The Knicks have received 15 of their final 19 video games.
Nevertheless it’s honest to name a spade a spade: lots of these wins have come in opposition to groups they had been anticipated to beat.
Two had been in opposition to the 5-23 New Orleans Pelicans. One other pair got here on the expense of the 7-23 Toronto Raptors. Add in two wins over a scrappy however lottery-bound Brooklyn Nets squad and two extra in opposition to an Orlando Magic staff lacking its prime stars, Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.
And throw in a few victories over the younger however inconsistent Charlotte Hornets and a blowout in opposition to the Washington Wizards — a staff the Knicks will face two extra occasions earlier than the New Yr — to color a clearer image: the Knicks have benefited from a positive schedule.
That’s not their fault. The Knicks can solely play the groups on their schedule.
And the outcomes converse for themselves. At 20-10, they sit third within the Jap Convention behind solely the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics. They’re 9-7 in opposition to groups at .500 or higher and a powerful 11-3 in opposition to sub-.500 groups. A win is a win, and the Knicks are taking all of them as they arrive.
“These are NBA teams, the best of the best. I mean, any night, that’s what makes NBA basketball so special,” Karl-Anthony Cities stated after the Knicks’ twentieth win of the season on Wednesday. “These are the best basketball players in the world. Any night, you could lose. All these teams play with pride. We had to execute against some teams people wanna say are [bad], but we’re in the best league. We’ve had some dogfights, and we had to be unified and utilize the lessons we’ve learned all season. Never take any team in the NBA for granted.”
The Knicks perceive that their true check will come in opposition to playoff and championship contenders, however these video games in opposition to rebuilding groups are serving one other function: constructing chemistry for a squad that was dramatically reshaped simply weeks earlier than the season.
“I think we just look at each other and see if we’re getting better or not,” stated Mikal Bridges. “That’s the biggest thing. I think we took a jump this month. Every day, just keep trying to get better. We want to win — that’s the main goal — but sometimes getting better is what we’re looking for. So happy to win while also getting better.”
HART OF THE TEAM
Josh Hart recorded a team-high 12 rebounds on Wednesday, matching up in opposition to San Antonio Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama, who completed with 18 boards. The juxtaposition was putting: the 6-foot-4 Hart battling the 7-foot-4 rookie for place all night time, as soon as once more highlighting the intangibles Hart brings to the Knicks.
“Just motor, man. He’s just always active, and that activity allows him to get some really good rebounds,” stated Cities. “Shout out to Josh. Man, those are big rebounds.”
When requested what makes Hart such a powerful rebounder, Thibodeau supplied a easy rationalization: “I think anticipation. He reads the ball coming off the hand. His reaction to the ball is great. Oftentimes, he’s on the perimeter, and if he gets that running start, he’s tough to stop.”
HOLIDAY BATTLE
Thibodeau additionally acknowledged the distinctive problem of taking part in on Christmas Day, a time historically reserved for household.
“It’s not easy. It’s a holiday. It’s a family day. These guys, they make a lot of sacrifices,” Thibodeau stated. “They have young kids, and so we also know it’s an honor and a privilege to be playing on this day. So we embrace that. We also know what it means to our city and our fans. And so we wanted to give them something to be proud of. Hopefully, we can spend the rest of the day with our families and then on to the next one.”
MIKAL’S BEST
Bridges, taking part in in his third Christmas Day sport, stated this one at Madison Sq. Backyard was his favourite.
“Christmas and the spirit, family, people coming to the game bringing family members, people getting tickets for Christmas,” Bridges stated. “It’s different. Obviously, it’s another game, but just the joy and the spirit—people are off from work.
“It’s just The Garden. It’s just different, feeling that energy. Definitely really cool.”
And with that power behind them, the Knicks wish to hold the nice occasions rolling.
