Fansided

Will the New York Knicks make the playoffs?

By Andrew Melnick

Apr 6, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) walks back to the bench during the second half against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena. Miami won 102-91. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 6, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) walks back to the bench during the second half against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena. Miami won 102-91. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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The New York Knicks looked like they were on the way up. After acquiring Carmelo Anthony in 2011, the New York Knicks made the postseason, but were taken down in the first round by the Boston Celtics. A year later, it was the eventual NBA Champion Miami Heat who eliminated them. The Knicks showed great improvement in the 2012-2013 season, finishing with a record of 54-28, the second best record in the Eastern Conference. They took down the Celtics in the first round in six games before being eliminated by the Indiana Pacers in the second round.

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Last season, they took a huge step back. Players like swingman J.R. Smith appeared to regress while injuries hit the team hard. They finished 37-45 and missed the playoffs. The Knicks fired head coach Mike Woodson and brought in NBA coaching legend Phil Jackson as president. Jackson eventually hired one of his former players, Derek Fisher, to replace Woodson as head coach.

The Knicks met their offseason goal of re-signing Anthony, but before doing that, they pulled off a huge trade.  They dealt center Tyson Chandler and point guard Raymond Felton to the Dallas Mavericks for point guard Jose Calderón, center Samuel Dalambert,  swingman Wayne Ellington, point guard Shane Larkin and two second round picks that wound up being former Wichita State Shockers’ swingman Cleanthony Early and Greek swingman Thanasis Antetokounmpo, the brother of Milwaukee Bucks’ swingman Giannis Antetokounmpo,

Many have wondered if that will be enough to get the Knicks back into the playoffs. Alex Kennedy believes it will be.

"I think they’ll make the playoffs, but I’m projecting that they finish as one of the lower seeds and lose in the first round. I’m just not sold on their roster. Next summer is huge for them because Phil Jackson will have cap room to work with and be able to go recruit a star to play next to Carmelo Anthony, but I just don’t see New York making much noise in the 2014-15 season."

Even if the Knicks miss the postseason, they are actually set up well for the future – in a year, they will see Amar’e Stoudemire and Andra Bargnani come off of the books.

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