just under 30 minutes of playing time.  In the month of March, he certainly showed that he could still put up big numbers scoring at least fifteen or more points in all but 11 games he played in and was held to single digits just four times; however, as most of his most fervent of critics would point out, none of his performances ended up as wins.  Despite the wasted sham of a season, at least Bargs still had a chance to show prospective NBA teams that there still is some "Il Mago"  left in him.	SDH’s Face to Forget: +Carmelo Anthony   After such an abysmal performance by both himself and his team, it is understandable if Melo chose to cut out of the season early and crawl under the nearest rock; however, on the flip side, it does not very good for a captain not to stay and go down with the ship.  After all, he did choose to resign with the team despite having the opportunity to jump to a better situation where he would be in a better spot to have a chance to win a championship; yet, by doing that, he must have known that the road that he chose would not have easy to drive through in the least.  In his defense, even he did not fathom that his team would fall so far considering the fact that his boss, Phil Jackson did make a concerted effort to surround him with solid veteran talent and had the team been at full strength at opening tip off, the Knicks could have at least been in the playoff chase for sure; instead, the team came into the regular season injury plagued and short handed leaving it vulnerable for dissection by the opposition.  Anthony's inability to adjust to triangle offense did not help matters either--especially considering the fact that he was the primary focal point of the offense, giving him plenty of shot opportunities; nonetheless, he can hold solace in the fact that 18 wins will probably to the lowest the team can go and there is no where else to go but up.  Hopefully, next season will erase this debacle as the Knicks come into the off-season with plenty of cap space and the chance to snag the number one overall pick in the Draft Lottery which gives Anthony as well as the fan who had so much faith in him a glimmer of hope for the future making this past season a distant memory.
At the opening tip-off of the 2015 +NBA Regular Season, the +New York Knicks came into the season with a better team, new coach, new management and a better outlook for the future as they made Carmelo Anthony  the face, heart and soul of the franchise for the next five years; plus, by some voodoo or black magic, the team's new boss, Phil Jackson, managed to snag draft picks and acquired a talented group of veterans to surround his star.  Add the return of a healthy +Amar'e Stoudemire, and a solid group of returning supporting cast players which consisted of JR Smith, +Iman Shumpert, Andrea Bargnarni, +Tim Hardaway Jr., and +Pablo Prigioni, among others, Knicks fans as well as the rest of basketball viewing world would be treated to team that not only had a chance to return to playoffs, but might just also challenge for the Atlantic Division Title.  Fans also got teased in the off season as they watched their team gel rather well during the NBA Summer League as the players seemed quite at ease with the newly implemented "Triangle Offense" brought in by the team's new appointed head coach--Jackson's own protege, Derek Fisher--which combined with the roster upgrades made the Knicks look like quite a formidable foe coming into November.  Unfortunately, all these rosy projections turned into false hope and shattered dreams as fan and the rest of the world saw this one time historic franchise not only just stumble, but fall, crash and burn right in front of them finishing the league's second worst record and a rather prominent black eye.  Now all Knick fans can do is throw their hand up in the air, call the season awash and eagerly await the off season where their will have access to the most salary cap space it has ever seen in more than a decade and a chance to attain the number one overall pick in this upcoming NBA Draft. The season started well enough as the Knicks won two of the first three games and even the seven game losing skid which followed did not phase fans a bit as many considered those as "growing pains" in which the team will eventually turn things around as there were still 72 games to play; however, the losing did not stop there.  After a short respite where New York went 2-2, their wounds would burst open once again and the Knicks simply started hemorrhaging as their finished December with just one win and continued to bleed out through 2015 thus making it quite apparent to not only fans, but the rest of the sporting world that there was no bouncing back for this team and it had become blatantly apparent that this team was headed nowhere.    After witnessing the team he built crumble before him, Team President Phil Jackson had enough and decided to take matters into his own hands--first by trading away JR Smith and Iman Shunpert to the +Cleveland Cavaliers for garbage player that would be waived soon after (1/6/2015), then buying out the remainder of Amare Stoudemire's expiring contract (2/16/2015), and trading away Pablo Prigioni to the +Houston Rockets for another expiring contract and two second round picks (2/19/2015).  By All Star break, the team had been completely gutted with just four players under contract next season and with the team in complete disarray around him, both Jackson Knicks head coach Derek Fisher decided to show mercy to their beleaguered star and chose to sit Carmelo Anthony out for the rest of the season under the guise of recovery for a knee surgery (2/18/2015).  Although it officially ended in April, the Knicks had already packed in their season by January as they played out the rest of it with a skeleton crew roster just counting the days until the final horn sounding and they can finally put that sham of season behind them and finally start looking towards the future. Upon closer examination, what made this season such a shame was the fact that in the first two months, most of the losses that the Knicks had suffered were by single digits with 12 going down by five points or less, three in over time, and had the ball bounced their way in the last couple minutes or even a few seconds, their season would have probably ended far differently.  