The New York Knicks had been cruising with a cushty double-digit lead within the fourth quarter, seemingly in management in opposition to the surging Los Angeles Lakers.
However championship aspirations require closing out video games like this, and this additional time loss served as a painful reminder of a troubling sample for the Knicks.
Because the playoffs loom, critical questions on their capability to compete with the NBA’s elite have gotten unimaginable to disregard.
“The Knicks are actually 0-9 in opposition to the High 4 groups within the NBA this season: vs. Celtics (0-3), vs. Thunder (0-2), vs. Lakers (0-2), vs. Cavs (0-2),” Legion Hoops wrote on X.
The Knicks are actually 0-9 in opposition to the High 4 groups within the NBA this season:
vs. Celtics (0-3)
vs. Thunder (0-2)
vs. Lakers (0-2)
vs. Cavs (0-2)😳😳😳 pic.twitter.com/lKF31kArgV
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) March 7, 2025
Final season’s playoff run gave New York followers purpose for optimism, however this yr carries weightier expectations, which the crew hasn’t constantly met in opposition to prime competitors.
The Knicks’ path by the Japanese Convention seems to be notably daunting given their 0-3 document in opposition to the Boston Celtics and two losses to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Maybe most regarding is the character of those defeats. 4 of the 5 losses to the Japanese Convention powers have been embarrassing blowouts, every by a double-digit margin.
On paper, the Knicks characteristic one of many league’s most spectacular beginning lineups as Karl-Anthony Cities and Jalen Brunson represented the franchise as All-Star starters, making New York the one crew with two such honorees.
The supporting solid options defensive stalwarts and versatile wings Josh Hart, OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges.
Nonetheless, their Achilles’ heel has been painfully apparent: bench manufacturing.
The Knicks rank final within the NBA in scoring from non-starters, forcing their first unit to shoulder an unsustainable workload.
As a grueling playoff schedule approaches, this lack of depth threatens to undermine their championship aspirations.
