There's no need for the Knicks to participate in the regular season. Charles Barkley already guaranteed a playoff spot.
“The Knicks are one of my sleeper teams,” Barkley said on a conference call Monday afternoon, per New York Post. “I think Phil Jackson’s done a good job getting quality NBA players.
“I’m picking the Knicks to make the playoffs. I’m guaranteeing it!”
Sorry, Chuck, but we disagree. Here are three reasons why the Knicks won’t make the playoffs.
Carmelo Anthony
Carmelo Anthony missed most of last season with a knee injury that required surgery. At 31, father time has slowly crept up on the former Syracuse man.
The only thing more questionable than his knees is his ability to fit in with the triangle offense, especially with his absence not allowing for first-year growing pains.
21 Wins Too Much To Make Up
The Knicks finished 17-65 last year. It took 38 wins to qualify as the eighth seed in the East. That’s 21 wins New York is forced to make up from one season to the next.
The additions of Robin Lopez, Arron Afflalo and Kyle O’Quinn will help mitigate the task -- not to mention the drafting of Kristaps Porzingis -- but it’s not enough. The Nets jumped 26 games from one season to the next the year they traded for Jason Kidd.
None of the aforementioned players are Jason Kidd.
The East Is Better Than You Think
The Cavaliers, Celtics, Bulls, Bucks, Pacers, Wizards, Bucks and Heat are all significantly better than the Knicks. Even the Pistons are better positioned for a playoff run.
Don’t expect to see Phil Jackson and company make the cut.
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Number 25 in our preseason power rankings; Knicks. Can they make the playoffs? #NewYorkKnicks #CarmeloAnthony #nba pic.twitter.com/TuPkV6O0n6
— iStillLoveThisGame (@stillovethegame) October 27, 2015
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