PORTLAND, Ore. _ Jeff Hornacek is still pushing the Knicks to win games, and working on things he believes will help them next season _ even if next season isn't guaranteed for him.
There's been plenty of speculation about Hornacek's job security. But the Knicks coach has one year remaining on his contract and is talking like someone who will still be coaching the Knicks next season.
"I still have next year so unless they tell me something different," Hornacek said after Tuesday's morning shootaround.
When asked if he fully expects to be back, Hornacek responded, "I think everybody does."
Hornacek was chuckling at first but then appeared to get annoyed by the line of questioning.
Everyone is frustrated around the Knicks, who had lost 12 of 13 games heading into Tuesday night's meeting with the Trail Blazers. That's not all on Hornacek, though. Injuries derailed a potentially successful season for the Knicks when very little was expected of them.
The Knicks were once 17-14, but they're 7-26 since then.
They went 8-12 with Tim Hardaway Jr. sidelined with a stress reaction in his lower left leg. They were 1-6 without Kristaps Porzingis before he suffered a season-ending torn ACL last month. Since then, they're 1-8.
"Everybody wants to win, but in the NBA it's not easy to win," Hornacek said. "We got off to a good start with those guys. Then with injuries were we deep enough with the top guys to overcome that? Obviously we weren't able to. But that doesn't mean that we haven't improved. Guys are getting better, trying to improve their competitiveness.
"Going into when we get KP back and our draft pick, and maybe free agency, we can be in better shape next year."
Hornacek has spoken about next season more lately. On Monday, when he was asked about starting Emmanuel Mudiay at point guard over Frank Ntilikina, Hornacek said that doesn't mean it will be that way next season.
Hornacek's future has been a topic of conversation for much of this season but more so of late. Hornacek was hired by former Knicks president Phil Jackson. Steve Mills, who was the general manager and is now president, also was involved in the hiring process, which could help Hornacek's cause.
But Hornacek wasn't hired by general manager Scott Perry. It wouldn't be surprising if Perry wanted to handpick his coach after what could be a fourth straight 50-loss season for the Knicks. They are a rebuilding team and may want to start next season with the coach who will lead them through it.
Management hasn't given any indication publicly that Hornacek is that person. Knicks officials have said they will evaluate everything after the season. Some of the names linked to the Knicks' coaching job have been Mark Jackson, David Fizdale, Doc Rivers, Jerry Stackhouse, Chauncey Billups, Jason Kidd and Monty Williams.
Hornacek was not given a playoff-caliber roster. Perry said the most important things were that the Knicks be competitive, play defense and play hard every night. They have struggled in all three phases, especially in recent weeks.
Now Hornacek is being asked to play and develop the younger guys. He's letting them play through mistakes even if it hurts the team's record.
"Some of these teams have some really dang good players," Hornacek said. "You go up against them and some nights they get you. A play here and there sometimes can make a difference. We'll just continue to plug away at it.
"I think they all feel like they're playing hard. We just have to keep pushing them to try to go a little harder, get after it a little bit more, not be afraid of getting fouls. They come out there, they want to win, they're competitive guys. If they were having the attitude of 'Let's just get this year over with,' we wouldn't be having the type of practices we have. You got to give them credit for that."
