New York Knicks are appointment television again
The New York Knicks aren’t just winning games. For the first time in years, the Knicks can be classified as appointment television.
For all the talk of how well the new era New York Knicks have looked over these past few games, there’s one thing I’m excited most about—and it’s not just the stratospheric rise of Kristaps Porzingis.
Of course, it’s wildly satisfying to finally see Porzingis unleashed as the franchise player. What I’ve been enjoying the most, however, is how entertaining the games have been.
Over the summer, Steve Mills penned a post on the MSG blog that promised a new commitment to defense. Although I thought it sounded refreshing, I didn’t believe him when he said:
"“He [Frank Ntilikina] , Porzingis and Hardaway, along with Hernangómez and Ron Baker, will exemplify a new defensive mindset that puts a premium on making stops. Only from there can a productive offense flow. We will emphasize ball movement, body movement, spacing and screening, while understanding that these changes will be a work in progress. We may not be there at first, but that’s the brand of ball our players will aspire to fulfill.” -Steve Mills"
This quote is key to this year’s team because, six games in, this is exactly what we are seeing. It also explains why we aren’t seeing much of Hernangomez and Baker.
The reasoning is simple: If you want to be on the court, it’s what you do on the defensive end that will determine whether you’ve earned the minutes. And I must say that, as one of those annoying old school 1994 Knicks fans, I absolutely love this new ethos.
It’s obvious that Porzingis has been the standout star of the team, and increasingly around the league, as well. But if you just focus on him, you are missing out the hustle, scrappiness, and team-first play of everyone else, including Courtney Lee, Kyle O’Quinn, and Jattett Jack.
Every one of those players have emerged as a common factor in each Knicks win.
This kind of team play even gives hope for Joakim Noah’s second chance to prove himself as a veteran leader for the young players to learn from.
All in all, what this translates to are fun games to watch—an experience that I haven’t enjoyed since Linsanity was a thing. We all know how that ended, but one thing I remember most about that brief period was just how thrilling it was to watch the Knicks, regardless of their record.
Similar to then, the Knicks are now on a timeline that doesn’t have a definitive ceiling on it like it did when Carmelo Anthony was the focal point of the team.
The Knicks also don’t have the pressing need to tank in order to get better, because we’re already seeing real development that hasn’t happened in years.
What we are witnessing isn’t some kind of Ewing Theory in play; it’s what happens when terrific young talent, purpose-driven front office management, and veteran team-first role players converge.
So far, it’s been fun as hell to watch and makes every game appointment television because, whether the Knicks win or not, you get the feeling that they’re chipping away towards a larger goal.
No longer are games about draft positioning or playoff seeding, because whether its going to war against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers or defending their city’s honor against the Brooklyn Nets, every game finally matters again.
Enjoy the ride.
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The New York Knicks are finally must-see TV again.