Knicks Face Critical Stretch in Season
Monday marks a surprising moment for the Knicks.
It’s been a month since they last triumphed over a team with a winning record. Their last victory was on March 6 against the Nuggets in Denver. Since then, they’ve faced five losses – all against teams with better than .500 records. This run included tough matchups away against the Lakers, Clippers, Hornets, Thunder, and Rockets.
This week kicks off the final four-game segment of their season against above .500 teams, starting with a game against the Hawks in Atlanta. Upcoming home games with the Celtics, Raptors, and Hornets follow.
“For us, it’s crucial to stay focused,” Josh Hart mentioned after practice on Sunday. “This is an important stretch to end the season strongly as we aim for the playoffs. What’s past is past; we can’t change that. Our goal is to secure a win tomorrow against a playoff contender and move forward one game at a time. Only the present matters now. We need to progress based on our performance and how we evaluate ourselves.”
Curiously, these five losses are in stark contrast to a seven-game winning streak they had, plus two wins against lesser teams. This inconsistency raises concerns about their struggles against higher-quality opponents over time.
This NBA season, the disparity between stronger and weaker teams is more pronounced than ever. A few victories against minor league caliber teams won’t quiet fears about how the Knicks will fare against more formidable challengers.
What’s concerning is not just the outcomes, but the manner of those losses. The offense has appeared stagnant, often relying heavily on Jalen Brunson. While they may cope when starting slowly against lower-ranked teams, reversing this trend against stronger competitors is a different ball game. Their transition defense has also faltered, undermining the progress they made on that front earlier in the season.
“You have to give credit to teams like Charlotte, Oklahoma City, and Houston. They played well,” Coach Mike Brown commented. “As I said after the game, we faltered in key areas. Honestly, we didn’t perform well in those three matches and simply deserved to lose. There are tough teams out there, so I hope we can elevate our game moving forward.”
With all four remaining opponents being Eastern Conference playoff teams, Brown acknowledges a delicate balance—he doesn’t want to reveal too much strategy that could be exploited come playoff time.
This week creates a unique situation.
“It’s a challenging journey that doesn’t get talked about often,” Landry Shamet expressed on Sunday. “In these final games, we’re honing in on the playoffs. We have to stay focused and respect each team we face. I think it’s essential that we concentrate less on our opponents and more on ourselves. We’re working toward something larger, which should guide our approach going into each game.”
Last year, the Knicks had difficulties during the regular season against top teams like the Celtics, but those struggles didn’t carry into the playoffs. However, it’s something that can’t simply be overlooked.
Relying on a sudden shift when the playoffs start is a risky way to think.
“It’s not as if we can just turn on the switch for the playoffs and expect everything to fall into place,” Hart admitted. “We must treat these final four games with utmost seriousness, understand the game plan, and execute mentally and physically.”
With only four games left, it presents a final opportunity for the Knicks to address emerging concerns that have started to bubble to the surface.
