This year the New York Knicks have been doing exceptionally well compared to previous years. As of Tuesday, March 2 the Knicks are 18-17, 3rd in the east, and well above .500 in win percentage. Compare that to last year when they had 17 wins and 65 losses and were the last seed in the east. 

If you’re a Knicks fan, their ability to slaughter teams like the Celtics, Pistons and the Kings should make you proud. However, their inability to win close games against “real” title contenders like the Clippers, Lakers, and the Nets is what is most concerning. The Knicks are 3rd in rebounds but 1st in points allowed, meaning they are great at crashing the boards but their defense is nonexistent.

Julius Randle is leading the helm for this team, but unfortunately, that’s just not enough. He is the only player on the team who averages more than 18ppg. RJ Barrett is close with 16ppg but there are four points per game dropoff after Barrett. Where are the other guys? 

Despite the Knicks being the Knicks, this team is young and ready to improve. During last year’s NBA draft, the Knicks drafted Obi Toppin with the 8th pick. He hasn’t been ROTY (Rookie of the Year Award) caliber, but he has been a presence under the hoop for this Knicks team. Adding on to that, Mitchell Robinson and RJ Barrett have only improved from last year. 

This team seems to be working well and could improve for later years to come. Despite these good qualities, under no circumstances will the Knicks get past the first round of the playoffs. Granted this year the east is weak and that’s why the Knicks can be so high on the table, they won’t win a playoff round. Maybe a game, but not a seven-game series. 

The Knicks are still in a rebuilding phase, they have been for the last 50 years. There have been glimpses of good Knicks teams in MSG before such as Linsanity, and the Carmelo Anthony Era. Although, none of these teams have ever been NBA championship contenders. This is because of the other teams they have to face.

Right now the top three teams in the east look like genuine title contenders, the Milwaukee Bucks, the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Brooklyn Nets. Every other team is plain old inconsistent and doesn’t contain the veterans and exceptional coaching a team needs to win a championship. 

Even the teams under the Knicks in the conference like the Celtics, Miami Heat would rout the Knicks in a seven-game series. 

The point is, the Knicks aren’t ready, and they haven’t been for some time. Although this year they are showing some light at the end of the tunnel, finally being able to turn into the great Knicks team we have all been waiting on for so long is still a ways away.