New York Knicks Officially Eliminated From Playoffs With Loss vs. Warriors

Many NBA fans had dismissed the New York Knicks as playoff contenders long ago.

Following Saturday night's 125-94 drubbing at the hands of the Golden State Warriors, the Knicks became the first Eastern Conference team mathematically eliminated from the postseason discussion. The defeat put them 16.5 games back of the eighth-seeded Charlotte Hornets.

According to ESPN Stats & Info, New York might finish with the lowest winning percentage in the team's storied history:

The current record holder is the 1962-63 Knicks, which finished 21-59, per Basketball-Reference. In order to avoid making history, this year's version will need to finish the regular season with 22 wins, or nine of its next 17 games.

Given the way the 2014-15 campaign has unfolded, the odds aren't in the Knicks' favor.

The organization pretty much threw in the towel for this year when Carmelo Anthony had season-ending surgery. He was the only player who could've kept the Knicks somewhat respectable. Without Anthony, New York had no chance of cracking the top eight, even in the weak East.

All of this pain will be worth it in the end if the Knicks can grab a difference-maker in the upcoming draft in addition to a marquee free agent.