In November, the Knicks went through a four game stretch where they lost by a total of 17 points, which is an average of just four points each, with two of them being decided by one basket; in addtion to those gut churning turn of events New York had equally heart wrenching moments such as the three point loss against the +Detroit Pistons (11/5/2014), the +Milwaukee Bucks by four (11/18/2015), the +Houston Rockets by five (11/24/2014), the +Dallas Mavericks in overtime (11/26/2014), and in spite holding them to just 86 points, lost to the +Miami HEAT by seven (11/30/2014).  Had the Knicks managed to hold on and win such nail biters against the Pistons, the +Orlando Magic (11/12/2014) and the +Utah Jazz (11/14/2014)--all of which were decided by just one basket--they would have started the season at 5-5 instead of 2-8 which would have probably been much better for the team's overall confidence and morale; however, the hands of fate would not allow it and waged  a cruel campaign against the Knicks shattering both their resolve and collective self esteem.  Add the two straight games where the +Atlanta Hawks squeezed past them (11/8, 11/10) as well as the Bucks game where both teams scored a whopping 230 points altogether, the Knicks would have been right in the thick of the Eastern Conference race with an 8-5 record and had they pulled out wins against Dallas, Houston and Miami, they would have started the season with a rather respectable 10-8 record which would have given them enough momentum to at least help split the four games they started December in which they lost by a total of just 14 points--less than four per game.  Had the pendulum swung in their favor in many of those early hard fought losses, it probably would have been a far different season with the Knicks Probably earning a sixth or seventh seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs instead of finishing with the second worse record in the NBA behind the +Minnesota Timberwolves. Regardless of what may or may not have happened, either way the Knicks and their fans will be looking forward to an off season where they will not only have more than 50$ million in salary cap space as well as the chance to acquire the first overall pick in this upcoming NBA draft which is too bad of a consolation prize for finishing last place in the Eastern Conference; however, unlike most teams on the road to rebuilding, the Knicks do not have that much time on their hands.  Carmelo Anthony has recently turned thirty and certainly did not envision spending the last five best playing years of his career on a rebuilding team especially since he signed a long term extension deal with the team and planned on finishing his career in the Big Apple thus the Knicks' front office will most certainly have plenty of pressure to ensure that their team bounces back from that horrible season as quickly as possible.  If not, they will certainly have one unhappy player on their hands and as he ages, his performance as well as his overall market value will certainly diminish thus resulting in a toxic relationship that might just possibly sink the franchise and its star player to the point of no return which makes it even more imperative that the Knicks get the job right the first time as there is little room for trial and error.  For both their sakes, Phil Jackson and his cronies in the Knicks' front office better come up big in free agency because unlike last season, the picking are rather slim compared to the last off season in terms of game changing free agents available and the patience of both his team's star and its fan base can be considered as rather slim to say the least; however, salary cap space is not a guarantee that he can get a difference maker and it may take a year or two for a lottery pick to make an immediate impact.  He literally has his back on the wall as there will be numerous factors out of his control come the off season; plus, add the pressure of needing to succeed as soon as possible, Phil Jackson will definitely have a job on his hand to turn this team to a 16 game loser to championship contender. The obvious step for next season for Phil is certainly to get the Knicks back into the playoffs which is not too much of a difficult task considering it just took 38 games to make it into the post season this year; however, that is still quite a daunting task considering the fact that his team is in rubble and be virtually has to build it back up from scratch.  Hopefully with all the tools available at his disposal--the ridiculous amount of cap space that no Knick GM has had since FOREVER and the prospect of receiving, at worse, the second overall pick in this upcoming draft--Jackson will have what he need to make this team at least semi-respectable when the NBA restarts in October; plus, he also has the additional luxury to know build the team as he seems fit since he has a virtual clean canvas to do it on.  Unfortunately, he works in an rather cynical, scrutinizing and unforgiving marketplace where every breath he makes, every move he makes, every bond he break, every step he takes . . . okay, you get the point--he will be watched very closely.  Many would scoff at the idea that Phil will buckle under the pressure considering he took two team with very high standards in excellence to twelves NBA Finals winning eleven of them; however, what these same people do not understand is that there is a big difference between coaching a team that has been given to him compared to being in the background and building a team for someone else to coach.  Perhaps his plan is to ultimately take over coaching duties once the team has been molded into his own image with all the pieces in place; however, if that is the case, he might just set himself up for failure if things fall awry.  So let us all hope that for the sake of not only the NBA, but the sports world in general, that he can turn things around as soon as possible in the world's largest and most lucrative sports market because not only the people of New York, but the entire world needs to see this team be successful and time is not on his side.

