Derek Fisher's first season as an NBA head coach didn't exactly go as planned. However, the New York Knicks' rookie bench boss believes the potential for a stunning turnaround is there in the Big Apple.
"I guess that's possible, but we are not here trying to squeeze in. We are not here trying to go from 15 to 36," Fisher said Thursday when asked if the Knicks could next year duplicate the kind of turnaround the Milwaukee Bucks enjoyed this season, as reported by ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk.
After finishing with a league-worst record of 15-67 last year, the Bucks (38-40) sit sixth in the Eastern Conference with a week remaining in the season.
"That's just not who we are," said Fisher, referring to his team's poor record.
"But we don't really have to put a number on it. We are 6-21 in games (decided) by six points or less this year. So we lost 21 games on two possessions. So we don't have go from 15 to 36 next year. We can go from 15 to 63 if we really want to."
How Fisher gets a 48-win improvement from 21 two-possession losses is a mathematical question for another day, as is any expectation that the Knicks will complete the biggest turnaround in NBA history next season, but Phil Jackson's team does have a couple quick-fix aces up its sleeve.
For one, the Knicks are on track for the best odds at the No. 1 overall pick (and a guaranteed top-four pick) in June's draft. They'll also have maximum salary cap space - and then some - come July. They also expect to get a fully healthy Carmelo Anthony back next season after the All-Star forward was hampered by knee issues all season.
A 2016 playoff push in the weak East is possible, but the Knicks have few building blocks going forward beyond future cap space and this year's draft pick. Anthony is also on the wrong side of 30.
Plus, relying solely on New York's ability to lure free agents didn't exactly work out five years ago.
Talk of 60 wins and an all-time turnaround reeks of ignorance and short-shortsightedness.
In other words, it reeks of Knicks management in the 21st century.
