The New York Knicks have won 2 straight games, and the team seems confident that they can keep the wins coming. The Knicks have been in the playoff mix all season, but there’s been a different swagger lately since the team acquired guard Derrick Rose from the Detroit Pistons.
Since Rose has entered the lineup, the team has gone 2-1, losing a heartbreakingly close game to the Miami Heat, followed by wins against the Washington Wizards and the Houston Rockets. Even before Rose’s arrival, the team had been playing up to some tough competition.
Some of the Knicks’ recent losses came to the league-best Utah Jazz, the Los Angeles Clippers, and The Portland Trail Blazers, ranked 1st, 3rd, and 5th in the Western Conference respectively. Despite the results being losses, the team was close in every game. This team doesn’t get blown out.
The Knicks could eclipse .500 over the next few games
The Knicks have now had back-to-back wins against sub .500 teams, and the good times could keep rolling. The team currently sits 7th in the East with a record of 13-15. They’re just 2 1/2 games back of the Indiana Pacers for 4th in the conference.
Here is the Knicks’ schedule for the remainder of February:
February 15th – vs. Hawks (11-15)
February 17th – @ Magic (10-18)
February 20th – vs. Spurs (16-11)
February 21st – vs. Timberwolves (7-20)
February 23rd – vs. Warriors (14-13)
February 25th – vs. Kings (12-14)
February 27th – vs. Pacers (14-13)
February 28th – @ Pistons (8-19)
The Knicks will play 6 of their next 8 games at home, with their best opponent being the 16-11 San Antonio Spurs. The other two teams with winning records are just a game above .500, and the Knicks will also play two of the worst teams in the league in the Detroit Pistons and Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Knicks have already capitalized on beating some of the weaker teams recently in the Wizards and Rockets, and they now have a golden opportunity to keep the momentum going. It starts with tonight’s game vs. the Atlanta Hawks.
There’s more to the optimism than just their opponents’ records. It’s the brand of basketball the Knicks have been playing lately.
Derrick Rose’s scoring ability has added an entirely new dimension to the team. A dimension they desperately needed.
The Knicks’ offense had ranked in the bottom of the league all season long. While Rose isn’t suddenly flipping the team into becoming an offensive juggernaut, he’s certainly made their offense more formidable.
With the tandem of Rose and Quickley off of the bench, the team has incorporated a yin-and-yang with their starters and the 2nd unit. The Knicks’ starters include veterans Elfrid Payton and Reggie Bullock, two players who may be limited offensively, but have provided terrific perimeter defense all season long. The shutdown defense of the starters and the scoring power of the bench is a lot for the Knicks’ opponents to gameplan for
Now, the team gets a golden opportunity to climb the standings. The Knicks will take on the Hawks tonight, a team that has had a difficult schedule as of late and have lost 6 of their last 7 games. The Hawks rank 25th in the league in field goal percentage.
Is this going to be a cakewalk? Absolutely not — You can’t treat it that way and I don’t expect the Knicks to feel as though any win comes easy. Effort and intensity never seem to be a question with this team, no matter the opponent, which is a testament to the culture head coach Tom Thibodeau has put in place.
With that said, the team should still be feeling extremely confident. It’s an exciting time to be a Knicks fan, and the team has a terrific opportunity to take their recent momentum and turn it into more wins in the coming weeks. Buckle up and enjoy the ride.