old skool wrote:The Knicks are having a very good season, but I don't get the narrative that they are primed for a deep playoff run.
The Knicks have been near perfect against teams with losing records but pretty bad against teams at .500 or better.
Against teams .500 or better they have won 18 of 44 games. Against teams currently in the top six seeds in the East they have won 5 of 18 games. They have losing records against Boston, Milwaukee, Orlando and Indiana.
In spite of their recent success, their season long struggles against winning teams would point to a disappointing post season with their ceiling being a first round series win.
It's predicated on us getting healthy; with our Mid 3 (OG, Brunson, & Randle) we were beating good teams like the Wolves, Nuggets, and Sixers w/ Embiid...absolutely wrecking Denver & Philly in those games.
But since we didn't trade for Anunoby until the new year, and he's been banged up...during which time Randle has been out as well*...we've had a healthy OG for less than 20 games so far. So our overall record against the top/good teams doesn't reflect the threat we could pose if we get healthy over these next few weeks like we're supposed to.
A lot of IFs...especially with Randle's return drawing out & OG reinjuring himself just a couple games after coming back...but if we get our starting front court back, then we could make some real noise. Plus this is just a better team than the one a year ago that challenged Miami harder than Boston or Milwaukee did after pushing the Cavs around.
*people may meme Randle, but he was playing incredible basketball after remembering he can get to the rim at will and having him on the court is huge for Brunson...even last spring when Randle was playing through an ankle that needed surgery, Brunson's efficiency in the playoffs was night & day w/ & w/o Julius.
man couldn't even handle New Jersey