SDH Presents from TYT Sports: Should the Knicks Shut Down Carmelo Anthony?

+Carmelo Anthony  is one of the highest paid +NBA  players, has been named to multiple all star teams, has a scoring title to his name and is currently nursing an injured knee. With all the accolades of Melo’s career, he has yet to lead a team or make a run at an NBA Championship. The +New York Knicks are vying to become the worst team in NBA history and are way ahead of pace to have their losingest season in Knicks history.

Should the Knicks shut down Carmelo Anthony? Is this the worst team of the past decade? See what the folks from +TYT Sports have to say and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below.  It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!

SDH Presents Knicks London Practice (1/13/2015): Stoudemire On His Role and Global Games

+Amar'e Stoudemire explains his role on the team as the veteran and how the +NBA  benefits from its Global Games. Catch more in depth coverage on the +New York Knicks--including highlights, scores, interviews, commentary and insightful analysis--as well as the rest of the +NBA right here on +Slap Dog Hoops.  Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below.  It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!  

SDH Presents Knicks All-Access Weekly: A Big Trade, New Faces, and Galloway's Debut

Watch as the +New York Knicks  make a big trade, welcome new faces, and Langston Galloway receives the call-up from Westchester. Catch more in depth coverage on the +New York Knicks--including highlights, scores, interviews, commentary and insightful analysis--as well as the rest of the +NBA right here on +Slap Dog Hoops.  Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below.  It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!  

SDH Presents Knicks 1-on-1 with Shane Larkin: Prepping For London Trip

Knicks.com's Jonah Ballow caught up with Shane Larkin right before the +New York Knicks  took off for London. Catch more in depth coverage on the +New York Knicks--including highlights, scores, interviews, commentary and insightful analysis--as well as the rest of the +NBA right here on +Slap Dog Hoops.  Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below.  It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!  

SDH Presents Knicks Shootaround (1/7/15): Fisher On Melo, Galloway, and Team Mindset

At the Knicks morning shootaround in Washington D.C, Head coach Derek Fisher had a +Carmelo Anthony update, thoughts on Langston Galloway, and the team mindset after the big trade.  Catch more in depth coverage on the +New York Knicks--including highlights, scores, interviews, commentary and insightful analysis--as well as the rest of the +NBA right here on +Slap Dog Hoops.  Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below.  It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!  

SDH Presents Knicks 1-on-1 with Langston Galloway: Learning The Triange and Seizing The Opportunity

Knicks.com's Jonah Ballow sat down with Langston Galloway to discuss his time with the +New York Knicks in Summer League and learning the triangle. Catch more in depth coverage on the +New York Knicks--including highlights, scores, interviews, commentary and insightful analysis--as well as the rest of the +NBA right here on +Slap Dog Hoops.  Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below.  It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!  

SDH Presents Knicks Shootaround (1/7/15): Melo On Potential Return and Recent Trade

+Carmelo Anthony  reacted to the recent trade and talks about a potential return to the floor at the Knicks morning shootaround in Washington D.C.  Catch more in depth coverage on the +New York Knicks--including highlights, scores, interviews, commentary and insightful analysis--as well as the rest of the +NBA right here on +Slap Dog Hoops.  Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below.  It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!  

SDH Presents from JRSportBrief: JR Smith Traded to Cavs! Dion Waiters to the Thunder! Who Got Better?

After quite a hiatus, +Slap Dog Hoops brings back an old staple, +JRSportBrief, to grace us all with his wisdom on all things +NBA. In this edition, JR discusses last night shocking trade news:  JR Smith and Iman Shumpert will be heading to the +Cleveland Cavaliers, +Dion Waiters will go to the +Oklahoma City Thunder, while the +New York Knicks  get cap space and will probably be looking to tank the season more likely. Who won out in this three team trade??  View more #JRWisdom and always keep up with all 30 +NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below.  It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!   

SDH's 2014/2015 Worst to First Countdown for the First "Slap-mester" (Oct/Nov/Dec): 29. New York Knicks

