From three NBA finals, to competitive Knicks during the 1980s, to the Knicks that only won 17 games last season, and to competing to be one of the top teams in the East. The New York Knicks back in the ’90s were a reliable team every season and over the last few years have hit a rough patch. Looking for answers, we go behind the scenes of the New York Knicks.

I got a chance to catch up with Manuel G. Sanchez, a man who witnessed two of the three NBA championships won by the New York Knicks and has seen them at their worst and best. We got into depth about what needs to happen to get out of this rough patch; he had plenty to say about our beloved Knicks.

I began by asking what is holding the Knicks back? Sanchez said, “The thing that is holding the Knicks back from being an elite team in the East is consistency. In the first 10 games we were 4-6. We mainly struggled in the turnovers and switching defense. That really affected us because we were still getting used to each other and how we play defense.” 

He brought up good points that pretty much any Knicks fan could see. I followed up by asking who is to blame for our struggles?

He said, “I feel that no one should be blamed because we are an entirely new team, only five returning players from last season. Of course we’ll struggle and succeed the first couple of games. But we can’t blame any particular player or group of people.”

I asked Sanchez one final question: Who has to take charge and lead the team? He said, “The person I believe — and all of New Yorkers believe — should take charge of the team is our guy with the fat contract: Carmelo Anthony. There is a reason we paid him big bucks. We need him to lead the team while sharing the spotlight with his teammates.”

Loyal fan Sanchez has obviously thought a great deal about what the Knicks are doing wrong and what they can do to fix it.

During my trip to the Big Apple, I was also able to talk with the starting tight end for the New York Jets, Favio Sanchez. As a New York native who plays professional football for the great city of New York, he has deep insight about his neighboring New York Knicks.

Favio said, “I think the thing holding the Knicks back is trust because they were unsure of how each and every player likes to play.”

I was shocked by his response because he is only 22 years of age, and its unusual to get a mature response from someone that young.

Asked why the Knicks are exceptional at home and horrific on the road, Favio said, “They are exceptional at home like any other team because at home you’re surrounded by your loyal fans. On the road it’s tough to win for any team because you’re not only battling the other team, but also the hostile fans.”

One last question for Favio: How soon can the Knicks be top contenders in the East? He said, “The Knicks will be a top contender in the East by the All-Star break, because by then the chemistry, trust and confidence will be at its highest for them. I’m 100 percent sure of it.”