Knicks Reportedly Held 'Multiple Players-Only Meetings After Embarrassing' Losses

The New York Knicks couldn't get enough players-only meetings during their NBA playoff run, according to The Athletic's James L. Edwards III and Fred Katz.

"New York organized multiple players-only meetings after embarrassing defeats throughout this postseason run, all with various degrees of intensity, per league sources," the report said. "It's not uncommon for teams to hold meetings without coaches, but it is rare for squads that went as far as the Knicks did to do it as often as they did during the playoffs, and for the kick-in-the-behind reasons they occasionally deemed necessary."

The symbolism of a players-only meeting is obvious. It's a way for a squad to air out any issues and hold one another accountable. Without coaches in the room, players may feel more freedom to voice their opinions.

The actual utility of players-only meetings is a little questionable, and whatever lift they provide can be fleeting. There's only so much earnest conversations can achieve toward masking a team's on-court flaws.

The Knicks are a prime example.

Katz reported how New York's veteran leaders gathered everyone together after an embarrassing 127-102 loss to the Jayson Tatum-less Boston Celtics in Game 5 of the conference semifinals. In Game 6, the Knicks blew the Celtics out of the water.

By the next round, all of those candid discussions in the locker room didn't matter much anymore. New York threw away a 17-point lead in Game 1 against the Indiana Pacers, and another close loss followed in Game 2.

By the end of the conference finals, the Pacers simply looked like the stronger team, while the Knicks weren't up to the standard of a championship contender.

Now, it's the front office's turn to have some difficult chats and ask whether any big changes are required for next year.