The New York Knicks' loss to the Washington Wizards caused the team much upset and frustration. A team meeting was called last Saturday and the Knicks discussed what they needed to change within the system. The huddle proved to be effective, as the New York Knicks have won back to back games since then.
The Knicks' victories made them climb back again to .500 in the standings, via Newsday. Star forward Carmelo Anthony stated that the team meeting was very crucial for them as it helped the team to figure things out while the 2016-2017 NBA season is still young.
Meanwhile, team president Phil Jackson did not comment on the meeting and just listened. After the team meeting, Melo scored a season-high of 31 points in a 104-94 victory against the Atlanta Hawks which currently ranks 2nd in the eastern conference.
The Knicks new head coach Jeff Hornacek addressed that he was also a part of many team meetings when he was still a player and said that it was an important part for a team's success. Hornacek stated that the meeting was a good thing for everybody because players voiced out what was going on in their heads instead of blaming each other.
The Knicks responded in a positive way with a convincing win over the aggressive Atlanta Hawks last Sunday. Anthony came out more aggressive from start to finish and the Knicks dominated the Hawks even without starting center Joakim Noah who was sent home due to an illness, according to ESPN.
The New York Knicks had another test against the Portland Trailblazers. Anthony was ice cold and went scoreless in the fourth quarter but other players stepped up. Knicks forward/center Kristaps Porzingis scored 31 points, while Derrick Rose scored six clutch points down the stretch to help the Knicks win a close game 103-107 over the Blazers. Noah did not play for the second straight game but the Knicks were up to the challenge and won back-to-back games to improve 7-7 in the standings.
Knicks point guard Brandon Jennings had 11 assists coming off the bench and stated that team was prepared to compete and win. Despite star forward Carmelo Anthony struggling, the Knicks did not falter and have won five straight on their home floor, per AP News.
