Empire Writes Back
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New York Knicks keep an eye firmly on their future

By Justin Chaires

CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 29: Head coach Mark Jackson of the Golden State Warriors gestures from the bench in the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena on December 29, 2013 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 29: Head coach Mark Jackson of the Golden State Warriors gestures from the bench in the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena on December 29, 2013 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images) /
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The New York Knicks are focused on the future under Scott Perry.

With rumors swirling of Mark Jackson being the head coach (which I wrote about a month ago) the New York Knicks could be in for one final makeover. The Knicks have been a middle of the way team for a long time and have been so weighed down by bad contracts, on top of worse contracts on top of draft bust mixed with draft misses; that they have forgotten what it means to be cohesive.

The Knicks front office has had constant turnover and upheaval, and the best things to come out of the last regime of Phil Jackson and company was drafting Kristaps Porzingis and the Knicks owner Dolan learning how to stay away from the day-to-day operations. Most fans realize that Jeff Hornacek is getting a bum deal, and those that don’t are not being real with themselves. However like every great age there must come a turning of the page, a wiping of the slate and the beginning of a new dawn.

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The Knicks will bring a new coach hopefully it is Mark Jackson. For those that follow the history of the game closely; Jeff Hornacek was a good guard. Mark Jackson was a great all around player and a better guard. He also helped groom the current champion’s mainstays in Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, most will not recall that the Golden state warriors let Jackson go because they felt he couldn’t get them over the hill in the championship games.

I know that most Knicks fans would love to see their team in the Championship game at least one more time before the turn of the millennium. Jackson knows the ins and outs of the league and the players and is a true student of the game. He will also help groom the young guards and forwards the Knicks currently have on the roster and will attract some new pieces in free agency.

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Jeff Hornacek has done an admirable job in taking what he was given and making it into a scrappy young team that is learning the virtue of grinding out possessions and making teams pay with their physical presences. However they are missing that swagger that you need to acquire if you are looking to become champion and that unfortunately is something that Jeff has not been able to get across to them. I’ve always respected Hornacek as a coach and would love for him to step down and take Rambis place as an assistant while making way for the new head coach, However we all know that is not realistic in this day and age and pride and money will remain a factor in any choice of the matter of Hornacek becoming an assistant coach anywhere in the league.

For now however the Knicks can focus on finishing out the year and making moves to create a better overall roster in the summer, young and athletic is a great start. Young, athletic, NBA ready and talented is the finishing point. Hopefully grooming some homegrown talent will be the difference if/when Mark Jackson takes over the Knicks.

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