+New York Knicks  Win/Loss Record as of December 31st, 2014:  5-28, fourth place Atlantic Division, 14th Place Eastern Conference	Projected 2014/2015 Finish 16 Current Rank as of December 31st 29
Team Statistics and League Rank as of December 31st,  2014:  Points Scored: 94.6(25th) Points Allowed: 101.4 (21st) Team FG%: .448 (20th) Opponent’s FG%: .461 (23rd) Team FT%: .793 (2nd) Team Three Point FG%: .353 (15th) Rebounds per game: 39.4 (29th) Opponents rebounds per game: 41.7 (7th) Turnovers per game: 13.9 (15th) Opponents turnovers per game: 13.6 (16th)	Individual Statistical Leaders as of December 31st, 2014: Scoring (ppg): Carmelo Anthony (24.1) Rebounds per game:  Amare Stoudemire (7.4) Minutes per game: Carmelo Anthony (36.4) Assists per game:  Jose Calderon (4.3) Field Goal Percentage: Amare Stoudemire (.558) Free Throw Percentage:  Jose Calderon (1.0) Three Point FG Percentage: Jose Calderon (.427) Steals per game: Pablo Prigioni (1.3) Blocked Shots per game: Samuel Dalembert (1.3)
Worst of the Class: Iman Shumpert It was supposed to be a make it or break it year for Shumpert, who had spent his last three seasons on the sidelines due to his injuries and it seemed that he was headed toward a breakthrough year coming into this season. In his first nine games, Iman started the season hot averaging nearly 14 points per game, shooting .501 from the field and .453 from beyond the arc.  Unfortunately, after that nine game streak, his production took a severe decline as his numbers dropped to just 6.7 points per game at a woesome .307 clip over his next fifteen games before he fell to injury once again.  This may be the last time we will ever see Shumpert in a Knicks uniform ever again as year after year he has shown promise of being a special player only to fall flat each and every season.  With his rookie coming to an end along with a roster with is log-jammed at the shooting guard position, the enigma known as Iman Shumpert may be bidding farewell to the Madison Square Garden faithful and possibly the NBA as well.	First of the Class: Amare Stoudemire If there can be anything found that can seen as a shining light in this otherwise dreadful season, it has to be the play of Amare Stoudemire who has seemed to be finally over his injuries and back in playing form.  Stoudemire started the season playing every game in November and has thus far been the Knicks' leader in rebounds per game at nearly eight per game while shooting at an almost unconscious clip at .558 from the field.  Unfortunately, however, it seems as if  both his tenure in New York will be ending on a sour note as he finished 2014 missing six of the last seven games due to yet another injury.  Now he enters 2015 as major question mark on whether he will finish the season in a Knicks unform, be traded before the regular season deadline, or have his expiring contract simply be flat out bought out to finally see his tumultuous tenure in the Big Apple finally end on a depressing note.  Hopefully, he will bounce back and show not only Knicks' fans, but also the entire league that he still has plenty of basketball left and can still make a strong impact on the court; however, that may just be very unlikely as it looks like the end of Amare Stoudemire's career has already been written on the wall.
Despite falling out of playoff contention, the New York Knicks season ended on a high note with the introduction of new front office, new coaching staff and a whole new winning attitude along with a stronger and more cohesive culture for the struggling franchise.  The organization welcomed back former player and hall of fame coach Phil Jackson as the new head of its basketball operations and he quickly made his mark during the summer by not only re-signing the team's star Carmelo Anthony, but also making very low key yet very strong moves to make the team not only smarter, but also more apt to adhere to the principles of his Triangle Offense.  The team showed plenty of progress during the Summer League as the players seemed quite comfortable with the intricacies of such a complex system as the Triangle and many projected the Knicks to jump leaps and bounds from the 37 wins that they posted last season.  In fact, with the team that they had coming into this season, the Knicks not only looked like a lock to make the playoffs in the East, but also could be a potential spoiler in the race for the top Eastern Conference.  Unfortunately, that has not come to pass as the regular season has fallen well below expectations as the Knicks find themselves at the bottom looking up with the league's second worst record and completely out of sync as well as out of the Eastern Conference race. The regular season started well enough with the Knicks winning two of their first three game--one of those came at the expense of the +LeBron James led +Cleveland Cavaliers as they ruined his first homecoming beating the Cavs in Cleveland.  Unfortunately, what would follow after their solid 2-1 record was a seven game losing streak that saw the Knicks having the misfortune of losing three of them by a total of seven points.  In those three games, had the ball tipped their way or their foes missed their last second shots, New York would have had started with a  5-5 record instead of falling to 2-8 before finally stopping the bleeding with a 16 point home win against the +Denver Nuggets (11/16/2014).  That win was then regrettably followed by yet another heartbreaking four point loss to the +Milwaukee Bucks (11/18/2014) and by a shameful display losing to an injury depleted +Minnesota Timberwolves team by a embarrassing 16 points (11/19/2014) before quickly breaking that short losing streak with a bounce back win against the +Philadelphia 76ers  (11/22/2014). Sadly, however, the glow from that Philly win faded as quickly as it arrived as the Knicks would finish the month of November losing their last four games against the +Houston Rockets (11/24/2014), +Dallas Mavericks (11/26/2014), +Oklahoma City Thunder (11/28/2014) and the +Miami HEAT (11/30/2014). As it was the case with the previous seven game losing steak, that four game slide would be equally frustrating for both the Knicks and their fans as three of them once again came down to the wire and end with New York holding the short end of the stick.  The Houston game was lost by just five points due to twelve point clutch performance in the final five minutes by +James Harden while the Mavs outpaced the Knicks in overtime after a heroic last second shot by JR Smith tied the game at the end of regulation.  