The New York Knicks started strong, but it’s clear that the magic and excitement from the early season is gone. Can the Knicks get it back?
Headed into the 2017-18 season, the New York Knicks felt a new beginning on the horizon. They had relieved Phil Jackson of his duties and traded away Carmelo Anthony. It was the long-awaited beginning of a rebuilding project in the Big Apple.
Given the low expectations placed on this young Knicks squad, the team played surprisingly well over the first 33 games, going 17-16.
As a Knicks fan, their games were fun to watch. Despite the clear coronation of Kristaps Porzingis as the best player, the team played as a unit.
Talks of team chemistry swirled around the New York media. Teammates were sticking up for each other both on and off the court, and they played with a level of energy not seen in quite some time.
These guys generally loved playing with and for each other.
And yet, as the Knicks slump towards the All-Star break, that early season magic just doesn’t seem to be there anymore. Losing probably has a lot to do with that.
The Knicks have lost 10 of their last 13 games since Christmas. It’s much harder to maintain a positive attitude when most outings end in frustration.
Aside from the actual losses, it’s the classic things that have plagued the Knicks for years that have reared their ugly heads again. Take their game against the Memphis Grizzlies this past Wednesday night.
Memphis was without its two best players in Marc Gasol and Mike Conley. Instead of coming out with lots of energy and laying the smackdown on a team short of talent, New York played down to their opponent’s level.
It was down by eight points at halftime, and trailed by 15 at the end of the third.
Then, after the team made a spirited comeback with a chance to reclaim possession off a jump ball down only three late in the fourth quarter, Courtney Lee was whistled for a technical foul.
The Knicks went on to lose by six.
Whether or not Lee actually warranted a technical is another discussion. The point is that this head-shaking nonsense only seems to happen to the Knicks, and it’s something us fans thought the team had moved past.
The Knicks have lost that early season swagger that gave them the confidence to compete at a high level, which is frustrating, but nothing to panic over. They are who we thought they’d be before the season started.
It’s only a little upsetting that after flying so high early in the season, the Knicks seem to be coming down hard.
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Hopefully the New York Knicks can rediscover the camaraderie and intensity that gave it a chance to make the playoffs in the first place.