Jose Alvarado Takes the Court for Knicks
The player in focus is Jose Alvarado.
The native of New York City ignited some energy off the bench, but unfortunately, it wasn’t enough. The Knicks dropped Game 2 of their first-round series to the Hawks, losing 107-106 after blowing a 12-point lead in the final quarter at Madison Square Garden.
Alvarado, who was brought in from the Pelicans at the trade deadline, found himself out of the rotation as the season neared its end. With both Miles McBride and Landry Shamet struggling, Coach Mike Brown opted to utilize Alvarado.
In his nine minutes on the court, this troubled guard recorded three assists and two rebounds. Interestingly, during that time, the Knicks outscored the Hawks by five points.
In his second outing as a Knick, Alvarado had a noteworthy performance, scoring 26 points. He’s an important piece—at least until he isn’t. Reflecting on his status, the former Christ the King and Georgia Tech standout finds himself out of the game plan again. His window of opportunity may be closing.
However, Alvarado maintained his enthusiasm. “I’m feeling good. I’m relaxed. I’m ready for my moment. I’m always ready to hear my name called,” he commented recently. He noted, “I started strong here, and perhaps that sets certain expectations. But I’m staying mentally focused. This is my home team. I love the organization, I love the Knicks. I’ll be prepared for when my moment comes.”
Looking back, four years ago, Alvarado made a memorable impact during the playoffs, notably frustrating Chris Paul in a first-round series against the Suns.
Two years later, his tenure with the Pelicans ended with a first-round exit against the Thunder, where he faced his own challenges. Yet, Alvarado feels this time around is different.
“Sure, I’ve been to the playoffs before, but I wouldn’t want to diminish other teams. None were on a championship trajectory,” he remarked. “We know we have what it takes to reach that level. We’re a talented team, but it’s our own inconsistencies that hold us back. We simply need to focus on the details and maintain our confidence.”
