After falling into another three game losing streak, the Knicks have dropped to last place in the Atlantic Division. Their record now stands at 29-40 and they’re 8.5 games back of first. Sadly, they’re only 5.5 games out of the eighth spot in the playoffs, but let’s be realistic. It’s almost depressing to turn on MSG and to listen to the Knicks gamenight theme music, it’s depressing to watch the Knicks go through the motions, knowing that once again, for another season, the games don’t matter.
I came into this season with signs of hope. Feelings of anticipation of a playoff run. I thought the Knicks just might be able to get past the first round this year, maybe advance to the semi-finals. Those visions quickly went away.
I was still looking on the bright side a few months into the season. The Knicks were .500 and in first place. The Nets had about two wins, still without Carter, and the Knicks, despite a .500 record, were the third seed in the playoffs. I was optimistic, they’re still alive, who knows what could happen.
And then it slowly all began to fall apart. Lenny Wilkens is gone after a heartbreaking loss to the Rockets, Isiah Thomas makes more questionable moves at the helm of the organization, and once again, it becomes depressing to watch the team. I wish it wasn’t like this.
When was the last time a Knicks game was aired on ESPN? When was the last time ESPN talked about the Knicks? Besides the times they talked bad about them, and made fun of them. Tell me. They don’t. I recall saying a few months ago, in the article ‘An Organization in Despair’, saying that the Knicks had to do something drastic. Amazingly, I just found myself typing that into the computer before it seemed a little too repetitive.
But it is indeed still true. The Knicks indeed do have to do something drastic. The trades and the moves they made were absolutely questionable, and their salary cap is absolutely ridiculous. Look at their salary cap, and then look at the standings. It just doesn’t add up.
So, what does the organization do? Don’t look at me for any advice. Isiah Thomas is looking forward to the draft, with the added draft picks the Knicks acquired at the trade deadline. But my friends, a few draft picks aren’t going to do anything for the Knicks next year.
In my opinion, a player they already have, Sweeney, is one of the best draft picks they’ve used. But he hardly sees enough playing time. He doesn’t get used enough. And knowing Isiah Thomas, he’ll probably get traded soon.
I don’t know how to fix the team and I don’t know how to get them to return to the playoffs. But it has once again become depressing to watch the Knicks play basketball. I thought Wilkens would change the team, he failed, and then he left. I thought Isiah would change the team (for the good), he has failed so far, and when will his departure come? There’s so much wrong with the team, analysts don’t even want to go into it.
The team fails in team chemistry, and I can honestly say that they are one of the worst teams in the league. The New York Knicks are one of the worst basketball organizations in the NBA. Sure, it might not look like it just purely by looking at the standings, but look at the organization and it is perfectly clear.
The salary cap, the coaching situation, the title of last place in the worst division in the NBA, it all adds up to the worst organization in the NBA. I know I said all of this a few months ago, but it’s true. Nothing has changed since then, and something needs to.
I’ve come up with a name for this disease. It’s called Knickerbocker Depression. I have it. Here are the symptoms:
1. When you tune into a Knicks game, and the game has just begun, first five minutes of the game, you realize that it truly doesn’t matter if the Knicks win or lose. You begin to wonder why you are even watching this. But you continue to watch.
2. You continue to watch until the Knicks eventually lose, or in rare cases, they win. If they lose, you simply say to yourself, wait until next year. And if they win, you say to yourself, who cares, they’re still last place in the worst division in the NBA!
3. When your buddies are talking about basketball, talking about the Suns, the Nets recent winnings, and the strong western conference, you don’t even bring up your Knicks. Knowing that just talking about them will get you made fun of, and add to your Knickerbocker Depression.
4. Even when the Knicks win, and blow out the team, and they actually look like a playoff team (reference: Knicks win over the Celtics a few nights ago), at the end of the game, you realize the game doesn’t matter. No matter that the Knicks looked good, it doesn’t matter.
If you have any of these symptoms, you can join me in helping to diagnose this disease. I have this disease of Knickerbocker Depression. I’ve yet to find a cure. Is Isiah Thomas looking for a cure? No. Was Lenny Wilkens looking for a cure? He was, but he gave up. The Knicks need to find somebody that has a cure for this disease, but until then, I’ll watch each and every Knick game, but I do have Knickerbocker Depression, and I’m sure many other fans do too.
