It seems like the 2023-24 season started yesterday, but then again, it feels like the season's gone on forever. There's been no shortage of entertainment (good and bad) for New York Knicks fans, from a shocking RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley trade to acquiring Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks at the deadline.
April could be a memorable month for the Knicks for several reasons. New York could secure another playoff series win, but hopefully, that isn't all the team can do.
2 Things Knicks fans should root for, 1 to root against to close season
Root for: Healthy Knicks in playoffs
At this point in the season, the Knicks being fully healthy seems more impossible than probable. Julius Randle hasn't played in over two months. OG Anunoby missed a month and a half and returned for only a few games before he was sidelined again with elbow inflammation. Mitchell Robinson missed 50 games after ankle surgery but then sprained his ankle when he returned. Luckily, he was back in the lineup on Tuesday.
If it isn't blatantly obvious, New York can't catch a break. If it isn't one thing, it's another. With the regular season rapidly approaching, the odds of the Knicks being healthy entering the postseason don't seem high. However, maybe New York is playing it safe and keeping Randle and Anunoby sidelined until the playoffs, when they're needed the most. Wishful thinking!
If the Knicks can get healthy (and stay healthy), they will be a force in the postseason. Unfortunately, that requires luck, and New York hasn't had much luck this season.
Root against: Falling into Play-In Tournament range
The Knicks are currently the No. 5 team in the East with a 44-31 record but are only one game back from the No. 3 Cavaliers. New York is two games ahead of No. 7 Miami, as the Heat are in Play-In Tournament range.
The Knicks would have to continue with their losing spree to fall into tournament range, while teams like the Heat and Sixers would have to go on runs. Miami has won three in a row, and Joel Embiid returned to the lineup on Tuesday in Philadelphia's 109-105 win over Oklahoma City.
With New York waiting for Randle and Anunoby's potential returns, the break between the regular season's end and the playoffs' start could be crucial. If the Knicks didn't have a break and had to compete in the tournament, that'd put the team at even more of a disadvantage.
Once the postseason starts, it's go time. The intensity will ramp up, and New York won't have extended time off. It'd be nice for non-injured players who have played heavy minutes to get a break during the tournament. Those few days could go a long way.
Root for: Homecourt advantage
Madison Square Garden in the playoffs is one of the most electric atmospheres in sports. The energy is unmatched. When the Knicks need an extra boost, the crowd gives it to them.
Every second in the postseason matters. When New York goes on a run, the crowd makes it that much harder for the opposing team to respond. Fans take it up another notch in the playoffs, making it easy for the momentum to shift in the Knicks' favor.
Last year, New York had homecourt advantage in the second round against Miami. The Heat outmatched the Knicks in almost all aspects of that series, so New York being the higher seed didn't matter much. This year's team is more equipped for a deep playoff run.
Of course, it all comes back to health. Even if the Knicks enter the postseason without Randle and Anunoby, the MSG crowd will be that much more important. Cross your fingers that New York doesn't continue to slip down the standings!