The Knicks are one of many hottest groups within the NBA, having received seven consecutive video games and 17 of their final 21. Some skeptics would rapidly level to the issue (or lack thereof) of their schedule over that span to say they haven’t but earned contender standing, regardless of the wins racking up.
That critique holds some fact, as solely 5 of these wins got here in opposition to groups within the prime eight seeds of their convention: three in opposition to Orlando, one in opposition to Minnesota, and one over Denver. On prime of that, the Timberwolves and Nuggets are in Play-In Match territory and the Magic have been with out their key stars for these matchups.
There’s an actual query as to how this staff stacks up in opposition to the perfect, which is an important inform as to how they could carry out come the playoffs.
Let’s dive in and see how the Knicks examine to the league’s elite…
Per Cleansing the Glass, the Knicks are 5-4 in opposition to groups with Prime 10 web rankings – the 5 wins listed above and losses to Boston, Cleveland, Dallas and Houston. The excellent news is their offense ranks second behind 121.4 factors per 100 possessions, and their protection falls simply outdoors the Prime 10. So from a excessive stage, the numbers look strong.
It’s powerful to glean an excessive amount of from a few of these losses given once they passed off. The Celtics recreation was the season-opening romp the Knicks took, and the Cavaliers and Rockets video games had been each throughout the first six of the yr.
It is secure to say New York has grown into itself since then. Houston destroyed the Knicks on the glass and held their offense to beneath 100 factors for under the second time all season behind their switching scheme — areas of concern the staff has addressed to a point.
The Knicks are tenth in defensive rebounding charge in opposition to the highest groups within the league, although they’ve struggled in opposition to a number of the finest offensive rebounding groups, no matter their total expertise. They’re doing effectively sufficient within the possession recreation, boasting the eighth-lowest turnover charge in opposition to the league’s finest.
New York fell behind by double digits to Dallas within the first quarter of their Thanksgiving matchup because of a half-hearted begin and performed them even the remainder of the way in which. They haven’t fairly been challenged the identical since, as convincing as this huge December run has been.
As talked about, the wins don’t inform us a lot, both. The Nuggets and Wolves are reeling from their very own points, and the Magic had been with out Paolo Banchero for all three video games and Franz Wagner for 2 of them.
New York has different landmark wins on the season in opposition to Milwaukee and Miami, however these had been additionally early within the yr.
Fortunately, followers can sit up for some high-level opponents quickly. The Knicks have two video games in opposition to the West’s top-seeded Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder early in January, matchups with East titans Philadelphia and Milwaukee, each in higher grooves and well being than in prior conferences, plus the Timberwolves, Grizzlies, and Nuggets to spherical out the month.
These video games ought to give us a clearer image into how the Knicks contend in opposition to the very best of the very best, however maybe extra importantly, what number of of their weaknesses they’ve cleaned up. The postseason is finally about matchups and changes, and talent-wise, New York stacks up in opposition to anyone on paper.
Greater than the wins and losses, will probably be essential to see how the Knicks reply to switch-heavy defenses that attempt to pigeonhole them into stagnant one-on-one offense. These groups will doubtless assault Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Cities, individually and by placing them each in pick-and-rolls. And the Knicks will want them to carry their very own defensively.
We’re a good distance from the postseason, however the expectations surrounding this staff imply this season shall be outlined by how they carry out then, not in opposition to a half-injured Wizards squad in December.
Followers are naturally anxious about what this staff would possibly appear like as soon as the stress and competitors attain that stage, and shall be looking for any indication a method or one other because the Knicks get into the harder elements of their schedule.
