5 reasons Jeff Hornacek is right man for Knicks
By John Buhler
4. Western Conference experience could help Knicks make playoffs.
This could prove more of a get for the Knicks than we initially realize. While the Suns failed to make the NBA Playoffs in each of Hornacek’s three seasons as the Phoenix head coach, they had to play with one of the weakest rosters in the NBA in the stronger of the two conferences in the West.
In Hornacek’s first year with Phoenix in 2013-14, the Suns won 48 games and were the best team in the NBA to have not made the 2014 NBA Playoffs. Had they been in the East, maybe the Suns would have had home court advantage.
By coming from a chaotic team in the West to a mediocre one in the East, it doesn’t seem so hopelessly daunting for Hornacek to lead the Knicks into the NBA Playoffs after a three-year absence.
The East will have one elite team next year in the Cleveland Cavaliers and a few other solid teams with the Atlanta Hawks, the Boston Celtics, the Detroit Pistons, the Miami Heat, and the Toronto Raptors being most likely.
Four teams that made the Eastern Conference in 2016 didn’t make them in the previous season (Charlotte Hornets, Detroit, Indiana, and Miami), whereas only one team made the Western Conference Playoffs in 2016 that missed out the previous year (the Oklahoma City Thunder replaced the New Orleans Pelicans).
If Hornacek’s 2016-17 Knicks can play with the passion of his first two Suns teams, then maybe the Knicks can end their playoff skid with him as their new head coach. It’s much easier now that he’s in the East.
Next: 3. Offensive-minded head coach.