Hoops Habit
Fansided

Predictions For The Atlantic Division In The 2016-17 Season

By Carter Johnson

Mar 18, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) looks to shoot as Boston Celtics forward Kelly Olynyk (41) defends in the first quarter at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Peter Llewellyn-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 18, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) looks to shoot as Boston Celtics forward Kelly Olynyk (41) defends in the first quarter at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Peter Llewellyn-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 6
Next
Mar 4, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (right) holds the ball as Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart (left) defends during the second half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (right) holds the ball as Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart (left) defends during the second half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports /

3. New York Knicks

2015-16 Record: 30-52 (3rd in Atlantic Division)
2016-17 Record: 41-41 (3rd in Atlantic Division) 

The New York Knicks fell short of the playoffs for the third consecutive season in 2015-16, but fans still had plenty to be excited about.

2015 fourth overall pick Kristaps Porzingis more than exceeded expectations as he revived the hype surrounding the team with sick blocks, deep threes and vicious putback slams on his way to a First-Team All Rookie nod.

Superstar Carmelo Anthony also quietly had one of his best seasons yet as a Knick, averaging 21.8 points, 7.7 rebounds and a career-high 4.2 assists per game.

As exciting as last season was, expectations were quickly heightened for this upcoming season after Phil Jackson and company made some of the biggest moves of the 2016 offseason, adding 2011 NBA MVP Derrick Rose via trade and signing center Joakim Noah, 2-guard Courtney Lee and point guard Brandon Jennings in free agency.

Now, with two former stars, one of the league’s best 3-and-D players and a potential Sixth Man of the Year candidate joining Anthony and Porzingis in the Big Apple under the direction of new head coach Jeff Hornacek, the Knicks are expected to contend for a playoff spot for the first time since the 2012-13 season.

They’ll likely have the haunting possibility of injuries to deal with as Rose, Anthony, Jennings and Noah are all players who’ve had their fair share of health problems.

In spite of that, this Knicks team should be in position to compete in both the Atlantic Division and the Eastern Conference playoff picture barring the catastrophic.

Next: No. 2