Grabbing those two games would not only have certainly given the Knicks a boost in their collective self esteem beating two elite teams on the road, but would have softened the blow of their near thirty point humiliation in Oklahoma City which followed.  They would have had another chance at redemption with a home win against the Heat and certainly could have beaten Miami as they held the Heat to just 86 points; however, Miami manged to hold the Knicks down to just 79 points thus continuing their downward spiral.  What would subsequently follow was a six game slide to start the month of December where New York would once again suffer the sting of a potential win as they would lose four of those six by a total of 14 points--two of which came down to one last second shot. For Knicks fans, it would have been bad enough to watch their team lose by double figures and constantly get blown out like the league's other cellar dwellers such as the Sixers and the Timberwolves; however, to lose a total of eleven games by very close margins have to sting even more.  Those could have been possible wins that could have catapulted the Knicks up among the NBA's elite instead of wallowing at the very bottom just one game shy of the worst record of the league which is currently held by the Philadelphis 76ers.  As 2014 drew nearer to a close, there would be even more games that would be even more excruciatingly painful to watch not so much because they were simply overpowered by their opponents, but the simple fact that they simply slipped through their fingers.  After a much needed win against the +Boston Celtics on the road (12/12/2014), the Knicks would lose another harsh one at home in overtime against the the +Toronto Raptors by just five points (12/14/2014) and after being completely bludgeoned by Mavericks (12/16/2014) at the Garden they would head off to Chicago where they would come just six points short to the Bulls (12/18/2014).  To continually watch your team have one victory stripped away from them after the other must be the equivalent to witnessing someone getting repeatedly get kicked in the groin for an extended amount of time--a sight that can be equated to torture. In a post game interview after the Christmas Day loss to the +Washington Wizards, Carmelo Anthony summed up his team's troubles quite eloquently: "The fans are dying, we’re dying. We’re out there, we’re not producing. We didn’t expect, I didn’t expect to be sitting at 5-26," he said. "So as much as I feel for the fans, I feel for us going through it, too. I don’t expect nobody to feel sorry for us, I don’t expect nobody to feel sorry for me (12/25/2014)."  Nonetheless, one cannot help but feel sorry for both him, his team, and their fans as the past three months have simply been an exercise in frustration and despair.  Despite their best efforts, the Knicks continually found themselves at the losing end having certain victory snatched up right from under them and it is little wonder why the team have collapsed after one heartbreak after another; yet, despite the sour taste in their mouths and their rotten luck, they still managed to pick themselves up to give it another try.  Head Coach Derek Fisher must find it even more difficult with every passing game trying to keep his players motivated as they stare down a 5-29 record with 48 games left in the regular season with the bulk of those games being lost by such a small margin that it hurts even more than getting blown out by their opponents.  And although his boss, former coach and current mentor Phil Jackson reassured fans in a tweet that things will be better in 2015, his optimistic words sadly do not reflect the ominous reality that his team faces as his players limp, stumble, and drag their battered limbs through the next three months. It is really quite a shame because the team's record does not reflect the actual quality of their play as even through the most difficult of circumstances, they still try their best to execute the Triangle offense in which both Jackson and Fisher pride their all their past success on.  Had the Knicks started the season at full strength instead of having several of their key players sidelined with injuries at the opening tip off, then perhaps the situation would have been much different.  Had Jose Calderon, Pablo Prigioni, JR Smith, and Andrea Bargnani been suited up and ready to go on opening day instead of sitting on the bench in street clothes, perhaps the Knicks could have at least won half of those close calls making them seem far more respectable than they are now.  By the start of January, they could have been 10-24 or even 15-19--records that may not have been too great, but would still give Knicks fans something to cheer about or even give the team a sense of accomplishment and motivated enough to push for a playoff berth in the second half of the season.  Unfortunately, it seems as if it is too late for this hard luck crew to even make an effort to salvage their season as all their competitive fire and fighting spirit have been virtually sucked out of them leaving them an empty husk of a team.    Not even the promise of having a chance of getting the number one overall pick in the draft or the significant amount of cap space it will have once the season ends will relieve the sting or remove the scars that have been put upon the back of the team, its players and their fans because none of this was supposed to happen.  This was supposed to be the season where they were supposed to bounce back from their disappointing season with a fresh new outlook and silence any doubters who had them falling apart come opening tip off.  Instead, they are now seen as a laughing stock who may have to scrap this season up for a loss, tear the whole thing down and start up again from scratch in the off season where they will not only have potentially the number one overall pick, but also oodles of salary cap space to lure prospective free agents.  Carmelo Anthony may have had high expectations coming into the season when Phil Jackson convinced him to choose to stay in the Big Apple instead of leaving to Chicago, Houston, Miami, Dallas, or any other place where he would have been on an instant contender.  Now he will just have to settle with being stuck on a team that seems to be heading for rock bottom and wondering when will he get his chance to taste even a hint of the championship glory that his longtime rival Lebron James has enjoyed so far.

