Based on the new GM survey, conducted by NBA.com, you’d never know the Knicks finished 41-31 last season — fourth place in the Eastern Conference.
Reigning coach of the year Tom Thibodeau didn’t get a lot of love and Julius Randle, in dozens of player categories, was ignored after being voted All-NBA second team last season.
In the GM’s Eastern Conference rankings, the Knicks finished out of the top seven, receiving zero top-four votes from the league’s other 29 GMs.
The Pacers, who faced the Knicks on Tuesday in the preseason opener, were rated seventh — ahead of the Knicks. In general, most executives feel the East has gotten better. Indiana has added arguably the game’s best coach in Rick Carlisle.
“It’s going to be tough,’’ said Carlisle, who is moving over from the Western Conference. “I think it’s gotten tougher. Time will tell. I haven’t taken a real close look at it. The usual small handful of real legitimate championship contenders, there’s a handful in the West, a handful in the East and they’re all real.’’
Carlisle said he believes the Knicks should be as tough with their offseason additions.
“Well, they’ve added Kemba Walker and [Evan] Fournier so it appears they’ve gotten better on paper,’’ Carlisle said. “I expect — it’s a pretty good infusion of talent, skill, playmaking and scoring. So it makes them tougher.”
The actual Garden fared the best as the Knicks finished third in voting for best home-court advantage with 10 percent of the vote.
Also, Walker was fifth in the most underrated offseason addition category.
The Knicks, who led the league in opponents scoring average, field-goal percentage and 3-point percentage, finished out of the top four in the category of “Best Defensive Team.”
Thibodeau didn’t receive a vote for “Best Coach’’ or “Best Manager/Motivator,” but was selected No. 1 in the coaching category of “Best Defensive Schemes.”
In the best assistant coaches department, 16 received votes but nobody from Thibodeau’s staff.
Rookie Miles McBride was named in “also receiving votes” on “Best Steal of the Draft.” The West Virginia product was taken No. 36.
Thibodeau sat Nerlens Noel at center to get a closer look at rookie Jericho Sims and veteran Taj Gibson. Mitchell Robinson still hasn’t practiced. The Knicks coach said he’ll sit out a key player for each of the four preseason games.
Carlisle wasn’t just excited about No. 13 pick, former Oregon swingman, Chris Duarte, but also Kentucky center Isaiah Jackson, taken 22nd. Carlisle said each was the best defender at his position in the draft.
The Knicks tried to trade up for Duarte.
“I really like Duarte, I really like Jackson,’’ Carlisle said. “They both give us an infusion of athletic ability, defense and Duarte is a multi-position perimeter player.
“Jackson is a guy whose played 5 but his shooting has progressed faster than we had hoped. Defensively he has unique gifts.’’