A four-point win over the struggling Nets may look like a hole victory, however for the Knicks, it’s a mirrored image of loftier objectives.
With their sights set on an NBA championship, they’ll must show they will deal with groups much better than their cross-town rivals.
Beginning Saturday, the Knicks enter probably the most grueling stretch of their season — a check that may outline whether or not they’re true contenders or merely passengers on the street to the playoffs.
They are saying iron sharpens iron. For the Knicks, there’s no sharper check than navigating the hardest remaining regular-season schedule within the NBA.
A Brutal Schedule Forward
The Knicks’ remaining 37 video games are usually not for the faint of coronary heart.
New York owns the hardest remaining schedule within the NBA, with virtually each opponent from now till the season finale on April 13 towards Brooklyn combating both for a championship, to remain out of the Play-In Match, or break into it.
Of those 37 video games:
16 are towards legit championship contenders. These groups embody Boston, Cleveland, Memphis, Denver, Houston, Milwaukee and Dallas.
15 are towards groups bunched collectively within the Play-In situation, together with Indiana, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Chicago, Miami, Golden State, Phoenix, San Antonio, Detroit and Sacramento.
6 are towards lottery-bound groups reminiscent of Toronto, Portland, Washington, Charlotte and Brooklyn.
The schedule consists of three conferences every with the Celtics and Cavaliers — house owners of two of the three finest data in all of basketball — and two matchups apiece towards the Grizzlies, Lakers, Clippers, Warmth, Kings, Warriors, Path Blazers, 76ers, and Hawks.
.529 – Power of Schedule
As of Thursday morning, the Knicks’ remaining opponents have a mixed 839-746 report, or a .529 successful share, the best within the league.
The Knicks are 4-6 towards groups with a successful share of .529 or higher and 3-6 towards title contenders.
Towards groups combating for Play-In spots, the Knicks maintain a middling 11-10 report, however this consists of three wins towards an Orlando Magic crew with each conceivable scorer out as a consequence of damage.
The Knicks’ present 29-16 report because the Japanese Convention’s No. 3 seed can be examined in each conceivable method.
.944 – Dominance Over Shedding Groups
If there’s one space the place the Knicks shine, it’s towards groups on the backside of the standings. New York boasts a 17-1 report towards shedding groups, a .944 successful share that’s saved them afloat. Nevertheless, they’ll solely face six extra lottery-bound opponents the remainder of the best way, together with one-offs towards the Raptors, Hornets, Wizards, and Nets, plus a two-game set with Portland.
But their report towards shedding groups underscores the priority shifting ahead: 17 of the Knicks’ 29 whole victories have come towards groups under .500, leaving New York with only a 12-15 report towards successful groups this season.
9 – Again-to-Backs
The Knicks face 9 back-to-back units within the second half, together with a frightening 10-day, five-game West Coast street journey in March.
They’ll additionally endure three brutal stretches of consecutive playoff-caliber opponents:
A five-game gauntlet starting Saturday towards the Kings.
A 12-game stretch spanning the All-Star break in February and early March.
Ten playoff opponents of their closing 13 video games of the season.
Including to the problem, the Knicks will face back-to-backs each getting into and exiting the All-Star break, leaving little time for restoration.
What Lies Forward
The Knicks have demonstrated their potential to deal with weaker groups, however their path to true rivalry requires rising to the problem towards harder opponents.
Struggles towards each title contenders and Play-In hopefuls have uncovered the inconsistency that separates good groups from nice ones. Whereas they will’t management their schedule, they will management how they reply to the groups in entrance of them.
Saturday’s matchup towards the Kings is extra than simply one other recreation — it’s the kickoff of a stretch that may both cement the Knicks as legit contenders or expose them as pretenders.
The stakes couldn’t be larger.
With the Japanese Convention standings tightening, the margin for error is slim. The Bucks path the Knicks by simply three video games because the No. 4 seed, with the Pacers and Pistons respiration down their necks in fifth and sixth place, respectively.
In a league the place each win carries postseason implications, the Knicks don’t have any selection however to raise their recreation.
The street forward is unforgiving, however the alternative to show they belong among the many NBA’s elite is theirs for the taking.
