The Knicks will try and recover from their up-and-mostly-down first half and try to make the playoffs. They currently are 2 1/2 games behind the Bobcats for the eighth seed. Here are the five things the Knicks will need to do to nab a postseason spot in the East:
1. Hardaway needs help: Rookie Tim Hardaway Jr. can’t keep it up all year — he’s bound to hit the rookie wall — and the Knicks will need dynamic production out of the shooting-guard position with J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert, if both remain Knicks after the trade deadline.
2. Bringing back Bargnani: Andrea Bargnani, when he returns, possibly in two to three weeks, will come off the bench as Knicks coach Mike Woodson is convinced Carmelo Anthony has to start at power forward. Bargnani has rarely played in that reserve role, and he struggled badly in three games off the bench this season. He averaged 7.7 points and 2.7 turnovers in those three games compared to 13.7 points and 1.3 turnovers as a starter. The Knicks’ chemistry was better right after he tore his elbow, but now they are just 5-5 since the injury. Woodson’s ability to weave him back into the rotation and not hurt Amar’e Stoudemire’s rhythm could be make-or-break.
3. Making a point: The Knicks have attempted to trade for Rajon Rondo and Kyle Lowry to no avail, and now a new name of note has surfaced in Hawks point guard Jeff Teague, who played for Woodson with the Hawks. But improved point-guard play likely will have to come from within, and Raymond Felton has to find the groove he had last season before breaking his pinkie on Christmas. He never returned to prior form, but did have a solid playoffs until a woeful Game 6 in Indiana. Now he needs to maintain consistency on both ends and stay healthy across the final 30 games or the team won’t make the playoffs. Pablo Prigioni will provide stable defense, but can only do so much on the attack.
4. ‘Wood’ they listen again: Woodson has to make the players believe again in his defensive system. Too many players questioned his gameplan of switching religiously. That scheme can be exploited, and the Knicks often have been forced into scramble mode for whole possessions. Woodson will need to adjust, even going zone against some teams that have figured him out. Anthony recently came to Woodson’s defense, saying the players just need to execute the scheme better and not complain about it.
5. Home cooking: The Knicks’ 12-18 record at the Garden is a disgrace: Teams no longer fear coming into the arena, and opposing players know they can take the fans out of games early. The boos that have ricocheted off the newly renovated Garden ceiling sounds similar to what echoed during the depressing days of the mid-2000s. Protecting homecourt is an even bigger deal now that 19 of the last 30 games are on the road. They’ll have no margin for error at MSG.