The 2022-23 NBA season is fully underway and the New York Knicks have gotten out to a solid start with decisive wins against the Detroit Pistons, the Orlando Magic, and the Charlotte Hornets. There have been a lot of positives seen in the few games played so far, such as the stellar play of Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle, that are giving fans hope of a season that results in a playoff berth in an uber-competitive Eastern Conference.
In a Bleacher Report article written by Zach Buckley, he ranked three Knicks games that will have a great impact on their season. Let’s discuss how the Knicks will do in their ‘most important games’ of the 2022-23 regular season.
Bleacher Report lists 3 most important games for Knicks in 2022-23
The first game on the list is one that is rapidly approaching, which is the Oct. 28 matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks, who are led by the two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. As mentioned in the article, Khris Middleton will likely be out for the game as he is still nursing a torn ligament in his left wrist.
The key for the Knicks to win this game is to continue to move the ball as we saw against the Magic. Another key will be to limit the three-point shooting of the Bucks. I would challenge the Knicks to find a way to crowd Giannis whenever he tries to drive to the rim without abandoning the shooters out on the perimeter. This is something they struggled with against Ja Morant and the Grizzlies on opening night.
Picking up this victory would be impressive, but it in no way would make or break the season, especially this early.
The second game on the list is the Dec. 14 matchup against the Chicago Bulls. Buckley mentions that this game, and the subsequent matchups against the Bulls, can have major ramifications on the Knicks’ playoff aspirations. He wrote:
"“If New York winds up in a head-to-head race with the Bulls, it could see its tiebreaker decided in December. All three of their regular-season meetings come within a nine-day stretch, which this contest opens.”"
The Bulls, led by DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine, are a team I think we match up well against. It’ll take a total team effort to beat Chicago. One can argue their starting lineup has more offensive power than ours, but where New York can really win this matchup is with the bench. It is guys like Immanuel Quickley, Cam Reddish, and eventually Quentin Grimes whose contributions will make the difference in this matchup.
I think this is a game we will ultimately win. The Bulls don’t have an abundance of shooting, and their offense relies too heavily on the play of LaVine and DeRozan. Just slowing one of them down will put the Knicks in a good position to win.
The third and final matchup on the list is the Feb. 24 game against the Washington Wizards. Honestly, I don’t see how this game is all that important outside of it being a game to embarrass Kristaps Porzingis. The Wizards, while talented, are not expected to be in the playoff race.
Buckley mentions a tough seven-day stretch following this game which includes two games against the Boston Celtics, alluding to the fact that the Knicks are sure to drop some of those games and therefore should handle their business against the Wizards.
I have no worries about the Knicks handling the Wizards. Taking one of those two games against Boston seems a lot more important, given that the Celtics are the favorites to come out of the East.
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