SDH Presents NBA Recap: Trail Blazers vs. Knicks, December 7th

+LaMarcus Aldridge  recorded 25 points and 11 rebounds and +Damian Lillard  added 20 points as the +Portland Trail Blazers  defeated the +New York Knicks. Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below.  It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!

SDH Presents NBA Recap: Knicks vs. Hornets, December 5th

+Kemba Walker sank a buzzer beater for the +Charlotte Hornets 103-102 win over the +New York Knicks. Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below.  It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!

SDH Presents NBA Recap: Knicks vs. Mavericks, November 26th

The +Dallas Mavericks dropped +New York Knicks in overtime on Wednesday, 109-102. Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below.  It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!

SDH Presents NBA Recap: Knicks vs. Timberwolves, November 19th

Kevin Martin scored 37 points as the +Minnesota Timberwolves  rolled past the +New York Knicks  115-95. Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below.  It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!

SDH's 2014/2015 NBA Worst to First Previews and Predictions: 16. New York Knicks

+New York Knicks Overall Win/Loss Record:  37-45,  third place Atlantic Division 2014/2015 Projection: 42-40, third place Atlantic Division, eighth place Eastern Conference e Preseason Rank 16
Last season’s Team Statistics and League Rank Points Scored: 98.6 (20th) Points Allowed: 99.4(8th) Team FG%:  .449 (16th) Opponent’s FG%: .461 (13th) Team FT%: .761 (13th) Team Three Point FG%: .372 (7th) Rebounds per game: 40.7 (27th) Opponents rebounds per game: 42.0 (10th) Turnovers per game: 12.4 (2nd) Opponents turnovers per game: 13.8 (16th)	Returning Individual Statistical Leaders Scoring (ppg): Carmelo Anthony (27.4) Rebounds per game:  Carmelo Anthony (8.1) Minutes per game: Carmelo Anthony (38.7) Assists per game:  Pablo Prigioni (3.5) Field Goal Percentage: Amare Stoudemire (.557) Free Throw Percentage:   Pablo Prigioni (.920) Three Point FG Percentage: Pablo Prigioni (.461) Steals per game: Iman Shumpert (1.2) Blocked Shots per game:  Andrea Bargnarni (1.2)
Projected Opening Day Starters Based on Past Performances and Potential Impact: Jose Calderon (PG) Iman Shumpert (SG) Carmelo Anthony (SF) Amare Stoudemire (PF) Jason Smith (C)	Key Reserves Rank Based on Past Performances and Potential Impact: Andrea Bargnarni (F/C) JR Smith (G) Tim Hardaway Jr (G) Samuel Dalembert (C) Pablo Prigioni (G)
At the end of the 2014 season, the New York Knicks were a complete mess: both the franchise, the city, and its fan were worn down, tapped out, and dejected after having went from being the second best team in the Eastern Conference a year earlier to falling out of the playoff picture last season. Even the announcement of the arrival of former Knick and 11 time NBA Champion coach Phil Jackson as the team's new president did not offer much encouragement to Knicks fans who have witnessed their pride and joy collapse right in front of them.  The situation that Jackson inherited was bleak to say the least: the team had no draft picks, was way over the salary cap, and its roster consisted of the over paid, the over rated, and the over the hill; nonetheless, even with so many odds stacked against him, Jackson still managed to retool the team in a way that completely reshaped the franchise and can be considered one of the best remodeling jobs in the NBA off season.  In one summer, Phil Jackson virtually sis the impossible creating something right out of nothing as he turned a team that was aging and on the brink of collapse into a younger, more athletic one that has a bright future ahead of it.  In fact, one can go as far to say that this Knicks team have improved to a point to where they have arisen from being a team heading for rock bottom to one that may potentially be a dark horse to win the Eastern Conference. Many will scoff at such a notion that the Knicks, after just one summer managed to turn a team that finished ninth in the Eastern Conference to one that can contend for second or third in the East, but upon closer examination, such a far fetched notion could be more of a reality than anyone could possibly believe.  For starters, right before the NBA Draft, Jackson managed to unload an overpaid, over rated and over the hill player in +Tyson Chandler, and an equally underwhelming Raymond Felton to the +Dallas Mavericks and in return got one of the league's most underrated point guards in the league, and two second round picks which later would result in two of the biggest steals in the NBA Draft.   For much of his career, Jose Calderon has spent it either disregarded or ignored by those following the league despite playing at an elite level and comparably putting up the same numbers as some of the top point guards in the league.  Over the course of his nine year tenure in the NBA, Calderon has ranked among the top leaders in assists as well as assist to turnover ratio, not to mention player efficiency and field goal percentage.  In him, the Knicks get a more than capable floor general who can not only distribute the ball, push the tempo in transition and ensure that there is some sort of ball movement, but can also play off the ball and hit the three ball with rather impressive accuracy. Adding Calderon might just be the best move the Knicks have made during the off season because he fits in so well into the Triangle Offense that both Jackson and his protege, Head Coach Derek Fisher, want to install because the system perfectly matches Calderon's strengths.  