Maybe Phil Jackson knew what he was doing all along. Maybe owner James Dolan has finally figured out how to stop meddling. These are all positive hypotheticals that the fans of the New York Knicks haven’t been able to enjoy until this season. “The Zenmaster” was kind of a running joke last year when the Knicks went 17-65, but they have looked a lot better in the 2015-16 campaign and appear like a franchise on the rise. Jackson was not involved much with the Knicks in the 2014-15 season, but it seems that has changed this year.
“I thought that maybe I stepped back too far last year,” he said to the New York Post. “I wanted [Derek Fisher] to be his own person, to have his own feel for this, and that was multiplied in numbers of ways. Derek’s kind of asked me to be a little more present this year actually, not in the aspect of coaching, but just in being around and talking basketball and influential in observations.
Carmelo Anthony has been a bit more unselfish due to the rise of Kristaps Porzingis, and that is an encouraging sign for New York’s playoff hopes. Anthony is averaging 21.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game, while the rookie is posting great averages of 13.9 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.98 blocks per contest. Porzingis should win rookie of the year unless Karl-Anthony Towns somehow leads the Minnesota Timberwolves to the playoffs.
Arron Afflalo and Jose Calderon have both been pleasant surprises as well, and they could see more minutes as the Knicks continue their fight for a playoff spot. They are unlikely to be at home for more than three games in any postseason series due to their record, but the people of New York will take that over not even making the playoffs.
The Knicks wouldn’t make it to the postseason if the year ended today, but they are knocking on the door with every extra win they accumulate. They are currently 20-21 and a game and a half behind the Orlando Magic for the Eastern Conference’s No. 8 spot in the playoffs. The Knicks would’ve been graded at F last year, but this season they’ve earned a better score.
Final First Half Grade: B-
