Knicks close 2015/16 with loss against the Pacers
The New York Knicks wrapped up a season that started as promising as it could. Coming after the worst season in history, a top 4 pick that emerged into a solid candidate for the Rookie of the Year title, and a revamped roster, these 2015/16 Knicks looked like post season could be quite a tangible thing.
Halfway into the season, the Knicks were just one game under .500 and although they only went three times on a winning record, once January came to an end, so had the batteries of Fisher’s team.
Between January 22 – February 22 New York turned into a barely recognizable team, resembling more with the 17 wins team from a previous season that Carmelo Anthony didn’t want to remember, going 2-12. Out of the remaining 23 games the Knicks managed to win 8 more, and just two of them against teams with winning record, the back-to-back games against the Chicago Bulls.
As February was closing, it became pretty obvious that once again, the playoffs won’t include the Knicks. The management tried to shock the team by firing head-coach Derek Fisher earlier the same month but Kurt Rambis’ interim couldn’t change anything and make the Knicks winning again.
New York has failed to win a game without Carmelo Anthony, losing all 10 that he missed (including last night’s one) and Kristaps Porzingis‘ awesomeness cooled down as the Knicks started to give up on the playoffs dreams.
Last night the Knicks lost their last game of the season, 102-90 at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse against the 7th seed, Pacers.
Derrick Williams led New York with 21 points, going 8-11 from the field while rookie Jerian Grant continued his good evolution scoring 18, dishing 6 assists and grabbing 6 rebounds. Cleanthony Early played 30 minutes, replacing Melo in the starting lineup and finished with 7 points. Arron Afflalo contributed with 13 off the bench.
The Knicks close 2015/16 with 32 wins, an improvement from last season but still, just 49-115 under Phil Jackson.
Jackson must now evaluate if he will continue to support Rambis and give him a shot by removing the interim title or search for a new head-coach to work with the team. Tom Thibodeau and David Blatt are among the names that the media suggested but none of them run the triangle as the Zen Master would like so Melo & co might be stuck with the former Laker for now, Rambis being the only option that fits Phil’s vision.
