NY Knicks Highlights to Get You Pumped for 2014-15 Season

The New York Knicks are coming off one of their most disappointing seasons in recent memory, but there are still plenty of reasons to be excited for 2014-15.

For starters, there's been a ton of change in New York. Phil Jackson, Derek Fisher and company have arrived, bringing with them the triangle offense and an improved, younger roster.

What's more, last season wasn't all bad. Carmelo Anthony still played at an elite level, and there were definitely some positives to take from other performances elsewhere on the roster.

Let's take a look at some highlights from 2013-14 and a few of the Knicks' incoming players to get you pumped for the upcoming season.

Carmelo Anthony's 62-Point Game

If not for his team's poor performance, Carmelo Anthony would have been a serious MVP candidate in 2013-14. He averaged 27.4 points and a career-high 8.1 rebounds on the season while playing a huge 38.7 minutes per night.

Melo's standout moment came in January against the Charlotte Bobcats, where he channeled his anger to put up a career-high 62 points, breaking both the Knicks and Madison Square Garden's record for points in a game in the process.

While it's unlikely we'll see Anthony put up numbers like this too often, it's a sign that he's still an elite player. With an improved team and organization around him, that should lead to success in 2014-15.

The Triangle Offense

Arguably, the Knicks' biggest addition this offseason is not a particular player or coach, but the triangle offense itself, which Derek Fisher will be focusing on in training camp.

We already saw a glimpse of what some of the younger Knicks can do within the offense at summer league, but this video courtesy of ESPN's Sports Science breaks down how it works and just how dangerous it can be with the right personnel.

This is going to be New York's identity for the foreseeable future. With the likes of Carmelo Anthony, Jose Calderon and Amar'e Stoudemire working on it together, we should see a huge improvement on the offensive end.

Iman Shumpert's Career Night in San Antonio

While the 2013-14 season is a campaign Iman Shumpert will want to forget, we saw flashes of his potential during a short stretch in January.

In Texas, Shump put up 27 points in a win against the San Antonio Spurs and followed that up with a 26-point game against the Houston Rockets.

The problem for Shumpert—at least on offense—is that he didn't have enough confidence to assert himself, averaging only 6.7 points per game despite playing 26.5 minutes. His usage rate in 2013-14 was just 13.5, ranking him 63rd among shooting guards, according to ESPN.com. This is an example of what he can do when he actually gets involved.

A Taste of What Jose Calderon Has to Offer

New York has been looking for a point guard for years now it seems, but the team may have finally found its man in Jose Calderon, whose pass-first style makes him a perfect fit for the triangle offense.

While age may be a concern (Calderon just turned 33), he has never been a player who relies on athleticism, instead using his vision and the threat of the three-point shot to give him an edge over his opponents.

Calderon is one of the few players on New York's roster who made the playoffs in 2013-14. Here we see his contribution to the Dallas Mavericks as they gave the San Antonio Spurs a run for their money in the first round.

Cleanthony Early Putting in Work at Wichita State

The Knicks are famous for giving away draft picks, but when they do hold onto their picks, good things tend to happen. Over the past few years, they've found a number of steals in the draft, including Landry Fields, Iman Shumpert and Tim Hardaway Jr. They'll be hoping Cleanthony Early will be the next man on that list.

After four years in college—including a very successful two-year stay at Wichita State—Early is about as NBA-ready as a second-round pick can be. He has a genuine chance of earning a rotation spot behind Carmelo Anthony at small forward.

Here we can see just how diverse Early's offensive game is. He's capable of scoring from inside and out, with the confidence to take and make big shots.

J.R. Smith at His Best

J.R. Smith isn't exactly the most consistent player in the NBA, but when he's at his best, very few shooting guards in the league can match his mix of athleticism, shooting and unwavering confidence.

Unfortunately for the Knicks, the good J.R. didn't show up until very late in the season, but when he was at his best, he almost pushed them into the playoffs against all odds.

With no injuries or suspensions to worry about and a fresh start under new management, hopefully this will be the year we see Smith reach his potential. It's not something to bank on, but if it happens New York will suddenly be one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference.

Cole Aldrich Proving He May Be Worth a Spot in the Rotation

After the trade of Tyson Chandler, plenty of minutes have opened up for New York at center, and while he may not necessarily start, it makes sense for the Knicks to give Cole Aldrich an increase in playing time.

Aldrich was one of the better rebounders on New York's roster last year—if not the best—and this game against the Toronto Raptors is an example of what he's capable of when given enough time to build momentum in the context of a game.

The Knicks will ideally be focusing a lot more on developing their younger players in 2014-15, and Aldrich is definitely someone to keep an eye on in that regard.

STAT Showing He Still Has Plenty Left in the Tank

Due to his contract and recurring knee injuries, Amar'e Stoudemire is seen as the embodiment of New York's short-sighted front-office decisions, but he's quietly been one of the league's most productive power forwards over the last few seasons.

According to Basketball-Reference.com, STAT has averaged 19.9 points per 36 minutes on 56 percent shooting over the last two seasons. In a contract year with a more lenient minutes restriction, that should translate into a productive 2014-15.

It isn't just the numbers that show Stoudemire has plenty left in the tank. Watching him play, you can see just how far he's come from being a player who relied solely on his athleticism to one who finds other ways to score in the post and the mid-range. Although that's not to say he isn't still a force in the pick-and-roll.