The New York Knicks are now back where they belong—in playoff contention. From being the laughing stock of the league to now being the fourth-best team in the Eastern Conference, the Knicks are surging.
Who would have thought at the start of the season that they would have a better record than the defending champions Los Angeles Lakers? This just sums up the season they’ve had so far.
In their latest game versus the Los Angeles Clippers, the Knicks had every reason to fold on the road. Their rising superstar in Julius Randle struggled, but like any championship-caliber team, the role players stepped up. Thanks to Derrick Rose’s 25 points, eight rebounds and six assists, the ‘Bockers were able to win an important gritty game versus the Clippers. The contest was then sealed by Randle, who knocked down a sick dagger in front of Paul George’s face.
Julius Randle hits the dagger over PG 😲
Knicks win. pic.twitter.com/G7SIRceG51
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 9, 2021
This sequence is what the Knicks have been doing all season. They win games because of their defense, grit and determination. The players have all bought in to head coach Tom Thibodeau’s system. They’re a team that no contender wants to face in the first round because let’s face it, they will surely give their opponents a hell of a battle.
With that said, here are three reasons why the Knicks can make a run for the title this postseason:
3. Defense wins championships
The Lakers proved this notion to be true last season. The Knicks have the fourth-best defensive rating in the league, and it’s no surprise because that’s what Thibodeau’s teams do.
Thibodeau’s defensive contributions are what helped the Boston Celtics win the 2008 championship. New York's defense is grueling and pressures the opponent’s offense to adjust in the moment, which is a problem for an offense-focus league that the NBA is today.
Tom Thibodeau reflects on his time with the Knicks and what it means to be above .500:
"It's a proud organization… but that doesn't have anything to do with today" pic.twitter.com/jw4ruNFCNY
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) March 1, 2021
2. Julius Randle’s emergence
Not a lot of people expected much from Randle, but here he is.
The former Lakers forward, who will likely win this season’s Most Improved Player award, was averaging 24.1 points, 10.2 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game prior to Sunday's game. He has become a reliable scorer, playmaker and defensive player.
He has also become the superstar that the Knicks can build on not just in the present but moving forward. They finally found their guy and boy, he is absurd. Randle has made so many Knicks fans smile once again after a long time.
Julius Randle’s last 10 games:
31 PTS – 7 REB – 6 AST
34 PTS – 7 REB – 3 AST
18 PTS – 6 REB – 4 AST
31 PTS – 10 REB – 1 AST
40 PTS – 11 REB – 6 AST
16 PTS – 10 REB – 7 AST
33 PTS – 5 REB – 10 AST
44 PTS – 10 REB – 7 AST
32 PTS – 8 REB – 5 AST
34 PTS – 10 REB – 4 ASTMIP 🔥 pic.twitter.com/2NJF3j9DRw
— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) May 3, 2021
1. A veteran and young blood roster
The Knicks' roster is composed of a mix of experienced veterans and young players. That’s why it made sense as to why they went after Rose and Taj Gibson in the first place.
Rose and Gibson have experienced being in the playoffs, particularly under Thibodeau. This can impact the performance of the young bloods specifically Randle, RJ Barrett and Elfrid Payton. When there’s a balance between veteran leadership and young talent, the team can make a strong run and won't just be an easy opponent to get rid of.
That is this year’s Knicks. They are anchored by their defense and individual offensive talent. The not-so-secret formula for a deep postseason run this season is Randle’s powers, their defense and getting key contributions from every single player in the rotation.
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