New York Knicks, a team with character that seeks to reach high levels in the NBA
Character. Attitude. Commitment. New York Knicks builds its present in the NBA with these three aspects as a non-negotiable basis. And from there he seeks growth that will lead him to compete for maximum glory.
Jalen Brunson He is, without a doubt, the leader and brain of these Knicks on the court. He is the one who perfectly executes the ideas and objectives set out by coach Tom Thibodeau. Drive, score and assist. And in defense he is also strong.
Josh Hart It is the heart of the team. He gives himself 100% in every game and does what the team requires. In addition to being the defensive pillar, he has a collective spirit of incalculable value. If necessary, it is one of the main ways of scoring. But he may not take shots at the rim for long periods of time without problems.
Karl-Anthony Towns He came to occupy a starring role. And it is in that process. Every day he seems better than the last, more cohesive with his teammates and with the prominence for which they decided to go get him from the Minnesota Timberwolves in the transfer with Julius Randle and Donte Divincenzo.
OG Anunoby, Michael Bridges, Miles McBride and Precious Achiuwa They make up the rearguard. They don’t always show off, but they are always willing to contribute their work for the group’s goal.
The Knicks are in fourth position in the Eastern Conference with 15 wins and 9 losses. The record is worse than expected before the start of the season, but the road is long and the rearrangement of pieces takes time. That in addition to the Boston Celtics there are two other teams with a better record is explained more by the very good start of the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Orlando Magic than by the performance of the Knicks. The most important thing for Thibodeau is to get his performance to its optimal level in the playoffs.
The postseason will determine if everything done before was correct. In 2023-2024, the elimination in the Conference Semifinals against the Indiana Pacers left a bittersweet taste. The Knicks competed and took an exciting series to seven games, but they had material to go further.
The way these Knicks play revives, at times, that of the 1990s in which the team led by Patrick Ewing reached two NBA Finals: in 1993-1994 they lost in seven games against the Houston Rockets and in 1998-1999 they lost in five games to the San Antonio Spurs.
Those appearances in the Finals were the last for the Knicks, who then spent 16 of 25 seasons out of the playoff spots and in which they qualified, they only advanced to the Conference Finals in the 1999-2000 season.
The Knicks, strong on both sides of the court
The New York Knicks are the team with the best offensive ratio in the NBA at this point in the season. Thibodeau’s team scores 121 points every 100 possessions, a rate that places it above the Cavaliers and the Celtics, the two best in their Conference.
In addition, the Knicks have the second best percentage in the league in both field goals (50.1%) and three-pointers (39.9%) and the best record in free throws (81.5%).
In defense, their fourth place in opponent’s second chance points (12.5) and fifth in counterattack points received (12.9) stand out. Also, Towns’ dominance in rebounding (13.3 per game), second in the league behind Nikola Jokic. But what stands out beyond the numbers is the commitment and attitude when protecting their basket.
The triumph in Toronto, a show of character
This Monday’s victory of the Knicks against the Raptors (113-108), in the only game of the day in the NBA, was a clear demonstration of what these Knicks can offer.
When the team was able to flow on offense, it did so thanks to Brunson and Towns’ finishing. When he had to fight, he also took charge of the situation.
The moment of tension with the possible injury of Brunson (20 points, 10 assists and 4 rebounds) when he stepped on a fan near the end of the third quarter was resolved with the reappearance of the point guard on the court, who was key with a triple at the time hottest in the game.
And the crown was put on by Towns (24 points, 15 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 blocks and 2 steals) with another triple that was the key that closed the victory.
The Knicks euphorically celebrated their success in Toronto. They know that each victory will reinforce their conviction in the chosen path, the one through which they want to reach the top.
