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5 Reasons Why the New York Knicks Won’t Make the 2016 NBA Playoffs

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Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

5 Reasons Why the New York Knicks Won't Make the 2016 NBA Playoffs

new york knicks
Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

After last season, how could the New York Knicks not have gotten better? Sure, free agency did not turn out the way they would have liked, but they got their man in the draft. There is now a reason to be interested in the Knicks. The road to contender will be slow. It has to be after the mess that Phil Jackson inherited/partly made himself. Next season is about improvement. Here are five reasons why the playoffs are at least two years away.

5. Carmelo Anthony's Health

Carmelo Anthony New York Knicks
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5. Carmelo Anthony's Health

Carmelo Anthony New York Knicks
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Coming off of surgery on his left knee, there are certainly no guarantees about Carmelo Anthony. He won't return to form immediately after only playing in 40 games last season. It will take him some time to get back into NBA game shape. For the Knicks to win, Anthony needs to be incredible, and he won't be able to do that for a full season. At times he may be that guy again -- just not enough to take his team to the playoffs.

4. Power Forward Position

Derrick Williams Knicks
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4. Power Forward Position

Derrick Williams Knicks
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Right now it looks like the Knicks will start Derrick Williams at the power forward position who is a role player at best. New York took a chance on a guy who is a borderline bust because he was a low-risk signing. Kristaps Porzingis is not ready to play starter's minutes yet, but the position is thin. They could move Anthony to PF where he has thrived. Then Afflalo slides to the SF. Then who plays SG, though? Again, this is not a playoff team.

3. Not Enough Offense

Arron Afflalo Portland Trail Blazers
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3. Not Enough Offense

Arron Afflalo Portland Trail Blazers
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The Knicks ranked dead least in points per game last season. They tried to improve their offense with the top free agents but struck out. Arron Afflalo is definitely a step up from anything they previously had, but he is not enough. New York's other offseason acquisitions (Lopez, O'Quinn, Porzingis, Williams, etc.) won't be any real help to Carmelo Anthony on the offensive end. Expect the Knicks to rank close to last in scoring again next season.

2. New Team

Robin Lopez Knicks
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2. New Team

Robin Lopez Knicks
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Phil Jackson structured this season to have almost a completely different roster from last year. He does, as only six players remain from last year's Knicks team. Robin Lopez and Arron Afflalo have instantly become the second and third most important players on the team. Lopez will have more pressure on him this season than he has had in his entire career. The new talent will take time to get used to Derek Fisher's new triangle system.

1. The East Got Better

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Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports

1. The East Got Better

phil jackson knicks
Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports

The Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic will all be better next season. Miami dominated free agency and has Bosh returning healthy. Indiana has Paul George returning and found success in FA. Boston is poised for a season even better than last year's surprise after acquiring David Lee, and Orlando finally brought in a new coach (Scott Skiles) to jump-start their young talent. All of these teams are better than the Knicks.

Chipper Murphy is a Beat Writer for the New York Knicks on www.Rantsports.com. Follow him on Twitter @ChipperMurphy “Like” him on Facebook.

Chipper Murphy is a writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter and like him on Facebook.
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