One can assume there’s nowhere to go but up for the New York Knicks coming off of a franchise-worst 17-65 campaign last season.
Derek Fisher is going into his second season as head coach of the Knicks and has remained positive throughout the process. Despite modest but notable changes to the roster, which now features a decent slue of youngsters, Fisher dismisses the idea that the Knicks are in rebuilding mode.
Fisher, via the Associated Press:
“We signed quality veteran players because we’re trying to win right now,”
“If rebuilding for us is based on the fact that we don’t have a certain caliber of player on our roster quote-unquote other than Carmelo, so people assume that we’re rebuilding,” he said. “But was Atlanta rebuilding last year when they didn’t have that quote-unquote player on their roster?”
To be fair, the Hawks sent four of their starters to the All-Star Game last season because of their tremendous team play. Fisher’s argument is valid in the sense that Atlanta had great success without even one player of Carmelo Anthony’s caliber. Still, that puts even more onus on consistent production from the Knicks role players, as well as finding the kind of collective rhythm and chemistry the Hawks were able to muster last season.
You can’t knock this mentality from Fisher. The Knicks are in a reasonable position to improve from last season. They’re suited to fight for a playoff spot in the East. There is much better potential to at least be able to compete. But if we’re talking about a realistic winning scenario in New York, that is certainly still being built up.
