THE Knicks are between 25 and 14 years outdated. They’re the third seed within the East. On paper, every thing appears strong.
However a better take a look at their document reveals a special story.
After Friday 25-point loss to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunderthe Knicks are 0-5 towards the highest two groups in every convention (the Thunder, Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers and Houston Rockets).
The Knicks are 4-7 towards the league’s prime eight groups (that features a 3-1 document towards the Orlando Magic). And they’re Sep 11 towards groups with a document of .500 or higher.
The outcomes up to now go away you with an apparent query: Do the Knicks have sufficient to compete with the perfect groups within the league?
"Yeah, I feel so," Josh Hart mentioned after Friday’s loss. “I feel on the finish of the day we’ve got to go on the market and execute at a excessive stage; we should go there with vitality, we should go there with out ego. We should go there with out particular person agendas. Now we have to go on the market and make sacrifices. I feel that is a very powerful factor.
“We’re a brand new group. We’re nonetheless studying, understanding, however we won’t anticipate to be proficient and win video games. Now we have to lock in and compete.
I do not know who Hart is referring to when he talks about particular person agendas and selfishness. However that is the second time he has referenced these themes this week. Hart and his teammates imagine they’ve the expertise to compete with – and beat – the perfect groups within the NBA. However they’ve misplaced 4 of 5 after successful 9 in a row. Add to that the poor document towards groups at .500 or higher, and you find yourself with extra questions than solutions.
“I am not nervous about these groups, I am nervous about us,” Cities of Karl-Anthony mentioned when requested in regards to the membership’s document towards prime groups. “Now we have to fret in regards to the New York Knicks. Once we do what we do and we continually try for perfection, we search enchancment day by day.
“We would be the greatest model of ourselves when we have to play these groups. Simply keep targeted on us, keep targeted on bettering day by day.
CUT WINGS
Mikal Bridges And OG Anunoby mixed for 4 factors on 17 photographs. They missed a complete of 12 threes. They mixed for 3 rebounds in 66 minutes.
Bridges mentioned afterward that he wanted extra elevate on his shot. He did not appear involved about his capturing. However he as soon as once more mentioned the Knicks let poor capturing have an effect on their efforts on protection.
“The theme of a few of our losses is the shortage of capturing messing us up on the opposite finish,” Bridges mentioned. “Which shouldn’t be the case. You miss photographs and you need to proceed on the opposite facet.
“We had that at occasions all through the season,” Bridges added. “Not scoring, it sort of wastes our vitality. We will not be that staff.
