The NBA playoffs will arrive soon, and as the season nears conclusion, many teams are seeking to resolve an identity crisis. Whom does the offense run through? Will players be healthy in time to find team chemistry? Can we defend the three-point shot? The New York Knicks know who they are. With twenty games to go, the Knicks have turned a corner and will be an unenviable playoff matchup. Let’s explore some of what the New York Knicks have to offer as NBA playoff contenders.
How the Knicks Roll
The New York Knicks have a much-maligned history within NBA circles. Despite the aura of Madison Square Garden and the faithful fanbase, they have struggled to compete in the 21st century. Most young NBA fans were not around to see the Patrick Ewing-led championship contenders of the past. This season, the Knicks can proudly declare that they are ready.
Head Coach Tom Thibodeau, known for his defensive approach, has led the Knicks to ninth in points per game. The Knicks have an egalitarian approach to the offense, with five players averaging double figures and balanced minutes distributed throughout the roster. Previous teams that Thibodeau coached were more grinding. Top players would play heavy minutes, and the wear and tear would be evident as the season progressed.
The Knicks take away your options early in the game. They are one of the best first quarter teams in the league. Evidence of a well-coached team is easy to spot when they come out of the gate tenacious in the first quarter and after halftime. They picked up Josh Hart at the NBA trade deadline, a utility player that can plug any defensive holes. Even before adding Hart, the Knicks are top five in three-point percentage defense and top three in two-point percentage defense. The New York Knicks can impose their will, an excellent playoff trait.
Julius Randle
Long-time NBA fans mourned the death of the big man game in this three-point happy version of the NBA, but several big men have been balling. Julius Randle has been one of my favorite players to watch this season. Forget about the monster game he had in the comeback against Washington. Randle has been a consistent force all season. The former LA Laker first-round pick has career highs in several categories, and his will to win is at its peak. He is aggressive in one-on-one isolations and carries flat-footed defenders to the rim with him. Randle admirably spaces the floor as well. He represented New York in the 3 Point Challenge for NBA All-Star weekend. The all-star represents New York in a way most people remember Patrick Ewing, Charles Oakley, and Anthony Mason.
Big men won the last four NBA MVPs. The first four picks in last year’s NBA draft were power forwards or centers. The phenom, Victor Wembenyama, is coming. The big man is here to stay!
Jalen Brunson
Jalen Brunson was an expensive free-agent pick-up for the Knicks, but he has not disappointed this season. The guard had a breakout playoff performance last season with Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks, resulting in a Western Conference Finals appearance. Brunson came to the Knicks to become the offense’s focal point, and he has exploded with all-star-type numbers.
RJ Barrett
There is a lot to be proud of regarding RJ Barrett. The former number three overall draft pick trends toward consistency rather than a player that adds layers to his game. However, his playmaking is much improved. Knicks faithful should appreciate a young athletic talent they can count on to produce not quite like Latrell Sprewell, but very similar numbers. Only three Knicks in franchise history have scored more than Barrett in their first 200 games.
All three of Julius Randle, RJ Barrett, and Jalen Brunson are left-handed and use that advantage to exploit opponent tendencies regularly. Thibodeau’s defense has historically been challenging to deal with also. Fear the New York Knicks!
Knicks on the Prowl
The Knicks have been solid in February (two losses in ten contests). They sit in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, two games ahead of the 7th-seed Miami Heat, representing the play-in tournament’s cutoff line. If the playoffs started today, they would face the #3 seed Philadelphia 76ers, a team they beat in the season series two games to one. They have an opportunity to win the season series against the presumed #1 seed Boston Celtics as the finale for their season series tips off Monday, February 27.
The Knicks can aggressively climb the standings with another hot streak. The Brooklyn Nets, after the recent blockbuster trades of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, cling to 5th place. The Cleveland Cavaliers are two games ahead of the Knicks in 4th place. Cavs have 7 of their next 11 games on the road.
Potential Roadblocks
The main playoff concern for New York Knicks fans should be when opponents change schemes. Coach Thibodeau has a history of failing to adapt his game plan to what is presented from quarter to quarter. Experienced players make on-court adjustments themselves, but the playoff experience on the New York Knicks roster is thin. Jalen Brunson has the most playoff experience (25 games) out of all the rotation players, but those 25 games have come over the past two years. Former MVP Derrick Rose is technically on the roster but has been mostly out of the rotation for a few years.
The NBA Eastern Conference teams that have been together longest double as the toughest playoff outs. The Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks are the creams of the crop, but New York will be stiff competition. Only a healthy, focused title contender can beat the Knicks in seven games.
Fun Knicks Facts
The last time the New York Knicks won an NBA championship was 50 years ago! The 1972-73 season was a year before blocked shots became an official NBA stat. The 1973 roster was loaded with Hall-of-Famers, including Walt Frazier, Earl Monroe, Dave DeBusschere, and future Hall-of-Fame coach Phil Jackson. The Knicks defeated the Lakers in a rematch of the 1972 NBA Finals. Legendary NBA superstar Wilt Chamberlain played his last NBA game in the 1973 Finals as a member of the LA Lakers.
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