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KNICKS
Phil Jackson

New York Knicks: No. 19 in NBA Watchability Rankings

Adi Joseph
USA TODAY Sports
Phil Jackson became the Knicks' team president in March.

Team President Phil Jackson took an offseason to develop his vision for the Knicks, and the changes he's made place the Knicks at No. 19 in our NBA Watchability Rankings.

2013-14 record: 37-45, missed playoffs

2014-15 projected record: 36-46, miss playoffs

What's new? Derek Fisher, fresh off playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder, takes the reins as head coach but has a veteran staff. A big trade with the Dallas Mavericks brought in veterans Jose Calderon and Samuel Dalembert, who both could start, along with young point guard Shane Larkin. Another, smaller trade with the Sacramento Kings brought in athletic forward Quincy Acy. And they drafted small forwards Cleanthony Early and Thanasis Antetokounmpo in the second round.

How good will they be? Carmelo Anthony is one of the 10 best players in the world, and that alone means the playoffs are within reach. But the supporting cast remains shaky, and Fisher likely will have an adjustment period. The East's new strength means a playoff bid is unlikely unless everyone on an injury-prone roster stays relatively healthy.

What's the goal? The Knicks have a lot going for them right now in looking ahead, specifically that Amar'e Stoudemire and Andrea Bargnani come off the books this offseason. Anthony's five-year extension and commitments from Jackson and Fisher combine with a growing young core of Iman Shumpert, Tim Hardaway Jr., Larkin, Early, Antetokounmpo and Acy to finally give the Knicks a future worthy of looking ahead.

WHY YOU CAN'T MISS THEM

Lakers East? Jackson has loaded his staff with people he worked with as coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. That starts with Fisher and continues down to top assistants Kurt Rambis, Jim Cleamons and Rasheed Hazzard. But the players are new to the triangle offense system and Jackson's ideals. How will this culture recreation work on the opposite coast?

Superstar money: Anthony's maximum-level extension with an additional bonus because of his previous salary makes him one of the highest-paid players in the NBA. Now he needs to start playing like that, particularly on the defensive end. He's coming off two of the best offensive seasons of his career, though, and he is far more efficient on that end than many give him credit for being.

The young guards: Shumpert and Hardaway both are listed as shooting guards, though they can play together in smaller lineups. They're very different players, with Shumpert at his best being a strong defender with a knack for playmaking while Hardaway is a potential 20-points-a-game scorer. J.R. Smith also is on this roster and will get his minutes and points, but these are the two Knicks fans want to see develop.

PROJECTED STARTERS (with 2013-14 statistics)

  • PG: Jose Calderon — 11.4 points, 2.4 rebounds, 4.7 assists a game
  • SG: Iman Shumpert — 6.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists a game
  • SF: Carmelo Anthony — 27.4 points, 8.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists a game
  • PF: Andrea Bargnani — 13.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.2 blocks a game
  • C: Samuel Dalembert — 6.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.2 blocks a game

NBA WATCHABILITY RANKINGS

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