REALITY CHECK
The New York Knicks are famously 0-10 against the Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers and the Oklahoma City Thunder. However, that means they are 50-21 against the rest of the NBA. As a famous Knicks fan is fond of saying, “that’s pretty, pretty good”.
Undoubtedly, the Knicks wanted to beat Cleveland earlier tonight, and Boston earlier this week to end the narrative that they can’t beat the top teams in the NBA. Realistically, a win or two wouldn’t have changed a thing. The NBA is a playoff league. That’s where reputations are made, and where narratives change.
“0 and 10” won’t mean anything once the playoffs begin next weekend against the Detroit Pistons. Who, ironically, also have had their way with the Knicks this season winning 3 out of their 4 matchups. Will that poor record matter? Yes, it will be another big storyline all week, but no, it won’t mean anything once they tip off in game one.
Despite their struggles against the top teams in the league, the Knicks won enough games to secure the 3rd seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs, and home court advantage against the Pistons. The first 81 games were entertaining, but the identity of the 2024-25 Knicks will be revealed in the next few weeks. As the saying goes, everyone starts the playoffs “0 and 0”.
DE-FENSE
Defense has been synonymous with successful Knicks playoff teams dating back to the championships in the 70’s and the near misses in the 90’s. Defense also has been synonymous with Tom Thibodeau teams throughout his career. That’s why it was disarming early in the season when the Knicks were winning by outgunning teams as if Mike D’Antoni was still patrolling the sidelines.
Fortunately, the poor defense was short-lived, which makes sense because 5 of the Knicks top 7 rotation players (OG Anunoby, Mikhal Bridges, Josh Hart, Miles McBride, and Mitch Robinson) are legitimately considered above average defenders. The Knicks go into their final regular season game Sunday against the Brooklyn Nets ranked 9th in defense (just ahead of the Nets). It’s safe to say they will finish in the top 10.
That’s good, but not quite elite. IF Leon Rose keeps this core together, I am confident they will develop the chemistry necessary to play championship level defensive on a consistent basis. I’m just not sure if that’s coming in the next few weeks, or if we have to wait until 2025-26.
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DETROIT PISTONS
The Pistons are building their team the old-fashioned way, through the draft. Cade Cunningham (averaging 26 points, 9.1 assists and 6.1 rebounds) was the NBA’s first overall selection in the 2021 NBA Draft. The next spring, Jalen Ivey (17.6 points, 4 assists) was the 5th overall selection. The 13th selection that year belonged to the Charlotte Hornets, who shipped it to our Knicks, who shipped it to the Pistons, who took Jalen Duren (11.9 points, 10.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks). While it’s always good to be lucky and have the Dallas Mavericks drop a superstar in your laps (hint: see photo), the league seems to be getting away from the “Big 3” era after the disasters in Brooklyn and Phoenix. Old school scouting and ingenuity are back in vogue.
DEION WRIGHT/TYLER KOLEK
Due to the late-season injuries to Jalen Brunson, McBride and Cameron Payne, the Knicks were forced to give significant minutes to depth point guards Deion Wright and Tyler Kolek. Three thoughts came to mind while watching them perform.
- If we could combine Wright’s defense/size and Kolek’s playmaking ability, Brunson would be forced to move over to the “2”.
- Wright’s defensive ability probably moved him up to 10th in the Knicks 9-man rotation. One injury and don’t be surprised if you see him in the playoffs. Wright was another shrewd “under-the-radar” pickup from Leon Rose who acquired him at the deadline from Milwaukee for Jericho Sims.
- Kolek needs to spend all summer working on his defense and quickness. He has the offensive skills, including tremendous court vision and old-school point guard flair, to be a part of next year’s rotation. But only if he can hold his own on the defense end of the court.
