We have entered the final third of the NBA season, which means teams are ramping up for a playoff push while others look ahead to the draft. If there is a time for the New York Knicks to push for a championship run, this is the biggest chance they have.
The Eastern Conference is wide open this season; there are usually one or two teams at this point in the year that will make the Finals, but this year, there are far more teams competing with the Knicks to make the Finals.
Detroit Pistons:
Detroit has achieved one of the most significant turnarounds in NBA history. Just two seasons ago, they finished last in the NBA with a record of 14-68. This season, they are 40-13, making them the No. 1 seed and 5.5 games ahead of second place. None of their matchups against the Knicks were remotely close. They battered New York by 31 points in early January and again by 38 earlier this month. They’ve held the Knicks to an average of 85 points per game, while scoring 120 points per contest.
New York has been phenomenal on the defensive end since last month, holding eight opponents under 101 points, yet the Pistons have exposed them.
Boston Celtics:
I can’t say I expected this at all. Without Jayson Tatum, Boston is No. 2 in the East with a record of 35-19, half a game ahead of the Knicks. New York leads the season series 2-1, with their most recent game being a dominant 111-89 win for the Knicks just under two weeks ago.
In a season where everyone thought they’d take a step back, they stayed right at the top. Head Coach Joe Mazzulla deserves all the credit for their success this season. Losing your superstar for most likely the entire season yet performing at the same level is no easy feat.
Jaylen Brown has been putting up MVP-level numbers this season as the number one option for the Celtics. Brown averages 29.4 points per game, which puts him fourth in scoring. His defensive presence this season has been remarkable, and he has even declared himself the best 2-way player in the game.
We might see a playoff rematch this spring if the Celtics continue to play at this level. If Jayson Tatum comes back, it will be interesting to see if he returns to being the number one option or if he goes to the second option before getting back to full strength.
Cleveland Cavaliers:
It’s safe to say that Cleveland took a step back this year. The Cavs are 34-21, putting them as the No. 4 seed in the East. New York leads the season series 2-0, with their last game being a Christmas Day thriller.
Although they’re seven games out of first, Cleveland has won 10 of their last 11 games. And with the acquisition of James Harden, they have played like a top team in the league. Harden has fit right into his role in Cleveland and pairing up with Donovan Mitchell has made the team fire on all cylinders. Is this just the usual honeymoon phase the 36-year-old goes through when he makes his debut for a new team? Or is this chemistry he’s developing going to follow through into the playoffs?
Looking ahead for the Knicks, they take on the Pistons on Thursday night, host Houston on Saturday night and head on a three-game road trip against Chicago, Cleveland and Milwaukee. These next few weeks are pivotal, facing potential playoff opponents as well as surging teams in the west. After the road-trip they come home to play San Antonio and reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder.