Before their recent series of injuries, the New York Knicks were the talk of the NBA.
At one point from January 17th to February 1st, the Knickerbockers won nine straight games and were talked about as the second seed in the East behind the dominant Boston Celtics.
However, injuries to Julius Randle, OG Anunoby, and Jalen Brunson have left them in a tough spot, losing nine of their last 13 games.
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NBA great Paul Pierce is honored to be named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team during halftime of the 2022 NBA All-Star Game at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland on February 20, 2022. I think so. (Kyle Terada/USA Today Sports)
They are without Randle, a two-time All-Star, due to a dislocated shoulder. And although Anunoby was with the team for a short time, he provided much-needed three-and-D after being acquired from the Toronto Raptors.
The Knicks have struggled with a makeshift lineup, with some players like Deuce McBride, who usually comes off the bench, playing 47 and 46 minutes in the last two games.
So they can and will look a lot different by the playoffs. But one NBA legend doesn’t approve of that.
Paul Pierce said that while the Knicks look impressive from the outside, he seems to think he understands them.
“Knicks is like an Instagram model,” Pierce said. on his podcast With former teammate Kevin Garnett.
New York Knicks forward Julius Randle is injured during the second half of the game against the Miami Heat at Madison Square Garden and is assisted by medical staff. (Vincent Calchietta/USA Today Sports)
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“I’m on Instagram and I’m like, ‘Damn, she’s good.’ Then I catch them in person and I’m like… ‘Is this you?’ There’s a lot of filters. It’s too much. ”
“Those are two different things: real and digital?” Garnett asked his former teammate. “So, what am I watching on TV?”
“Instagram models. They got Fashion Nova,” Pearce replied, predicting a first-round elimination.
New York holds the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference, but is only a half-game out of the play-in spot (seeds 7 through 10). New York is 36-26, while the Miami Heat and Joel Embiid-less Philadelphia 76ers are 35-26. The Knicks have the same record as the Orlando Magic, who own the tiebreaker for the fourth seed.
Miles McBride of the New York Knicks brings the ball into the court during the third quarter of a game against the Atlanta Hawks on March 5, 2024 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. (Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)
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It remains to be seen when Randle and Anunoby will return. Brunson was not seriously injured and is expected to return within the next few days.
The Knicks will host Magic Friday Night at Madison Square Garden in a game that could have major playoff implications.
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