New York Knicks: Past, present and the future – NBA Special Report (Part-1)
History in NBA
The New York Knicks is included in the Atlantic Division of East Conference. It was founded in 1946 and in the same year, the Knicks won their first game of Basketball Association of America (BAA). After the merger of national
Basketball League and BAA, they became the part of the National basketball Association. Under the Coach Joe Lapchick, the Knicks appeared in five successive playoffs and made it to the finals of NBA for three consecutive years from 1951 to 1953.
However, they lost against the Rochester Royals in the first attempt and then against the Minneapolis Lakers in the last two attempts. Later in 1970, the team eventually succeeded in winning the NBA titles and then repeated the
feat in 1973.The resurgence of the Knicks in the late 1960s and early 70s was brought about under the guidance of coach Red Holzman.
The team won the first title with the squad that included the likes of Willis Reed, Dave DeBusschere, Walt Frazier, Bill Bradley, and also d**k Barnett. That team was known to thrive on defence and doing so, they took down the
mighty Los Angeles Lakers side to win the NBA Finals.
The team continued its glorious period, but lost in the Eastern Conference Finals in both 1971 and 1972. However, they finally made it through in 1973 and went on to win the NBA title, yet again in 1973. The team on the losing
end in 1973 was again the men in purple and gold.
After losing to the Celtics and Reed’s retirement in 1974, the team failed to win any series in playoffs for a long time. After about two decades, the team again qualified for the finals in 1994 and then in 1999, but was defeated
handsomely on both the occasions.
Current situation
The present New York Knicks side includes the likes of Amare’ Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups. Under the watch of Mike D’ Antoni, the Knicks made it to the playoffs for the first time in seven years last season,
only to swept by the big boys of the East, the Boston Celtics. However, that was only the first season that saw Stoudemire and Carmelo together and with time, they are bound to synchronise and develop a chemistry that can make the Knicks an elite team in the
top heavy Eastern Conference.
They will also have to boost up their play on the backcourt to reach the level of competency that the likes of Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks are at the moment. Carmelo Anthony will have to improve in particular
on the defense if the Knicks are to pose a serious threat for Championship in the East, let alone in the league. The onus also falls on D’ Antoni to come up with better defensive plays and inculcate a robust defense first psychology in the arsenal.
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Continued in Part-2
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