Neglect in regards to the daunting five-game West Coast swing.
The Knicks aren’t considering that far forward — and so they shouldn’t.
As a substitute, they’re centered on one sport at a time, correcting their errors after a tricky loss to the Golden State Warriors and gearing up for Thursday’s showdown towards the red-hot Los Angeles Lakers.
It’s the fitting method, however let’s zoom out.
The trail is there for the Knicks to go 4-1 on this journey. They only should reap the benefits of the schedule.
TOUGH START, FAVORABLE FINISH
The Knicks may lose to the Lakers. That’s simply actuality.
Los Angeles has surged to a tie for the No. 2 seed within the West and boasts the league’s hottest duo in LeBron James and Luka Dončić, who has dropped 29 or extra factors in every of his final three video games.
But when the Knicks can steal a win towards the Clippers the subsequent night time, the remainder of the journey opens up.
Sacramento (Sport 3): The Kings can be on the second night time of a back-to-back whereas the Knicks get two full days of relaxation. Sacramento is rolling, however the schedule favors New York.
Portland (Sport 4): The Twelfth-seeded Path Blazers have overperformed of late, however a group with championship aspirations just like the Knicks ought to deal with enterprise.
Golden State (Sport 5): The Knicks beat the Warriors on the highway final season after shedding to them at residence. With Karl-Anthony Cities again within the lineup, there’s an actual shot at redemption.
That’s the roadmap. Drop the Lakers sport, deal with the Clippers, reap the benefits of the schedule, and shut sturdy in San Francisco.
REINFORCEMENTS MAKE A DIFFERENCE
This time round, the Knicks gained’t be short-handed like they have been towards the Lakers earlier this season.
Mitchell Robinson is again. OG Anunoby is wholesome. Cities returns after lacking the Warriors loss for private causes.
That modifications the whole lot. The Knicks misplaced to the Lakers in January with out Robinson and Anunoby (who exited early), although Anthony Davis additionally sat out for L.A.
Now Dončić replaces Davis, and whereas the LeBron-Dončić pairing is terrifying, Anunoby’s availability makes the Knicks considerably extra geared up for this battle than final time. The Knicks solely trailed the Lakers by 5 earlier than Anunoby left the Feb. 1 loss with a foot damage. They went on to lose by 16 as LeBron rattled off a 30-point triple double with out the Knicks’ defensive stopper on the ground to sluggish him down.
CLIPPERS ARE VULNERABLE
Beating the Lakers is a tall process. However beating the Clippers the subsequent night time is doable.
They’ll be enjoying their third sport in 4 nights.
They’re simply 4-6 of their final 10.
Plus Kawhi Leonard hasn’t seemed like himself in his first season absolutely wholesome
If the Knicks can capitalize on Evening 2, they set the stage for a profitable West Coast highway journey.
BUT FIRST THEY’LL HAVE TO GET THROUGH KINGS
As of Thursday, the Kings are additionally one of many NBA’s hottest groups, successful seven of their final 10 video games. They might be on useless legs, nevertheless, towards a Knicks group rejuvenated by two off days throughout their highway swing.
The Knicks already beat the Kings at Madison Sq. Backyard in one among their assertion wins of the season. They need to be capable to do it once more, although the Kings, too, are totally different after buying and selling De’Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs.
New York must also be favored on this matchup towards the Portland Path Blazers (28-35), who gained 10 out of 11 video games getting into the All-Star break however stay on the backside of the Western Convention standings.
This might be a entice sport, which performs into Jalen Brunson’s arms as essentially the most clutch performer within the NBA — pitted towards one of many league’s youthful groups.
THAT BRINGS US BACK TO GOLDEN STATE
The Knicks didn’t have Cities of their loss to the Warriors on Tuesday. Coincidentally, New York solely managed to attain 102 factors and was unable to match the Warrior firepower from downtown.
Cities’ offense might be all of the distinction within the encore. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr is aware of Brunson will flip it up a notch for the rematch, too.
“You have to mix it up [against him]. Last year, we came in [MSG] and had a good game, got off to a great start, and we defended him pretty well,” Kerr stated. “And then I think three weeks later at Chase [Center], he came out and just torched us had [34]. So we know what kind of competitor he is.”
If the Knicks get to 3-1 heading into the Warriors rematch, historical past says Brunson has the firepower to shut the journey with a press release win.
ONE GAME AT A TIME
The Knicks aren’t considering forward to Golden State.
They’re locked in on the Lakers. And when that sport is completed, they’ll shift to the Clippers.
That’s precisely how they need to method this journey.
However step again, and the trail to 4-1 is obvious.
The Lakers are robust— but when they lose, they have to bounce again towards the Clippers.
The Kings can be fatigued.
The Path Blazers needs to be a win.
The Warriors sport is winnable — particularly with Cities again.
Handle enterprise, and this journey may launch the Knicks towards a robust end to the season.
“Just focus on the Lakers, and after that, we focus on the next one,” stated Brunson. “Just keep doing one game at a time, the way we’ve been doing.”
Initially Revealed: March 6, 2025 at 2:20 PM EST
