#Hoops hype rumors hornacek trial

He could also try Kuzminskas here or cause match-up nightmares with Anthony at power forward. Hornacek said he’d like to experiment with Thomas at the four spot. Power Forward: The options after 7-foot-3 Porzingis are endless. He’s invaluable defensively, but if Thomas doesn’t recover from his shooting slump, Hornacek could look to Holiday or rookie Mindaugas Kuzminskas at the three. But a particularly inefficient preseason was cause for pause. Small Forward: Hornacek will give Lance Thomas every opportunity to retain his position as Carmelo Anthony’s back-up. But Holiday’s defensive potential and three-point stroke should shine through as the season progresses. He also enjoys pushing the pace, at times faster than he can handle. Again, Vujacic is capable and knowledgeable of the Triangle. Shooting Guard: Things get murky behind Courtney Lee, especially since Justin Holiday hasn’t fully separated himself as the first two guard off the pine. Baker’s a tough defender and capable shooter, but veteran wisdom wins this battle early in the season. Hornacek may opt to run his two dynamic guards together, and evidence from preseason play shows he’ll turn to Sasha Vujacic as back-up point guard before rookie Ron Baker. Point Guard: Derrick Rose and Brandon Jennings are going to split point guard duties near evenly, depending on the flow of the game. Amundson, C. Randle) Positional Breakdown

#Hoops hype rumors hornacek trial

Now, amid heightened expectations, New York must maneuver a much improved Eastern Conference despite 10 new roster pieces, a new head coach, chemistry tainted by Rose’s civil rape trial and potential, unforeseeable injury woes.ĮSNY’s Kristian Winfield explores the possibilities, questions and concerns for the New York Knicks heading into the critical 2016-17 season. But this year we’ve got to bring it, there are really no excuses this year.” Last year, we had to shock some people and I think that we did a good job at that. Jackson then signed Joakim Noah and Courtney Lee for a power-packed starting five, and brought Brandon Jennings in for a punch off the bench.Ī dynamic lineup, indeed, for new head coach, Jeff Hornacek.Īs Knicks forward Kyle O’Quinn told Elite Sports NY: “This year, we’re more or less - on paper, it looks like we should be doing some things. New York shuttled out Robin Lopez, Jose Calderon and Jerian Grant to acquire ex-league MVP Derrick Rose (and guard Justin Holiday). It’s been two-and-a-half seasons since Jackson first took the reins as president, and the Knicks roster has been bulldozed, then reconstructed around Anthony and rising star Kristaps Porzingis. The cultural change Jackson wished to achieve has materialized into the team’s most promising roster in recent memory. In the end, though, the ‘Zen Master’ obliged his star’s request, and then some.

Knicks president Phil Jackson had fired Derek Fisher midway through the season, and to the dismay of many, interim coach Kurt Rambis was the heavy favorite to retain his job. Losing the final home game was only the exclamation point on a turbulent 32-50 season.īut facing reporters, Anthony’s last cry for help was expanding the team’s search for a head coach. New York had long been eliminated from postseason play. Since the Knicks missed the playoffs for the third time in as many years, it’s the last time this season he’ll see the media at home. One more defeat would ensue before season’s end.Ī somber, teary-eyed Carmelo Anthony addresses reporters in front of his locker. The New York Knicks just lost their final home game of the season - an 89-93 loss to the Toronto Raptors.

NEW YORK - It’s the night of April 10, 2016.