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New York Knicks: Five Christmas gifts fans have received in 2018-19

By Rob Wolkenbrod

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 29: Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks snaps a selfie with a fan during their Open Practice on September 29, 2018 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 29: Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks snaps a selfie with a fan during their Open Practice on September 29, 2018 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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New York Knicks fans Kristaps Porzingis (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
New York Knicks fans Kristaps Porzingis (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

What Christmas gifts have the New York Knicks given their fans in the 2018-19 season?

It’s the holiday season and, as always, the New York Knicks take a role in it. From the basketball side, they will face the Milwaukee Bucks on Christmas Day, kicking off a five-game slate for this annual NBA tradition.

When the Knicks enter this Christmas matchup, they will already be 34 games into the season. With a 9-25 record, this group is on track for their sixth consecutive losing campaign.

However, it’s the holidays, and a time to focus on the positives of the 2018-19 season, even if sparse.

The Knicks have provided gifts for fans eyeing this organization’s trend in the right direction. Five of them stand out, so let’s look at these already-received presents as the 2018 portion of this season nears its end:

5. Realistic expectations

2018-19 always seemed to be an uphill season for the New York Knicks. They opened it without Kristaps Porzingis, due to the torn ACL he suffered in February. He remains out and sans a timetable to return to the court.

With that, it dampened expectations for the Knicks to improve on their 29-53 record. No superstar to lead the way; inexperienced players; a new system under a new head coach; all of it factored into the dubbed “development” season for the Big Apple’s team in 2018-19.

Keeping it real, the Knicks have embraced these expectations, which the fans should appreciate as an early gift, rather than hoping for a playoff run.

Through the season, David Fizdale has tinkered with lineups, giving different players opportunities and even said it’s about analyzing who fits and who does not for the future. It makes this all an evaluation run, even if a full 82-game season, before everyone seeks more out of the Knicks in 2019-20.

That’s when a big-name free agent potentially arrives, another lottery pick enters the fray and players look to take another step forward in their development.

The Knicks will struggle for the rest of 2018-19, but it was expected with this young roster and absent their superstar player. By 2019-20, will this become a franchise that finds a winning record and satisfies the fans?

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