In the gloomy weather of late January, with Gotham facing multiple political issues and sports fans licking their wounds from disappointing seasons for the Giants and Jets, the Knicks are giving New Yorkers a reason to cheer and hope. There is.
The team is completely destroyed, crushing the Denver Nuggets on Thursday with a blowout 122-84 win, adding to their recent five-game winning streak.
Once upon a time, the Knicks were a major symbol of pride in the Big Apple.
Alas, that was a long time ago. Over the years, patient fans have witnessed one tragic season after another.
In fact, they haven't won a championship since 1973 and haven't been to the finals since 1999.
This year feels different than usual.
Old-school coach Tom Thibedeau, guard Jalen Brunson, and forwards Julius Randle and OG Anunoby have combined to give the team a new culture and new life.
Thursday's stunning victory was by no means a given. The Nuggets are the reigning champions and a tough opponent for any team with superstar center Nikola Jokic.
But New York loves an underdog story, and the Knicks gave the Nuggets their largest point differential all season.
The team's recent success has injected new energy into the Garden, and fans are excited to witness their domination.
It's a great comeback story and a good reminder that you can't keep New York down.
The Big Apple is a better city when the Knicks matter.
You can't ignore them this year.
Let's stand up and cheer.
