The Knicks closed the common season a 12 months in the past on a scintillating 16-4 kick to safe the fourth seed within the Japanese Convention, marking their first postseason look since 2013.
Little about this season has felt like that one for Tom Thibodeau’s crew in his second season on the helm, however the Knicks most likely want the same closing run to even make into the 7-10 play-in bracket in an improved East.
With 23 video games remaining after they return from the All-Star break starting with Friday’s go to to Miami, the Knicks are 3 ½ video games behind Charlotte and Atlanta for the ninth and tenth playoff seeds within the East. The sliding Twelfth-place Knicks, who dropped seven of their closing eight video games earlier than the break, additionally sit 2 ½ video games behind No. 11 Washington.
With the eighth-place Nets six full video games forward of the Knicks — and planning to quickly add injured Kevin Durant and newly acquired three-time All-Star Ben Simmons to their lineup — here's a breakdown of the groups left to vie for the ultimate two play-in berths.
9. Hornets, 29-31
Charlotte seemed like one of many league’s most improved groups at 28-22 via 50 video games on Jan. 28, however James Borrego’s squad dropped 9 of its closing 10 video games earlier than the break.
First-time All-Star guard LaMelo Ball leads the Hornets in factors (20.0) and assists (7.5) per sport, and Miles Bridges is a prime contender for the league’s Most Improved Participant award, received final 12 months by Knicks ahead Julius Randle.
Michael Jordan’s entrance workplace additionally picked up invaluable reserve large man Montrezl Harrell on the commerce deadline, however the Hornets have been damage recently by the absence of floor-spacing wing Gordon Hayward (16.1 ppg) since Feb. 7 on account of a left-ankle damage with no timetable given for a return.
What’s left?: The Hornets will play 13 of their remaining 22 video games at house, with an total opponents mixed profitable share of .490, together with two video games in opposition to the Knicks.
10. Hawks, 29-31
Atlanta additionally has taken a step again from the crew that ousted the Knicks in 5 video games within the first spherical of the playoffs and superior to the Japanese Convention finals earlier than shedding to Milwaukee, the eventual NBA champions, in six.
MSG nemesis Trae Younger is fifth within the league in scoring (27.8 ppg) and fourth in assists (9.3), and Clint Capela remains to be a beast on the boards (12.1 rebounds per sport). However De’Andre Hunter missed two months within the first half on account of wrist surgical procedure, and ahead John Collins suffered a heel damage proper earlier than the break.
What’s left?: The Hawks have 11 house video games and 13 highway contests remaining, with the fifth-lowest opponents profitable share (.483) within the league, that includes a March 22 go to to the Backyard.
11. Wizards, 27-31
Already with out All-Star guard and main scorer Bradley Beal for the season on account of left-wrist surgical procedure earlier this month, the Wizards dealt Harrell to Charlotte and former Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie and Davis Bertrans to Dallas on the commerce deadline.
Former Knicks unicorn Kristaps Porzingis hasn’t performed since arriving from the Mavericks or since Jan. 29 on account of recurring knee soreness, and the Wizards limped into the break with a 4-10 report over their closing 14 video games earlier than the break.
What’s left?: Washington additionally has an 11/13 house/highway break up the remainder of the way in which. However its strength-of-schedule scenario is extra favorable than even Atlanta’s at .472, the fourth lowest opponents’ report within the league.
12. Knicks, 25-34
Would possibly veteran level guard Derrick Rose’s eventual return from December ankle surgical procedure have the influence that his midseason acquisition did one 12 months in the past?
Thibodeau vowed that “all the pieces is on the desk” regarding his rotation after the break, however he’s stubbornly declined to change his common rotation or to search out extra minutes for the likes of Obi Toppin, Quentin Grimes (till lately) or January pickup Cam Reddish (from the Hawks) over a brutal 3-13 slide since they have been 22-21 and in a playoff place on Jan. 15.
What’s left?: The Knicks have practically a good break up of house (11) and highway video games (12) remaining, though their information on the Backyard (13-17) and away (12-17) are about the identical. Their power of schedule is essentially the most daunting of those 4 groups, the fourth hardest within the league at .529 — starting with their subsequent 4 video games in opposition to Miami, Philadelphia (twice) and Phoenix.
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