Calderon has the ability to alter his game in any situation either as a facilitator to his teammates or as a scorer not only because of his shooting, but his deceptive quickness as well. While he does not seem to be overtly athletic or quick, Jose Calderon has shown quite the capability to blow past his defender and penetrate the lane with ease often drawing in defenders thus creating more space for his teammates to operate.  Plus, another aspect of Jose's game that has always remained overlooked is his overall on court savvy being able to quickly spotting weaknesses in the opponents defense and thus exploiting them--a key tenet that the Triangle Offense is predicated upon.  Finally, let us not forget that he will be joined by another savvy veteran point guard in Pablo Prigioni who also has quite a strong capability in hitting open shots and the innate ability of turning an opponents' strength into its weakness. Together, both Prigioni and Calderon--two players who competed both in the NBA and the international stage--give the Knicks two shooters that had both hit close to .450 of their three point shot attempts and even better on court efficiency on a team that were already excellent at keeping turnovers to a minimum.  As if acquiring Calderon was not good enough, the Knicks' two aforementioned second round picks turned out to be rather valuable in its resurrection as they managed to nab possibly two of the biggest steals of the draft--that of +Cleanthony Early out of +Wichita State and brother of the "Greek Freak" himself, Thanasis Antetokounmpo.  Previous to his entry into the draft, Early had led the Shockers to an unbeaten regular season and a number one seed in the last season's +NCAA  Tournament; however, despite his impressive resume and being projected as a potential lottery pick, Early inconceivably fell to number 34 where the Knicks were ready, willing and eager to snatch him up.  Antekounmpo did not have the exposure or acclaim that Early had garnered, but he still managed to turn the heads of some NBA scouts with some really impressive play in the +NBA DLeague where he showed plenty of potential as not only a lock down defender, but as an excellent finisher on the break in transition.  He will possibly never ascend to the ranks or have the limitless upside to his more heralded brother, but upon looking at this scouting report, one can certainly see that Thanasis certainly has the potential to be a solid NBA player for years to come thus making his selection with the 51st pick in the draft a virtual steal for the Knicks. Unfortunately Knicks fans will not have the luxury of witnessing Antetokounmpo's exploits this season as he has chosen to play overseas, which is probably for the best as he probably would not have been signed or have been able to play because of their team's overcrowded back court.  Upon the opening tip off, there will be six players currently on the roster who play primarily in the back court, all equally capable of providing a strong impact for the team, but not enough minutes to split among them.  Iman Shumpert, whose last two seasons have been far from impressive due to a rash of injuries, will be coming into this season not only healthy, but hungry as he knows that this can be a make or break season for him.  The same goes for JR Smith, who disappointed many fans following a career high 18.2 points per game and earning the Sixth Man of Year Award in 2013 with a less than impressive performance last season.  Finally, let us not forget Tim Hardaway Jr, who managed to ascend from starting his rookie season at the bottom of the roster to becoming one of the team's key players which earned him a mention on the 2014 NBA All Rookie First Team. Both Calderon and Prigioni will most likely split the duties at point guard, with Jose getting the lion share of the minutes at the starter's spot, while Pablo, at his advanced age of 37,  taking what's left of them as the primary backup. That will most likely leave second year point guard Shane Larkin, another one of the player acquired during that monumental fortune changing Dallas deal, at the end of the bench both cheering his teammates on and acting as an understudy to "Spa-gentinian Connection" of Calderon and Prigioni.  The other notable player in that deal, Samuel Dalembert, will most likely take over Tyson Chandler's role last season providing the Knicks' with the same inside defensive presence and rim protection, but far less than the expensive 13$ million price tag that Chandler had.  Phil Jackson then took one of the lesser known assets acquired in that deal, shooting guard Wayne Ellington, packaging him with little used big man Jeremy Tyler, and sent them to the +Sacramento Kings for forwards +Quincy Acy and +Travis Outlaw.  Outlaw, headed to his fourth team in five years, will most likely be either dealt or waived since he does not fit in any of the Knicks' future plans; on the other hand, Acy looks to be a definite keeper thanks to the effort, energy and physicality he has shown in his two seasons in the league.   In another low key, but equally high impact move, Phil Jackson used will little spending power he had in the league's mid-level exemption and signed former +New Orleans Pelicans big man Jason Smith in free agency, which can also be seen as another major off season steal for the Knicks.  