The NY Knicks’ exhilarating win streak may have come to an end courtesy of the Phoenix Suns, but fans should be confident as ever in their beloved team.
Scream it from the rooftops, New York – this Knicks’ team is built different.
Tom Thibodeau’s bunch continues to prove their gallantry. The rest of the NBA can keep their load management rubbish – there are no nights off in the city that never sleeps.
The team has been the story of the association this season, with LeBron James even proclaiming the league is better when the Knicks are good.
While the Brooklyn Nets may be sitting atop the Eastern Conference, the Empire State still bleeds orange and blue – take that, Andrew Yang!
The NY Knicks have been a thorn in the entire Eastern Conference’s side
If you sat outside Madison Square Garden before the start of the season and told every fan that the Knicks would be sitting fourth in the East this late in the season, the team’s faithful would be over the moon.
While the vibes are still immaculate, the truth is they could be even higher.
Even with a multitude of heart-breaking, one-possession losses – the Knicks still possess a 22-17 conference record. That’s tied for the second-most wins against the East – more than the number one seed Nets.
The Nets and Philadelphia 76ers have been phenomenal this season, but the Knicks’ have been a moment away from defeating them on multiple occasions.
Missed calls and finicky bounces have been the razor-thin difference more than once in games between the teams.
There’s nobody in the East that will be celebrating if they have to see The Big 15 in the playoffs this year.
Can they really beat anyone?
The Knicks have already proven they can – and they didn’t need a gigantic win streak to put the league on notice.
While media members who disparaged the team in the past hopped back on the bandwagon throughout the last ten games, anyone who’s been paying attention knew the orange and blue flag was already waving high.
They’ve defeated the team with the NBA’s best record, the Utah Jazz. The Phoenix Suns, who possess the second-best record, were just pushed to their limit at The Garden – needing two miraculous shots by Chris Paul to stave off the Knicks.
Game in and game out, Thibodeau, Randle, and the rest of the Knicks aren’t going gently into that good night. While other teams may have more talent, there’s no team that has more heart.
Playoff Push: The team’s difficult schedule in May will help them put the league on notice (again)
If the win streak didn’t do it, a couple of big wins over the final month of the season will.
The Knicks leave for an arduous road trip on May 2nd – six games against some of the Western Conference’s best.
They warm up against a disappointing Houston Rockets squad, but a five-game stretch against the Memphis Grizzlies, Denver Nuggets, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Clippers, and Los Angeles Lakers will be must-see TV.
LeBron may think the NBA is better when the Knicks are good, but we’ll see if he’ll still sing their praises when they bring the fight to the Staples Center.
With the stakes as high as ever, we’ll continue to see the intensity ramped up to an eleven.
Knicks fans – wear your orange and blue, blast Go New York go New York go! and rock that Randle jersey.
Opposing team beware, this Knicks team can beat anyone.