Knicks’ Performance Against NBA’s Elite Teams Under Scrutiny
The Knicks are on a winning streak, but how do they measure up against top NBA teams?
New York, NBA, Knicks, Jalen Brunson, Oklahoma City Thunder
New York: The Knicks are on fire lately, winning seven straight games and 17 out of their last 21. But some folks are raising eyebrows, saying their schedule hasn’t been tough enough to call them true contenders just yet.
And honestly, they have a point. Out of those wins, only five were against teams in the top eight of their conference. They beat the Magic, Timberwolves, and Nuggets, but those teams have been struggling lately, especially with injuries.
So, it’s a fair question: how do the Knicks really stack up against the best in the league? This is super important as we look ahead to the playoffs.
According to the stats, the Knicks are 5-4 against teams with top 10 net ratings. They’ve had some solid wins, but they’ve also lost to teams like Boston and Cleveland. The good news? Their offense is scoring like crazy, ranking second in the league.
But those losses? They were early in the season, so it’s hard to read too much into them. The Knicks have definitely improved since then, but they still have some areas to work on, especially rebounding.
They’re sitting at 10th in defensive rebounding against the top teams, which isn’t terrible, but they’ve struggled against some of the best offensive rebounding squads. On the bright side, they’ve got one of the lowest turnover rates against the league’s elite.
In a recent game against Dallas, the Knicks fell behind early but managed to keep it close after that. They’ve been on a roll lately, but the competition hasn’t been as fierce.
Looking ahead, the Knicks have some big matchups coming up against top teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder and Philadelphia. These games will really show us how they measure up and if they’ve fixed their weaknesses.
It’s all about matchups in the playoffs, and on paper, the Knicks have the talent to compete with anyone. But it’ll be interesting to see how they handle tough defenses that try to force them into one-on-one plays.
We’re still a ways from the playoffs, but fans are definitely anxious to see how this team performs when the pressure is on. The next few games will be telling, and everyone will be watching closely.