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New York Knicks: Second Half Preview

By Sean Linhares

Nov 10, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; New York Knicks associate head coach Kurt Rambis looks on against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. The Knicks beat the Raptors 111-109. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 10, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; New York Knicks associate head coach Kurt Rambis looks on against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. The Knicks beat the Raptors 111-109. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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After an up and down first half of the season, the New York Knicks return from the All-Star Break Thursday to kick off the second half.

Feb 2, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) and forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) against the Boston Celtics during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 2, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) and forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) against the Boston Celtics during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /

The first half of the season saw a little bit of everything for the New York Knicks.

There were the highs, such as matching last seasons total win total only 36 games. The team also seemed to find its star of the future in Kristaps Porzingis, saw significant growth from Carmelo Anthony as a total basketball player, and sat at .500 as recently as Jan. 20.

For each of those highs though, it seems as if there’s been a lowlight to balance out the field. Anthony has only played great when he’s been available, missing seven games due to soreness in his surgically repaired right knee. Somehow, having their star player fight through the injury bug has been the least of the Knicks’ problems as of late, as the team came into the All-Star Break four games out of the playoffs, having lost nine of their last 10 games.

Most notable of the Knicks’ struggles during the first half was the decision to fire head coach Derek Fisher just days before the team came into the break. President Phil Jackson has promised that Kurt Rambis will serve as interim head coach for the remainder of the season, with the team aiming to address a permanent solution for the vacancy this offseason.

Sitting at 23-32 isn’t pretty, but the Knicks are still only a few games out of the playoff hunt, meaning that this second half will be crucial. After their hot start, expectations around this team have raised dramatically and there’s now a strong belief amongst fans that these Knicks can make a run and push its way into the postseason.

With the second half kicking off, here are the Knicks biggest stories to keep an eye on as we begin the push to the playoffs!

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