In his four years with the Pelicans, Smith showed plenty of promise as he came off the bench to average 8.0 points, 4 rebounds, and nearly a block in just 20.5 minutes per game thus making him one of the few hidden treasures in an off season that touted some of the biggest names in the league.   Not only does he have the potential to effectively put up big numbers with per 40 minute averages of 16.0 point, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks per game, but he also adds an especially important element in Jackson's Triangle Offense--the mid range shooting big man.  Similar to Horace Grant (91-93 Chicago Bulls, 2001 Los Angeles Lakers), Bill Cartwright (91-93 Bulls) and Luc Longley (96-98 Bulls), Smith has the size, physical tools and the skill set to not only potentially be a physical presence on the defensive end, but also the mid range shooting touch that can prove deadly off pick and rolls. Add Smith's strengths with the aforementioned qualities that both Dalembert and Calderon bring, mesh them with the returning group of players and you have the ingredients for the perfect execution of Jackson's Triangle Offense which at full strength can really cause damage in the East. Coach Fisher already has the focal point of his Triangle with the return of Carmelo Anthony as he will be looked upon to take up the lion share of the scoring load the same way that Micheal Jordan did for the Bulls, and how +Shaquille O'Neal  and +Kobe Bryant did during their respective championship runs.  Plus, even though age and injuries have worn down any chance of him returning to All Star form, if healthy, Amare Stoudemire can still provide a solid presence in the paint on the offensive end and on the boards.  Last season, Andrea Bargnarni was the object of disdain and rebuke for most Knicks fans, but under the installment of the Triangle, what were once perceived weakness can be turned to potential strengths and he may just turn into a fan favorite by season's end.  His size, athleticism and skill set are reminiscent of players such as Toni Kukoc (96-98 Chicago Bulls) and +Lamar Odom (2010-2012 Lakers)--versatile big men who came off the bench and not only provided scoring punch but also match up problems for opposing defenders.  Altogether the combination of Carmelo, the returning cast of characters from last season, plus the new additions will give Fisher enough offensive firepower and depth to certainly return the Knicks to playoff contention this season; however, for New York to even be considered as a true viable contender for the Eastern Conference crown, there lacks one special ingredient that made the Triangle Offense one of the most potent systems in the NBA and Phil Jackson an 11 time NBA Champion. In the case of Jackson's Bulls teams, Michael Jordan had +Scottie Pippen who stepped into a supporting role and not only provided additional offensive support, but also ensured that the rest of their teammates got involved in the offense silently leading the team while Jordan got all the credit and acclaim.  Then in Jackson's first championship run with Lakers, he had a case where both Shaq and Kobe wanted to claim alpha male status, yet Jackson managed at least, to formsome kind of truce where instead of one being in front of the other, they would instead maintain an often fragile balance.  Once Shaq left, it would be Kobe who would take his place on top of the mountain; nonetheless he still needed the someone to take the offensive pressure off him while at the same time allowing him to be the lead wolf in the pack which is where +Pau Gasol and +Lamar Odom come into the picture.  The fact is that in all those cases--whether it was with Jordan, Shaq and Kobe--they all needed a player that was of equal caliber who not only possessed many of the same qualities as them but also had the ability to both complement their strengths while at the same, compensate for their weaknesses as well. As it stands now Carmelo does not have such a luxury as both Amare Stoudemire and JR. Smith have proven unreliable to the task as they lack the stability, consistency or maturity to take on such a responsibility. Unless Jackson strikes it rich again pulling off a major mid-season deal that will bring that hall of fame caliber talent or snagging a big fish in the free agent pool during the off season, Carmelo might be doomed to continue dragging his team into mediocrity for the next five years. He did a great job surrounding his star with quality supporting cast players and impressively so considering that Jackson had little or nothing to work with in terms of draft picks or cap space; however, more needs to be done and fortunately for him, once the season ends, Jackson will have all the cap space necessary to attract that marquee talent to be the Yin to Carmelo's Yang.  Regardless of happens in the future, what is important is building a solid present and right now it is looking very good for the New York Knicks--so good, in fact that it might silence even the most fervent of doubters.  They certainly will not be contending for the conference crown this season, but the Knicks will undoubtedly be in the playoff picture come season's end and those who scoff at such a notion will find themselves either sadly or pleasantly, knowing the constant pessimism of their fans, surprised.