5 reasons the New York Knicks are doomed

Nov 6, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks power forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) congratulates point guard Derrick Rose (25) along with small forward Lance Thomas (42) and shooting guard Courtney Lee (5) during the fourth quarter against the Utah Jazz at Madison Square Garden. Utah won 114-109. Mandatory Credit: Gregory J. Fisher-USA TODAY Sports /

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Nov 15, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks player Carmelo Anthony watches during the second half between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Michigan State Spartans at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Carmelo is past his prime

Carmelo Anthony is on the wrong side of his career average in nearly every category. He’s still an amazing player, but the signs of age have been showing themselves for a while. This season he’s playing a career-low 32 minutes per game. It’s sad to see a great player waste the last of his professional basketball years on a sinking team.

Anthony may still be capable of carrying a team into the postseason, but he needs the right pieces around him to do it. He needs young, energetic players who complement his style of play, not a hobbled center and a fragile point guard. Anthony is very similar to LeBron James in his size and strength. The difference is that LeBron does everything, while Anthony is primarily a scorer. Thus, a ball-dominant point guard like Rose is not a good fit to play alongside him. A big man who can’t shoot is not a good fit to play alongside him. Courtney Lee, who disappears on the offensive end, is not a good fit to play alongside him.

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What Anthony needs is someone like the Pelicans’ Tim Frazier or the Sixers’ T.J. McConnell to run the offense. Porzingis is a good fit because he can shoot and stretch the floor, but a more athletic center like Bismack Biyombo from the Orlando Magic might be a better fit than Noah. And the Knicks need shooters. When Anthony gets double-teamed, he needs to be able to kick the ball out to someone who can consistently knock down shots. New York needed a Klay Thompson or a Ryan Anderson, not a Courtney Lee.

Sadly, the pieces don’t fit and the regular season only gets more unforgiving as it goes on. Maybe we will see a Derrick Rose resurgence. Maybe Joakim Noah will find his heart, and Carmelo Anthony will turn back the clock. Barring that, all signs are pointing to the lottery.

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