Knicks Morning News (2017.03.15)

Jeff Hornacek finally gave his playoff concession speech Tuesday, then the Knicks showed why it’s a pity they are all but out of it in mid-March. If they had just played a little more defense … Despite Kristaps Porzingis going from “confusion’’ to “contusion,” succumbing to a bruised left thigh, the Knicks staged a second-half…

Blame Stan Van Gundy. It’s his fault, honestly. Van Gundy and the Golden State Warriors were close — very close — to an agreement in May 2014, and it seemed like a perfect marriage: the Warriors getting a coach with NBA Finals experience, the coach inheriting a team that sure seemed ready to join the…

Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek finally gave his playoff concession speech. Entering Tuesday’s home game against the Pacers and coming off arguably the season’s worst defeat, in Brooklyn, Hornacek waved the white flag. The Knicks stood 6 ½ games out with 15 to play. Hornacek believes the Knicks didn’t show effort Sunday because of the dead playoff run….

Darko Milicic knows he’ll be remembered as one of the biggest busts in NBA history, but the 31-year-old Serbian is starting to come to terms with the dark thoughts he says plagued his regrettable nine-year career. Hailed as an international phenom at the age of 18, Milicic was selected No. 2 overall by the Pistons in 2003…

Knicks radio man Mike Crispino was there toward the end – John Andariese’s last broadcast partner – and remembers the voice as much as the man. Andariese, who retired in 2012 after being a Knicks broadcaster since 1973, passed away Monday night after a bout with dementia. Crispino grew close with “Johnny Hoops,” his tennis…

In the darkness of this miserable Knicks season, Kristaps Porzingis at least sees some daylight at the end: summer workouts with Dirk Nowitzki, the freshly minted 30,000-point scorer. The Porzingis-Nowitzki offseason workout plans appeared in danger on Jan. 25, when Dallas owner Mark Cuban said about their workout plans: “F—k no. You know how much money…

Porzingis’s thigh injury, which occurred early in the fourth quarter, cast a pall over the Knicks’ victory against Indiana that ended a three-game skid.

The team is back atop the standings, and a clear contender, behind an indispensable and understated star player. Sound familiar?

Andariese, who appeared in the N.I.T. twice with Fordham but never played or coached in the N.B.A., said he was driven to spread his love of the game.

The Knicks are six games out of a playoff spot with 14 remaining.

John Andariese would carry a notebook with him during the NBA season filled with boxscores and newspaper clippings.

Carmelo Anthony wasn’t messing around with his postgame wardrobe on Tuesday.

The idea that the Knicks can make a run at the playoffs had been Jeff Hornacek’s motivating force even amid all this

The 7-3 building block for the Knicks’ future had one arm around teammate Willy Hernangomez and the other around a trainer as he walked stiffly off the floor 29 seconds into the fourth quarter Tuesday night at the Garden.

Jeff Hornacek is no longer saying the Knicks can make a playoff run. The Knicks coach conceded the race is just about over and it’s time to start building for next season.

Derrick Rose understood Kristaps Porzingis saying mass confusion exists within the Knicks because of their recent refocusing on the triangle offense.

Carmelo Anthony scored 15 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter, Derrick Rose added 16 points and the New York Knicks overcame a 13-point third-quarter deficit to beat the Indiana Pacers 87-81 on Tuesday night.

Kristaps Porzingis said he still plans on working out with Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks this offseason.

At this point in the year, Knicks basketball is difficult to watch. The team doesn’t appear to know which direction they are headed. Built like a squad hoping to compete sooner than later, the failures are abound.

After the tumultuous season the Knicks have endured, will Phil Jackson look to get rid of Jeff Hornacek this offseason?

Anthony Donahue and Moke Hamilton are officially in the dog days of the season as the guys discuss what Knicks fans can look forward to for the rest of the year.

Wednesday’s Knicks News: Players have tuned out Hornacek

Porzingis suffers thigh contusion in Knicks’ win