New York Knicks can win the war for the “Big Apple”
By Ed Stein
4. Have a plan
For years New York Knicks fans have wondered if the team has any direction what so ever. Over the last five seasons, they have had a combined record of 126-284 (.307 winning percentage) under four different head coaches. Frankly, the Knicks have looked like a rudderless ship circling a maelstrom, trying, but often failing not to get sucked in.
The fans need to know that there is indeed a road map going forward that will lead the organization back to prominence. Basically, team president Steve Mills or GM Scott Perry has to come out and say we have an “X” year plan and this is how we intend to do it.
5. Realistic Expectations
The biggest thing that can derail any plan is setting unrealistic expectations. At the same time the Knicks are laying out their long-term plan to the public, it can’t be some pie in the sky pipe dream. It has to be realistic and attainable.
For example, the New York Knicks won a putrid 17 games last year. Early odds in Las Vegas have them improving to around 30 depending on the source. That’s a 76 percent improvement. While 30 wins in a season won’t be sexy, its a big climb. A .500 record in 2020-21 again isn’t sexy, but it’s another big jump.
From that point, more wins will be harder and harder to come by, but they have a plan to get there. Of course, all plans are somewhat subject to change. But after 2018-19’s disaster, contending for the playoffs in two years is nothing to sneeze at and certainly not unreasonable.