Checklist for New York Knicks During Season's Home Stretch

With half the season remaining, the New York Knicks have little to play for. 

Winning the lottery is more likely than making the playoffs, and with the departures of Amar'e Stoudemire and Pablo Prigioni, an era is finally coming to an end. 

Carmelo Anthony is shut down for the rest of the season, but there is still a reason to tune into Knicks games.

Tracking the progression of its youngsters, like Shane Larkin and Tim Hardaway Jr. is worthwhile. Seeing which athletes are worthy of keeping is enough to entice the diehards to continue watching. 

2014-15 has been a tumultuous season, but there are still plenty of games left to be played. 

Anthony may not be on the court for the rest of the year, but that isn't any reason for the Knicks to fold and give up on their lost season. 

Now is the time for role players and youngsters to come together and prove their worth by finishing strong with pride. 

The Knicks aren't talented enough to disrupt their chances at winning the lottery, but enough hungry guys on the team are playing for a job next year—whether in New York or with a different organization. 

Playing tough basketball for 48 minutes per game is a must as this season comes to a close. New York grossly underperformed expectations, and it's up to the guys remaining on board to salvage an embarrassing season. 

Wins barely matter at this point, but seeing how the youngsters develop is imperative.

Shane Larkin, Tim Hardaway Jr., Langston Galloway, Quincy Acy and Cleanthony Early have the opportunity to get meaningful minutes in a low-pressure environment and improve the best they can. 

New York needs young players who can contribute, and this is the perfect time for that aforementioned bunch to take their lumps and grow as individuals. 

With Stoudemire and Prigs gone and Anthony sidelined, the youngsters bear more responsibility on their shoulders and have a chance to showcase why they belong on the Knicks. 

Seeing how they finish the year will be a telling sign for their future, not just in New York but in the NBA as a whole. 

Phil Jackson will be paying attention closely to the guys on his roster and how they finish the year.

Veterans like Jason Smith and Jose Calderon will have the chance to remain with the organization or bid farewell in the offseason, depending on how 2015 comes to a close. 

Calderon will be challenging to move due to his contract, but he is talented and can impact a playoff team as a role player. 

Jackson will be watching who's worthy of returning and which players best fit the triangle offense employed by head coach Derek Fisher. If Smith can continue knocking down shots from the perimeter and providing tough defense and solid rebounding, he may find a place within the organization for the long haul. 

The home stretch may be tough to watch at times, but it will reveal who the team can trust moving forward. 

Regardless of record, Knicks tickets aren't getting cheaper. 

The players who are suiting up have a duty to provide an enjoyable experience for the people in the seats. This might not be the most talented bunch of athletes, but if they play hard and do everything they can, at least the fans can have something to smile about.

In sports, fewer things are worse than spending a good chunk of change to watch your favorite basketball team stink up the joint. 

If the Knicks can just hang in ballgames, play as well as they can and entertain the fans, it'll make this disappointing season seem a little better than it is. 

Fisher is a rookie head coach who is still finding his niche. 

Some may criticize him for New York's record, but he's done everything he can with little experience to get his guys to play consistent basketball. 

Quite frankly, few coaches in the history of this sport could have done a better job with this roster than Fisher. The Knicks simply aren't talented enough to win many games and be a force in the Eastern Conference. 

It would be ideal to see Fisher out-coach a couple of his opponents and help show the world he's capable of doing his job well.